Full text of "The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois"

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TTFiE;

BIOGRAPHICAL) RECORD

t^ENKY COUrMTV,

LLINOIS.

^A^TPED.

A fcoplc that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors zvi/l never achieve
anything worthy to be remembered ivit/i pride by remote generations.'' — Macaulay.

CHICAGO:

The S. J. Clarkk Pihlishing Comi'anv.

1901.

INDEIX.

PAGE

Allcrtoii. Samuel W 602

Allison. William 543

Anderson, A. J 26

Anderson. David 485

Anderson, Eric 697

Anderson, John 170

Anderson, Joseph II 626

Anderson, L. D 58S

Anderson, Nels F 722

Anderson. V. L 466

Andrews. Wallace W 65

Armstrong, Hugh 701

Arnett. George 703

.^rnold, George R. W 3,?9

Arnquist, Andrew 559

Ayres, Buenos 668

Bachus, T. 1 125

Baker, Eugene G 477

Barber, Charles 447

Barge. David B 421

Barker. Starks N 716

Barnhart. Jacob 263

Becker, Nicholas 225

■Bennison, Samuel 214

Bennison, Thomas 28

Benson, Lars igo

Biebinger. Jesse E 659

Blair, Albert W 269

. Blair, James 314

•Ulish. James K 22

. Blish, M. B 410

Bollenstern, Theodore 189

Boomer, Henry 555

"othwell. Leonard R 129

Jrad' . joim 1' 342

rady, Thomas 347

cBrodd, John A 137

vBrown, Mattie E 632

-[ Brown, Oliver W 287

Buck, Edmund 507

Buck, George W 205

Burns, J. Sanford 500

Burrows, S. Henry 122

Burston, Joseph 687

Butler, Arthur C 417

Calhoun, Hugh A 458

Calkins, Mrs, Hulda G 578

PACE

Calkins, John C 521

Callaway. Samuel H 98

Carlson, Charles A 79

Carlson, John C 619

Carsc, John 451

Cavanaugh, James 363

Charles. William S 600

Charlet, -August 27

Charlet. Julius 396

Chase, Charles E 220

Chesley. Theron H 304

Chisnall. John 30

Clay. William L 532

Clementz. Xaver 674

Clough. V. W 226

Cole. Festus C 571

Combs, Horace J 356

Cosncr, William H 46

Cowden. Thomas C 556

Cromien, James 510

Cronau, John 365

Cox, Joseph F 563

Davis, John M 309

Dewey, John C 454

DeWitt, Henry 66

Dickinson, Dr. J. D 464

Donaldson, William 32.5

Dow. L. F 650

Dunbar, Washington 322

Dunham, Mrs. Julia E .190

Dun lap. Adam 307

Durniann. William 198

Durrnian. Frank W 163

Dyal. .Vmos .\ 152

Katon. Dr. Matilda 115

Edwards. Frank H 643

Edwards. Herbert R 520

Ekiund. Henry 292

Emery, Michael N 54

Erickson, Erick 361

Er.son, Mats 208

Evans, Willis F 397

Eyer, Henry 56

Farnam, John S 667

Ferguson, George W 381

Fcsler, George 476

PAGE

Finch, John T 413

Fischer, John 243

Fischer, Oswald 58

Fisher, Hendrick V 699

Fitch, Elmer E 470

Fleet, Isaac M 359

Fleming, Jacob J 432

Foley, Rev. M. F 296

Forgy, William 644

Fors, John A 207

Fragd, Andrew P 164

Frank, Jacob 258

Freeman, Pliny 158

Frels, George T 335

Fronk, Levi 312

Fulper, John H 366

Funk, George 661

Gamble, J. R 17

Gilbert, Dr. Elon B 223

Gilbert, N. C 3,?2

Gilbraith, James (x)

Gierhart, Christian f)82

Gillespie, William C 554

Glenn. William N 19O

Goembel, Henry 19

Goembel, Samuel 319

(ioembel. W. Sidney 35

Goodrich, William R. ... 334

Gould, Nathaniel B 15

(iranquist, Ncls 594

(iraves, Emery C 245

C;riffin. Henry G 86

Gutschlag. Carl 721

TJad^all. James S 386

liailni. \ndii'\\ 257

Hamilton, James S ,303

Hanson, Erick 311

Hannon. Thomas T 376

Hatch, John M 232

Haxby, William 469

Hay, Robert 475

Hayes, Cornelius 247

Hayes, Eugenie K 422

Hedbloom, Eric 194

Heller, Louis 576

Heller, Simeon 326

Henderson, John 560

09490

INDEX.

PAGE

Herdien. Peter 40

Hillmrg, John 595

Hill, John D 524

lliinnan. Reginald H 174

I lohmann. Dr. William D. . 358

Hoit. Otis W 368

Hough. Frank L 538

Houghton, Henry E 636

Houghton, Lucy E 601

Hudson, Thomas 649

Huffman, George 585

Hughes, Thomas J 255

Hull, John L 102

Hunt, John M 193

Hunt, Lewis 656

Hurd. Caroline W 264

Hurlbutt, Frederick A 686

Hyer, Peter 367

acobson, Jacob 708

aquet, John 575

ennings, John L 620

ohnson. .-Xndrew P 173

ohnson, Charles A ., 511

ohnson, Frank J 78

ohnson, George H 723

ohnson, Henry 194

ohnson, J. William 295

nhnson, Paul L 612

(ihnston, Joseph 400

ohnston, Thomas H 180

ones, William D 114

Keeler, Philip B 90

Keleher, Daniel L 139

Kellogg, Charles A 346

Kelsey. Ira E 566

Kcmerling, Elbert P 403

Kewish, John 512

Kiene, William 539

Kincaid, George W 80

Kirchner, Carl 34t

Kirkland, Dr. J. A 84

Kirkpatrick, William L. ... 237

Knowles, William H 138

Krause, Herman S49

Lager, O. W 648

Lamb, William 712

Landwehr, William ..,.:... 617

Larson. .Andrew J 145

Larson, Carl J 109

Larson, Francis W 75

Larson, John A 116

Lavery, Daniel 44

Lembke, William 76

Lester, Sivilian 221

Lewin, John 59

Lewis, .'\bram J 666

Lewis, John 240

Lewis, Perry T 6S4

Lewis, William J 707

Lievens, Jacob 562

Liken, Clyde T 294

Liken, Thoma,s P 293

Lincoln, .Andrew 150

Linn, John 131

PAGE

Linn, Taylor 517

Lippincott, John H 200

Litten, Ezra 530

Little, Charles E 411

Loomis, Orin H 401

Lory, Charles R 642

Lowrv Brothers 279

Loy, 'D. O 637

Luther, Martin 698

McCarthy, Daniel 337

McClure, Thomas 238

IMcCorkle, George J 587

McGovern, John H 103

McMeekin, William 434

McNeeley, John 250

McRell, James 712

McRell, Robert 433

Machesney, James 534

Mackey, .Amos A 572

Maloney, Daniel 648

Martin, David M 384

Martin, Mrs. Elizabeth 416

Martin, Hugh A 426

Martin. John S 676

Mascall. Daniel S 197

Mascall. James 199

Mathews, ."Kmbrose 330

Matteson, L. F 34

JNIavity, John M 124

Melvin, Frank S 430

^lerriman, William 47

Milan R. W 569

Miller. F. A 448

Morton, George .'\ 300

Munson, Albert S 519

Murchison, Capt, Alex 224

Murchison. D. C 468

Murphy. John H 291

Mussey. Henry 522

Mussey, AVilliam A 564

Myers, Jacob 583

Nash. M. Maury 212

Nelson, Nels M 182

Nelson. William 33

Neville. P. H 383

Neville, Robert G 100

Neville, William A .'. 3.38

Newman, James H 586

Norell. .Andrew P 211

Norling, Peter 437

Nowers, Thomas 610

Oberg, Louis 458

O'Day. Patrick 372

Odeman. John E 025

Oliver, William 290

Olson, Olof 548

Olson, Swan T 540

Ostran, P. E i55_

Ott. Casper 662

Ours, William 364

Paine. Judson P 49S

Palmer, Aaron 280

Pappendick, William 565

PAGE

Parker. James 717

Payne, Richard 420

Peart, George 452

Peterson, Albert 157

Peterson, Andrew 108

Peterson, E. N 325

Peterson, Olof 480

Peterson, Olof L 404

Peterson, Peter A 480

Peterson, Peter A 720

I'ierce, Thomas P. ..' 435

Pierson, James C 543

Porter, William 694

Pritchard, Hugh W 449

Puree. Rev. W. M 187

Purviance. David L 362

Quinn, Henry 7a

Ramsej', James 276

Rapp. Aaron 414

Reardon, John 642

Redus, John 373

Reherd, Harry A 35c

Reherd. Jacob K 353

Remington. William A 230

Resser, Moses W 30

Rickle. Jeremiah H 486

Riley. James 533

Ringel, Henry J 702

Ringle, William 92

Rink, Joseph H 310

Rishel, Sherman L 428

Roberts, William 467

Robertson. Thomas M 148

Ronstrum. Nels M ; 340

Roos. Charles P 529

Roos, Martin 282

Rowe, George W 343

Rngh, Charles H 561

Rule, John H 360

Runquist, Nels 407

Russell, Samuel 327

Rydman, Rev. J. M 249

Salzmann. Ernest 700

Saniuelson, Charles M 123

Saniuelson, John 181

Sand, Casper 31

Schoonover, Rosseter F 455

Schroeder, John H 409

Sears, Frank S 682

Selman, John 459

Seiner, Daniel 38.5

Setterdahl, Rev. Victor 170

Shaner, Phil.ip 377

Shearer, Lewis 688

Shearer, Norman 684

Shellhammer, D. D 262

Shetler. John W 631

Shinn, Mrs. Paulina H 522

Shult, Hons 104

Sieben, Leonard 286

Slauson, Lewis W 599

Smiley. Dr. J. C 38

Smith, .Andrew 718

Smith, George J 151

INDEX.

Sniitli, Jared II

,. , no

Smith. John H

... i8

Sohdav. Andrew J

... 63a

Spifgel. Angust F

••■398

Spiegel. F. Charles

... 48.-,

Stacy. J.E

... 28q

Stearns, John W

... 140

Steele. Robert F

... 34:

Stevens. William W

... 313

Stewart. Dr. 11. }

...399

Stewart. Peter C

... 132

Stewart. Samuel

... 126

Stickncv. William C

... 550

Stinison. Liberty

... 301

Stitl. .\larv J

... 638

Stoncbcrg. John E

... 6.?

Storev. Elijah

... .39^

Stongbton. Cvrus F. . . .

... 506

St. .well. Wilbur F

... 713

Streed. Frank H

... 494

Streed. John V

. ■ ■ 49"

Strcod, Malkcr F

■ ■ ■ 493

Streed, Swan P

...49c

Sturtz, Charles F

. . . 21

Svenss.Mi, Xels J

... 256

Swanson, John V

. . . 140

PAGE

Swanson. Swan 596

Swedish Evangelical Church 164
Swedish Evangelical Luther-
an Church of Kcwanee... 248

Tay>.-r A r 3.. I

Taylor, JetlEerson W 355

Taylor. John O95

Taylor, Thomas 348

Thorp, Isaac 378

Thorp, James 479

Thorp, John 380

Tomlinson, David C 172

Trickle. Milton 608

Turner. Judge CM 70

Urick, Lewis 329

\'aw ter. Dr. G. A 306

Waite, (leorge E 590

Walker. Thomas 37J

Walline. Olof loi

Walters. August 39c

Warnock. Peter W 544

Warren. James .^62

PAGE

Washburn. Chauncey E. ... 176

Wayne. William 429

Weaver, John J 706

Weidlein, .Andrew 271

Weinrich, F^rederick W. ... 44

Wells. J.jseph 660

Wehon. F. G 508

Weiton. Lester C 572

Wenke. John 357

Wenke, John H 451

West. George W 273

Westerlund. Jonas 394

Westcrlund, Peter 171

Weston. George 325

W hifl'en. Frank ! 50

White. Hugh 562

Whitmore. David 60

Wilber. R. Porter 528

Wiley. Daniel L 67

Wiley. William L 460

Wilkinson, Lyman J 48

Wilson, Charles C 465

Winter, William R 655

Wintz, Philip J 44C

Wolcver, Calvin F 685

Wrisfbt, W. Pitt 121

PRKFACK.

f^IIE greatest of English historians, Macaulay, and one of the most
brilliant writers of the present century, has said : "The history of a
lountry is best told in a record of the lives of its people." In con-
tormity with this idea, the Biogiiapiiicai, Record has been prepared.
Instead of going to musty records, and taking therefrom dry statistical
matter that can be appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have
j:one to the people, the men and women who have, by their enterprise
md industry, brought this county to a rank second to none among
tlio«e (.otiipri^mg thw great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent
public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation
of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and
economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages for securing
an education, have become learned men and women, with an influence extending throughout
the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of
life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have become famous. It tells of those in
every walk in life wlio have striven to succeed, and records how that success has usually
crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very many, who, not seeking the applause of the
world, have pursued the " even tenor of their way," content to have it said of them, as Christ
said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "They nave done what they could." It
tells how many, in the pride and strength of young manhood, left the plow and the anvil, the
lawyer's otiice and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's
call went forth valiantly " to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was
restored and peace once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every
woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after.

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from
the fact that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which
would otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work,
and every opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has
been written ; and the publishers flatter themselves that they give to their readers a work with
few errors of consequence. In addition to biographical sketches, portraits of a number of
representative citizens are given.

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume.
For this the publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some
refused to give the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent.
Occasionally some member of the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such
opposition the support of the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances men
never could be found, though repeated calls were made at their residence or place of business.

March, 1901. The S. J. Clarke Plblishing Co.

Biography is tl~ie only true i^istory."— Emerson.

UNIVERSIlr OF ILLINOIS
URBANA

BIOGRAPHICAL.

OLLD. XATllAXIEL BART-
1-ETT. Honored and respected
1)V all, there is no man in Cam-
bridge who occupies a more en-
viable position in business circles than
Nathaniel B. Gould, not alone on account
of the success he has achieved, but also on
account of the honorable, straightforward
business policy he has ever followed. He
has been prominently identified with public
affairs, and is now serving as president of
the board of trustees of Cambridge and
treasurer of the Old Settlers Association.

Mr. Gould was born in Pierniont, Graf-
ton county, New Hampshire, March 31,
1828, but in early life removed with the fam-
ily to Canaan, in the same county. He
traces his ancestry back to Zaccheus Gould,
who was born in England about 1589, and
came to America about 1638, lucating finally
at Topsfield, Massachusetts, where he died in
1670. His. wife, Phebe Gould, passed away
in 1663, leaving one son and five daughters,
all of whom married and had families.
Their descendants in this country are now
quite numerous, and are represented in the
various branches of industry and the learned
professions.

Amos Gould, St., the grandfather of our
subject, was a soldier of the Revolutionary

war, and at the close of tiiat struggle moved
from Salem, ^lassachusctts, to Canaan,
New Hampshire. He was at West Point
when Arnold's treason was discovered.
He was born at Boxford, New Hampshire,
December 12, 1761, and died at Piermont,
that state, December 28, 1853. On the
141I1 of June, 1786, he married Rebecca
Perley, and to them were born thirteen
children.

Amos Gould, Jr., the father of our sub-
ject, was born in New Hampshire in 1790,
and there he married Miss Nancy Harris
Bartlett, a native of Canaan, that state, and
a descendant of one of the early Massachu-
setts colonists. Her father, Nathaniel Bart-
lett, fought seven years for American in-
dependence as a soldier of the Revolutionary
war. Amos Gould, Jr., came west in 1856,
and settled in Moline, Rock Island count}'.
Illinois. His death occurred in Moline, in
1864, and his wife, who was a devoted
Christian, died in 1884, st the age of
eighty-eight years. Unto them were born
nine children, six sons and three daughters,
namely: John M., a resident of Moline;
Amos, Lyfe Y., Nathaniel B. and Mrs.
Nancy J. Dean, who are all living in Cam-
bridge; Daniel \\'.. who makes his home in
IMoline; George D., who was born !March

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

26, 1S35, died in 1882; Susannah, widow of
B. H. Burrows and a resident of Andover
township, Henry county; and Lora H.. whu
was born October 5, 1838, married J. H-
Dean, and died in 1865.

The early life of Nathaniel B. Gould
was spent on a farm in his native state, and
his eilucation was acquired in its common
schools. Coming west in April, 1851, he
located in ]Moline, Illinois, and from 1852
until 1856 was employed as a traveling sales-
man by John Deere. In the latter year he
came to Cambridge, where he conducted a
hotel and livery stable in partnership with
his brother Amos until 1861, when he moveil
to a farm, and for three years successfully
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has.
however, been interested in farming since
that time, but not as a resident farmer. Re-
turning to Cambridge, he and his lirother
Amos, luider the fimi name of A. S: X. B.
Gould, laid out the Gould addition to that
village. He has since been interested in va-
rious business enterprises, and on the ist of
July, l88r, assisted in organizing the First
National Bank, of which he has since been
president. The bank was organized with a
paid-up capital of fifty thousand dollars and
has a surplus of twenty thousand dol-
lars. The safe, conservative policy which
he inaugurated commends itself to the judg-
ment of all.

On the 24th of November, 1859, Mr.
Gould was united in marriage with ^liss
Mary J. Jennings, who was born in Elm-
wood, Peoria county, Illinois, and completed
her education at Lombard College, Gales-
burg. Her parents were Levi and Susan H.
(Shephard) Jennings, of Cambridge town-
ship, this county, where the father was e.x-
tensiveh' and successfully engaged in stock
raising, his specialty being sheep. He died

December 29, 1859, at the age of sixty-seven
years, and his wife departed this life at
Cambridge February 4. 1888. at the age of
seventy-five. Levi Jennings was lx>rn in
Salem. Ohio, of Quaker stock. March 10.
1795. and there lived until about thirty years
of age, when he married !Miss Susan H.
Shepherd, \yho was born August 20. 1813.
the day her father, John Shepherd, returned
from the war of 1812. In 1835 Levi Jen-
nings removed with his family to Peoria
county, Illinois, having previously visited
the country and purchasing a large tract of
land. His land purchases were quite ex-
tensive in Peoria, Knox and Henry counties,
Illinois, and prior to his death had accumu-
lated a handsome fortune. In 1849 '^^ ^'^'
catedin Cambridge township, where he built
one of the first really good houses in the
township, which is yet standing. The
children of Levi and Susan H. Jennings
were : Ann, wife of James Bush, a farmer of
Adair county, Iowa: Marv _]., wife of our
subject; and John L, To ;Mr. and Mrs.
Gould were born two daughters : Nellie L.
and Katie M. The latter is now the wife of
W. F. Hays, of Seattle. Washington, by
whom she has one child, Catherine (iLmkl
Hays. Nellie L., 1x)rn October jo. i8()3.
died February 23. 1879, '''i^l her death was a
hea\y blow, not only to her family, but to a
large circle of friends. She was a most ami-
able young lady, of more than ortlinary
promise, and a bright scholar who was pre-
paring to enter \"assar College.

Politically Mr. Gould has been an ardent
Republican since the formation of that party.
He has always taken an active interest in
the affairs of town and county, and has \xei\
honored with several important official po-
sitions. He was chairman of the building
committee which had charge of the construe-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

iii,in of the court house, completed in 1880,
at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars.
every cent of which had hcen paid at that
time. It is an excellent and suhstantial tire-
proof huilding, and stands as a nidnumeiit
to those who had it in char,ye. Mr, (ic>ul<l
has been an imiinrtanl factor in edncatinnal
atlairs ; was a member of the school board
for the long period of seventeen years, and
it is safe to say tliat no man in Cambridge
has devoted more time lo educational and
other matters of general benefit, he lieing-
one of the most progressive and ])ublic-spir-
iteil men of Henry county. He served as
supervisor of Cambridge township tor twen-
ty-six years, ami has been ([uile an acti\e
member of the agricultural board. In 181)3
he was elected president of the \-illage board
which position he still holds. He was presi-
dent of the board and chairman of the com-
mittee at the time the water works were put
in, in 1896. The financial trouble then pre-
vailing prevented the village from selling it^i
bonds, and it was only by Mr. Gould's public
spirit in giving the village the benefit of his
credit that the water works were completed
that season. Mr. Gould organized the .\r-
mory Hall Comi)an_\'. and has since been its
])resident. It built the large building known
as the armory hall, which is occupied bv the
bank and a general store on the ground
tloor, the hall above being 50x90. In the
erection of store buildings Mr. Gould has
done much for the village. He and his
brother Ames built and are the present
owners of the Gould block, and he has as-
-^isted many others to build.

As a citizen ]\Ir. Gould has always been
ri.ady to discharge any duty devolving upon
him, and the best years of his life have been
given to the building up aiul ad\ancement
of his adopted village and county. Few men

are better known throughout this section of
the state than N. B. Gould, who is honored
lor his sterling worth and many excellencies
of character.

J. R. GAMBLE.

Among the highly respected and sub-
stantial citizens of Kevvanee is numbered J.
R. Gamble, whose home is at No. loi North
Burr street. He is a native of Pennsylvania,
his birth having occurred in Philadelphia,
.September 23, 1832. His parents, George
X. and Susanah G. (Guth ridge) Gamble,
were born, reared and married in England,
where the father was engaged in the gro-
cery business until his emigration to Amer-
ica in 1831. After nine months spent in
this country he returned to his native land,
but at the end of another nine months he
again crossed the ocean and located per-
manently in Philadelphia, where he was en-
gaged in the manufacture of morocco.
riierc he died at the age of forty-five years,
aiul his wife who was a faithful member
of the Episcopal Church, died in the same
city at the age of seventy-six. In their
family were thirteen children, of wdiom our
subject was the sixth in order of birth. His
sister and brother, Susanah and Frank B ,
are still residents of Philadelphia.

In that city J. R. Gamble was reared
and educated, and on starting out in life for
himself worked in a ship chandler's or naval
supply store for two years. Subseiiuently
he served a four years" apprenticeship at
the carpenter's trade, and lia\ing thorough-
ly mastered the business, he came to Henry
county, Illinois, in 1855 and located in Ke-
wanee, making his home ever since on the
corner where he now- resides. On locating:

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

here the village contained a population of
not more than one thousand, and with its
growth and progress he has since been
prominently identified. As a carpenter and
contractor he has done an extensi\e busi-
ness and has erected many buildings in the
town and surrounding countrj-, including
the factory buildings of the firm of Pierce
& Haxtun.

Mr. Gamble was married in Philadel-
phia, October 30, 1855, to iliss Maria P.
W'oolley, also a native of that city and a
daughter of William H. and Eliza \\'oolley,
who were born in Pennsylvania and are
now deceased. In their family were ten
children, namely : William, a resident of
Philadelphia; Anna, who became the wife
of Charles Corkhill and died at the age of
sixty-one years; ilaria P., wife of our sub-
ject; Jane, wife of John Kliss, of Phila-
delphia; Harriet, wife of ^Ir. Redford, of
Oregon; Susan, who died young; Ruth,
wife of Dickinson Woodruff, of Trenton,
New Jersey; and Lydia, who married E.
L. Miner and 'died at the age of forty-five
years.

To ^Ir. and ]Mrs. Gamble ha\e been
born the following children : Florence X.,
wife of Charles Payne, of Kewanee; Kate
B., who is the widow of A. O. Warner and
has one child, Louise ^^^ ; George H.,
pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church
of Minneapolis, ilinnesota, who married
Margaret Hawthorne and has four children,
George, \\'illiam, Ross and Paul; Joseph
'N., a resident of Kewanee, who married
Fanny Tunnicliff and has four children,
Ruth, !Margerie, Don and Catherine; Su-
sanah, wife of Rev. Ellis AI. Jones, a Bap-
tist minister of Nebraska City, Nebraska,
by wdiom she has two children, Aliriam and
Esther; Fred B., a resident of Kewanee,

who married Eleanor Cramb and has two
children, Frederick and Florence; and Ross
W. and Louise ^I., both at home. The
parents are active and consistent members
of the Baptist Church, and in politics ilr.
Gamble is a Republican. He is widely and
favorably known, and has man}" warm
friends in the community where he has so
lone made his home.

JOHX H. SMITH.

John H. Smith, deceased, was one of
the highly respected and honored citizens
of Henry county, Illinois, where he fol-
lowed the occupation of farming for some
years, but had laid aside business cares and
was living a retired life at the time of his
death. He was born in Prussia, Germany,
November 17, 1818, and was seventeen
years of age when he bade good-by to
friends and native land and came to the
L'nited States, landing in New York. He
first located near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania,
and was engaged in teaming between that
city and Cumberland for some years.

In Somerset county, Penns3-lvania, Mr.
Smith married iliss Ann Messe, a native
of that count)", and a daughter of Christian
and Ann (Feidler) ^lesse, also natives of
the Keystone state. Throughout life the
father followed the miller's trade and died
at his home in Somerset county, at the age
of sixty years, his wife surviving him idhr
years. Seven children were born to ilr. and
ilrs. Smith, of whom one son and three
daughters are still living, namelj": Eliza-
beth is the wife of Aaron Ott, a druggist
of Marion, Kansas, and they have four chil-
dren, A'ida, ^lamie, ]Milford and Roy.
]\Iary E. is the wife of Dr. J. \\'. J. Kerr.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Ciirsicana, Texas. Xaiicv, now a resi-
dent of Geneseo, is tlie widow of Peter
Drunim, who was engaged in fanning in
Geneseo township, and they have liad three
cliildren; Vena and Jessie, both Hving, and
Howard, deceased. Jolm. a prominent
farmer, who is now operating tlie old home
])lace, married MoUie, daughter of Henry
Goembel, of Geneseo, and they have one
child, Xeva.

On leaving Pennsylvania, in 1851, Mr.
Smith came to Henry county, Illinois, and
purchased a farm in Edford township, on
which he lived for some years, but about
i860 removed to Geneseo township, locat-
ing just north of the city, where he engaged
in general farming and stuck raising until
1 89 1. That year he purchased a home on
North State street, Geneseo, where he lived
retired until called from this life on the nth
of April, 1900. at the age of seventy-nine
years, his remains being interred in Oak-
wood cemetery, Geneseo. He was always
a public-spirited man, advocating all meas-
ueres that tended to impro\-e the welfare
of the ciimnumity in which he li\eil, and
he was therefore recognized as one of its
most useful and valued citizens. He was a
faithful luember of the Evangelical Church
and a constant attendant upon its services.
In his home he was a most exemplary hus-
band and father, and in both business and
pri\-ate life made many friends and no en-
emies. His death was deeply mourned in the
C'lnmuinity where so large a part of his life
was spent.

HEXRY GOEMBEL.

Henry Goembel. deceased, was for over
a third of a century an honored resident of
Henry countv. He was ever faithful to bis

duties of citizenship, and by the successful
conduct of his business interests not only
promoted his individual success but also
advanced the general prosperity. In his life
span of seventy-eight years he accomplished
much, and left behind an honorable record
well worthy of perpetuation.

Mr. Goembel was born in the village of
Nederaula, Hesse, Germany, June 14, 1822,
on the river Fulda, a trilnitary to the Rhine,
and was the oldest son of Sebastian and
Anna Goembel, both of Hessian birth. His
parental grandfather was one of the Hes-
sian soldiers who were hired by the Eng-
lish government to aid the British in the
American Revolution, being literally sold
1)\- the German ruler, as that nation holds
the ownership of its subjects until a certain
amount of military iluty is performed.
L'nder such circumstances he came to Amer-
ica, and was taken prisoner at Xew York
by the Continental troops. After his re-
lease he became a loyal adherent of the
colonial government, and engaged in clerk-
ing until peace was restored, when he re-
turned to bis native land. In 1834 his son,
Sebastian, accomjjanied by his wife and
eight children, came to the I'nited States,
taking passage at Bremen on the Ernest
Gustav, a German sailing vessel, and land-
ing in Xew Orleans after a long, and tedi-
ous voyage of sixty-nine days. After two
weeks silent in the Crescent City they pro-
ceeded to St. Louis, and from there went
to Havana, Illinois, where they remained
one month. At the end of that time they
went to Peoria, then known as Fort Clark.
They finally located on Farm creek, in
Tazewell county, where the father of our
subject purchased a claim when the land
came into market. .\t that time a log house
constituted the only improvement on the

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

place, but it was not many years before the
land was under excellent cultivation and
adorned with good and substantial build-
ings, it being the home of the family for
several years. The parents spent their last
days in Washington, Tazewell county.

Henry Goembel was only twelve years
of age on the emigration of the family to
the new world, and in Tazewell county, Illi-
r.ois, he grew to manhood, remaining under
the parental roof until 1849, when he pur-
chased a tract of timber land a mile and a
half from the old homestead and built there-
on a frame house. Being a natural me-
chanic and familiar with the use of tools,
he did most of the work on this building
himself. He resided there until 1864, and
in the meantime placed about half of the
two hundred acres under cultivation. In
October of that 3'ear he came to Henry
county and purchased a partially improved
farm of two hundred acres in Alba town-
ship, to the further development and culti-
vation of which he devoted his time and at-
tention for some years. He prospered in
his new home and became the owner of
se\'en hundred acres of very valuable and
productive land. He also had two good
farms in Phenix township, and forty acres
near Geneseo, to which city he and his fam-
ily removed in 1872. There he practically
led a retired life, having acquired a hand-
some competence which enabled him to lay
aside all active labor and spend his last
years in ease and cpiiet, surrounded by all
the comforts of life.

In 1849 ^Ir. Goembel married Miss
Catherine Fey, also a native of the province
of Hesse, Germany, and a daughter of
Henry and Elizabeth Fey, who brought
their family to America when she was
about twenty years of age and settled near

Peoria, where they resided and then moved
to Chatswnrth, Livingston county. Illinois,
but both died when well advanced in life
in Hooppole, Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs.
Goembel were born eight children, four sons
and four daughters, namely: (i) Zacha-
riah T. was for some years engaged in farm-
ing in Phenix township, this county, but
in the spring of 1900 moved to Prophets-
tnwn, ^^'hiteside county, where he now fol-
lows the same pursuit. He married ^Irs.
Annie Rock, and they have three children,
^\'illiam, Herbert and Alice. (2) Charles-
C, a farmer of Hooppole. Henry county,
married Lizzie Greenwood and they had
eight children, ]\Iaude, LIusy, }\Iillie, Carl,
Cassie, Bessie, Pearl and an infant son.

(3) Anna is the wife of Joseph Greenwood,
a farmer of Hooppole, and they have nine
children. Charles, John, flattie, Henry, Jo-
seph, Forrest, Aaron, Zachariah and Katie.

(4) Elizabeth is the wife of Lawrence Seyl-
ler, a real estate dealer of Arkansas, and
they have six children, A'ida, Roy, Mollie.
Charles, Ethel and Manley. (5) John H.,
a retired citizen of Geneseo, married Hat-
tie Hines. (6) Mollie is the wife of John
Smith, a farmer of Geneseo township, and
they have one child, Neva. (7) Henry, who
is engaged in farming on the old home-
stead in Geneseo township, married Julia
Bubeck, and they have two children, Flora
and Lucille. (8) Katie is the wife of Theo-
dore Becker, a prominent dry goods and
hardware merchant of Geneseo, whose pleas-
ant residence is just north of Mrs. Goem-
bel's home on North State street, and they
have three children, Leslie Goembel, Ho-
bart Theodore and Marguerite Mildred.

Mr. Goembel died at his home in
Geneseo, I\Iay 8, 1900. He was highly
honored for his Christian and benevolent

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

character and was greatly respected by his
fellow citizens. Those who knew him best
were numbered among his warmest friends,
and in his death the community realized
that it had lost one of its best citizens. He
was devoted to his family and in every re-
spect was a true gentleman.

CHARLES E. STURTZ.

Charles E. Sturtz. a leading and promi-
nent attorney of Kewanee, Illinois, was born
on the 9th of November, 1864, in Somer-
set county, Pennsylvania, not far from
Cumberland, ^Maryland, and is a son of
Charles and Catherine (Kennell) Sturtz,
also natives of that county and representa-
tives of old Pennsylvania families. In i86g
the parents, accompanied by their children,
removed to Illinois, locating near Sterling,
\\hiteside county, where they have since
made their home, the father being engaged
ii: farming. He was born July 6, 1839, and
still enjoys good health. In his native state
he followed the occupation of school teach-
ing, and when the Civil war broke out he
enlisted as a private in Company H, of a
regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer In-
fantry, but was later promoted to the rank
of orderly sergeant. His wife is of Eng-
lish descent and her ancestors were among
the early settlers of Pennsylvania and Mary-
land. In their family were nine children,
all of whom are still living, namely: O. L.,
a photographer of South Bend, Indiana;
Charles E., our subject; Alice, wife of H.
T. Bowman, of Dixon, Illinois; William
S., a resident of Sterling; Mattie, wife of
Arthur Emmett, of Rock Falls, Illinois;
Grant, a dentist of Marietta. Mississippi ;
Lewis J., a photographer of Green Bay,

Michigan; Herman, a dentist of Marietta,
Mississippi; and Cora E., wife of Clarence
Ward, of Rock Falls, Illinois.

'Sh. Sturtz, whose name introduces this
review, recei\ed his preliminary education
in the cummon schools of Whiteside coun-
ty, and later attended Dixon College, after
which he engaged in teaching school in
\\'hitcside county for four years, in the
meanwhile devoting his spare time and vo-
cations to the study of law under the di-
rection of Attorneys Mannahan and Ward,
of Sterling. He also took his Blackstone
with him on expeditions of pedagogy. In
the fall of 1887 he entered Knox College,
Galesburg, where he was graduated in
1891, receiving the degree of bachelor of
science. All this time he was pursuing his
law studies during vacations, and after leav-
ing Knox College, he entered the law de-
partment of the University of Michigan,
at Ann Arbor, where he received the degree
of bachelor of laws in 1892, being admitted
to the bar the same }ear. He spent one
year in the law uttice of Otis & Graves at
Chicago, and in 1893 i^^mie to Kewanee,
where he has succeeded in building up an
extensive and lucrative practice. He has a
well equipped modern law office on the cor-
ner of Tremont and Third streets.

On the 1 6th of September, 189-', Mr.
Sturtz was united in marriage with }kliss
Allie C. Price, of Xcponset, Illinois, a
daughter of Joseph l^rice, who now resides
in Kewanee. By this union has been born
a daughter, Zola May, now six years of age.
Fraternally Mr. Sturtz is a member of the
Knights of Pythias, and politically is identi-
fied with the Republican party. In 1894,
1895 'i"<i i8g6 he was elected city attorney
for terms of one year each, and in 1899
was re-elected for a term of two years, be-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

iiig the present incumbent in that office. He
is also serving as secretary of the board of
education, to which position he was elected
in 1899 for a term of three years, and is
a member of the committee on teachers and
text books. Socially he is deservedly pop-
ular, as he is affable and courteous in man-
ner and possesses that essential qualifica-
tion to success in public life, that of mak-
ing friends readily and of strengthening the
ties of all friendships as time ad\ances.

ja:\ies k. blish.

As president of the First National Bank
of Kewanee and one of the leading attorneys
of this section of the state. Jas. K. Blish is
v.ideh' known and universally respected. A
native of Henry county, he was born on the
2nd lUw (if Mav. 1843. within a mile of
v/here the l)ank now stands, and is a repre-
sentative of one of its oldest and most promi-
nent families. On the paternal side he traces
his ancestry back to Abraham Blish, who
emigrated from England, and located at
Duxbury, north of Plymouth, rvlassachu-
setts, about 1637, where he engaged in
farming for a time, l)ut in 1642 removed to
Barnstable, the same state, there spending
the remainder of his life. His son Jo,seph.
from whom our subject is descended, was a
life-long resident of Barnstable and a far-
mer by occupation. In the latter's family
was Tristram Blish, who was born in Barn-
stable, and married Annie Fuller, a great-
granddaughter of Edward Fuller, who came
to this country in the ^Mayflower. In 1725
they removed to Colchester. Connecticut,
where their last days were spent ujxjn a
farm. Of their seven children, David, the

fifth in order of birth, was born in Colchester
and married Zeruiah Skinner. He engaged
ill agricultural pursuits, and during the
Revolutionar}- war served as sergeant in a
company from Connecticut. He died in the
town of Marlboro, which was formed from
a part of Colchester, Glastonbury and Heb-
ron. His son, Thomas Blish, was born in
Glastonbury, and for many years served as
deacon in the old New England church at
that place. He married Prudence Hubbard,
and to them were born four children.

Of this family Colonel Sylvester Blish,
the grandfather of our subject, was third in
order of birth. He was born and reared in
Glastonbury, Hartford county. Connecticut,
and in early life engaged in farming and
trading there. In company with Rev. Itha-
mar Pillsbury and Elizur Goodrich, he was
appointed a commissioner in 1836 by the
Connecticut Association organized in Weth-
ersfield, and sent to Illinois to select land for
p. colon}'. Coming to Henry comity, they
purchased fifteen thousand acres of land in
what is now \\'ethersfield and Kewanee
townships, after spending about three months
in carefully inspecting this locality, and they
displayed remarkable foresight in their selec-
tion. At the end of that time rliey returned
to Connecticut, but in the spring of 1837
!Mr. Blish again came to Illinois, driving
through the states of Pennsylvania. Ohio and
Indiana, the journey consuming six weeks.
On reaching his destination he erected a log
cabin upon his land, about fifteen by twenty
feet, with a loft overhead, which was his
home for many years, but has since lieen torn
down. He was one of the largest land own-
ers in this section in early days, anil engaged
in farming in connection with his land ven-
tures. He had served as colonel in the state
militia of Connecticut for manv vears, and

JAMES K. BLISH.

I , r, o /- ov

UNIVERSlii u. (LLiNOIS
URBANA

THE BI(3GRAPHICAL RECORD.

always bore tliat title. Two years after lo-
cating in W'ethersfield he opened an inn,
Avhich he conducted for a quarter of a cen-
tury, it being the stopping place of all the
stage lines passing ' through this locality.
]\Ir. Blish was the first postmaster of W'etli-
ersfield, and one of the first county commis-
sioners, and took a very active part in organ-
izing the county and in all pulilic matters.
He died in 1855, and his wife, who bore the
maiden name of Rhoda Cheney, passe<l aw ay
in 1878. In their famly were five chldren.
namely: William Henry, who died in W'eth-
ersfield in 1897, at the age of eighty-three
years, leaving eight children; Thomas, who
died in Galena, leaving two children who
are still living there; Charles Cheney, father
of our subject ; Prudence Hubbard, who mar-
ried Hon. James Knox, a member of con-
gress,and Ixith are now deceased ; and George
Cheney, who died in Chicago, leaving seven
children, who still reside there.

Charles C. Blish, father of our subject.
•was lx)rn in Glastonbury, Connecticut, in
May, 1820, and was educated in that state,
grauating from the ]\Iiddletown Academy.
At the age of seventeen he came with his par-
ents to Illinois, and took up surveying, which
he followed for twenty years, serving as
county surveyor for many terms. At the age
of twenty he was united in marriage with
Miss Elizabeth P. Bonar, a native of Knox
county, Ohio, and fifth in order of birth in a
family of eleven children, nine sons and two
daughters. Her father, Mathew Bonar, was
born in Lancaster county, I'ennsylvania. and
in 1839 came with his family to Illinois,
locating on Walnut creek, in Kni:\ countv.
where he prnxhased a partially improved
farm and lived for a number of years. \\'hen
he discontinued surveying. Charles C. Blish
turned his attention to farming and stock

raising, which he successfully followed until
his death, which incurred December 15.
1S90. His wife died June 13. 1900. To
tb.em were l>orn six children, but only two
reached vears of maturity, these being J. K.,
our subject; and Mathew I'unar, who is a
resident of Kewanee, though engaged in
farming in Wethersfield township. He mar-
ried Maliia ]•". -Mnrrill. ;ui<! they have three
children.

The ])rimary education of J. K. Blish
V as obtained in the Union .school of W'eth-
ersfiekl and Kewanee. He was next a stu-
dent in the prepar.ntory school at Ann Arlxjr,
and in T862 entered the University of Michi-
gan, where he was graduated in 1866, with
the degree of A. B., after ])ursuing the regu-
lar collegiate course. Returning to his home
in this county, he engaged in farming in
Wethersfield township for three years, and
then went to Council I'luffs, Iowa, where
the following two years were spent as a
member of the firm of Kiter. Bonar & Blish,
manufacturers of blank books. On selling
out his interest there he went to Chicago,
where, in the employ of J. W. Middletown,
he engaged in the same business until the big
fire of 1 87 1, and then returned to Kewanee
and entered the law office of Howe & Xorth
as a student. 1 le took the re(|uired examina-
tion before the supreme court at Springfield
;ind was ;ulniitted to the bar in 1873. since
w Inch time be has successfull\- engaged in
the general practice of law at Kewanee.
He was alone until 1889, when he formed his
jiresent partnership with \\'illiam Lawson.
This is one of the leading law firms of west-
ern Illinois, and they enjoy a large and lu-
crative i)ractice. ( )n the organization of
the First National Bank of Kewanee, in
1870, Mr. Blish's father became president,
and lilled the ot'tice for about twentv vears.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In 1886 our subject was elected a director,
and since 1894 has served as its president.
He is not only a lawyer of ability and promi-
nence, but is also a capable business man,
and the business of the bank has steadily
increased under his able management.

On Christmas day, 1869, Mr. Blish was
luiited in marriage with IMiss Mary E. Mc-
Manus, a nati\e of Xew York state, who
died in 1881. her remains being interred in
Kewanee cemetery. By that union were
born two children : James Louis, now a dent-
ist of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, who married
Martha B. Aldrich and has two children,
Tvlary Eleanor and Zirian Aldricli ; and Ber-
tha, at home with her father. Mr. Blish
was again married, Octol>er 5. 1886. his sec-
ond union being with ?kliss Amy ^lason
Rhodes, a native of Providence, Rhode Isl-
and, and a daughter of Albert Rhodes, de-
ceased, who was for man}-- years a resident
of Buda, Illinois. To them have been born
three children : Elizabeth, ^lathew Rhodes
and Asa Rhodes, all attending the Kewanee
schools. Mrs. Blish is a lady of culture and
refinement, a leader in charitaljle work,
and is a member of the Unitarian Cliurch.

In politics Mr. Blish is a Democrat, but
not an advocate of free silver. For several
terms he was an active and influential mem-
ber of the city council; was a member of the
school board eighteen years and secretary of
the saine for some time: and was county su-
pervisor four years, during which time the
new court house was built, and he ser\-ed on
the building committee. For twelve years
he was also one of the directors of the Ke-
wanee public library, and for thirteen years
was president of the Kewanee Fair Associa-
tion, of which he was one of the organizers.
In the organization of the Kewanee Building
and Loan Association he took the leading

part, and was its first secretary, a position
he still holds. This has been a \er\' success-
ful entei"prise and of great benefit to the city.
Through its aid many workingmen have se-
cured good homes. He assisted in organiz-
ing the Kewanee Electric Light Company,
since merged into the Kewanee Light &
Power Company, and has been prominently
identified with a number of business enter-
prises that have promoted the welfare of the
city in no uncertain manner. He has been a
delegate to nearly all the state conventions
of his party, and in 1888 was one of the
presidential electors. He is now serving as
president of the Old Settlers Association,
which office he has filled for several terms.
As a citizen he meets every requirement and
manifests a commendable interest in every-
thing that is calculated to promote the city's
v.-elfare in any line. In manner he is pleas-
ant, genial and approachable, and all who
know him esteem him highly for his gen-
uine worth.

A. J. AXDERSOX.

A. J. Anderson, who is now success-
fully engaged in the real estate, loan and
insurance business in Kewanee, Illinois, was
born in Sweden and came to this country
with his father during infancy. His early
education was acquired in tlie schools of
Kewanee, and on leaving the high school
at the age of sixteen years he entered the
employ of the Haxtun Steam Heating Com-
pany, now the \\^estern Tube Company, as
an apprentice. Here he learned the boiler
maker's trade, remaining with the company
four years. He then went to San Francisco,
California, where he served as inspector of
the cit}' water works one season, and at the

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

end of that time entered tlie mechanical
department of Linci^hi Schnol of that city,
wliere he pursued a meclianical course.
Later he took a trip throujjli the western
states, and before rctiu'uinj;" home he also
visited the east.

Since then Mr. Anderson has resided
uninterruptedly in Kewanee, and has been
engaged in the real estate, loan and insur-
ance business. In June, i8c;j, he formed
a partnership with W. 11. Remick, under
the firm name of Remick X: .Vnderson. and
this connection continued until March, 1900,
since which time Mr. Anderson has been
alone in business. He represents many of
the best and most reliable insurance com-
panies of the world, including' the Liver-
pool, London &. Globe, of Liverpool, Eng-
land; the Springfield Fire & Marine, of
Springfield, Massachusetts; the German
American, of New York; Magdeburg, of
Germany; the Phoenix, of Brooklyn; the
Phcenix, of Hartford ; the Imperial, of Lon-
don; the Home, of New York; the Aetna, of
Hartford; the Fire Association, of Phila-
delphia; the Hartford, of Hartford; the
American Central, of St. Louis; the Nation-
al, of Hartford ; and the Fireman's Fund.

On the 14th of November, 1899, Mr.
Anderson married Miss Lucy Robison, a
native of Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas
Robison, now deceased, who was one of the
early settlers of this county and an honored
resident of Kewanee. Fraternally Mr. An-
derson is a member of Kewanee Lodge,
No. 159, A. F. & A. M.; Kewanee Lodge,
No. 466, K. P., in which he has filled all
the ofifices and is now past chancellor; and
Nabuthaean Temple, No. 5, Knights of
Khorassan, of Galesburg. As a Republi-
can Mr. Anderson takes quite an active
part in local politics and is now chairman

of the city central committee. He is a wide-
awake, energetic young business man, and
in all his undertakings has met with well-
deserved success.

AUGUST CHARLET.

For many years August Charlet was ac-
tively engaged in farming in Henry county,
but is spending his declining days in ease
and retired from labor in his pleasant home
at No. ;^2;^ South (irovc street. Kewanee.
He is a native of Germany, born in firanden-
burg, October 31, 1828, and is a son of
Abraham and Dorothy (Schalipp) Charlet,
natives of the same province. The father
was a laboring man, who died in Germany
at the age of fifty-two years. The mother
afterward came with our subject to Amer-
ica, and passed away at his home in Burns
township, Henry county, Illinois, at the ripe
old age of seventy-eight years and two
months. In their family were six children,
namely : John, who was serving in the
German army at the time of his death,
which occurred when he was about twen-
ty-four years of age; August, our subject;
Dorothy, who became the wife of William
Wert, and died in Kewanee township, this
county; Julius, a farmer of Burns township;
William, who died in Germany at the age
of four years; and Louisa, widow of Oscar
Fischer and a resident of Burns township,
this county.

The early life of the subject of this
sketch was spent in the fatherland, where
he attended school, and after the comple-
tion of his education he worked at the weav-
er's trade for some time. In 1856 he sailed
from Hamburg for New York on an old

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Englisli freiglit lx)at. wiiich liad been con-
verted into a passenger sliip. The voy-
age lasted eight weeks and three days, dur-
ing which time they encountered some se-
vere storms. On reaching New York Mr.
Charlet came at once to Henry county, Ilh-
nois. and settled in ^^'ethersfield township,
where he at first worked by the day at any
thing which he could find to do. Five
years after his arrival he had saved enough
from his wages to purchase eight}^ acres
of unimproved land in Burns township.
The land was fenced but there were no
buildings upon it, and to its improvement
and cultivation he at once turned his at-
tention. Later he added to it a tract of
one hundred and twent_\- acres and subse-
quently bought one hundred and sixty acres
in Cornwall township. He was successfully
engaged in general farming until February,
1888, when he removed to Kewanee and
purchased the lot where he now resides.
Tearing down the old house which stood
thereon he erected his present comfortable
residence. He has since sold his farms to
his sons and has laid aside the cares and re-
sponsibilities of business life.

On the 23d of September, 1859, Mr.
Charlet was united in marriage with ^Irs.
^Mary (Leonard) Couve, also a native of
dren, namely : \\'illiam, a farmer of Anna-
Couve, who died in 1858, leaving four chil-
country. She was first the wife of \\'illiam
Charles Leonard, who ne\er came to this
Brandenburg, Germany, and a daughter of
v.an township; Fred, a farmer of Corn-
wall township; Louisa, wife of Ernest
Spiegel, of Cornwall township, and Mary,
wife of Gus Schroeder, of Burns township.
By her marriage to our subject Mrs.
Charlet has become the mother of two chil-
dren : August, a farmer of Cornwall town-

ship, married Sophia Kollman and they
have three children, William, Clare and
Louis; and ilinnie is the wife of Charles
Klein, who is with the Western Tube Com-
pany of Kewanee. Mrs. Charlet was born
October 29, 1829, and came to the United
States on the same vessel with her husband.
By his ballot Air. Charlet supports tho
men and measures of the Republican party,
and has always taken an active interest in
educational affairs, serving as school di-
rector for three years, but he has never
cared for political office, preferring to give
his undivided attention to his business in-
terests. He is a member of the German
Evangelical Church of Kewanee, and was
a trustee of the same for twelve years.
Coming to this country empty-handed, but
with a strong determination to succeed he
has steadily and persistent!}^ worked his way
upward until he acquired a comfortable
competence, which now enables him to spend
the remainder of his life in ease and quiet,
surrounded bv all that makes life worth the

THOMAS BEXXISOX.

Thomas Bennison, who is now living a
retired life at his pleasant home at Xo. 600
East First street, Kewanee, Illinois, was
born in Hurst, England, April 28, 1837, a
son of Samuel and Mary Bennison, who
are represented on another page of this
volume in connection with the sketch of
their son, Samuel. In 1845 ^m" subject
accompanied his parents on their emigra-
tion to the new world, and was reared and
educated in Pennsylvania. From that state
the family renioved to Shullsburg, Wiscon-
sin, and in 1864 came to Henry county,
Illinois.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

W'lien liis school days were over Mr.
Bennisiin worked in the lead mines of Wis-
consin, and after cuniiny to Kewanee em-
barked in mercantile Inisiness in company
with others. Eater he was alone in busi-
ness, and witn the development of the city
his trade constantly increased, successfully
following that pursuit from 1865 until June,
1897, when he retired from active life to
enjoy the competence he had acquired
througli years of industry, perseverance and
good management. As a business man he
was always energetic, prompt and notably
reliable, and his success has been worthily
achieved. He has erected three large store
buiklings on Tremont street, Kewanee, and
has built a number of private residences in
that city, and he and his son-in-law put up
a large brick block in Cozad, Nebraska. He
is also a stockholder in a bank in that city,
and for a number of years was one of the
directors of the First National Bank of Ke-
wanee, of which he was one of the charter
members.

In 1862 Air. Bennison married iliss Ann
\\'alton, a native of Shullsburg, Wisconsin,
and a daughter of John and Mary Walton,
who were born in England, and died in
Kewanee, Illinois, the former, July 30,
1887, aged seventy-eight years, the latter
January 29, 1885, aged seventy-six. They
were both members of the Primitive Meth-
odist Church. By occupation Mr. Walton
was a miner and followed that pursuit very
successfully in the gold fields of California
for two }ears, and after his return east
worked in the mines here for a short lime,
and then lived retired throughout (Tie re-
mainder of his life. Of his seven children
Thomas died in 1853, st the age of twenty-
one years. Sarah became the wife of Will-
iam Bennison, now deceased, and she died

in 1893, at the age of fifty-eight. Leonard
is engaged in mining in Colorado. Mary
i; the wife of ]>eiuictt Osborne, of Kewanee.
Ann was the wife of our subject. Robert
is a veteran ot the Civil war and a retired
farmer oi Iowa. Ilercules R. was married
February _'_', 1880, to Alpha Johns, and
died in Kewanee, in July, 1899, aged fifty-
five years. Of his two children, Joseph C.
and Alae B. are still living, while Philip
died at the age of nine years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bennison were born
four children: Alary A., now the wife of
AI. H. Brown, of Nebraska, by whom she
had two children, Azal and Ruth; Stella E.,
wife of Robert Davis, of Nebraska, by
whom she has one child, Paul; Lewis J.,
who died Alay 6, 1888, at the age of six-
teen years; and Nettie O., wife of Arthur
Wake, of South Omaha, Nebraska. The
wife and mother, who was a consistent and
faithful member of the Primiti\'e Alelh-
odisi Clun-ch, was born in 1844, and depart-
ed this life July 13, 1899. Air. Bennison
was again married November 14, 1900,
his second union being with Aliss Alice
Jones, of Kewanee, who was born in Penn-
sylvania June 6, 185 1, and came with her
parents, Aloses and Catherine (Taylor)
Jones, to Kewanee in 1863.

Air. Bennison is also a member and-
trustee of the Primitive Alethodist Churcii
of Kewanee, and is a stanch sup[K>rtcr of
the Republican party. On the temperance
ticket he was once elected trustee of the city,
but has never cared for official honors. As
a public-spirited citizen, however, he dias
Ijeen activeh' identifietl with the improve-
ment of Kewanee, and has done all within
his i)ower to advance its interests along
various lines. On locating here he and the
other members of the Bennison familv innU

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

up their residence on what became known
as Bennison row, but within the past few
vears the name has been clianged to Cam-
bridge street. The family is one of promi-
nence in the community, and its members
5tand deservedly high in the esteem of their
fellow citizens.

JOHN CHISXALL.

Since November, 1867, this gentleman
has been an honored resident of Kewanee,
and is to-day serving as special tax col-
lector for the city. He was born in Lan-
-castershire, England, January 27, 1833, and
is a son of William and Alice Chisnall, who
were lifelong residents of that country.
The father died when a young man, but the
mother long survived him, passing away in
1876, at the age of sixty-four years.

John Chisnall, the only child of this
worthy couple, was educated in the common
schools of England, and when a lad of
■eleven years was apprenticed to the wheel-
wright's trade, which he learned thorough-
Iv. He came to this countr}- as a ^Mormon
emigrant in 1831, prior to the insurrection
of Brigham Young against the government,
-and first located in Utah, where he remained
until 1858, during the uprising. The fol-
lowing two years were spent in Omaha,
Nebraska, which city at that time had no
telegraph or railroad lines and gave little
promise of its present thriving condition.
During all this time Mr, Chisnall worked
at his trade. In i860 he went to Phila-
delphia, Pennsylvania, where he made his
home until coming to Kewanee in 1867.
During the winter of 1866-67 he spent four
months in visiting his native land. Lpon
his return he located in Kewanee, where
he worked at wagonmaking principally un-

til 1888. Being economical and industrious
he managed to save something from his
wages, and this capital he invested in a lot
in the heart of the city, upon which he
erected a pressed brick double store build-
ing, which on account of its location is very
valuable property. This he now rents to
a good advantage.

In 1857 Mr. Chisnall was united in
marriage with Miss Ellen Sandiford, who
was also a native of Lancastershire, Eng-
land, and came to the United States on
the same vessel with our subject in June,
1 83 1. Both are active members of the
Latter Day Saints' Church, and during his
residence in Kewanee iMr. Chisnall has
served as pastor of the church of that de-
nominaton at this place. The congregation
now numbers about one hundred families,
and they have erected a good modern church
edifice. Fraternalh" !Mr, Chisnall is a mem-
ber of the Knights of Honor, No. 1173, of
Kewanee, and the blue lodge of the INIasonic
order at this place and the chapter and com-
mandery at Princeton. He affiliates with
the Republican party but has never taken
an active part in politics. From 1892 until
1898 he was with the Kewanee Coal Com- ,
l)an\", and the following year was appointed
by the mayor as collector of special taxes,
water rents, etc., which position he is now
most creditably filling. He has also served
as health officer and justice of the peace
since 1893. He has led an upright, hon-
orable and useful life, and is highlj- respected
and esteemed bv all who know him.

MOSES W, RESSER.

For over half a century INIoses ^\^
Resser has made his home in Henrj" county,
and since attaining to man's estate has been

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

actively identified with its business inter-
ests. He is now following fanning on sec-
tion 5, Genesee township. He was horn
in Adams cuunly, rennsylvaiiia. on the
27th of October, 1847, '""' '^^'i* ""'y three
years of age when he came to this country
with his parents, Moses and Hannah
(Groop) Resser, also natives of the Key-
stone state. The family settled in Phenix
township, where the father purchased a
farm of two hundred acres. To his landed
possessions he added from time to time un-
til he had seven hundred acres in Phenix
and Geneseo townships. He died in the
city of Geneseo at the age of eighty-two
years, and his wife passed away at the age
of sixty-fi\-e. In the family of this worthy
couple were eight children, of whom Moses
W. is the fifth in order of birth, and six of
the number are still living.

Our subject remained on the home farm
in Phenix township, giving his father the
benefit of his labor until the Civil broke out,
when he ran away from home, and at
Leavenworth, Kansas, enlisted in Company
I, Eighth Kansas Volunteer Infantry. He
took part in many of the principal battles of
the war and remained in the service until
hostilities ceased, being honorably dis-
charged at San Antonio, Texas. He then
returned to his home in Illinois and went
upon the Mississippi river, leading the life
of a sailor for ten years. When he retired
from the service he held a certificate as
first-class pilot from the government. Dur-
ing the following six years he was engaged
in the hotel business in Geneseo, conduct-
ing what was known as the Singleman
House.

In the meantime -Mr. Resser was mar-
ried at that place, in 1879, to Miss Mary
A. Bookmiller, a native of Phenix township.

this county, where her father, John D.
P)Ookmillcr, now deceased, was engaged in
farming. P.y this union were born five chil-
dren, all of wliiini are slill living, namely:
lulith I'"., who is now the wife of Henry
L'. Kirchner, a farmer of Greene county,
Iowa, and has one child, Flossie A. ; Moses
D., aged seventeen; Otis A. and Flora F.,
twins, aged twelve years ; and Earl E., aged
eight, all at home.

Mr. Resser is now the owner of a fine
farm of two hundred acres on section 5,
Cieneseo township, which formerly belonged
to his father's estate, it being purchased
by our subject from the other heirs. When
it came into his possession it was all wild
and unbroken, and all of the improvements
now found thereon have been made by him.
He is accounted one of the most thorough
and skillful farmers of his community, and
in his undertakings is meeting with well-
tleserved success. In the development of
his farm he has materially advanced the in-
terests of the county, and has ever borne
his part in promoting those enterprises for
the public good. He is a recognized leader
in public affairs, and has creditably filled
nearly all the township offices, including
I hat of supervisor.

CASPER S.VXi).

Among the promineni retired farmers
of Geneseo, Illinois, and honored veterans of
the Civil war, is Casper Sand, who was
Imrn on the 7th of August, 1844, in Ger-
many, of which country his parents, Henry
and .\nna Catherine (Weaver) Sand, were
also natives. The father ser\-ed the usual
length of time in the Cjerman army, and in
his native land followed both farming and
the mason's trade. In the fall of 1849 1'^

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

brought his family to the United States,
being several weeks in crossing the ocean.
From Xew York they proceeded to Chi-
cag'o by water, and in the latter city Henry
Sand was ottered a good position, bnt lia\--
ing decided to join his brothers, Lonis and
Philip, in Henry county, he continued his
journey by team, arriving here in the same
fall. He purcliased a soldier's claim of
forty acres in Loraine township, to which
he subsequently added until at the time of
his death he had one hundred and seventy
acres of highly culti\'ated and productive
land. He died in 1888, at the age of eighty-
one years, and his wife departed this life
in 1879, at tile age of seventy-three. Both
were members of the Evangelical Church,
antl were highly respected by all who knew
them. They were married in 1838, and
became the parents of four children, namely :
Casper, our subject; Mary, widow of Fred-
erick Jacpiet, a resident of Loraine town-
ship; Emeline, wife of Flenry Jaquet, a
farmer of Bureau county, Illinois; and Mar-
garet, who dietl at the age of nineteen
years.

Casper Sand attended school one sum-
mer in Germany before coming to the new
world, and was a student in the i)ul)lic
schools of this county lor a time, but as a
boy he worked hanl upon the home farm
and had little opportunity to obtain an ed-
ucation. Feeling that his adopted country
needed his services during the Rebellion,
he enlisted in the fall of 1864, in Company
H, Thirty-first Illinois \^olunteer Infantiy,
at Peoria, and went into camp at Spring-
field. Later the regiment joined Sherman's
army in Georgia and went on the march to
the sea. Mr. Sand was in the engagement
at Savannah, where he was under constant
fire for about a week, at the end of which

time the Confederates retreated, giving
General Sherman the grand opiKjrtunity of
capturing that city just in time tii present
it to President Lincoln as a Christmas gift,
in 1864. The day that our subject par-
ticipated in the grand re\iew at W'ashing-
ton, D. C, was one of the proudest of his
life, knowing that he had aided in the preser-
vation of the Union. He was mustered out
at Springfield in June, 1865. He was
wounded, but never taken prisoner, and
stood the service fairly well. At the close
of the war he resumed farm work and con-
tinued to follow that occupation until his
retirement from acti\e labor in 1896. He
is still the owner of a good farm of one
hundred and twenty acres, which is well
improved in the way of buildings and
fences, and is under a higli state of culti-
vation.

In 1875 ^Ir. Sand wedded ^Miss ^lar\-
Groshaus, also a native of Germany, who
died in 1868. During the funeral services
at the church, word came of the death of
!Mr. Sand's father, and her remains were
taken back home, so that both might be
buried together. Our subject was again
married, August 7, 1886, his second union
being with Miss Charlotte Sommers, . who
was born in this state, a daughter of George
and Catherine Sommers. Her father, a na-
tive of Germany, came to America at a
very early day and settled in Henry coun-
ty, Illinois, becoming one of its pioneers
as well as one of its highly respected citi-
zens. The year of his arrival here was
1833. He owned and operated a well im-
proved farm of three hundred and seventy
acres in Loraine township. His circle of
friends and acquaintances throughout this
section of the state was quite extensive.
He died April 10, 1891, at the age of sixty-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

eiglit years, two months and fourteen clays,
and his wife, who was born in Warren,
J'ennsylvania, Jime i8, 1835, died August
II. 1S91, on the fortieth anniversary of
their marriage. She was a good woman,
gentle anl loving, yet firm, and was a de-
\out Christian from her youth, both she
and her husband being members of the
Evangelical Association. She had two
brotliers, Philip and Rev. Jacob Worth,
who are still living, and also three sisters,
St)phronia. Delia and Mary Ann (de-
ceased). To Mr. and Mrs. Sommers were
born nine children, namely : Philip E., a
resident of this county; Henry G., of Chi-
cago; Jacob C. a farmer of Kansas; Char-
jitte .\., wife of our subject; Joseph W., a
resident of Montana; Mary A., wife of Simon
Jaquet, a farmer of this county; Katie E.,
an invalid ; Delia, w ho died at the age of
two years; and Prank W., a resident of
Loraine township. The children born to
our subject and his wife are Perrj' A. E.,
Homer H. G. and Alice C. By a former
marriage Mrs. Sand has one child. Edna E.
In his political views ^Ir. Sand is an
anient Republican, and he filled the office of
school director about five years. He is an
honored members of Jenkins Post, No. 452,
G. A. R.^ while his wife belongs to the
Ladies' Circle of the G. A. R., and both
hold membership in the Evangelical Church.
They are widely and favorabh' known, and
well merit the high regard in which they
are held.

WILLIAM XELSOX.

Geneseo township has no more progress-
ive or enterprising citizen than this well-
known asrriculturist, who is the owner of

a valuable farm of two hundred aiul ninety-
five acres on sections 13 and 24. He was born
in Sweden, on the 2nd of January, 1847,
a son of Xels and Stiena (Olson) Nelson,
who were life-long residents of that coun-
try. The father followed the occupation of
farming and also engaged in the manufac-
ture of iron. He died in Sweden at the age
of forty-four years, while the mother was
seventy-four at the time of her death. They
were the parents of eight children, but only
three are now living. August, our subject's
}-oungest brother, started for America some
years after William came to this country,
luit died on the voyage and was buried at
sea. None of the others crossed the At-
lantic.

It was in 1869 that William Nelson emi-
grated to the United States and took up his
residence in \\'ethersfield township, Henry-
county, Illinois, where he worked by the
month at farm labor for five years, and then
rented a farm in that township, which he
operated for four years. At the end of that
period he came to Geneseo township and
l)urchased eighty acres of partially improved
lanil on section 24, and erected thereon a
l;:rge and modern residence. He tiled the
jilace and has otherwise improved it until
it is now one of the model farms of the com-
munity. To his original purchase he has
added until lie now has nearly three hundred
acres all under excellent cultivation.

On the 22nd of November, 1873, Mr.
Nelson was united in marriage with Miss
P.mma S. Peterson, also a native of Sweden,
who came to this country in i86g, and joined
her parents who were then living in Wis-
consin, but are now deceased. By this union
were born three children, namely : Mary
D., 1)1 )rn in Wethersfield township, Novem-
ber 13, 1875, ^^''s graduated from the Gene-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

seo Collegiate Institute in 1893, and is now
the wife of Alfred Peterson, a prominent
farmer of Geneseo township, whose home i?
on section 24. just opposite the residence of
her parents. Emma Sophia, born in \\'eth-
ersfield township, January 13, 1880. wa^.
graduated from the Geneseo Collegiate In-
stitute in 1896, and for four years has
taught school in Geneseo township, giving
the highest satisfaction. Henry William,
born in Geneseo township, February 2, 1892,
is now attending the home school.

yir. Nelson gives his political support
to the men and measures of the Republican
party, but has never been an aspirant for
office. However, he takes a deep and com-
mendable interest in public affairs, and gives
his aid to all enterprises for the public good.
He holds membership in the Swedish Luth-
eran Church of Geneseo, which his family
also attend, and they are people of promi-
nence in the communitv where the\' reside.

L. F. MATTESOX.

Greater fortunes have been accumulated
in Henry county but few lives furnish so
striking an example of the wise application
of sound principles and safe conservatism
as does that of Mr. ilatteson. The story of
his success is short and simple, containing
no exciting chapters, but in it lies one of tiiv.-
most valuable secrets of the prosperity
which it records, and his business and pri-
vate life are pregnant with interest and in-
centive, no matter how lacking in dramatic
action.

Mr. ilatteson was born in the northern
part of Sweden, June 13, 1844, a son of Hans
ar.d Brita Matteson, who brought their fam-

ily to America in October. 1854. and settled
in Copley township. Knox countv. Illinois.
Throughout the remainder of his life the
father engaged in general farming in Knox
and Henry comities, and died in Galva
tt^wnship. this county in 1866, at the age of
hfty-fi\'e years. Subsequently his wife went
to Nebraska to make her home with rela-
tives and there died in 1890, aged seventy-
six years. They were the parents of nine
children, eight of whom were born in Swe-
den, while one was born in this country,
but died when quite small. Of the eiglit,
Anna is the wife of Isaac Boostrom. a man-
ufacturer of tile and brick in Polk county,
Nebraska; L. F. is next in order of birth;
Anson H. is a stock raiser and shipper, of
Loomis, Phelps county. Nebraska : Carrie
is the wife of Jonas \\ . Olson, of Galva,
Illinois; Lizzie is the wife of Olof Erickson,
of Stromsburg, Nebraska: Mary died in
Cambridge township, this county; anil Au-
gust H. and Peter E., twins, are both de-
ceased.

The subject of this sketch was princi-
pally educated in the schools of his native
land, though he attended school for a time
in this country after attaining his twentieth
}ear. He grew to manhood upon the home
farm and then removed from Knox tc»
Henry county, locating on a farm in Galva
township, where he spent two years. The
following eight years were passed in Cam-
bridge township, and while living there ha
was married in 1875 to ^Nliss Lizzie M. San-
burg, who was also born in Sweden, De-
cember 9, 1855, and came to America with
an uncle in 1870. Her father died in Swe-
den when she was an infant and the mother
came to America in June. 1899. and resides
in Galva township. By this union were born
five children, of whom Jefferson \V. died at

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the age of t\\el\e years. Tliosc living are
I'ranklin, who is imw engaged in farming
upon his father's laml : Duhe X., a graduate
of tile (ialva higli seiiDol and nmv tiie wife
of WilHam Edward Hanst)n. wliu is clerk-
ing in her father's store; and May and Mor-
ris, who are l)otli attending school.

Mr. ]\Iattes<in owned a farm of eighty
acres in L'amhridge townshii), which he
operated until 1S7S, when he remoxed to
Clalva, and practically li\eil retired for the
following two years. In iScSi he purchased
a meat market, which he conducted at in-
tervals for about fourteen years, and still
owns the building in which it was located,
il being now occupied b\- John Lapan. ( )n
the i^Ub of March. iSi)<), he pmxdiased his
present drug store i^i Mrs. Hanson, and has
since given his attention to that line of trade.
Jle carries a well-selected stock of drugs,
druggists' sundries, paints, oils, books and
stationerv, and is meeting with gciod suc-
cess in this ■ \enture. During his residence
in Galva he purchased a well-improved farm
of one hundred and eigiity acres, which has
been operated by hini for a number of years,
and in connection with his farming opera-
tions he is now gi\ing consideral)le atten-
tion to the stock business. He is a stock-
liolder of the (Ialva .State I Sank, the (ialva
Telephone Company, and the W'estr.'uid
Manufacturing Company of (jalxa, which
manufactures corn planters and farm imple-
ments. As a business man he is enterpris-
ing, energetic and thoroughl}' reliable,
and the success that he has achieved is cer-
tainl\- well merited, lie is a prominent
member of the Knights of Pythias lodge
of (ialva, in which he has filled all the offices.
In his political affiliation he is a Republican
and has always taken an active interest i'i
i)artv affairs. He has filled a number of

local offices, including that of school director,
and in 1899 ^^'i'^ elected sujjcrvisor of (i.alva
township, which position he is now filling
witii credit to himself and to the entire
satisfaction of his constituents, lie has
been a meinl)cr of the town board of Calva
for eight years, during which time he labored
earnestlv for the establishment of water
wiirks, and his efforts were finally crowned
w itli success. He has been a delegate to the
County senatorial conventions of his party,
and is one of the most influential and prom-
inent citizens of his community. His esti-
mable wife holds membership in the Luther-
an Church at (ialva, and he contributes lib-
erallv to its .support and to all worthy en-
terprfses for the public good.

W. SYDNEY GOEMBEL.

Among" (jeneseo's most enterprising
and progressive business men is \\'. Sydney
Cioembel, who for the past twelve years has
represented the Moline Wagon Company as
a lra\eling salesman, while in that line of
business he has been successfully engaged
for almost a (|uarter of a centur_\-. He was
born in I'eori;!, Illinois, on the 9tli of .\pril.
1S4S. and is the eldest son of Jacob and
Louisa I Luther) Cioembel.

The father was born in Xiederaula, Kries
Herschfeld, Kurfenstenthun, Hessen, (ier-
many. May 17, 1SJ4, and in 1834 came t(J
.\merica with his parents, Sebastian and
.\nna i^Schafferj Goembel, landing at Xew
Orleans, on the 9tli of June, after sixty-
three (lavs upon the water, fliev proceeded
up the ^lississippi and Illinois rivers to
I'eoria. and across tiie country to Tazewell
count\', Illinois, where Sebastian (ioembel

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bought a farm and also secured a (|u:u"ter
section of government land. Mis last days
vere sjjent in Washington, that county,
■where he died at alxjut the age of seventy-
six )-ears. His wife was over eighty-three
)'ears of age at the time of her death. For
many years they held membership in the
Evangelical Association, and were highly
respected by all who knew them. Of their
nine children only the eldest daughter, Cath-
erine, wife of John Clinch, of Washington;
and Jacob, father of our subject, are now
living.

Jacob (jocmbel was reared on the home
farm and educated in the German language,
having never attended English schools. He
assisted in opening up the farm in Tazewell
county, which was only five miles from
Peoria. At the age of twenty-one he left
home and went to Chicago, where he worked
ac a teamster fur ten dollars per month. In
1846 he was married in Lake county, Illi-
nois, to -Miss Louisa Luther, who was born
in Xew York, January 28, 1826, a daugh-
ter of John Jacob and Louisa (Saunders)
Luther, both natives of Linbach, Xeibeirn,
then a province of France, but now a part
of Germany. Her father served tmder Na-
poleon Bonaparte, for seven years as a
member of the old Imperial Guard, and ac-
companied that famous warrior on his inva-
sion of Egypt and Russia, taking part in the
siege of Moscow. He was under the com-
Uiand of General Xey for a time, and while
in the service had a horse shot from under
him. In 1821 he came to this country and
first settled in Allegany county, Xew York,
Avhere he made his home for a few years.
The following seven years were spent in
\\'arren, Pennsylvania, and in 1836 he re-
moved to Chicago, Illinois, which city at that
time contained only two good houses. The

Indians were just leaving for the western
reservations beyond the ilississippi. The
family made their home in the vicinity of
Chicago until coming to Henry county in
1852, when they took up their residence in
Yorktown township. Mr. Luther died in
Geneseo, in 1862, at the age of seventj'-four
years, six months and five days. His wife
passed away at their home near Chicago in
1850. They were members of the Evangel-
ical Association and most estimable people.
Of their ele\eii children, ten reached matur-
ity, but only three are now living, namely :
Louisa, mother of our subject; Elizabeth,
wife of Jesse Wilniot, of Leonora, Kansas;
and David, a resident of Geneseo.

After his marriage Jacob Goembel
worked in a slaughter house in Peoria for a
year, and then purchased eighty acres of
kiud on Farm creek, Tazewell county, which
he sold in 1S51 on coming to Henry county.
Here he entered a tract of government land
on section 30, Y'orktown township, and en-
gaged in its cultivation until 1863, when he
bought another farm in the same locality,
and made his home there until his renio\al
to Geneseo in 1876. He is still the owner
of ninety-one acres of land in Yorktowu
township, but is now living retired in Gene-
seo. His political support is given the Re-
imblican party, and he filled the office of
school trustee for many years. He and his
wife are iDrominent members of the Evan-
gelical Association, and he is now a trustee
of the church.

This worthy couple are the parents of
nine children of whom our subject is the
oldest. Samuel, a prominent grain dealer
of Geneseo, is represented on another page
of this volume; Jacob Edward, a farmer of
Yorktown township, married Emma Rapp
and has three children, Ada, Harvey and

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RFXORD.

r.essie; Peter, a farmer of Minnesota, mar-
ried Clirisliiia Rajip and lias six ciiildren.
01i\e. Arthur, Jesse, I'erry, lulith and \'er-
iu>n ; Anna is the wile of Henr\' (ilahe, a
ciMitractor of Tazewell county; L\(ha is the
wife of Isaac Krimhill, of Minnesota, and
lias five cliildren, Pilanclie, \'era. \\ innie,
Clarence and Archie; John E., an att>irney
of Rock ford, Illinois, married Minnie
Crosskopp; W'ilhelmina died at the age of
se\en _\ears : and Catherine dietl at the age
of eighteen months.

.\lr. (iocmhel. of this review, was onlv
three years old when hrought 1)\- his par-
ents to this countr}', and in ^'orktown lnwn-
ship lie grew to ni.inhood. J lis earl\' edu-
cation was ohtained in the jjuhlic schools,
and at the age of eighteen he entered the
Xorthwestern College at Plaintield, Illinois,
where he was a student for a time. Snhse-
(|uentl_\' he engaged in ti.'aching schodi in
Henry county for four vears, and during
the following two years engaged in farming
in Yorktown townshii). In iSjj he m;ide
an extended trip through Missouri, Kan-
sas, Colorado. Nebraska and Iowa, in coni'
pany with his cousin, Levi <. opp. 'They
spent a delightful summer in tins way. dri\-
ing the entire distance of two thousand
seven hundred and sixtv miles.

( )n his return home Mr. ( iocmhel suc-
cessfully engaged in stock l)u\-ing for two.
years in Yorktown township, and in the
fall of 1873 remove<l to Moline, where he
embarked in general merchandising, in
company with John Rapp, under the lirm
name of Rapp & (loemhel. The following
June Samuel .\rnett iiec.ame a member of the
company and the name was changed to
Rapp, (ioembel ^K: .\ruett. Two years and
a half later Mr. Rapp sold his interest to
his partners, who continued business under

the name of Goembel & .\rnett until the
fall of 1S7S, when Mr. Goembel withdrew
from the lirm. The following year he en-
gaged in the implement business with Mow-
ery (Jt Hawkins, and in i<S8o went upon tho
road for the JulinstMn Harvester Company,
of Ratavia, .\ew \nrk. rejiresenting their
western branch, with headcpiarters at Chi-
cago. In )88i he became connected with
the .Sterling Manufacturing Company, of
Sterling, Illinois. ])eing the lirst man to
represent that company as a traveling sales-
man, lie remained with them twn and a
half years, and in t883 entLM-ed the service
of the Janesville Machine (,'ompany. of
Janes\-ille, Wisconsin, his territ(jry includ
ing the states of Wisconsin, ^Minnesota, thu
Dakotas, Xebra.ska, Kansas, Missouri, Colo-
r;'.ilo an<l Wyoming, witli headipiarters at
Lincoln. Nebraska. ( )n leaving that con-
cern, in the fall of 1889, he entered the
emi)loy of the Moline Wagon Comi)any,
with which lie is still connected. .\ genial
ami obliging gentleman, he ni;ikes a \ ery
pojjular salesman, and is held in high re-
gard not onl_\' b_\- the company which he rep-
resents, but also by his many ]>atriins and
the ac([uaintances he makes upon the road.
Mr. Goembel now makes his home in ( iene
seo. As a Inisiuess man he has prospered
and is now the owner of a ranch of six bur-
tired and forty acres near Sherman. Minne-
liaha county, South Dakota, and \\:\> a farm
of one hundred and sixty acres in Rock
Count V, Minnesota, which he rents, it be-
ing worked on the mutual plan. He also
has city property in (jeneseo, Illinois, and
Wichita. Kansas.

On the 8th of October, 1870, Mr. Goem-
bel was tniited in nrarriagc with Miss Mar-
tha (ireenwood. a native of I''ngl;ind. ami
a daughter of John and Mary (Sound)

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Greenwood, wlio became residents of York-
town township, this county, in 1863. Mr.
Greenwood is now deceased, but his wife
is still living and makes her home with her
son Joseph, in that township. Mrs. Goem-
bel died September 11, 1871, and our sub-
ject was again married Xovember 17.
1874. his second union being with ?kliss
Laura E. Early, who was born in Saxony.
Germany, in December, 1848. and came t.'
America in 1853 with her parents. Lave-
recht and Leonora (Bartholt) Early. On
landing in Xew York the family proceeded
at once to Henry county. Illinois, and lo-
cated in Burns township, where ^Ir. I-'arlv
followed the occupation of farming. His
wife died September 17, i860, at the age
of forty-three years, and the following year
he removed to Geneseo, where he engaged
in the hotel business until 1867. He passed
away in September, 1868. at the age of
fifty years. ^Irs. Goembel has a half-
brother, \\illiam F. Crangle, of Holmes-
\ ille, Nebraska ; and has three sisters, name-
ly : Amelia, deceased wife of Andrew Mar-
tni, of Atlantic, Iowa; Aurelia. wife of J.
J. Shuck, of Geneseo. Illinois: Lizzie, wife
of Joseph Dobbs, a jeweler of Geneseo.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Goembel ha\e been born
three children: Lowell Sydney, wiio was
born July 13, 1878, and died ^lay i, 1890;
Ethel Pearl, born Xovember 13. 1881 : and
Lela May, born June 4, 1883.

In politics yir. Cioembel is a stanch
Democrat, and is a jjcrsonal frien<l of Will-
iam J. Bryan. He is a member of the In-
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the
Knights of Pythias, and the Iowa Travel
ing Men's Association, and holds an en-
viable position both in Inisiness and social
circles. His wife and daughter are mem-
bers of the Baptist Church, and the family

is one of prominence in the communitx
where they reside, having an extensi\e cir-
cle of friends and acquaintances.

J. C. SMILEY. M. D.

Among those who devote their time and
energies to the alleviation of human suflfer-
ing is Dr. J. C. Smiley, of Kewanee, who
is to-day the oldest practicing physician of
Henry county. He was born on the 14th of
September, 1830, in Winchester, \'irginia,
near the battle ground of Bull Run, and is .1
son of Walter and Susan ( Kraus) Smiley,
The latter was born in Ohio of German
parentage, while the Doctor's father was a
native of Scotland, though he came to
America in boyhood and was only a Ind
when his father died. He was educated U.v
the Presbyterian ministry, and devoted h.s
entire life to that noble calling, preaching in
Winchester for many y^ars. He removed to-
Randolph county, Indiana, when our sub-
ject was nine years of age, and there fol-
lowed farming for h\e years. He died at
the age of sixty-six years, and liis wulow
subsetjuentl}' married Ephraim Bragg. Her
death also occurreil in Randolph county.
Indiana, when she was sixty-nine years old.
By her first marriage she had nine chiklre.i,
all of whom reaciietl years of maturity,
while five are still li\ing. namely: J. A., a
resident of Indiana: J. C. our subject;
Maria, widow of Perry Hinesley and a resi-
dent of Indiana: Sarah, wife of Benjamin
Cleavenger, of Indiana: and C. M., a farmer
of Rantlolph county, the same state.

Dr. Smiley's early educational ad-
vantages were meager, as he had to gov
three and a half miles to school and was

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

only able to attend a few months in winter,
wading throug^h slush and snow. As his
father died when he was not nine years old
he liired himself nut to a man who taught
school in winter and farmed in summer.
While in liis employ he was sent on errands
to the neighhoring towns and in this way
formed the ac(|uaintance of a Mr. Searle.
who conducted a general store at Deerfield.
and who later hired our subject to work for
him at five dollars per montii. He remained
with him thirteen years antl tiien came to
Cambridge. Illinois. In the meantime he
commenced reading medicine with Dr.
Longshore, who came west the \'jar before
our subject and it was tiirough his intluencc
that Dr. Smiley located here. For a year
and a half he continuetl his studies imder
Dr. I'ld wards, of Cambridge, and then at-
tended lectures at Rush .Medical C\)llege,
Chicago. On his return to Henry county,
in the spring of i860, he took charge and
cureil tlie first case of diphtheria which is
known to have occurred in the county. For
abiiut four years he was in partnership with
Dr. C. II. Grand, and was then alone in
practice for a few months. In the spring
<if 1H65 he came to Kewanee. and has suc-
cessfidly engaged in practice here ever since.
On locating here there were six other ])hysi-
ciaus in the place, but he is the only one
remaining, lie was in partnership witn Dr.
Day for about foiu" \ears. and was then
alone until he formed a j)artirershi]) with
his son in iSSj. He has met with excellent
success in his chosen profession and enjoys
a large and lucrative practice.

On the 25th of September, 1852, Dr.
Smiley was united in marriage with Miss
Mary ICUen Cook, of Jay comny, Indiana,
who was a native of Ohic\ and a daughtei
of |ohu R. and Marv Cook. He has been

called upon to mourn the loss of his wile,
who died January 12. 1899. at the age of
si.xtv-six vears. Of the four children born
to them two (lied in infancy. Florence is
now the wife of Louis Kraiis, of Kewanee.
and they have one child, Charles. Francis
M.. now a i)hysician engaged in practice
with his father, was born in Cambridge,
November _^. 1838, and received his early
education in liie schools of Kewanee. He
then entered Xotre Dame L'niversity. where
he i)ursued both the literary and medical
courses, and was graduated in 1876 with
the degree of M. D. He was next a stir
dent at .\nn Arbor one year, and having
contracted ague at that ])lace returned home.
I'"or two years he attended lectures at Rush
Medical College, and was graduated from
that in.stitution February jj. 1879. Lo-
cating at Atchison, Illinois, he was engaged
in practice there for three years, and for the
following four years was connected with the
Pinkerton Detective .\gency. He then spent
some time at the receiving hospital of Belle-
\-ue. .\ew ^'ork. and the insane asylum ac
Staunton. X'irginia, making a stnd_\ of the
l)atients at both places, and then returned
to Kewanee in 1887 and entered into part-
nership with his father. In 1890 he took
a special course at the llliiioi.s ICye & Ear
Infirmary, where he spent one year, bra
ternallv he is connected with ihe Tribune,
Roval Circle and llome l'"orum, and also
belongs to Canton Lodge, 1. t). O. F.. of
Kewanee. lie assisted in organizing the
Rebecca hxlge of the same order, and also
the Improved Tribe of Red Men, at Kewa-
nee. In politics he is independent. He was
married. May i, 1879, to Miss Minnie Mac-
Farland, a native of Boston, Massachusetts,
and a daugiiter of William Macb'arland, now
of Wichita. Kansas. I)\' this union was

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born a daughter, Grace I., a graduate of the
Kewanee high scliool.

At national elections Dr. J. C. Smilev
votes the Democratic ticket, but at local
elections, when no issue is involved, he sup
ports whom he believes to be the best man
for the office, regardless of party affilia-
tions. He has served as a member of the
town council and for many years was presi
dent of the school board, during which time
school houses were built and the public
school system put on a good running basis.
Other offices have been tendered him, but
he has always. refused sucii honors. Hav-
ing met with success in his chosen calling,
he is now the owner of considerable prop
erty in Kewanee. and also in Omaha, Ne-
braska, and has farming land in that state.
He is one of the oldest Odd Fellows in
Henry county, and has been a !Mason since
1868, now holding membership in Kewanee
Lodge, Xo. 159. He is widely known
throughout the county where he has so long
made his home, and is imiversally esteemed
and respected.

PETER HERDIEX.

One of the most prominent citizens oi
Galva. well known for his business ability
and enterprise, is Peter Herdien, president
of the Hayes Pump and Planter Company,
and the orginator and treasurer of the Her-
dien Coal Company, the latter being estab-
lished in 1880. He was born in Lingbo.
Shog, Socken. Sweden. May 23, 1844, <i'ifl
is the son of Hans Hanson, who. through
his five years' service in the X^ational
Guards of Sweden, acquired distinction and
won the militarv name of Herdien. His

wife. Catherine Johnson,, was also a native
of Sweden, and they were the parents of
three children. Hans, born in 1836, died in
Sweden in 1885. Christine, the only daugh-
ter, still makes her home in her native land.
Peter is the subject of this sketch. The
parents both died in Sweden, the father in
1865. at the age of forty-five years. The
mother survi\ed him many years, and died
in 1891.

The subject of this sketch is the only one
of the family caming to America. He re-
ceived his education in the schools of his
native country, and while the instruction
was not all that he desired, it was the foun-
dation for knowledge afterwards accpiired
by reading and contact with the world, and
for the business career for which he had a
natural inclination. He was but twenty
years of age when he came to the L'nited
States, and although he came with limited
means, he had the steadfast determination
to achieve success, if it were at all possible.
Locating first in Knox county, Illinois, he
v.orked for a time as a carpenter, but in the
winter following his arrival he commenced
to learn the cabinet maker's trade, at which
he continued for five years, securing in that
time a thorough knowledge of the trade.

In 1869. Mr. Herdien came to Henry
canity and was employed by ^Ir. Alger in
his furniture store in the village of Wood-
hull, and there remained one years, during
which time an excellent trade was built up.
Leaving the employ of ilr. Alger, he went
to Gaha, wiiere he formed a partnership
with O. L. Peterson, and purchased the fur-
niture interests of L. Hedstrom. who was a
partner of ^Ir. Peterson. For a number of
years the partnership thus formed was con-
tinued, and the business is yet carried on by
Mr. Peterson. The firm of Herdien & Pe-

PKTl-.k IIKKDIEN.

LIB'?«''Y

umvERSiiy u. -^tiHOu

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

terson, soon after its orgaiiizatinn, opened
up a branch store in Canilirido'e, Illinois,
which they continued until 1876. when the
stock was disposed of and Mr. Herdien be-
came interested in coal mining and in the
general coal trade. Soon after this, bow-
ever, he and ^Ir. Peterson purchased a fur-
niture store in Kearney, Nebraska, which
they continued to operate for one year, when
they sold out to a Mr. Swift. In company
with seven others, he then formed the (jalva
Alining Company, but later this was merged
into the Herdien Coal Company. In tlie
years that ba\e since passed, he has built
up an excellent trade, supplying nearly all
the coal for the local trade, and at times
shipping to other points. Some years ago
the firm of Lewin & Corkbill started up in
the coal trade, and, after running for a .sliort
time, the company purchased their inter-
ests, and has since conducted a profitable
business.

On the 6th of Xovember. 1870, Mr.
Herdien was united in marriage with Miss
Martha Johnson, of \'ictoria. Kuo.x county,
Illinois, a native of Sweden. I)orn July o.
1848, and daughter of Louis Johnson, who
came witii his family to. Illinois in 1857 and
settled in Knox county. By this union three
children were born. Jennie M., born Octo-
ber 17. 1 87 1, was married Sejjtember 26,
1900, to V. V. Bodinson. a druggist, and
tiiey now reside in Baker City, Oregon.
\\'alter L., born August 8, 1874, after re-
ceiving his primary education in the schools
of Galva, entered Xorthwestern University.
Evanston, Illinois, and, taking the classical
course, was graduated with the degree of
A. B. He later entered the law department
of the same institution, from which he was
also graduated, and in 1900 was admitted
to the b;u" of Cook count\', ami now resides

iu Chicago. In all be took a seven years'
course in the University. Elmer Forrest,
born May 22. 1876, also took the classical,
later the medical, course in the same insti-
tution, receiving first his degree of A. B..
and afterwards the degree of M. D. He was
in attendance at the University for eight
years.

His business interests calling him to Chi-
cago, in 1 89 1, ^Ir. Herdien moved his fam-
Iv to that cty, where they remained until
1895 and then returned to Galva. In
that year he became identified with the
Hayes Pump and Planter Company, as man-
ager, investing some capital in the concern.
With his well known energy and business
tact, he has built up a good trade -for the
productions of tlie company, and placed its
business on & sound financial basis, and in
.July, 1899, was made president. In other
concerns be has also become interested, and
is now the president of the Galva Gas Light
and Coke Company, and vice-president of
the First Xational Bank of Galva.

Religiously, Mr. Herdien is a member of
the Swedish Methodist Episcopal Qiurch,
of which body bis wife is also a member.
Both manifest much interest in the work of
the church and in the cause of the Master.
Politically he is a I\epul)lican, and while
lie is an active worker for his party, attend-
ing and particij^ating as a delegate in its
various conventions, he has never aspired
to political offices. It is as a business man
that be is best known, and for thirty years
he has been identified with the business
interests of Galva, and it is conceded by all
that his influence has been felt in a remark-
able degree, and always on the side of right.
\\'hile conservative, he is yet wide-awake
to every nterest that will best advance the
general good of Jiis ado])te(l city and c unity.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

DANIEL LA\'ERY.

Tliis well-known and successful farmer.
\\hos hue farm, comprising two hunilred
and eighty acres of land, is pleasantl}' lo-
cated on section 3(), Hanna township, is a
nati\"e of the Emerald Isle, and a son of
Daniel and Esther (Banii) Lavery, who,
as farming people, spent their entire li\es
in Ireland. The fatiier was about sixty-
years of age at the time of his death. Our
subject has one lorother, Patrick, who is a
farmer of this count}-.

In 1S55. when abnut t\\ ent\--tw(j }-ears
of age. Mr. La\-er}-, of this re\-iew, emi-
grated to America, antl first located in
\Vayne county, Pennsyhania, where he
worked by the month for one }-ear. lie
then' went to California, where he spent two
years in prospecting and mining, and vn
his return east again took up his residence
in Wayne county, Penns_\-l\-ania. where he
tolknved farming for the fullowing twi.i
years. In 1863 he came to Henry couui)-,
Illinois, and purchased eighty acres of hi^i
present farm in Hanna township, to whic!-.
he has adiled fnmi time to time as his
financial resources have increased untd he-
is now the jjossessor of a valuable place of
two hundred and eight}- acres, idl undei
cultixatiiiii and improxed with good and
suljstantial buildings, including a [jleasant
residence. In connection with general
farming he is 'also engaged in stock raising
with excellent success.

In Wayne county. Pennsyhania, Air.
Lavery was married, in 1861, to Miss Mary
O'Xeill, a native of that state, and a daugh-
ter of James and I'.liza ( Boyle) O'XeiU,
both n<]W deceased. J ler father was born
iri Ireland and was abcmt fom- \-ears of age
when he caiue to the Lnitetl States. Unto

Mr. and Mrs. Laxerv were burn the follow-
ing children: John, who dietl at the age of
eighteen years; James, wlui married Luc}'
Hannon and is eiigaged in farn-iing in .\t-
cliisiin township, this countv; Lizzie, who
died at the age of thirteen years; Daniel,
a farmer of Annawan township ; Charles,
at home ; Celia, now in a convent at Sus-
(juebanna, I'ennsylvania ; Salie, Frank and
r\Iarg-aret A., all at home; ^\'illiam, who
died at the age of eig'hteen years: and Min-
nie, at liduie. All were born in this cnunt}-.
with the exceptiim of John, wlidse birth oc-
curred in Penns}-l\-ania.

In his political affiliations Mr. Laxery
is a Democrat, but he has never sought pub-
lice office, preferring to give his attention to
h^is business interests. He gives his support
t(j all enterprises for the public benefit, and
in man}- ways has materially ad\-anced the
interests of the community in which he li\es.
In religious belief he is a Catholic and his
faniih- also attend that church.

FREDERICK W. WEI X RICH.

One of the prosperous farmers and suc-
cessful stock raisers of Henry cnunt}-,.
1-^-ederick W. Weinrich. is now carr}-ing on
oi)erations on section 6. Miuison townsIii[i.
He is a nati\-e oi this count}-. Imrn in Cen;;-
seo tow-nship. June 15, i8()2. and is the
eldest son of William 1". and Christina
( Kipping) Weinrich. who were l)orn. reared
and married in Germany, and as a wedding
journey cameto America in 185J. The fa-
ther had receixed a limited educatinn in his
natixe land antl had learned the carpenter's
trade, xvhich he folloxved for ten years after
coming to this country, making his home

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(luring; tliis time at (ieiieseo. Illinois. He
then took up agricultural pursuits, to whicli
he devoted his attention from 1862 until
he retired from acti\e labor, in 1893. ^^
purchased one hundred and si.xty acres of
l.uul in (Jeneseo township, which had pre-
vinusly been broken. biU he added to it
manv valuable improvements, making it one
of the most (lesiral)le farms of its size ii:
the locaKtv. In connection with general
farming he was also interested in tlie stock
business until 1893, when be laid aside ali
business cares and removed to (ieneseo,
where be now makes bis home. lie is a
supporter of the Democratic partw but has
ne\er taken an active part in political af-
fairs. He attends the Methodist (.'hurch
of Cieneseo. an<I is highly respected and es-
teemed by all who know him. In his family
were nine children, all of whom readied ma-
turity, namely: Kmiua, widow of (iottlieb
Zimmerman and a resident of (ieneseo;
Clara, who died unmarried at the age of
thirty years; Christ 'na. at home with her
parents; Frederick W .. our subject; Will-
iam, salesman for a wholesale h(|uor house
(.f Rock Island; Matilda, at home: Ivlward,
who is e.\tcnsi\ely engaged in the stock
l)usiness on the old home farm in Cieneseo
township; Charles, a printer by trade, who
died in 1897; and Herman, who is engaged
ir. the poultry and commission business in
Cambridge.

Frederick \\". W einrich re(!:ei\ed his ed-
ucation in the district school near bis boy-
hood home, and grew to manhood u])on the
f;;rm, wliich. as the oldest son, be assisted
bis father in improving and culti\ating as
soon as large enough to handle a ])low. On
attaining his majority he embarked in busi-
ness for himself as a stock dealer on a small
scale. gi\ing his attention to Poland China

bogs, which he raised for sale and breeding
purposes, .\lthough still a young man be
is one of the oldest dealers in bis community.
His stock is all of a high grade and very
xaluable. luicb year be has his stock on
exhibition at the fairs, and has thus far se-
cured first prize and sweepstakes for his
bogs. He is also extensively engaged in
feeding cattle for market, and by a \isit
to bis well kept farm one can see some line
animals as exidence of his skill as a practical
stock feeder. In connection w.tii his
brother Edward be is also interested in rais-
ing full blooded draft horses and jiolled
.\ngus cattle, w hich have recently been added
to the list oi high grade animals wiiich they
raise. In each business venture Mr. W'ein-
rich has met with decided success, and we
])redict for him a l)rilhant f.iture as one of
the leading stock dealers of the county.
I'-rom 1888 to 1894 he rented land in (iene-
seo township, but in the latter ye:u- pur-
chased his present farm of one lumdrcd and
lwent\-four acres on section 6. Munson
township. uiJon which he has made some
valuable improvements, including the erec-
tion of additional buildings for the acco:n-
UK Illation of his constantlx' increasing stock
business.

In 1888 Mr. W'eim-ich was uniteil in
marriage with Miss Matilda IJartz. who was
born in (iermany, in 1869, but was brought
to the United States in 1871 by her par-
ents, John and .\nna (Fritz) P.artz. I ler
fatber died in h'dfonl townshi]). this county,
in i(;Oo, but her mother is still living on
the farm there. .Mrs. \\ einrich is the oklesc
of their eleven children who are still li\ing,
the others being Bertha, w ho died aged about
three years in (iermany ; .Mbert died in
(ieneseo when a child; Gustaf, a farmer of
Edford township: Hulda, wife of B. Wood-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

rui¥: Emma, a resident of Rock Island;
Edward, at home: Mary, a resident of
Geneseo : and Minnie and John, Ijoth at
home. One son, Ottn, is deceased. ^Ir.
and Mrs. W'einrich are active meml)ers and
liberal supporters of the ^lethodist Episco-
l)al Church. He has never taken an active
part in political affairs. He is a wide
awake , energetic business man, and is
thorouehlv reliable in all transactimis.

\\1LL1AM II. COSXER.

This well-known and prosperous farmer
■of Burns t^)wnship, whose home is on sec-
tion 14, is a native of Hemy county, born
ill Kewanee township, January 5. 184J, antl
is a worthy representati\e vi one of the
county's pioneer families. His father
Jacob Cosner, was born on the nth of
April, 1809. in Coshocton Ciiunty, Ohio.
\\ here he continued to make his home until
coming to this county, in 1838. He was one
of the first to locate in \\'ethersfield town
ship and became prominently identified with
the early development and upbuilding of
this locality. In 1841 he removed to Burns
township, of which he was also a pioneer,
and there continued to reside until his death,
which occurred Januar}- 3, 1897. He served
as postmaster of Burns for several years,
was road commissioner si.x years, and
school director for some time, and was one
of the leading and influential citizens of
his community. He cast his first presiden
tial vote for General Jackson, and continued
to support the Democratic party through-
out life. On the 5th of February, 1841
he married ]\Iiss Sarah Leonard, who was
horn in Pennsvl\-ania, Tanuarv 6, 1820,

and was a daughter of Samuel and Phebe
Leonard, the former of German, the latter
of Irish' descent. Her parents died in this
county and were luiried in Cosner cemetery.
the cemetery l)eing named after his family.
Our subject's paternal grandparents. Philip
and Mary Cosner, were of German and
Welsh extraction.

William H. Cosner is the oldest of a
family of ten children, the others being as
follows: Sylvester Rush, born October 11.
1843, ^1'^^ September 27, 1845. •'"'' ^^''^
buried in \\'ethersfield cemetery. Abrahani
Swails, born November 13, 1845, married,
first, Isabella Tracy, and, second, Eliz;-.
Martin, and lives in Cornwall township
Benton Boner, born October 20, 1847, ^^^^^
April 21, 1849, ^"d was buried in the Cos-
ner cemetery. Amanda Byantha, born De
camber 20, 1849, is the wife of L. E. Wil-
helm, of Kewanee. Cynthia }^laria. burn
December 7, 1851, died January 6. 1873.
Sarah Salena, born August 31, 1854. died
September 11, 1855. Mathew Potter, bom
October 20, 1828, died September 12. 1859
Ruea Rosella, born June 28, 1858, dieil
September 30, 1858. Francis Clarion, born
]\Iay 22, 1859, married Betsy Johnson, and
died October 20, 1890. The mother of these
children died on the 30th of July, 189O.

Mr. Cosner, of this review, attended the
country schools near his boyhood home, and
on the completion of his educatiDU turned
his attention to the work of the farm.
Throughout his entire life he has engaged
in agricultural pursuits, and is now the
owner of two valuable and well improved
farms, one of one hundred and six acres,
the other of one hundred and seventv-two
and a half acres. The neat and thrifty ap-
pearance of these jjlaces shows conclusi\-ely
that he thorouehlv understands the \'oca-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tioii \\l)icli lie follows and tliat lie is a man
uf good business ability. I-"or smne years
lie engaged extensixely in the raising nt
Siiropshire sheep, Init now gives attention to
the raising of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs.

On the 1st of January, 1864, in Wethers-
field township, Mr. Cosner was united in
marriage with ]\liss Adelaide Alvernia
Wedge, born May 14, 1844, and daughter
of Chester and I'aulina (Ellen wood)
Wedge, and they have become the parents
of two children: William Oria married
Emily Scott, by whom he has three children,
and with his family lives on a farm ad-
joining his father's. Ceria Clyde married
Grace A. Whitted, and resides with oui
subject; has two children, Dewey K. and
Claude \\'.

Politically Mr. Co.sner is a Democrat
and he takes cjuite an active antl pruniiucni
part in local affairs. He has filled the crtice
of justice of the peace four j'ears. constablo
eight years, and road master at various
times, and his official duties have always
been most capably and satisfactorily per-
formed.

WILLIAM AIERRIMAX.

This gentleman, who is one of the oldest
settlers and most highly esteemed residents
of Henry county, is now living a retired life
in Geneseo. He was born in Huron coun-
l\', ^lichigan, on Christmas day, 1832, a
son of Edward and Malinda (Bartlett)
Merriman, natives of Xew York, from
which state the father removed to Alichigan
in the latter part of the '20s. He was a
good farmer and followed that pursuit
throughout life. He died February 14,
1858, at the age of forty-six years, and his
v, idcjw subsequently married Adam Dunlap,

a highly respected citizen of Geneseo, who
i.-. represented elsewhere in this work. Her
death occurred March 24, 1898, when she
was seventy-seven ._\ears of age. She was
a devout Christian, a memlier of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, was generous and
charitable, ami an excellent neighbor, a de
voted wife, being almost worshiiiped by her
children for her many endearing qualities.
She still lives in the affections of all who
knew her.

W illiam Merriman is the oldest in a
family of si.K ciiildreii, the others being
Louisa Olive, wIhj married J. Stafford and
died at the age of si.xt\--live years; Minerva,
wife of Weslej' Xiceswinder, of Geneseo,
Charles 13., a resident of Blairtown, Iowa;
Hortence, wife of Charles Jackson, of Es-
sc.K. Iowa; Harriet, who died at the age of
three years; and Gilbert, who resides in Ar-
kansas City, Kansas.

The subject of this review was reared
to farming, which ^iccupalion he has fol-
lowed throughout life in connection with
auctioneering, haxing devoted a portion of
his time to the latter pursuit for twenty-
seven years. Although he is practically liv-
ing a retired life in Geneseo, he still does
some auctioneering for his old friends, and
has sold as high as thirteen thousand dol-
lars' wortii of property in one day.

As early as 1838 Mv. Merriman came
to Henry count}', Illinois, locating here be-
fore the Indians had left for their western
reser\alions and when wild game was
plentiful. At one lime he and a neighbor
counted a drove of seventy-live deer go-
ing from one patch of timl)er to another.
yir. Merriman pre-empted a tract of govern-
ment land before it came into market and
later purchasetl it. A portion of this land
he still owns, having a fine farm of three

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

I'.undred acres in Phenix townshi]), whicli
lit lias improved and placed nnder excel-
lent cultivatidn. His principal farm prod-
ucts have been corn and oats, and he has
gi\en considerable attention to the raising
of stock. In 1S92 he left the farm and
moved to Geneseo, where he now makes his
Ijome. He has served his fellow citizens as
school director and highway commissioner,
bnt has never cared for official honors, pre-
ferring to devote his entire time and atten-
tion to his business interests.

On the 24th of ^larch, i860, yiv. Aler-
riman wedded Miss I\Iargaret Carse, a na-
tive of Wayne county, Ohio, and a daugh-
ter of ^\^ AI. and Mary Carse. who came
to this country from Belfast, Ireland, at an
early day. and in 1850 l(jcated in Illinois.
By this union were l>orn seven children,
namely: Mary M.. wife of Wilbur Brown-
ing, of Phenix, by whom she has one child,
-\Iaudie; Xancy J., wife of Benjamin Mc-
Henry. of Geneseo, by whom she has six
children, Alta, William B.. Flora, Eddie,
Freddie E. and Benjamin D. ; Pearley Etta,
wife of \\'. M. \\'ithrow, of Phenix : Amelia,
wife of Olen Browning, bv whom slie has
one child, Alva C. ; Edward, a resident of
Phenix, who married Susan Tabor and has
one child, Ora; Delia, wife of Edwin Wert,
of Geneseo, by whom she has two children,
Ira and Gertie; and Elsie, who died at the
age of five years.

LYMAN J. WILKINSON.

This well-known and efficient superin-
tendent of the Henry county infirmary, lo-
cated in Munson township, was born in Ti-
«ga county, Pennsylvania, on the 17th of
August, 1833. his parents being George and
Julia A. (Manton) ^^'ilkinson. both natives

of Rhode Tslantl. The \\'ilkinson family
was founded in America by his paternal
great-grandfather and two brothers, na-
tives of England. When young the parents
of our subject nio\ed to Pennsylvania,
where their marriage was celebrated, and
there the father followed farming for sev-
eral years. Coming to Illinois in 1837, he
took up a government claim in La Salle
county, and the following year returned to
Pennsylvania for his family. He followed
his chosen occupation in that county until
I'.is removal to Bureau county, in 1844, and
there he also opened uj) and improved a
farm, which he successfulv operated for a
number of years. Later he embarked in
the hotel business in Tiskilwa and carried
it on for about ten years, when, at the age
of fifty-eight, he retired from active life and
moved to Atchison, Illinois, where he owned
a small farm. He resided in Henry county
for about six years, and died while on a
visit to our subject at the age of sixty-eight.
When he first came to Illinois this section
of the state was practically all wild prairie
Ir.nd, entirely destitute of improvement, and
in the development of his farms he aided
materially in advancing its interests. He
started out in life a poor man, and through
his industry, enterprise and good manage-
ment became quite well-to-do. In religious
belief he was a Uni\-ersalist. and in politics
he was a Democrat. As one of the leading
and influential men of the community in
which he lived, he was honored with a num-
ber of local offices, although he never sought
political preferment. After his death his
w ife made her home with her children and
li\"ed to the ripe okl age of eighty-three
}ears.

The family of this worthy couple num-
bered eight children, fi\e of whom reached

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years of niaturitv. nainel\-: Marshall, wild
was a ineniher of the }'"orty-se\ciuh Illi-
nois N'oliintccr Infantry during tiie Ci\il
var. followed the hlacksniith's trade in
Ti.skiiwa. Bureau cnunty. where he died in
1892; Lyman J., our suhject, is the second
in order of hirtli and the oldest of the fam-
ily now li\ing;: Orrin. who ser\ed in Com-
pany E. Xinety-third Illinois Infantry, dur-
ing tlie Rebellion, is now engageil in the
boot and shoe business in Princeton, Illi-
nois; Charles is a carpenter of Cripple
Creek, Colorado; and Mary J. is tiie widow
of William .'-^mith and resides on a t:irm
in MunsDii tuwuship, this ci unity. All were
reared in L;i S;ille ami I'.nreau counties.
th.is state, and were educated in the public
i;chools.

L\nian J. Wilkinson was only four years
nld when brought l)y his parents to Illinois.
and was reared amid pioneer scenes. He
received a iiigli-sclKMil education, and as-
sisted his father in the ardunus task of (ij)en-
ing up a farm in the new country, lie re-
mained at hiime until he was married, .M;irch
31, 1853, to Miss Emeline Stevens, who was
born in Canterbury. New Hampshire, Jan-
uary 26, 1835. Her father, Thomas J.
Steven.s, was one of the pioneers of liureau
county, this state, where he li)cated in i8^<).
In his family were fnur children, who .are
still living: Joseph M.. a retired farmer uf
Anawan, Henry county; Francis, who owns
ii farm but is now engaged in the butcher
business in Tiskihva, Bureau county; Lo-
rena. widow of S. Fifield and a resident of
Buda; and Mary, widow of Pi. .\. Cleveland
?.nd a resident of Davenport. Iowa. Mrs.
Wilkinson died at the present limine nf our
subject September 19, 1898. By that union
there were born three children, namely : ( 1 )
George T., born October 2;^, 1856, lives

(-11 his father's farm in Munsmi townshi]).
He married Jane (ioshnrn and has two ciiil
dren, Lyman and r>ert. (2) Willis I... liorn
September 21, i8()i. li\-es with his father
CM. the county farm, act.ng as his assistant.
He married Ethel Lambert, who now serves
as matron of the intTrmary. They have two
children, Mabel and Elon. (3) Bert li.. the
youngest son of our subject, was born Au-
gust 25, 1867, and died, unmarried, August
28, 1889.

After his marriage Mr. Wilkinson
worked at the carpenter's trade, which he
had prexiouslv learned, and which he fol-
Inwcxl until after the Civil war limke out.
l\es])ondiiig to his couiitrx's call tor aid,
he enlisted in Company 1'^, Xinety-third Illi-
nois \'olunteer Infantry, which company
was known as the Tiskilwa Tigers. I le en-
tered the service as lirst lieutenant, while
liis brother Orrin was captain of the com-
])any. They were mustered into ser\ice Oc-
tober 13, 1862, by Captain Barrey. of the
L'nited .States army. Our suliject i)artici-
pated in tiie battle of Champion Hill and
the siege of N'icksburg. but on account of
failing health he resigned his commission
and was mustered out September 3, 1863.

After resting for a time Mr. Wilkinson
resumed work at his trade in Tiskilwa. and
continued to follow the same until selected
by the board of supervisors of Bureau coun-
ty as superintendent of the infirmary there,
which jx)sition he most creditably filled from
1869 to 1872, when he resigned to accept
a similar position offered him in this county.
The new building luul just been erected in
Munson township, the plastering being ])ut
on after he moved in. Since then many
improxements lia\e been made under his
careful supervision, ;uid the farm of one
hundred and twenty acres has been enlarged

THE BIOGFL\PHICAL RECORD.

to three limulred and twenty. Tlie farm i.s
now under a high state ot cultivation and
the institution is in a flourishing condition,
owing to tiie excellent management and
good business and e.xecutive ability of ^ir.
Wilkinson, who has proved a most capable,
as well as popular superintendent. He is
now the owner of a well improxed and high-
ly producti^•e farm of one hundred and
sixty acres on section ^2, Munson township,
now occupied by his son.

^Ir. \\'ilkinson has been president of the
Henry Count}' Agricultural Board, luider
whose auspices the fairs are held, and is
one of the stockholders of the association.
In religious belief he is an Episcopalian ;
has ser\"ed as vestryman for a number of
years; and at present is one of the vestry-
men of the church at Geneseo. Fraternally
he is an honored member of E. G. Jenkins
post, G. A. R., of that place, and is a prom-
inent !Mason, a member of the blue lodge
of Cambridge, the chapter and commandery
of Princeton, Illinois, and the Mystic Shrine,
at Davenport, Iowa. He is one of the prom-
inent Republicans of his community, and
takes quite an active and influential part in
tlie work of his party. As a pioneer su-
perintendent of infirmaries in Illinois, and
as one of the most honored and highly re-
spected citizens of Henry county he is cer-
tainly deserving of prominent mention in
its history. In all the relations of life he
h.as been found true to every trust reposed
in him, and has manifested his loyalty in
days of peace as well as in time of war.

FRANK F. WHIFFEN.

The present mayor of Kewanee is one
of the most public spirited citizens of that
place, to whose energy- and foresight the

city is indebtetl for many improvements.
\\'hile Mr. ^^'hift^n. as a prosperous busi-
ness man, has given close attention to his
private affairs, he has never forgotten or
ignored the bond of common interest whicli
should unite the people of every community
and he has alwa}s been ready to prumote
jjrogress in every line.

He was born in Kewanee, ^lay 11, 1858,
and is a son of John Whiffen, whose birth
occurred in Kimbolton, England, October
13, 18 1 5, and who came to America in
1832 with his parents. For many years the
grandfather of our subject was proprietor
of a livery stable in London, known as the
Swan Yard, but after his emigration to this
countr\' lived a retired life. Both he and
his wife died in Utica, Xew York, where the
family located on coming to the new world.
Their children were born in England and
are all now deceased. In order of birth
they Mere as follows : Thomas spent his
early life in Utica, Xew York, but his death
occurred while making his home in Wyom-
ing, Stark county, Illinois; David was a
resident of Iowa; John, the father of our
subject, was the next of the family; Isaac
followed the butcher business in Utica, Xew
York, throughout life; Uridge was a school
teacher of tlie same city ; and Mary complet-
ed the family.

\\'hen quite a young man John Whiffen
was engaged in the butchering business in
Utica with his brother Isaac, to whom he
sold his interest on coming west, and wliose
sons still carry on the business at the same
corner in that city. It was in 1850 that
John \Miiffen came west selling carriages
and two 3'ears later located in ^^'yoming,
Illinois, where he followed farming until
the death of his wife, ]Mrs. Sarah (Seaton)
\\ hiffen, who passed away February 23.

FRANK F. WHIFFEN.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

W6MM

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1854. She was a sister of B. \V. Seaton,
editor of the Prairie Chief, Cambridge, Illi-
nois. She was also a native of England,
and they were married in Utica, Xew York,
Jnly 25, 1838. By this union seven chil-
dren were born, namely: John \\'., born in
June, 1839, is deceased: Isaac .\., born Oc-
tober 8, 1840. is a carriage manufacturer
and dealer of Janesville, Wisconsin ; Aman-
da Jane, bora Xovember 14. 184 J, is now
Mrs. C. E. Bowles of the same place :
Thomas L'., born September 5, 1847, is a
veteran of the Civil war and a lumber mer-
chant of De Witt, Nebraska; Sarah, born
October 4, 1849, married Moses ^I. Barr.
of Downers Grove, Illinois, and both died
leaving a family of six children: Mary E..
born March J4, 185J, is ni)w Mrs. Clement
Xoyes, of Minneapolis, ]^linnesota ; and
Henrietta, Iku-u October 24. 1842, died Oc-
tober 6, 1845. Returning to Xew York,
the father was again married. July 3, 1854,
his second union being with Miss Clarissa
A. Ferguson, of Frankfort, that state, who
was born August 11, 1824. There were
three children by this union, of whom our
subject is the second in order- of birth.
Charles E., born July 30, 1855, died April
23, 1863; and FVederick, born Xovember
1 1, 1864, died April 5, 1867. In 1855 John
WiiifFen took up his residence in Kewanee,
Illinois, becoming one of the first butchers
of that place, and continuing to carry on
the business up to the time of his death.
He was also one of the early stock buyers
and shipjiers of this section, and was en-
gaged in tiie carriage business as a sort of
side issue for a few years. He died June
2/. 1897, and his wife passed away Feb-
ruary 16, 1894. They were among the
charter memliers of the Presbyterian Church
of Kewanee, anl were highly respected and
esteemed bv all who knew them.

During his boyhood and youtli I'rank
F. Whiffen attended the public schools of
Kew anee, and at the age of seventeen began
liis business career in tlie employ of M. C.
Ouinn, who conducted a meat market and
restaurant. Later he worked for his father
and William Priestman one year, and at
the age of nineteen went to Terrill, Texas,
where he was employed in the meat market
of Mr. Priestman for a year. On his return
to Kewanee lie formed a partnership with
liis father in the butchering business in
September, 1878. and carried on a market
in the same building on Tremont street un-
til 1887, when he began buying and ship-
ping live stock and dealing in real estate.
He purchased a part of the Cook estate, con-
sisting of thirteen acres on Water street,
which he laid out in lots and then sold. In
many instances he built houses on the lots,
and sold all on the installment plan, thus
disiK)sing of fifty lots. Although a number
of these were sold without anything being
paid down, he has never had to take one
back. In this way he has enabled many a
poor person to secure a home, who other-
wise would not have done so. Mr. A\'hiffen
also laid out an addition in the cast end
i)f town, known as the Ehnwimd addition,
wiiich ciintains tliirty-two lots, all practical-
ly l)uilt up now. He is still successfully
engaged in the real estate business and has
handled houses and lots all over the city.
He sold the lot on which the Kewanee Xa-.
tional Bank is located to that corporation,
and received for the same the liighest price
ever paid for a lot in Kewanee. In 1894
he embarked in the lumber business on the
north side of the Chicago, Burlington &
Ouincy railroad tracks, on Xorth Main
street, carrying a full line of Iniilding ma-
terials, and has l)uilt up a good trade. He
is a wide-a\wike. energetic business man.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

who generally carries forward to successful
completion whatever he undertakes.

On the 20th of October. 1884, Mr.
^\"hift'en was united in marriage with Miss
.Sarah J- Pyle. a daughter of Robert and
.Sarah J. (Collingwood) Pyle, natives of
England and early settlers of Henry county.
The father is now deceased, but the mother
it still living and makes her home in Ke-
\\anee t<iwnship. Our subject and his wife
liave two children, Clara and Charles P..
\\ho are both attending school.

^Ir. Whiffen is a director of the Union
Building & Loan Association, and treasurer
of the same. As a Republican he takes quite
an active and influential part in local pol-
itics, and has been honored with the highest
office within the gift of his fellow townsmen.
He served as assessor in 1893, 1894, 1896
and 1897, being first elected on the Demo-
cratic and later on the Republican ticket.
In 1899 he was elected mayor of the city,
and during his term many permanent ini-
pro\ements has been made, including the
completion of the system of sanitary sewer-
age as commenced by !Mayor Pierce, and
the laying of a number of cement sidewalks.
He also arranged the details and carried out
tlie paving of the business part of the city.
.the first laid in the city. Air. W'hii^en is
j:)re-eminently public-spirited and progress-
ive, and in the discharge of his official du-
ties has displayed the same business ability
and fidelity that has marked his entire busi-
ness career.

MICHAEL N. EMERY.

For a quarter of a century this gentleman
has been one of the leading agriculturists of
vGalva township, his home being on section

26. -\ native of Illinois, he was born near
Lafayette, Stark county, on the 3d of .\pril,
1842, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth
(Neville) Emery, honored pioneers of this
state. The Emery family was founded in
America by two brothers, who came to this
country from Germany, one locating in
Maine, the other in Pennsylvania. The
former was a ship carpenter by trade, the
latter a blacksmith. The family has been
well represented in the wars of this C(jun-
try. being always very patriotic and loyal.
Among its members are soldiers of the
Revolutionary war, while Conrad Emery,
the grandfather of our subject, was in the
war of 1812, and several cousins participat-
ed in the Civil war.

Jacob Emery, our subject's father, was
born in Pennsylvania, in 1803. and first
nmrried Deborah Doty, by whom he had
six children. Two died when young, but
the others are still living, namely : Mary,
\\idow of ^Michael Neville and a resident
of Fulton county, Illinois; Sarah J., wife
of LetMiard Dufur, of L'nion county. Iowa ;
James H., of Whitewater, Wisconsin: and
Lucinda, wife of Charles Potter, of Toulon,
Stark county, Illinois. At an early day the
father came to Illinois, and near Canton,
Fulton couiU}-, he married Elizabeth Neville,
a native of Ireland, who died in November,
1850. Two of the eight children born of
this union died in childhood, the others be-
ing Johanna, who married Joseph Potter
and died in 1862; David, a retired citizen of
Galva : Britt A., also a resident of that place ;
Michael N.. our subject: Catherine, who be-
came the wife of Daniel Lundy and died in
1869: and Rose. For his third wife the
father married Lydia Driscoll. and to them
was born one child, Happy E., wife of S.
\'. Deem, of Galva. In 1863 the parents of

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(lur subject reninveil in Stark coiintv, wliicli
was then infested by liiclians. while wild
game of all kinds was very abundant. Tiie
father purciiased several tracts of govern-
ment land, and at the time of his death held
two deeds signed I)y President \'an Buren
and two by President Tyler. He owned
about three hundred and twenty acres of
land at that time, all of which had been im-
l)roved by himself, lie was one of the first
to settle on the jirairie and experienced all
the hardships and privations of pioneer life.
In early days he hauled his farm produce
overland to Chicago and Lacon. Jn 1853
he purchased property in Galva and erected
fi\e houses in the new town about the time
the Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy railroad
w as built through that place. There he made
ins home until his death, which occurred
April 4. 1894. By his ballot he supported
the men and measures of the Republican
party, and was always prominently identi-
fied with public affairs, being honored with
a number of ofticial positions. He served
as supervisor and a member of the town
l.foard, the duties of which positions he dis-
charged in a most creilitable manner. Re-
ligiously he was an active wurker and in-
fluential member of the L'nited Brethren
Church.

During his boyhood Michael X. Emery
pursued his studies in a rude school house in
h.is native county, and after coming to Galva
at the age of fourteen attended school for
a few years. At the age of nineteen he
manifested his patriotism and love of coun-
tr\- by enlisting August 19, 1861, in Com-
pany B, Thirty-seventh Illinois \'olunteer
Iiifantr)", under command of J. C. Black.
Jeaving Galva the same day. He jiartici-
pated in the battle of Pea Ridge, in 1862;
Prairie Grove, on the 7th of December, that

year ; the siege of X'icksliurg and many skir-
n-.ishes. During the Red river expedition
he was taken ill and came home on a fur-
lough. Being unable to return to the front,
ht was mustered out at Chicago in October,
1864. He was twice slightly wounded.

After being mustered out Mr. Emery
lived near Lafayette, Illinois, until 1876, be-
ing engaged in agricultural pursuits. He
purchased eighty acres of land there and also
operated rented property. Selling his farm
in Stark county, in 1875, he bought his pres-
ent place of one hundred and twenty acres
on sections 25 and j6, Galva township,Henry
county, and the following year took up his
residence thereon. He has since engaged
in general farming and has met with most
gratifying success.

In 1867 Mr. Emery married Miss Lydia
A. \\'illiams, who was born in Indiana, in
1847. Her father, Lyman Williams, is now-
living in Lafayette. Stark county, at the ripe
old age of eighty-two years. Her mother
died September 12, 1876. During the bor-
der troubles in Kansas he went to that state,
running the blockade successfully, but after
remaining there a few weeks he returned to
Jllinnis. 1 lis children are Mrs. Mary Miner,
a resident of Toulon; Charles M.. of Galva
township; Lydia A., wife of our subject;
John A., of (ialva, Iowa; Mrs. Sarah Baker
and William J., both of Stark county; Ella,
a teacher of tieneseo; and Mrs. Anna Belle
White, of Lafayette. Unto Mr. and Mrs.
Emery were burn three children, but one died
in childhiKid. William E., born November
4.. 1870, is an employe of the Hayes Pump
& Planter Company of Galva. He married
Pauline Dock, and they have one child,
Wallace Leslie. Wallace J., born Septem-
ber 19. 1878, is at home with his father.'
Both sons attended the public schools of this

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

countv, and the i.)l(ler took a l)usiness cmirse
ai Lds Angeles, California.

In his ])olitical \'ie\vs Mr. Emery is a
stanch Uepuhlican, Ijut has ne\er heen an.
aspirant for oltice, lliough always an acti\e
worker tor the interests (if his party. I'^nr
a number of years he served as schoiil di-
rectiir in his district, fie is an honored
member of the (irand Army I'ost. Xo. 33,
of Gah'a, and is a Royal .\rch Mason, while
both he and his wife are members of the
]'-astern Star Chapter, of which she has been
wortliy matron. Thev are people <if con-
siderable prominence in the community
\\here they reside and are held in high re-
gard where\'er known.

HEXRY EVER.

Prominent among the representati\'e
citizens and respected and influential men
of Annawan is the subject of this l)io-
graphical notice, who for many years has
lieen identified with the agricultural inter-
ests of Henry county, but is now living a
retired life at his pleasant home in Anna-
wan.

Mr. F.yer was born in Warren comity.
Ohio, on the 14th of April, 1823, and is a
son of Francis Henry and AIar\- (Knob-
loch ) b'yer, the former a native of Ger-
man}-, who came to .America and settled in
Warren count}', Ohio, prior to 181 2, the
latter of \'irginia. Bv their union were born
three other children, namely: (i) John
wedded Mary Patton and died in Warren
county, Ohio, leaving si.x children. Will-
iam, Root, \\'endell, John, ^largaret and
Mary. (2) Jacob, who also died in War-
ren count}'. Ohio, first married Hester Pat-

ton and after her death wedded i\iar}' l-.l-
wood, b}' whom he had the following chil-
(h'en : lliram. Rush, Elwood, Ashford, de-
ceased, Xanc}' J., b'lizabeth M. and .Susan
M. {_]) fiettie is the wife of J<ihn Eartles,
(jf Hamilton count}', Ohio, and the}' have
fi\'e children. John, Jacob, Wendel. Cather-
ine and Mar}'. After the death of the father
om' subject's m<jtlier was again married,
her sec(_ind luiion being with Francis Henry
Eyer, and b}' this marriage had five children ;
(i) Margaret, who died in 1899, was the
wife of Amos Gustin, of Indiana, and the}-
luid seven children, Henry, Jeremiah, Cath-
erine, Clara, Sarah, Jacol) and William. (2)
^lary, who died in 1880, was the wife of
Robert Patton, and they had fom' children.
Francis, Jefferson, John and Albert. (3)
Christiana, who died in ]86o, was the wife
of Jonathan Gustin, of Anderson, , Indiana
(4) Catherine is a resident of Warren coun-
t}'. Ohio. (5) .Sarah, also a resident of
that count}', is the wi(k)w of John Sette. and
has twi.i children, k^'ancis and Mar\' J.

Henr\' k'yer was reared and educated
in his native comity. Afr. Ever has lieen
twice married, first, with Miss Matilda I'.
Patton, of Warren county, Ohio To this
union were iK.irn three children, William J.,
Kewanee, Illinois; George W . (deceased),
and Sarah J., who married Thomas Alasoii.
Bureau county, Illinois. Mrs. Eyer died in
September, 1850, and he was married the
sccoiul time on the 14th (jf August. 1851.
tlie lad}' of his choice being Aliss Sarah
Blinii, who was born June 20, 1831, a daugh-
ter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Frve ) Blinii,
nati\'es oi Ohio and Virginia, respectixel}'.
It was in 181 6 that they settled in Warren
county, Ohio. In their faniily were elex'en
children: ( 1 ) Absoluni, a resident of Kan-
sas, married ^lartha Frve, and tlie\' ha\'e

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 57

tiur cliililren. Sarah, Millie, Snlnmun and dtnt nf La Favette. llliiinis. Her children
Linciiln. (2) Sarah, wife of our subject, were Tillie: Eli, deceased : -Mhert ; Clarence;
i> next in order of hirtli. (3) Mary, a resi- l-"orest : Maud and Harrison. (3) Samuel
dent of Bureau county. Illinois, is the willow Alfred. Imrn Julv 12. 1855, died Deceniher
of Samuel Pottorf and has three sons. Will- i_>. i,Sf,4. (4) ^[artha Ellen, born Octolier
iam. .Samuel and Jacob. (4) Solomon lirst 10, 1X3S, ,licd .\usu^t 31, i>>y). (3) hJiiUKi
married I'llizaljeth (ieochenour, b\- whom he .Mice, born .March 14. iSfio, died March J5.
liad three children, r>ecky, .Mary and Malissa. 1S60. {(>) John Ilenry, born July id.
and fi^r his second wife wedded .Mary Xor- 1861, died October 14. iShj. (7) .\n-
ton. l)y whom be had two children, (Irani nette Matilda, born March 14. iSd,^. died
and (ieorge. (5) Christiana is the wife of September 11. 1864. |S) Daniel 1). Va\-
I lenry Messmore. of Indiana, and they had ward, born September 1. iSf)4. died Janu-
three children: Elizabeth, now the wife of arv 29, 1865. (9) Aima Louisa, born Feb-
Samuel Oldfalher, of Indiana, by whom she ruarv 26, 1866, is the wife of Xichols J.
lias two children, lunma and ()tis; I-^lla. who (iriftiu. of .\nna\van, and they had five chil-
married I-^. .Mitten and tl:ed in Annawan, dren, (ieorge, Charles, Maud. Id;i .M. and
this county. In .September. 1899. leaving two Mamie. (10) Charles Elmer, born .\pril
children, Xellie and I'Tank ; and (Ieorge, 24. iSfiX, is a farmer of Annawan, Ilenry
who m.'irried Etta I'ayne, now a resident of county. He married .Salina I'almer and they
\\ether>tield, Illinois, and in Sei)tember. have two children, Willi.am II. and (iny.
iNi;S, he and his son Willie were killed. (11) Jesse .Mvin, born .M;iy S. 1S70, mar-
when cnjssing a railri)a(l track in a buggy ried Esta Cole ( decea.sed ) and they had one
ai Kewanee. I (> ) Saiuuel, of Kansas, mar- child, Lowell, who resides at La Fayette,
I'ied Annetta De Witt, and the\- lia\e bxechil- Illinois.

<iren. l)a\i<l. Lena. Harry, Samuel and Jo- I)m-ing the first few years of his married
seph. [J) Julia is the wife of James K. life Mr. Eyer engaged in farming in Ohio.
I'.atten. of .\nnawan, Ilenry onnity. lib- and on the 11 th of .September. 1S57, started
nois, and they have ten children: Ilettie. west. ( )n his arri\;d in Ilenry county. .\n-
Mary. John. Howard. .\<ldie, (ieorge, nawan contained but two stores, and much
(.'in-ti>, I'.nnua. .Xora and Milo. (8) Eliza- of this region was wild and unimproved,
beth i> the wife of Henry Collins, of Kan- He located three miles south of that town,
sas, .ind they have three children, .Xellie, and purchased four hundred acres of land,
Jon;is and .Misaloni. (9) Daniel, also a resi- for which he i).'ud an average of twenty-
dent of Kansas, married Hannah Carroll, fne dollai's ;md twenty cents i)er ;icre. To
and they have nine children. .Sarah, liecky, thi-^ tract he added mitil he bad six hundred
John, Millie. X'inie. William, Mary. Sanniel acres, biU has since disposed of it. .giving
and .Xettie. n-.ost of it to his children. .Mrs. I-lyer still
The children born to our suliject and owns one hundred and ten acres in .\nna-
bis wife are as follows : |i) b'rancis Marion, wan townsbi]). In his farming operations
born September 2, 1852. died July 24, 1853. be has met with most excellent success, and
(2) Mary Elizabeth, born October ifi. 1853, his career has ever been such as to gain for
i,- the widow of Wel)Ster Batten and a resi- him the confidence and high regard of those

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

with whom he has been brought in contact,
either in business or social Hfe. He and
his wife are faithful and consistent mem-
bers of the United Brethren Church, and
are ])eople of the highest respectability. In
May. i8gj. they removed to Anna wan,
vhere thev now reside.

OSWALD FISCHER.

Oswald Fischer, deceased, was for a
i!umber of years one of the leading farmers
c'l Burns township, as well as one of its most
highly respected citizens. He was born in
Saxony. Germany. February i8. 1834, and
Avas one of a family of seven children, the
others being Edward, Gotlob. Mina. Paulina.
Rosalia Augusta and Christiana. His par-
ents were life-long residents of Augusta.
Germany.

In his native country Oswald Fischer
grew to manhood and was educated in the
common schools of Saxony. He then served
an apprenticeship as a miller, an occupa-
tion which he followed until he came to the
United States in 1858. Landing at New
York he came direct to Henry county, Illi-
nois, and obtained his first position in a mill
at Geneseo, and later had charge of the mill
in Andover, where he remained imtil he
was compelled to abandon the business on
account of poor health. He then bought a
partially improved farm of one hundred and
sixty acres in Burns township, but after a
few years sold it and lx)ught the fine farm
en section 8. that he afterward made his
home. He took the farm with few imjirove-
nients. there being only the shell of a small
frame house, a few apple trees, and forty
acres broken. The improvements which

now delight the eye were all made by him-
self, assisted by his good wife. In 1881 they
built one of the finest houses in the town-
ship, a home that would compare favorably
with many good residences in a city. As a
stock raiser he was very successful, giving
special attention to hogs, of which he kept
the best grades. Upon this farm he con-
tinued to reside until his death, which oc-
curred November 10. 1897. The farm is
still held by the family and is the widow'>
place of residence.

On the 24th of August. 1865. Mr.
Fisclier married Miss Mary Louisa Charlet,
a native of Prussia, Germany, and a daugh-
ter of Abraham and Dorothy ( Scharlip I
Charlet. the father dying when she was two
years and a half old. The mother came
with the family to Kewanee in 1856 and
Miss Charlet was educated there. To Mr.
and Mrs. Fischer were born the following
children : Edward L.. a farmer by occupa-
tion, married Ida \\ hitney. a native of this
county, and they have one daughter. Hazel
Belle. Lena L. is the wife of William
Stevens, a farmer of Burns township, and
they have one .son. Earl Cleo. Bernard O.
married Anna Carlson, a native of Sweden,
arid is engaged in farming in Burns town-
ship. Alvin A. and Lorena A. are both
at home with their mother.

Mr. Fischer acquired a good, practical
education in his native land, and for twelve
or fourteen years capably and satisfactorily
served as school director in this township.
From the age of fourteen years he was an
earnest member of the German Lutheran
Church, and led an upright, honorable life,
in which he gained tlie confidence and high
regard of all with whom he came in contact.
In his ix)litical views he was a Republican,
but not an aspirant for office. Mrs. Fischer

THE BIOGIL\PHICAL RECORD.

is a member ot the Cliristian Science
Church ami is one of tlie directors of the
clinrch. and thus far successful in healing.
althiHi"!! her field of lalmr has been limited.

JOHN' i.i-:\vix.

The subject of this sketch is a prosperou«i
Manxman of Galva township, where lie has
niaile his home since 1856. He was horn on
the Isle of Man. January 25. 1843, ^ *'"^ '^*
Robert and Isabella ( Kissick) Lewin. also
natives oi the same place. In 1856 they
l-rouijht their family to America and set-
tled in Calva. Illinois, wiiere the father, who
was a carnage maker by trade, died the
following year, aged fifty-four years. After
his death the mother made her home with
her children until she. too. was called to her
final rest in August. 1894. at the age of
eighty-five years. She lived with our subject
almost forty years. Roth ])arents were
earnest members of the Methodist Episco-
l)al Church, and were highly respected and
esteemed by all who knew them. Their chil-
ilren were Thomas, who died at tiie age of
twenty-one years: Robert, who lives near
Kem])ton, Ford county. Illinois: John, the
subject of this sketch: Jane, deceased wife
of William Kneal. of Kempton : and Isabella,
wile of John Corkill, of (laha township, tliis
county.

His i)arents being in limited circum-
stances. J<iiin Lewin had very limited school
privileges, and most of his education has
been acquired by reading and observation.
He was thirteen years of age on the emigra-
tion of tlie family to America and at once
sought, work, being employed as a farm hand
at ten dollars per month for two years. .\t

that time this region was wild and sparsely
settled, and there was not a bridge on the
road between (iaiva and Lafayette. When
si.xteen years of age he and a brother rented
a small farm in (iaha township, which they
o])erated on their own accord, having pur-
chased some stock and agricultural imple-
ments. While on that farm our subject at-
tended the public schools for three winters.

.\l)out 1870 Mr. Lewin made his first
purchase of land, cmisisting of eighty acres-
in Knox county, which had been improved,,
ar.d for which he ])aid four thousand dol-
lars. He later sold that jilace at an ad\ance
of one thousand dollars and bought two
hundred and fort\' acres on section 26,
Calva townsiii]). Henry county, where he
now resides, basing i)reviously rented the
same for ten \ears. Having succeeded in
his farming o])erations he has added to his
l)roperty until he now has three hundred and
fifty acres of well improved and \ahiable
land. Throughout his business career he
has engaged in general farming, and in re-
cent years has carried on stock raising quite
extensively, shipping a carload of both hogs
and cattle to market annually. His specialty
is polled -Angus cattle, i le has also been
identified with five dilierent mining opera-
lions in (iaiva, all of which provetl quite
profitable.

In 1884 -Mr. Lewin married Miss Annie
.\iidrewartha. who was also born on the
Isle of Man. May jo. 1864, and is the oldest
of a family of four children, the others being
Martha, wife of David Clague. a farmer of
Kin)x county; William, a farm b.iiid of
(jaha: and David, a Methodist Episcopal
minister of Hennepin. Illinois. The parent*
of these children were William and Eliza
.\ndrewartha. natives of the Isle of Man,
who remoxetl from there to England, and in

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

iSSo caiiiL' til tlie United States, Idcatinc^' in
(ialva. wliere the mother died in 1887, but
tlie father is still living- in Galva townsliip.
Bv iiccnpation he is a miner. Mr. and Mrs.
i.ewin have ti\-e children, whose names and
dates lit birth are as ti>llii\vs: Bertha. Jan-
uary 12. 1 886: John. June i. 1887: Eliza,
January 25, 1889: Forrest. December 26,
1893 • ^"<^1 Francis. December 16. 1896. With
the e.xcejjtion of the youngest all are now
attending school.

^Ir. Lewin started nut in life with noth-
ing" but his indomitable energ}-. and his ac-
cunudation of this world's goods is at-
tributable to his good judgment in business
atfairs, his industry and perseverance, and
the assistance of his estimable wife. Both
are active members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church and of the Fraternal Tribune
of (jaha. They are widely and favorably
known and are held in hi.gh regard by the
peii])le of the communit}' in which thev lix'e.
In his political af^liatirms Mr. Lewin is a
Republican and cast his tirst presidential
vote for Abraham Lincoln.

DAVID WHIT MORE.

I'or sixty years David W'hitmore has
been connected with the liistor}' of Henry
county, and for a quarter nf a century has
been a resident of W'oodhull. He has done
n:iire for the upbuilding" of his tnwn than
any other of its citizens; has championed
e\ery movement designed to promote the
general welfare: supported every enterprise
for the public good: and has materially aid-
ed in the advancement of all sncial. indus-
trial, educational and moral interests.

.Mr. W'hitmore was born in Morgan

count}". Ohiii. August 9. 1821. and is a son
of John W'hitmore. a soldier in the war of
1 812, and grandson of Jacob W'hitniore.
Ixith natives of Pennsyhania, of which
state his ancestors were pioneers. They
were of (ierman descent. .\t an early day
the father removed to Morgan county.
Ohio, becoming one of its first settlers, and
there he cleared and improved a farm of
one hundred and sixty acres. In connec-
tion with its cultivation he also operated a
sawmill which he owned. In Belmont countv,
Ohio, he married Miss Elizabeth Archiltakl.
a native of Washington, Pennsyhania. and
a daughter of James Archibald, who was
born in Ireland and was a child rif three
}"ears when brought to this countr_\". In
1837 John W'hitmore came with his family
to Illinois, and first located in Mercer coun-
ty, but three years later took up his resi-
dence in Clover township, Henry ci unity,
h.is nearest neighbors at that time being ten
and twelve niiles awav. There he entered
a tract of government land, and froni the
wild prairie developed a good farm. His
last years were spent at the home of our
subject in W'oodhull, where he died in 1885,
at the advanced age of ninety-four years.
His wife passed away while resitling on the
farm, in 1866.

David W'hitmore received a rather
nieager educatinn in the schools of his na-
tive county, and was sixteen years of age
when he came to this state with his parents.
He aided his father in the arduous task of
improving" the home farm, and also broke,
fenced and improved a tract of forty acres
which he had entered for himself. He subse-
cpientlv entered and bought more land until
he owned eight hundretl acres, a half-sec-
f.on of which he place under cultisation. and
erected thereon a good set nf farm buildings.

DAVID WHITMORE.

Uwt.-. ^^ 'LciNOIS

URSAXA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He actively engaged in farming until iS7(),
and at tlie same time was quite extensively
interested in the raising and feeding of
St' ick. which pnned to him a profitable busi-
ness, it being his policy to buy and im-
prove property. He has erected six brick
and two frame business houses and several
residences, and in this way has materially
promoted the welfare of the town, doing
more for its advancement than probably any
other man.

In Henry county. Mr. W'liitmore was
married, in 1853. to Miss Eliza J- Booher,
a daughter of Isaiah and Mary Ann
(Young) Booher, who were also pioneers
of this county. Her father was a native of
Pennsylvania, from which state he removed
t(^ Ohio, later came to Illinois, and finally
went to Kansas, where his death occurred.
His wife spent her last years at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore in Woodhull,
where she died. Oiu' sul)ject's parents and
Mrs. Booher were all laid to rest at Clover
Chajjel cemetery. F"ive children were born
to Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore. but two are
now deceased, namely: l-'lorence M., who
was married twice and died in Woodhull.
leaving five children : and Douglas, who died
in 1871, at the age of thirteen years. Those
living are Ida M., wife of S. I. Currie, of
Chicago; Elizabetli L., wife of John Ben-
nison, a merchant of Muscatine. Iowa: and
Xellie 1.. wife of C. .\. Warren, of Wood-
hull.

Politically Mr. Wiiitniore is a Jefifer-
scnian Democrat, and has taken quite an
active part in local politics. He served as
assessor of Clover townshi]) for aljout ten
consecutive years ; has been a member of the
village board, and .school director for some
years. In religi<nis belief he is a Methodist,
and was first conne'ted with Clover

Chapel. l)ul now holds membership in the
church of that denomination of Woodhull.
He assisted in building the latter, and has
contributed liberally toward the erection of
a number of churches in Henry county. He
has served as trustee and steward for nearly
forty years, and takes an active part in all
church work. I'raternally he is a charter
member of Woodhull Lodge. F. & .\. M..
in which he has filled all the chairs, and is
now past master. He has now been a resi-
dent of Illinois for sixty-three years, and a
longer period of time in Clover township
than any one now living, and can relate
many interesting reminiscences of life on
the frontier. In early life he worked some
in the pineries of the north and rafted logs
down the Mississip])i. He also engaged in
steamboating on that river one summer.
He has witnes.sed the destructive prairie
fires that once swept over the state, and has
.seen great herds of deer. \\'hen he first lo-
cated here be often hauled grain and other
farm produce to Chicago, it requiring eight-
een or nineteen days to make the trip, which
can now be accomplished by means of rail-
roads in a few hours. He then camped out
at night, sleeping under his wagon. He is
a man of exemjilary habits and tried integ-
rity, and his many friends tiiroughout the
county will be i)leasetl to read this record of
his life.

JOHN' E. STOXBERC.

John !•-. Stonberg. a retired farmer of
Ciaha. eminently deserves classification
among the purely self-made men of Henry
county who have distinguished themselves
for their ability to master the opposing forces
of life and to wrest from fate a large meas-
ure of success and an honorable name.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Stonlierg was Ixirn in Gestricland,
Sweden. October 31, 1835, ^ son of Jolm
and Betsy Stonlierg. In early life the father
followed the tailor's trade, and his wife was
his assistant in the shop. They were mem-
bers of the Swedish colony that settled in
this count\' in 1847, belonging" to the second
lot of emigrants to come over, which com-
jiany numbered four hundred. The voyage
was made in a sailing vessel and lasted thir-
teen weeks. Landing in Xew York they
remained there until Ala\-, 1847. \vhen they
proceeded on their journey, going by canal
boat to Buffalii. Xew York, and by steam-
boat on the Great Lakes to Chicago, whence
they walked to their new home in Hcn.ry
countx'. Ihev had many hardships and ])ri-
\ati(ins til undergo but were of a sturdy race
and made the liest of their Int. There was
a scarcity of ];ro\'isions as the colony was
not prepared to care for so many people.
Sod houses were built and in these the set-
tlers lived for a time. The land was all wild
and unimprnxed, wild game was abundant
and furnished manv a meal for the coUmi-
ists. Our subject once counted a drose of
forty deer within three miles of the colony.
As soon as the colonists got settled they
went to work at their various industries, and
the majority of them became prosperous
and substantial citizens, b'or some time Mr.
and Mrs. Stonberg worked at the tailor's
trade, but at length, tiring of this, he ilid
any general work that came to hand. They
were members of the original colony until it
broke u]). The father al\\a}-s enjoyed good
health, but his wife ne\'er fully recovered
from the ettects of the long and arduous
journey from Sweden to their new home in
this country. She was born July 8, 1808,
and died January 9, 1898, while he was born
in 1805. and departed this life in ]SIarch,

1895. Of their four children, John E.. the
eldest is now the only survivor; Betsy died
ii. 1848, at the age of twelve years; Peter
O. died in Sweden ; and Charles F. died of
measles the same year that his sister passed
away.

John E. Stonberg came with his parents
to the United States, and remained at Imme
in the colony until attaining man's estate.
As he ne\er attended school but two months
during his entire life, he is a self-educated
as well as a self-made man. He started
out in life for himself at the age of twenty
vears with a capital of seventy-five cents.
Borrowing twenty-five cents, he purchased
an ax and commenced chopping wood in the
timber and hauling it to market. Later he
worked as a farm hand for a time. Going
t<. Missouri in 1858 he was employed as
night watchman at the round house of the
Hannibal & St. Jo railroad at Brookfield
until i8f)i, when he returned to Illinois,
and with a span of horses which he owned
engaged in culti\ating" land for the colon-
ists. Subsequently he rented land and en-
gaged in farming on his own account on a
small scale. Prospering in this undertak-
ing he at length purchased one hundred and
three acres of land, for which he paid ten
dollars per acre, borrowing the money,
however, to make the first payment. He
fully improved his land and as a general far-
mer and stock raiser met with wonderful
success. I'rom time to time he has addetl
to his landed possessions until he now owns
four hundred and forty- four acres of \-alu-
able farm huul. He continued to personally
super\"ise the operation of his land until
1900, when he removed to Gaha and ]iur-
chased his present home, wdiich is a \-aluable
piece of property that he has fitted up with
moileru impro\'ements.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

( )ii the -'-'(1 i)f December. 18(14. at Knox-
\ille, lUiudis, Mr. .Stonlierg was united in
marriage witii Mis.s Eleanor Swan.son. wlid
was l)oni in Sweden in 1S34. and came In
tliis country in 1852. !'>}• this iniion were
born six children, namely: Amanda J., who
died at tbe age of fifteen years: Emma M..
at home with her parents: Mary A., who
keeps house for her brother on the farm:
Carrie H.. also on the farm: C'liarles 1'"... who
is now operating his father's kmd : and |olin
E., who was a twin brother of I'harle^ \i.
and (lied at the age of ele\en months. The
children were all reared under the parental
roof and received good district school edu-
cations, while Charles V.. also attended tiie
Northern Illinois .Xormal school at l)!xon
for two years.

Mr. Sti>nberg is liberal in bis religious
views, anil is independent in politics, votiu;:;
for whom he deeius best (|ualified to fill the
offices, regardless of party lines. While li\-
ing on the farm he ser\-ed as school directoi
for eight years and also filled other minor
offices in his township with credit to him-
self and to the entire satisfaction of all con-
cerned, lie is wi<lely known throughout
the County which has been his home for o\er
half a century, and has the entire confidence
and respect of his fellow citizens.

\\".\i,LACl". W. .\.\1)RI':\\S.

This well-known farmer residing (in sec-
tion 16. Burns township, was born in Litch-
fi.eld. Connecticut, on the JOth of May. T843.
arid is a worth)' representati\e of ;ui honore'!
pioneer family of Henrv county, his parents
being Orin B. and Minerva (Hemingway)

Andrews, also natives of Litchfield county.
Coiuiecticut. where their marriage was cele-
brated September ,20. 1840. The father was
;i son of John Andrews, who was also born
in the Xntiueg state and had six children.
In 1831 Orin B. Andrews came to Henry
count\'. Illinois, and took up his residence
in ()sc<i township, where he purchased eighty
acres of wild prairie land, and at once turned
his attention to the dexelopment of Irs farm.
At that time there were but few settlers in
his \ieinit\\ and most of the land w.as still
in its ]iriiuiti\e con<Iition. He died Sepleiu-
ber 14. 1837. The luother married Simeon
Matthews September 14. 1870. anil died
January 20. 11)00.

In the familv of this worthy couyjle were
five children, of whom Wallace W. is sec-
ond in order of birth. Watson L.. boni
]u\v _'4. 1841. enlisted during the Civil war
in t'ompanv 11. (Tne Hundred and Twelfth
Illinois \ olunteer Infantry, under t aptain
Dunn, and was in a number of engage-
ments, and was killed on the battle tleld.
His remains were interred in tbe snutli.
Lucy, deceased, was the wife of William
Sinionton. Charles resides in Cass county,
Iowa. Willis died in Cass county. Iowa.

Wallace W. .\ndrews was .aboiU eight
years of age when he accompanied his par-
ents on their remo\al to this count}', where
he grew to manh(X)d. his education being
ac(|uired in the country schools. .\t the be-
ginning of the Rebellion be enlisted in the
.Xinth Illinois Cavalry, which was organized
at Camp Douglas, Chicago, from which ])lace
it was sent to Springfield, Illinois, thence
to Pilot Knob, Missouri, through to llelena.
Arkansas, thence to Memphis. Tennessee.
fighting all the way across the countr\',
skirmishing and guarding railroads. It was

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in the last liattle at Xasliville. and tlien start-
ed fartlier south, l)eing at Livingston, Ala-
bama, wlien they lieard of Lee's surrender.
.\ftcr four years of liard service he was
<lischarged and returned home. In 1866 he
went to Cass county, Iowa, and liouglit
eighty acres of raw prairie land, which he
improNed. and there remained until 1884,
when he returnetl to Henry county. He now
owns a good farm of one hundred and twen-
ty acres in Burns township, and is success-
fully engaged in its operation.

Before leaving for the west Mr. Andrews
vedded ]\Iiss Mary Fort, a daughter of Isaac
and Caroline (Gooding) Fort, natives of
Connecticut, in whose family were four
children, one son and three daughters, two
of whom are now li\ing. Mrs. .Andrews died
September 18. 1897, and was laid to rest in
Cosners cemetery. Seven children blessed
this union, namely : Watson \\'il])ur, born
May 28. 1870, is a member of the Indepen-
<lent Order of Odd Fellows and a resident
>>i Burns township; Lucv C born Juh' 22,
i87_'. is the wife of David Martin: .\lbert
1.. born December 12. iS^jT,. is deceased;
Elmer \\'.. born ]May 17, 1875, 's at home;
-Mice M., born October 14, 1878, is the wife
of Edward Martin; George K., born Oc-
tober JJ. 1880, and Leroy \\'., born .\u-
gust 26, 1885, are both at home.

Socially Mr. .\ndrews is connected with
the ]\Iasonic fraternity of Cambridge, and
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of
the same place. He is also a memlier of the
G. A. R. In politics he is an ardent Repub-
lican, and he takes a deep and commendable
interest in ]3ublic affairs. He has alwavs
manifested the same patriotism in days of
])tace as in time of war, and is numbered
among the most useful and valued citizens
<if his communitv.

HE.XRY DE WITT.

This well-to-do and highly esteemed citi-
zen of Annawan was born in Durham,
Greene county, Xew York, May 15, 1820,
and is a son of E. Lucas and Polly ( Will-
iams) De Witt. On the paternal side his
ancestors were among the early settlers of
Xew York and of German extraction. The
father was also a native of Greene county
and a son of James De Witt, with whom be
was engaged in the milling business in early
life, operating grist, saw and woolen mills.
About 1834. when our .subject was fourteen
vears of age. he removed with his family to
I'pper Canada, and in 1849 they came to
Henry county. Illinois, locating in .\nnawan
township. The father was engaged in farm-
ing on the southeast corner of section 34,
and continued his residence there until called
to his final rest at the age of eighty-three
vears. He entered some government land
and also purchased another man's claim. He
took quite an active part in politics and was
a stanch Democrat. Religiously he and hi:-
familv were connected with the Baptist
Church. His wife, who was also a native
of Xew York and of Welsh descent, survived
him a number of years, and died at the ad-
vanced age of ninety-four. They were par-
ents of the following children : Harriette.
who married Adam Bean, and both died in
Kewanee; Henry, our subject; Piatt, a resi-
dent of Annawan township; Parmelia, .wifa
of Peter Baker, of Kansas; Ira, who died in
Annawan ; and .Antoinette, who married
Samuel Blinn and died in Kansas.

The early life of our subject was spent
under the parental roof, and at the age oi
thirty he came to Henry county. He bad
only five dollars in cash with which to begin
life, but he has alwavs made the most of his

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

advantages, and is ni)\v une <>i the \vcll-t<i-
lii) and prnspercius citizens of his conmni-
nit}'. ( )n cnniing- t" this county lie jjre-empt-
ed eighty acres of land in Kewanee towii-
shiip. and iiought twent}' acres, for which he
paid twenty-five dollars ])er acre. On dis-
posing of that property he piu'chased two
hnndred and forty acres on section 28, An-
nawan township, on which lie made his home
for fifteen years, ami then removed to the
village of Annawan, where he has huilt a
good residence. He also owns eight lots
there, and still has his farm, which he rents,
while he is practically living retired, enjoy
ing a well-earned rest. Diligence, enter
prise anil good management have been the
crowning points of his success and ha\e en-
abled him to overcome the difficulties and
obstacles in the path to prosperity.

In .Ma_\-. 1S47, -Mr. l)e Witt was united
in marriage with Miss Sarah Ann Xelson, a
uati\e of Canada and a daughter of James
Xelson. She died May 2. 1898. Si.K children
were born of this union, namely : Harriette
first married John Ha.xby, who died lea\ ing
four children ; George, now a resident of Ne-
braska; Luella is the wife of Henry Spur-
liick. of Chicago, and they ha\e two chil-
dren. Geneveive anel John ; William, of Iowa ;
and Myrtle married Henry Balternstern,
and resides at Galesburg, Illinois. Mrs. Hax.
b\- married for her second husband James
Kockafellow, of Annawan township; Oran.
a resident of Arispe, Iowa, weddetl Mary
Tharp, and they have two children. Murl
and Ruth; E. Lucas, of Tingley. Iowa, mar-
ried Katie Fox, and they have two children.
Morris and Harold; Levina Jane is the wife
of Byron House, of Tingley, Iowa, and they
have two children, Luella and Birdie; .Addie.
the wife of Elmer Fitzkie. of Annawan. and
thev have two children. Ds Witt and Henry;

and liarrv. of .\nnawan. married .Mabel
Williams, and tl.ey have two children, Robert
and .Marion.

DAXlb'.l. I.IA"!'.

Wll.l-.V

Only those lives are worlhy of record
that ha\e been potential factors in the [uil)-
lic progress, in promoting the general wel-
fare or advancing the interests of the com-
numilv in which they live. l"or many years
Mr. Wiley was one of the leading farmers
and business men of Henry county, and for
twenty years was prominently connected
with its financial institutions as president of
what was one time known as the First Na-
tional Bank of Galva. though the name was
afterward changeil to the L. -M. N'ocum it
Company's bank.

Mr. Wiley was born in Rockingham.
A'ermont. .March J.^;. 1819. a son of John
and Randilla 1 \\eaver ) Wiley, also natives
of the Green .Mountain state, where the
father followed farming throughout life.
He was born in 1795. and died in 1866. In
l.is family were eight sons and one daughter,
but only one of the mnnber is now li\ing.
Wilton W., still a resident of X'erninnt.

Our subject acquired his literary educa-
tion in the common schools of his nati\o
state, and remained at home until he attained
his majority. For a few years he followed
mercantile business in the east. Coming
to Brimfield. Illinois, in 1844. he purchased
a tract of land and for a time followed farm-
ing. In the meantime he returned to \ er-
mont, where he was marrieil on the 5lh of
August, 1846, to Miss Mary Billings, of
Rockingham, a daughter of Samuel and Su-
sannah ( Divol! ) r.illings, who were natives
of Massachusetts. .She was born [ulv 30

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1818. and died June i, 1851. She left two
cliildren : Flora B., the older, is now the wife
of Lorenzo Wiley, a farmer of Castana,
Iowa. William F. married Florence ^hm-
ger and is now engaged in the stock busi-
ness in Sioux City, Iowa. He was formerly
cimnected with the bank at Galva until his
health failed, when he went to Iowa.

In 1854, Mr. ^^'iley was again married
ill Riickingham. \'ermont, his second union
being with Miss Sarah F. Davis, who was
born there September 26, 1832, her parents,
John H. and Susana (Billings) Davis, be^
irg farming people of that place. She was
the fourth in order of birth in their family
of six children, the others being as follows .
Louise M. born July 13, 1826. She died
August 2-j, 1866. She married in 1849 ■^^'
bert Slierwin and he now resides in Lead-
ville. Col. Susan A., born November 18,
1827, is the wife of Amos G. Sears, of Chi-
cago. Nathaniel J., born October 14, 1830,
Avent to California during the gold excite-
ment of 1849, snd is now a resident of Wx-
ginia City, Montana. Flora, born ilarch
2:7, 1838, is the widow of F. A. LeClerccj,
and a resident of Springfield, Ohio. The
father of this family died in Ohio, in 1861,
after which the mother came to Illinois to
make her home with her children, and her
death occurred in Galesburg in 1879. ^y
his second marriage ilr. Weily had four chil-
dren : Stella L., born December 25, 1856,
died ^lay 18, 1880; Marj, born April 29,
1862, died February 27, 1865; one, born
November 10, 1864, died March 3, 1865 :
and Amy, born April 21, 1868, was married
in 1886 to Orrin Houghton, who died March
5, 1891, leaving two children. Earl \\'. and
Flora H. On the 14th of October, 1895,
Mrs. Houghton married George T. Lacey.

and now lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, where
he is engaged in mercliandising and em-
ploytd in a bank.

After his marriage Mr. Wiley made his
home in Lafayette until 1855, when he re-
moved to Galva, having purchased property
at this place, and erected a pleasant resid-
dence for his family. For a year before lo-
cating here he was successfully engaged in
niechandising in the town of Brimfield. He
invested largely in farm property, which
he impro\ed and operated very successfully
for sexeral years, and then sold to an atl-
vantage. his land speculations proving quite
profitable. He finally disposed of all his
farms in Illinois and purchased considerable
land in Iowa, which he also improved. In
1865. in connection with others, Mr..\\'iley
assisted in establishing the First National
Bank of Galva, becoming one of its largest
stockholders, and for twenty years served as
its president. After the charter expired it
was merged into the L. M. Yocum & Com-
pany's bank, of which he remained president
until his death. For many years he prac-
tically lived a retired life, though he con-
tinued to look after his farming interests.
He died at his home in Galva. !March 17,
1890. honored and respected by all who
knew hm.

Though reared a Democrat, Mr. ^^'ile_^■
became a stanch supporter of the Republi-
can party, and served as supervisor of his
township for a time, though he never took
an active part in political affairs. In relig-
ious belief he was a Lniversalist, and gave
liberally to the support of church work.
Many a deserving young man has reason to
be very grateful for his timely assistance
on the rugged pathway of life, for he took
a deep interest in the welfare of those start-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing out in life witliout capital and uiiconi-
plainingly working their way steadily up-
ward to the goal oi prosi)erity. He was al-
ways ready to relieve suffering anil distress;
and was held in high regard by all who knew
liini.

JAMES GILBRAITH.

Many of Henry county's most successful
citizens have started out in life for them-
selves with naught but an abundance of de-
termination and indefatigable industry, and
liave succeeded through their own diligence,
energy and economy. Among this class may
be numl)ered the subject of this sketch, who
is to-day a prosperous farmer residing on
section 30, .Mba township.

Mr. Gilbraith was lx>rn in county Down,
Ireland. July 6, 1837, and is a son of James
and Jane (McCracken) Gilbraith. who. as
farming people, spent their entire lives in
tliat county, the former dying in 1882. the
later in 1874. In their family were seven
■children, namely : ( i ) John came to Amer-
ica and at Rock Island. Illinois, married
Maragaret Moore, also a nati\e of counts-
Down. Ireland. He died at his home in
Keiikuk. Iowa, leaving the follnwing chil-
dren. William, John, Robert, .\le.\ander.
Hugh. Joseph, Lizzie, Agnes and Margaret.
(2) Hugh married Eliza McClelland, who
• lied in 1885, and he also died in Ireland in
1890, leaving two children, John and Will-
iam. (3) Eliza Jane is the wife of John
-McKee, of county Down. (4) Isabella mar.
ried David Orr and died in Ireland in 1894.
leaving si.x children, James. John. Isabella,
Mary, Margaret and Jane. (5) William
married Susannah Scott, who died in 1888,

and he departed this lite in 1884, leaving
four children, .Mexander. John and two
daughters. (6) James, our subject, is ne.xt
in order of birth. (7) Margaret, who died
in Keokuk. Iowa, in iSSS. was the wife of
Robert Miller, now a resilient of Minnesota.

James Gilbraith attended the schools of
his native land until twenty years of age
and aided in the labors of the farm. With
the hope of benefitting his financial condition
he came to America in 1859 on the steamer
Circassian, and on landing in Xew York
came direct to Rock Island county. Illinois.
During the first year of his residence here
he worked for John \\'arnock, and during
the following two years was in the employ
of others in Henrj- county. In 1863 he pur-
chased eighty acres of land in Alba town-
ship, which had already been broken, paying
for the same twelve dollars and a half per
acre, and this he has brought to its present
high state of cultivation. He has added to
his property from time to time until he now
has si.x hundred and eighty acres of rich
and arable land in this county, and also has
a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in
Rock Island county. He has devoted cout
siderable attention to the raising of cattl.;
for market, and has been remarkably suc-
cessful as a breeder of fine Hereford cattle.
He also raises horses for market, anil in most
of his undertakings has prosjiered until lie
is now one of the most substantial citizens of
his community. On landing in Xew York
he had only one hundred tlollars with which
to begin life, and the wealth that he has
since accumulated has been acquired solely
though his own industry, perseverance and
good management.

On the 17th day of .\pril, iS()6, in Rock
Island countv, Mr. Gilbraith married Mi>s

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Sarah Morrison, also a native of connty
Dinvn. Ireland, wlio died March i. i88c-.
Five children were born of this union, name-
ly : ( I ) James, born Julv lo. 1867. was mar-
ried in Rock Island county, in 1891, to Ly-
dia Coin, and they had two children: Gladys
May. who died in April. 1900; and Ruth
Elizabeth. ( j) Joseph, born March 12,
i86g. married Emma Hirshberger. by whom
he has two children, Lyle and Frank Leslie,
and they live in Annawan. (3) Robert H.,
born August 18, 1870, married Maggie
Downey, of Aledo, and resides in Alba town
ship, Illinois. (4) Scrah J., torn February
18. 1873. is the wife of John Warnock. of
Westchester, Iowa. (5) Eliza A., borri
February 18, 1875, '* the wife of John Prit
chard, of Geneseo, and they have one child,
Bernice. iMr. Gilbraitli was again married,
December 23. 1882, his second union being
with Miss Matilda Smith, who was born
near Antwerp, Germany. They have one
son, Clarence A., who was born May 29,
1885.

In 1850 Mrs. Gilbraitli came to America
with her parents. Anthony and Elizabeth
( Young ) Smith, also natives of Germany.
Her father died in Indiana. Pennsylvania,
in i860, and her mother departed this life
at Taylor Ridge. Illinois, in April, 1888.
They had six children, five of whom were
born in Germany, namely : ( i ) Elizabeth
married James Bothel and died near Taylor
Ridge, in 1893. leaving two children, Her-
bert and Campbell. (2) Martin L. married
and died near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, leav-
ing three children. (3) Kate is the wife of
Daniel Bothel. of Iowa City, Iowa, and they
have four children, John X., Adlow, Ger-
trude E. and Norwood. (4) Mrs. Gilbraith
is the next in order of birth. (5) Margaret

married Alexander Madill. of Milan. Illi
nois, and died leaving two children. Will-
iam A. and Maud D.

Both }ilr. and Mrs. Gilbraith hold mem-
bership with the Congregational Church of
Atkinson and are people of prominence in
the community where they reside, having a
large circle of friends and acquaintances.
In his political affiliations he is a Republican,
and he has filled the offices of school direc-
tor and road commissioner. Financially he
lias reason to be satisfied with the result of
his labors since coming to the new world,
and his course as a citizen has been such as
to commend him to the confidence and re-
spect of the people among whom he has
lived.

JUDGE C. M. TURXER.

In the last half century the lawyer has
been a prominent factor in all atifairs of pri-
\ ate concern and national importance. He
has been depended upon to conserve the best
and permanent interests of the whole people
and is a recognized power in all the avenues
of life. He stands as the protector of the
rights and liberties of his fellow men, and is
the representative of a profession whose fol-
lowers, if they would gain honor, fame and
success, must be men of merit and ability.
Such a one is Judge Turner, who now occu-
pies the bench of Henry county, winning
high commendation by his fair and impartial
administration of justice.

The Judge was born in Stark county.
Illinois, Xovember i, 1861. and is a son of
Benjamin Turner, one of the honored pio-
neers, who was born in Delaware, December

C. M. TURNER.

UNIVERSE u. ILLINOIS
URBAMA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

7, I So", and when a child was taken by his
parents to Ohio, where he grew to manhood
and became quite prominent poHtically. In
1S49 he emigrated to Lafayette, Stark coun-
ty, Ilhnois, and engaged in farming there
until the following year, Avhen Toulon was
laid out, and he moved to that place. He
erected the first house in the village, and, as
a hotel man and merchant, he was prominent-
ly identified witli its business interests for
many years. He served as postmaster of Tou-
lon for sixteen years, and was one of the
leading and influential members of the Old
Settlers' Society, serving as treasurer of the
same at the time of his death and for many
years previous. He died at Toulon, March
21, 1887, honored and respected by all who
knew him. His first wife, who bore the
maiden name of Elizabeth ■SIcWilliams, died
in 1856, leaving one daughter, Sarah, whose
death ocurred in 1892. In 1858 he married
Miss Ruth A. Myers, a native of Pennsyl-
vania, who went to Toulon, Illinois, to teach
music, and is still a resident of that place.

Juidge Turner, the only surviving child
of the second marriage, passed his boyhood
and youth in Toulon and attended its public
schools, graduating from the high school of
that city in 1879. Subsequently he entered
Knox College, Galesburg, where he was
graduated with the degree of B. A. in 1884,
and in 1887 received the degree of A. M.
He read law at Toulon with Hnn. yi. Slial-
Icnberger, and on his admission to the bar,
in 1888, began practice at that place, but in
1890 opened an office in Cambridge, where
he has since made his home. He purchased
the law library of the Hon. William M.
Shei)Iierd, which is one of the finest in the
city. In the fall of 1890 Judge Turner
formed a partnership with J. V. Strced, and
under the firm name of Turner & Streed

they successfully engaged in practice until
our subject was elected county judge, June
6, 1899. The firm was one of the most popu-
lar in Cambridge and built up an extensive
and important law practice.

On the 6th of June, 1889, at Toulon. Illi-
nois, Judge Turner was united in marriage
with Miss Emma E. Follett, who was born
in Missouri, but was reared in Toulon, where
her father, Benjamin C. Follett, was engaged
in the hotel business and in merchandising
for a number of years, but is now living in
Wyoming, Stark county. Mrs. Follett, who
in her maidenhood was Miss Helen Rhodes,
died in Wyoming in 1892. She was born in
Stark county about 1840, a daughter of Erie
and Eunice Rhodes, natives of Kentucky, and
prominent early settlers of Stark county, Illi-
nois, where both died. The Judge and his
wife have two children: Helen Marie and
Ruth Almira.

In his social relations Judge Turner is a
member of Cambridge Lodge, Xo. 199, I.
O. O. F., in which he has passed all the
chairs; is also a member of the Encampment
and has been for several years a representa-
tive to the grand lodge of the state. He is
a Master Mason, and a trustee of the J^Ieth-
odist Episcopal Church, of Cambridge. The
Judge is widely known throughout both
Stark and Henry counties, and in the former
served as justice of the peace, and was also
secretary of the Stark County Old Settlers'
Society from 1887 to 1890. He owns the
farm on which the first court in that county
was held. During his residence in Cam-
bridge he has taken a very active and promi-
nent part in public affairs; has served as
president of the school board six years; and
as mayor of the city in 1892 and 1893. He
was active in securing the franchise for the
electric light plant but was not at that time

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

on the board. Pre-eminently publSc-spirt-
ited and progressive, he takes an active in-
terest in all enterprises calculated to prove of
public benefit, and is now serving as treas-
urer of the Henry County Fair Association.
Politically he is a Democrat, and was the first
representative of that part}'^ elected to any
county office for many years, a fact which
plainly indicates his personal popularity and
the confidence reposed in him by his fellow
citizens. His mind is analytical, logical and
inductive. With a thorough and compre-
liensive knowledge of the fundamental prin-
ciples of law, he combines a familiarity \\ith
statutory law and sober, clear judgment,
which makes him not only a formidable ad-
versar)^ in legal combat, but has gi^•en him
the distinction of being one of the ablest jur-
ists in this section of the state.

HEXRY OCIXX.

For almost a quarter of a century Henry
Ouinn has been a resident of Illinois, and in
this time has always been recognized as a
public-spirited and progressive citizen, in-
terested in the welfare of the communities
■with which he has been connected and taking
an active part in all that has i>ertained to
advancement along commendable lines. To-
day he is a well known rej^resentative of
joiu^nalistic interests, as a faithful officer,
serving as deputy sherifif and as the popular
and highly esteemed proprietor of the Ouinn
Hotel of Cambridge.

Mr. Quinn is a nati\e of the Buckeye
state, his birth having occurred in Butler
county, on the nth of October, 1854. His
j)arents were Thomas and Ann (Boland)
( )uinn. The father was a native of New

York and the paternal grandfather of our
subject was born in the Emerald Isle,
\N hence he crossed the Atlantic tn the new
world in early manhood. About the time
of their marriage the parents of our sub-
ject removed to Ohio where they remained
until called to the home beyond. The moth-
er passed away in 1862 and eight days later
the father died, his death, being occasioned
by his great grief for the loss of his wife.
She left an infant daughter, Agnes, who
is now the wife of Joseph A. ^liller, a con-
tractor and builder residing in Galva.

There were but two children in the fam-
ily, the son being Henry Ouinn, who was
left an orphan at the early age of eight
years. He then went to live with his ma-
ternal grandfather, who removed to Wis-
consin, where the subject of this review
spent the days of his boyhood and youth.
The educational privileges Avliich he re-
ceived were those afforded by the common
schools, but his opportunities in that direc-
tion were limited, as he early began to earn
his own living. His first independent ven-
ture was in carr3'ing newspapers and he
afterward learned the printer's trade, work-
ing in the pressroom of the Cantwell printing-
house of Aladison for two years, and in the
composing room for three years, during
which time he not only mastered the business,
but also acquired considerable general in-
formation which greatly supplemented the
knowledge he had gained in school. His
efficiency as a printer made it easy for him
to obtain work in that line and he w as em-
ployed in a number of large cities of the
Cnited States. He was employed at vari-
ous places in the Mississippi valley between
St. Anthony and St. Louis, and in 1878 he
accepted a position as business manager of
the Galva News, in which capacity he served

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

for eight years. On tlie expiration of that
period he purcliased a half interest in tlie
Inisiness, since \vliich time he has been a
member of tlie firm of Fitch & Ouinn. His
thorough knowledge of journalistic work
and his particular experience in this line have
enabled him to give to the public a most
creditable paper that finds its way into many
homes in this part of the state, having a very
large circulation. It is one of the leading
papers in the county, neat in appearance, and
is the advocate of all movements and meas-
ures calculated to prove of public good. It
lias been an important factor in promoting
the welfare of the county, as well as in up-
holding the principles of Republicanism.

On the nth of April, 1877, was cele-
brated the marriage of Mr. Ouinn and Miss
Ettie Carico, a daughter of John and Eliza-
licth Carico, who are natives of West Vir-
ginia, but emigrating westward in 1832 thev
cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of
Bureau county, Illinois, where they long re-
>ided. At the present time they are living
in Stark county where they ha\e a large
circle of warm friends. Mr. and Mrs.
yuinn have one child, a s(jn, Harry.

Mr. Ouinn is recognized as one of tiie
leaders of the Republican party in this coun-
ly, and his fellow townsmen have called
liim to public office. In 1894 he was elected
sheriff of Henry county by a majoritj- of
eighteen hundred and si.xty-five, for a term
of four years. He discharged his duties
in a prompt and fearless manner and won
high commendation by his faithful service.
He handled many important cases during
that period and was ever just in his enforce-
ment of the law. .\mong his deputies was
the present sheriff, E. Swain, who, on be-
ing elected to the office, chose Mr. Quinn to
serve as his deputy, the apixjintment being

made on the 5th of December, 1898; thus
our subject has continued his connection
v.ith the office for si.x years and his pres-
ent term will include eight years' service.
He has always been a stalwart Republicait
in his political association, keeps well in-
formed on the issues of the day and does all
in his power to promote the growth and in-
sure the success of the party. The journal
<.f which he is a part owner has done much
ti:> advance the cause of Republicanism in
this portion of the state, being an earnest
champion of the measures of the party which
stands for protection to American indus-
tries, for the gold standard and for the su-
premacy of the flag in every section of the
world in which it has been planted.

Of the Masonic fraternity Mr. Ouinn
is a valued and prominent member, being a
representative of Blue Lodge, of Galva, the
Royal Arch Chapter of Kewanee, of the
Council of that place, of Everett's Command-
ery, K. T., of Rock Island, and Kaba Tem-
ple of the !M3'stic Shrine of Davenport,
Iowa. Both he and his wife hold member-
ship in the order of the Eastern Star and
in the Blue Lodge he has been honored with
office. Mr. Ouinn is a public-spirited man
to an eminent degree. National progress
and local advancement are causes both dear
ti! the heart of this thoroughly loyal son of
the Republic, and his devotion to his country
is above question. In manner he is pleas-
ant and genial ; an approachable gentleman
who enjoys the friendship of a large circle
of acquaintances.

FRAN'CIS W. LARSOX.
Among the substantial agriculturists of
\\'cstern tnwnsb.ip is the subject of this rc-
\iew, who owns and occupies an excellent

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sec-
tion 32, two miles west of Orion, and also
has another farm of similar size on section
33. He is a native of Henrj' county, his
birth having occurred in Lynn township on
the 24th of September, 1855. His father,
Samuel B. Larson, was born in Sweden, in
1815, and there grew to manhood and mar-
ried Anna Collen, a Swedish lady, born in
1814. In 1852, with their two children,
they crossed the Atlantic and came direct to
Andover, Henr}' count)-, Illinois. The fa-
ther purchased a small farm, to which he
later added a tract of rav.- prairie land ad-
joining, making a farm of one hundred and
twenty acres, on v.hich he erected a good set
of buildings and made other improvements.
There he died February 12, 1884, and his
wife departed this life July 18, 1888. In
their family were tliree children of whom our
subject is the youngest and the onh- one born
in this country. John, the oldest, is a farmer
of Lynn township, while ^Matilda married
P. J. Anderson, and died January i, 1880.

On the home farm in Lynn tov.nship
Francis \\'. Larson grew to manhood, pur-
suing his studies in the local schools and as-
sisting his father in the labors of the farm
until he attained his majority. On starting
out in life for himself he rented the old
homestead, which he operated for a few
)"ears. In 1882 he bought his present place,
but rented it out for two years before mov-
ing to it. Since then to its further improve-
ment and cultivation he has given his time
and attention. He raises a good grade of
short-horn cattle aid Poland China hogs,
and in all his imdertakings has been uni-
formly successful, so that he is now number-
ed among the prosperous and substantial
men of his community.

In Mercer county, Illinois, ^Ir. Larson

was married March 17, 1877, to ^Miss Anna
Louisa Plym, a native of Sweden, and
daughter of John Plym, who settled in Ale-
do, ilercer courity, where he remained until
his death. She was a miss of twelve summers
when she came to Henry county, Illinois,
and was reared and educated here. She died
June 18, 1893, and was laid to rest in the
Swedish cemeterj- at Orion. Six children
were born of this union, as follows : Emma,
who is nov.- keeping house for her father;
Anna \'ictoria, who died at the age of twelve
years; ^linnie, who died at the age of elev-
en; John Edward, who was the second in
order of birth and died in infancy; Edna
ilatilda and ilabel \*iolet, both attending
the hon"»e school.

Since casting his first presidential vote
for Rutherford B. Hayes, in 1876, ^Ir. Lar-
son has been a stanch supporter of the Re-
publican party, but has never cared for the
honors or emoluments of public office, pre-
ferring to devote his entire time and atten-
tion to his business interests. He has, how-
ever, efficientl)- served as a member of the
school board for twelve years, and his du-
ties of citizenship have alwaj's been most
faithfull}^ and conscientiously performed.
He and his family are members of the Lu-
theran Church, and are prominent in the best
social circles of the community in which thev
reside.

WILLIAM LEMBKE.

William Lembke, an honored and high-
ly respected citizen of Lynn township,
whose home is on section 17, has been a
resident of Henry county since August.
1857, and as a farmer he has borne a very
active part in its development and upbuild-

THE BIOCIRAPIIICAL RECORD.

iiig. He comes from across the sea. liis
birth occurring in Prussia, Germany, Jan-
uary 28, 1829, and in that country he grew
to manhood and learned the cabinet maker's
trade, which he followed there for some
years.

With the hope of benefiting his financial
condition i\Ir. Lenibke emigrated to Ameri-
ca in 1855, going from Rotterdam to Liv-
erpool, where he took passage on a sailing
vessel, which was forty-seven days in cross-
ing the Atlantic. They encountered some
severe storms, during which one mast was
carried away and other damage done to the
vessel, while one man was lost overboard.
Arriving in New York on the 4th of May,
Mr. Lembke at once proceeded to Milwau-
kee, Wisconsin, where he found employ-
ment at the carpenter's and joiner's trade,
and after working for ten days the company
disposed of their old foreman and put our
subject in his place. He held that position
until Christmas, 1856, when he came to
Mercer county, Illinois, and decided to re-
main in this state. He took a contract for
working on G. B. Pillsbury's house in Lynn
township, Henry county, and continued to
v>ork at his trade in this and Mercer coun-
ties for two years.

On the 17th of August, 1857, in Cam-
bridge, Mr. I-eml)ke was united in mar-
riage with Miss Amelia A. Huyck, who was
born and reared in Ohio, and was one of the
early teachers of Henry county, Illinois.
She died in 1863, aiyl on the 21st of De-
cember, that year, Mr. Lembke was again
married in Rock Island, his second union
being with Miss Elizabeth Rhodenbaugh,
a native of Mercer county, where she was
reared and educated. Her father, John
Rhodenbaugh, was born in Northumber-
land county, Pennsylvania, in 1818, and in

1837 came to Illinois, being one of the first
settlers of fiercer county, where he im-
proved a large farm. There he died May
2, 1892, and his wife, who bore the maiden
name of Polly Arrowsmith and was a na-
tive of Indiana, passed away March 11,
1888. Mr. and Mrs. Lembke are the par-
ents of two children : Lena, wife of Frank
DeWitt, a farmer of Coal Valley; and Mary
E., wife of G. B. Krapp, a merchant of Coal
Valley, by whom she has Xwo children,
\\"illiam Lembke, and Earl H., who died
Octol>er 31, 1900, at the age of three years
and seven months.

Prior to his first marriage Mr. Lembke
purchased his present farm in Lynn town-
ship, only a .small portion of whicii had been
broken, and the only improvement on the
place was a small frame house. To the fur-
ther development and cultivation of liis land
he has since devoted his energies, has erect-
ed a pleasant residence and surrounded it
v.ith shade trees, making an attractive and
picturesque home. Most of the fruit and
forest trees upon the place he has raised
from the seed. The neat and thrifty ap-
pearance of the farm denotes the supervis-
ion of a careful and painstaking owner,
and show conclusively that he thoroughly
understands the occupation he has chosen
as a life work.

Politically Mr. Lembke is a Douglas
Democrat, and cast his first jiresidential bal-
lot for James Buchanan in 1856. He is
an earnest advocate of good schools and
competent teachers, and did much to ad-
vance the educational interests of his com-
munity while serving for twenty-one con-
secutive years as township school trustee.
He also served as township assessor three
years, but has declined further honors.
-Mthough reared in the Lutheran Church,

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he and liis wife now attend the Metliodist
Episcopal Church, and are members of the
Eastern Star Chapter, Xo. 93, of the Ma-
sonic fraternity at Orion. Mr. Lembke is
also an active and prominent member of
Sherman Lodge, No. 535. F. & A. 'M., in
which he has tilled all the chairs and has
twice served as master, while he has also
represented the lodge in the grand lodge of
the state. In token of their high regard
for him the members of that lodge, on the
28th of December, 1892, presented him with
a handsome gold headed cane on which was
engraved the name and number of the lodge.
The whole thing was a great surprise to ;Mr.
Lembke. He is widely and favorably known
throughout his adopted county, and is justly
deserving of honorable mention in her his-

tOT}-.

FRANK J. JOHNSON.

Frank J. Johnson, the present well-
known assessor of Andover townshijD — ^a po-
sition he has held for four consecuti\"e vears
— was Wnn in Sweden on the 30th of June,
1859, and in 1870 was brought to the L'nited
States by his parents, Peter and Hannah
Johnson, also natives of that country, who
on reaching the shores of America came at
once to Andover township, this county,
where the father rented land. For some
time he followed farming, and then retired
from active labor, moving to Andover,
where he died Decemljcr jg. 1899, at the
age of seventy-five years. His wife survives
him at the age of seventy-six, and now lives
with a daughter, :\Irs. Matilda Anderson,
of Andover township. Both held member-
ship in the Lutheran Church of Andover,
and he affiliated with the Republican party.

They were the parents of eight children, all
of whom reached years of maturity, name-
ly : Christine, wife of A. V. Hultgren, of
Andover township; Mary, deceased wife of
John Reed : Hannah, deceased wife of Eric
Ericson, of \\'estern township; Emily, wife
of Charles Eckman, of Nebraska; Frank J.,
our subject; Maggie, deceased wife of Clar-
ence Anderson, of Osco tov.-nship; Matilda.
Viife of Bengt Anderson, of Andover town-
ship; and Otto, a turnkey in the state peni-
tentiary at Joliet.

Frank J. Johnson received his education
ii; the public schools of this county and grew
to manhood upon the home farm. He start-
ed out in life for himself as a farm hand and
was thus employed until 1886, when he had
secured enough capital to purchase some
luid. Nearly all this time he worked in An-
dover township.

In 1885 j\lr. Johnson was united in mar-
riage with Miss Ella Johnson, whose birth
occurred in Sweden ]\Iay 14, 1863. Her
parents, John and Alarj^ (Peterson) John-
son, emigrated with their family to the new
world in 1869, and settled in this county,,
where the mother died March i, 1889. The
father now makes his home in \\'estern
township. Besides the wife of our subject
they had six other children: Ella S. ; Hul-
da, wife of Nels Anderson, of Clover town-
ship; Charles; John, also a resident of Clo-
ver township; Frank; Augusta, wife of
Charles Hultstreet; and Edwin. Of the
seven children born to Frank J. Johnson and
wife, two died in infancy, Cora and Nora,
the others being Fred N., Herman F., Gil-
bert V. S., Dora M. and Martin P.

For six years after his marriage ^Ir.
Johnson engaged in general farming and
stock raising on rentetl land in Andover
and Clover townships, but in 1892 he pur-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

chased Iris present farm of t.ne luiiuhed and
forty acres, to the cultivation and furtlier
improvement of which lie lias since de\dted
his energies. In connection with the rci^u-
lar farm products he raises broom corn, and
has found that industry quite prohtahle. He
also raises cattle and hogs for market, and
in all his business undertakings is meeting
with gratifying success. He was one of the
first to become interested in the Farmers'
Telephone, and is serving as one of its di-
rectors.

Mr. Johnson is what is styled a self-made
man, for all that he has has been accjuired
by industry, perseverance and good manage-
ment. The Republican party finds in him a
stanch supporter of its principles. In iS(;6
he was first elected assessor of Andover
tov.-nship, in which capacity he has since
served the people faithfully and well. He has
always lx;en officially connected with school
affairs, and is now a director in district Xo.
5; Andover township. Religiously he is a
member of the Svvcd-sh Lutheran Church of
Andover.

CHARLES A. CARLSOX.

The subject of this sketch, wlm is an
energetic antl prDgressive agriculturist re-
siding on sectinn 26, Andover township,
Henry count}', Illinois, was liorn in tiiat
township March 11, 1863. His faliier.
Swan .\. Carlson, was one of the men who
came from Sweden to foimd a home for
himself and better his financial condition.
He was born in 183J and as soon as old
enough to care for himself turned his at-
tciuion to fanning, following that pinsuit
ill his nati\e land until 1858, when he de-
cide<I to come to .\merica. He had pre-

\ iouslv married Christina Swanson. and to-
gether they crossed the .Atlantic, the voy-
age consuming eigiiteen weeks. They first
located in (ialesburg. Illinois, and on reach-
ing that city found that their means were
about exhausted. Coming to Antlover
township, which was the first settlement
made by the .Swedish colony, he operated
rented land for a short time and then pur-
chased a small tract of forty acres, to which
he added from time to time as he succeed-
ed in business until he had one hundred and
sixty acres. He now resides in Andmer
township. His first wife died September 5.
1872, and of the eight children l)orn to
them three are now deceased. Those li\'-
ir.g are Axel, a resident of I'"\anston, Illi-
nois; ilary, wile of Gust Sanberg, living
en section 22, Andover township; Charles
A., our subject; Frank, who lives on the
home farm; and Hulda, wife of John Sand-
(|uist, also a resident of .\ndo\er township,
Mr. Carlson again married, and b\- that
union had two children: John V... a farmer
of -Vndover township; and Ellen, at home.
The father has always \-oted the Republi-
can ticket, but would never accept or hold
jxjlitical office. He has ever been interested
in the maintenance of good schools and
efficiently served as director of the district
school for several years. He is a nieniber
and liberal sui)porter of the .Swedish Lu-
theran L'hurch of .\n(lo\er, and is a man
highly respected and esteemed by all who
know him.

The preliminary education of Charles A.
Carlson was receiveil in the common schools
of Andover township, and later he took an
elective course at the Xorthern Illinois
Xormal School of Dixon. He grew to
manhood on the home f.arm, becoming a
thorough and practical farmer. On the 1 ith

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Februar)', 1890, lie was united in mar-
riage with Miss Emma Swanson, wiio was
born in Cambridge township, this county.
November 22, 1869, a daughter of Charles
and Johanna (Hanson) Swanson, na-
tives of Sweden, where they were
reared. About 1864 her father came
to' the United States, and her mother
in 1868. After spending ten years in
Cambridge township, Henry county. Illi-
nois, Mr. Swanson purchased one hundred
and twenty acres of land in Andover town-
ship, to which he has added since small
tracts of land as his financial resources per-
mitted until he now owns a valuable place
of two hundred and forty acres on section
26. When it came into his possession it was
only partially improved, but intending to
make it a permanent home he has remodeled
all the buildings as well as erecting new
ones. For many years he followed general
farming with good success, but is now liv-
ing a retired life, enjoying the fruits of
former labor. Politically he is identified
with the Republican party, and religiously
is a consistent member of the Swedish Lu-
theran Church of Andover and one of its
libferal supporters. To himself and wife have
been born four children, one of whom died
in infancy. Of those living Emma, wife
of our subject, is the eldest; Mamie is the
wife of Gust Bjorling, of W'eller township;
and Alma is at home with her parents.

After his marriage Mr. Carlson rented
a farm in Clover township, where he made
his home for two years, and met with suc-
cess in ever}' undertaking. In 1892 he
moved to his present farm on section 26,
Andover township, where he rents two hun-
dred acres of his father-in-law, Mr. Swan-
son, and here he carries on general farming
and stock raising with marked success. In

1895 '1^ purchased eighty acres of land on
section 27, adjoining the farm which he
rents, and now operates both places. Two
children have come to brighten the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Carlson, namely : Esther
M. and Millia Evalma E.

In his political views our subject is a
FvCpublican, though at local elections he sup-
ports the men whom he considers best quali-
fied to fill the offices, regardless of party lines.
He has filled the office of school director for
nine years. Mr. Carlson is a leading mem-
ber of the Lutheran church of Andover, and
since his residence in Andover township has
taken an active part in Sunday school work,
the meetings being held in the school house
of his district. He has been superintendent
of the American Sunday school, and is dis-
trict president of the Union Sunday School
Association of Andover and Lynn town-
ships, devoting a large share of his time
in promoting the work.

GEORGE W. KLXCAID.

^^'e are now permitted to touch briefly
upon the life history of one who has re-
tained a personal association with the affairs
of Illinois throughout life and whose ances-
tral line traces back to the colonial epoch.
His life has been one of honest and earnest
endeavor and due success has not been de-
nied him.

A native of this state, ilr. Kincaid was
born in St. Clair county, on the 23d of De-
cember, 1 82 1, and is of Irish descent on the
l)aternal side. His grandfather, Andrew
Kincaid, who fought for American inde-
pendence in the Revolutionary war, was a
native of Ireland and an earlv settler of

GEORGE W. KINCAID.

ufmm

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Pennsylvania. The father, James Kincaid.
was born in that state about 1790, and at an
early day went to Kentucky, being among
the pioneers of the Blue Grass state. There
he grew to manhood and married Miss PolU'
Sanders, who was of English and Scotch
extraction, and whose father had also re-
moved to Kentucky in pioneer days. He
was from Virginia. James Kincaid followed
farming in Kentucky until about 1820,
when he removed to St. Clair county, Illi-
nois, locating within ten miles of St. Louis,
where our subject was born near Belleville,
In 1823 he took his family to Greene county,
subsequently spent one year in Rock Island
county, and then located in Mercer county,
where he improved a farm and reared his
children. He continued his residence there
throughout the remainder of his life, but died
while on a visit to our subject in Henry
county, in 1855. He was a soldier of both
the war of 181 2 and the Black Hawk war,
and was ever a true and loyal citizen.

George W. Kincaid is one of a family
of eight children, four sons and four daugh-
ters, of whom two sons and two daughters
are still living. Franklin is a resident
of fiercer county, Illnois. Xancy married
James Glenn, of Henry county, and both
are now deceased. Martha is the widow of
George Sinley and a resident of Colona.
Emma is the wife of Charles Davis, of Mis-
souri. Mrs. Sophia Mendenhall resided in
Hancock county, Illinois, until her death.

The days of his boyhood and youth
George W. Kincaid passed in Mercer coun-
ty, but he received only a limited education.
There he was married in 1844 to Miss Lou-
isa Smith, who was born in Ohio, and came
to this state in 1837, locating in fiercer
county. After his marriage he continued to
reside in that county for a time, and then re-

moved to Rock Island county, while in 1850
he came to Henry county, and purchased an
eighty-acre tract of land in Colona township,
known as the Dr. Baker farm. Upon this
place he has since made his home, and to it
he has added from time to time until he now
owns nearly five hundred acres of land in
one body. Three hunderd acres of this
amount has been placed under the plow, and
improved with two sets of good buildings.
Although he started out in life for himself
m limited circumstances Mr. Kincaid has
steadily worked his way upward by diligence,
lair dealing and untiring industry until he
is now one of the most prosperous citizens
of his comunmity.

Mr. Kincard's first wife died in the fall
of 1853. By that union he had six chil-
dren, namely: \\'illiam, a resident of the
state of ^^'ashington ; Mrs. Anna Anderson,
ot Kewanee, Illinois; Luc)', wife of ^laxwell
Murray, of Nebraska; Harriet, wife of
Thomas Davis, of Iowa ; A. Jackson, who is
engaged in farming on the home place;
Louisa, wife of James Montgomery, of Rock
Island. Mr. Kincaid was again married in
1S56, his second union being with Mary
Walker, who was born in Kentucky, but
reared in Missouri. She died January ly,
1900, leaving one son, John F., who is mar-
ried and engaged in farming and the manu-
facture of cheese at Briar Bluff, Illinois.

Since the formation of the Republican
party, in 1856, Mr. Kincaid has been an ar-
dent supporter of its principles, and has
\oted for all its presidential candidates, but
lias never cared for official honors. His in-
terest in educational affairs was manifest
by fifteen years of faithful service as school
director in his district. He has been an eye
witness of almost the entire growth and de-
\elopment of this state, and for half a cent-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ury he has heen pmminently identified with
the upbuilding of Henry county. He has
since seen its wild lands transformed into
beautiful homes and farms, its hamlets i^row
into villages and flourishing towns, and all of
the interests andevidences of an advanced
ci\-ilization introduced. As a honored pioneer
and worthy citizen of his adopted county he
is certainly deser\ing of prominent mention
in its history, and his sketch will be read with
interest by a host of warm friends thrDugh-
out the countv.

J. A. KIRKLAXD, .M. D.

One of the most exacting of all the high-
er lines of occupation to which a man may
lend his energies is that of the physician. A
most scrupulous prcliminar}^ training is de-
manded, a nicety of judgment but little un-
derstood by the laity. In this respect Dr.
Kirkl;ind is well fitted fur the ]M-ofession
which he has chosen for a life work, and his
skill and ability have won for him a lucra-
tive practice.

This well-known iihysician and surgeon
of Cambridge was Ixjrn near Belvidere,
Boone county. Illinois, Julv 13, 1856. but
before he was a year nld was lirought to
Henry county b_\- his parents, William and
Hannah (Farley) Kirkland. The father
was born in Cbillicnthe, Ohio, in Septemljer,
1813, and was a son nf Alexander Kirkland.
who at an early <lay was extensively engaged
ill trading with the Indians on this side of the
Alleghanies, bringing his goods across the
mountains on hcjr.seback and in i)ack trains.
He an<l two brothers, Robert and one whose
name is unknown, were nfillionaires, and
paid man_\- hundred thousand dollars to the
government in way of iluties. In pioneer
days Alexander Kirkland went to Indiana,

where he purcbaseil a large amount of land,
but was soon taken ill, from which illness
he died. His widow then returned east on
horseback, carrying her infant son, the Doc-
tor's father, a distance of three hundred
usiles, following- blazed trees and fording
streams, stopping b}- the wayside to nurse
her sick infant and give him what medical
attention she could. She ga\'e an attorne\'
power to secure the lands which her husliand
had purchased and sell them as he found o])-
portunity. After selling the jiroperty he
left for parts unknown, taking the proceeds
w itb him. The brothers of Alexander Kirk-
l;n)d were lost track of, and nothing was
known of them and their descendants for
many years, but recently some were found
li\-ing in Baltimore.

In 1856 \\'illiam Kirkland, the Doctor's
f:;tlier, came to Illinois from ■Morgan coun-
ty, Ohio, and located near Woodhull, Henry
county, where he improved a farm, being an
a.griculturist b}' occu])ation. Here he died
Februar}- 22. 1896, honored and res])ected
bv all who knew him. He was an actixe
and prominent member of the Christian
hurch assisted in organizing several churches
of that denomination and was an intimate
friend of Alexander Campbell, who was oiien
a guest at his home. His widow is a de\'out
Christian and a very active member of the
same church. She was born in Pennsyl-
\ania and is now se\'ent\'-six vears of age.
making her home in Woodhull. Her par-
ents, James and Ellen Farley, were nati\es
of Pennsylvania and England, respectively,
and died in Boone county, Illinois, the former
at the age of eight_\--four }'ears, the later at
the age of eighty-six. In early life William
Kirkland was a Democrat, but voted for
Lincoln in i860, and was afterward a Ue-
publican.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

])r. Kirklaiid is the fitth in order of liirtli
in a family of seven children, the otliers being
Mary, wife of Martin Hiller. a farmer of
Iowa : James Curtis, a farmer, who died in
1881. at the age of tiiirty-five years: Ehza-
betli E., who has been an in\alid for years;
W'ilHam P.. who is extensi\ely engaged in
farming and stock raising on the old iiome-
stead at Woodhull, Illinois: Davis O. a
farmer of Henry county: and Lloyd G..
attorney for the Iowa Insurance Company
and a man of considerable ])rominence in
Chicago, who is now serving as president of
the park board.

After leaving the common schools, where
his primary education was secured. Dr. Kirk-
Ir.nd attended Abingdon College three vears.
and for one year was a stu<lent at the Ken-
tucky University. He successfully engaged
in teaching school for two years, then read
medicine with Dr. Dunlap, of Cambridge,
for a time, and later attended lectures at Jef-
ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where
he was graduated in 1885. Immediately af-
ter his graduation he opened an ofifice in Chi-
cago, where he remained two years, and since
1887 has successfully engaged in practice at
Cambridge. Besides his large general i^rac-
t!ce he is medical examiner for the following
insurance companies and societies : The Man-
hattan, Penn Mutual, Fidelity Mutual, Phoe-
nix Mutual, Home Life of Philadelphia, Pru-
dential of New York, the Modern Woodmen
of America, Home Forum, Knights of the
Globe, and Kansas Life. The Doctor is also
interested in business enterprises, and has
served as president of the Electric Light
Company of Camlvridge for .several years.
He has an extensive and well-selected li-
brary, equal to, if not excelling, any other in
Cambridge.

On the 17th of November, 1887, Dr.

Kirkhuul was united in marriage with Miss
Elizabeth Price, daughter of Obed and Mary
Price, of Galva, who are now residing at
Etherly, Knox county, Illinois, where the
father is engaged in business as a merchant.
As a contractor and builder he was jiromi-
n.ently identified with the interests of this-
county for some years, and erected more
large buildings than any other man within
its borders. He is a native of New Jersey,
his wife of Pennsylvania, and they were mar-
rietl in Illinois in the early '60s. Religious-
ly thev are quite prominent members of the
Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Kirk-
l;:nd is the older of their two chilidren. The
other, Archibald, is an extensive contractor
and builder of Anaconda, Montana, and has
erected some of the large public buildings of
that state. Mrs. Kirkland was a member
of the first class ever graduated from the
high school of Galva, and prior to her mar-
riage successfully engaged in teaching for
twelve years, ton of these being in the city
.schools of Galva. She won an enviable rep-
utation as an instructor, and by extensive
reading has become perfectly familiar with
the best literature. She is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. The Doctor
and his wife have three children, namely:
Helen Irer.c, Archibald F. and Therese.

PoliticaUv Dr. Kirkbnd is identified
with the Republican party, but takes no act-
ive part in politics aside from voting. For
six years he was a member of the school
board of Cambridge. Fraternally he is a
member of tlic Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and is also connected with the
Galva Medical Society and the ^lilitary
Tract Medical Society. He has taken a
post-graduate course at the Post-Graduate
Medical College of Chicago, and has writ-
ten many able articles for medical journals.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The Doctor is a lover of nature, and pos-
sesses an excellent knowledge of natural
histor}'. While a student at the Kentucky
LTni\ersity he was shown ho\v to mount a
bird, and since then, through his own per-
sistent effort, has become an expert taxider-
mist. He has given instruction to many
high school pupils and others in this art,
having started several amateurs along that
line of work. He has the best and largest
ornithological collection in Henr^- county,
liaving about one hundred and twenty-five
varieties of birds mounted, and their poise
is excellent, showing a thorough knowledge
of their life and habits.

HEXRY G. GRIFFIX.

There is particular satisfacton in revert-
ing to the life history of the honored and
venerable gentleman whose name initiates
this review, since his mind bears impress of
the historical annals of Henrj- county from
the early pioneer days, and from the fact that
he has been a loyal son of the Republic. For
many years he was identified with the agri-
cultural interests of the county, but is now
living a retired life in Cambridge.

Mr. Griffin was born in Stockbridge,
Berkshire county, ^Massachusetts, June 19,
1819, and traces his ancestry back to \\'ill-
iam Griffin, the progenitor of the family in
America, who was a native of \\'ales and
an early settler in Connecticut. His son,
Samuel Griffin, the grandfather of our sub-
ject, moved from Connecticut to ilassachu-
setts prior to his marriage with Xahusta
CaldAvell, who was born of New England
parentage and was of ^^"elsh and English
extraction. They made their home in ilas-

sachusetts, and lived to an advanced age.
John Griffin, our subject's father, was born
in that state, and on leaving home at the age
of eighteen went to New York. Being draft-
ed, he served as a soldier in the war of 1812,
and when peace was once more restored he
resumed work at his trade of carpenter and
joiner in New York. While there he wedded
;Miss ^lary Hoag, a native of Rensselaer
county, that state, but owing to ill health
lie finally returned to Massachusetts. In
1841 he came to Illinois and settled near
\'iola, Mercer county, where he secured a
quarter-section of land on a warrant due for
his services in the war of 1812, and to it he
subsequently added by purchase. A part of
this farm is still in possession of the family.
The father died in !Mercer county in June,
1865, at the age of sixty-eight years, and the
mother, who was a faithful member of the
i\Iethodist Episcopal Church, died in Janu-
ary, 1890, at the advanced age of ninety-two
vears and six months. Their children were
^Villiam, who has been dead many years;
Henry G., our subject; James M., deceased;
Sarah, who died in Massachusetts, in 1839;
Huldah, widow of Anson Calkins, and a resi-
drent of this county ; Elizabeth, who died at
the age of sixteen years; George, who lias
been dead man)' years; and Septimus, who
lives near Viola, Illinois.

The boyhood and }-outh of Henry G.
Griffin were spent on a farm in his native,
state, and he was educated in the common
schools of the neighborhood. As early as
1837 he came to Illinois, and located one
hundred and sixtj- acres of land in what
is now Green township, fiercer county. To
the improvement and culti\ation of that
place he devoted his energies . until 1846,
when he moved to Cambridge township,
Henry county. Five years later he sold the

H. G. GRIFFIN.

LIBRARY

university of illinois
urba?;a

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

farm wliicli he first purchased and bought
another in the same township, making it his
home until his removal to the city of Cam-
bridge in March, 1900. It is a well improved
place of. one hundred and seventy-four acres
on section 2, and has lieen rented to the same
parties for twenty years.

In Mercer count}-, ]Mr. Grifiin became
acquainted with ard, August 4, 1840, mar-
ried, ]\Iiss Isabella \V. jMcGaughey, who was
born near New Bedford, Pennsylvania, April
29, 1822. Her parents, Alexander and Re-
becca (Tarrar.ce) AIcGaughey, were natives
of Adams county, that state, but shortly after
their marriage moved to Mercer county;
Pennsylvania, locating near New Bedford.
By occupation her father was a wagonmaker
and farmer. Plaving lost her mother when
in her tenth year, Mrs. Griffin went to live
with her sister, ^Mrs. zVgnes Stewart, near
Coitsville, Ohio, and in 1839 came Avith her
to Viola, Mercer county, Illinois. She died
September 6, 1893, ^'-"J t'le funeral services,
which were held at the Congregational
Church, and conducted by Rev. E. P. Brand,
were very impressive and comforting, the
text being "Let not your hearts be troubled."
In early life she was a member of the Unit-
ed Presbyterian Church, and was instructed
well in the Holy Scriptures, which she taught
h.er children both by precept and example.
On the organization of the Congregational
Church at Cambridge, she and her husband
were two of the original members, and Mr.
Griffin is now the only survivor. She al-
ways took an active and prominent part in
the work of the church, and, save a few times
during the Civil war, always prepared the
bread for communion. As a friend she was
ever true and loyal, and :io one ever left her
home who did not have good reason to be
grateful for her hospitality. In her efforts

to make her family comfortable, she, like a
true mother, often went beyond her strength.
As a wife ■"many daughters have done vir-
tiously, but thou cxcc'.lest them all," is the
feeling of the husband, whose home was left
desolate by her death. In the great struggle
between the north and the south, with forti-
tude an dforesight, sustained the cares of the
family and the farm while her husband and
son were at the front, and she gave liberally
to both the sanitary and Christian commis-
sions. On the 4th of August, 1890, at their
golden wedding, the community showed their
appreciation of her worth by many substan-
tial offerings.

The children born to ^Ir. and ]\Irs. Grif-
fin were as follows : ( i ) John A. has been a
minister in the Congregational Church for
many years, and now resides at Sherrard,
Illinois. At President Lincoln's first call for
troops he enlisted in Company D, Seven-
teenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was
promoted from the rank of sergeant to sec-
ond lieutenant. He remained in the service
until March, 1866, and was wounded in the
thigh at the battle of Shiloh. He first wed-
ded ilary Payne, who died in Danville, Illi-
nois, leaving four children, Chester, Alice,
Grace and Albert. For his second wife he
married Margaret Haddick, and to them
were born four children: Isabel, who died
when about three years and a half old; Rob-
ert T., John and Charlotte. (2) French B.,
bur subject's second child, was born ^larch
29, 1845, ''"^ died at the age of six months.
(3) James M. died in infancy. (4) The
fourth child died in infancy unnamed. (5)
William A., born September 2^, 1848, mar-
ried Lovica Hibbard and died March 17,
1882, leaving two children, Evelyn and
Wilhelmina. (6) Mar}^ A. is the wife of J.
M. MeiTill, of Des Moines, Iowa, and has

9°

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tliree children, Frank, Earl and Royce. (7)
Rebecca A. is the wife of Rufus Anderson,
•of Des Moines, by whom she has one child,
Julia A., and they also have an adopted
daughter, Fannie Anderson. (8) Gilljert
A., Ixiru July 25, 1857, .died January 18,

1861. (9) Julia A. is the wife of F. H.
Streed, of L'lah, Illinois, and they have two
children, Henry G. and Eugene F. (10)
Sarah A. is the wife of L. K. Filmore, of

-iMarshalltown, Iowa, and they had seven
children, Ralph \V.,Ross C.,Paul H., Agnes,
Dora, Marion and Charles K., deceased.
i\Ir. Griffin has now living h\-e children,
twenty-two grandchildren, and hve great-
grandchildren.

For his second wife ^Ir. Griffin married
^Irs. Susan C. Blanchard, of Davenport,
Iowa, JNIarch 2, 1898. She is a daughter of
\\'illiam and Matilda Kennedy, prominent
residents of Rock Island county, Illinois.

Mr. Griffin entered the Union service
during the Civil war, enlisting August 11,

1862, for three years, in Company D, One
Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunter In-
fantry, under the command of Colonel T. J.
Henderson. He took part in all the engage-
ments in which his regiment participated un-
til the battle of Kno.xville, where he was cap-
tured by the rebels. By a roundabout \\-ay
he was taken to Libby prison, where he re-
mained from December i, 1863, to May 7,
1864, and was then transferred to the stock-
ade at JNIacon, Georgia. In August of the
same year he was taken with others to
Charleston, where they were placed under
the fire from the Union guns on ]\Iorris Isl-
and and were kept there until October 6,
when they were sent to Columbia, South
Carolina, where they were kept in an open
field until December 12. On that date the
prisoners were mo\-ed to the state insane asv-

lum. and remained there until the i8th of
February, 1865, when sent to the parole
c;mip near Wilmington. Here they were de-
livered to the Union authorities, but Mr.
Griffin was not exchanged until April 26,
1865, when he was allowed to join his regi-
ment at Greensboro, North Carolina. The
war ha\ing ended, he was finally discharged
July 7, 1865, after almost three years of
faithful service on southern battle fields and
in tiie loathsome prisons of the south, where
lit endured all the hardships and privations
of prison life.

Politically ^Ir. Griffin was originally a
Whig, but has been an ardent supporter of
the Republican party since its organization,
and has served as a delegate to many county
and state conventions of his party. He has
been in office most of his life, being elected
justice of the peace when very young. He
\\as county school commissioner two years,
and was on the building committee for the
erection of different school-houses, including
the first in the village of Cambridge. He
was coroner of the countv for a time and was
supervisor of Andover township for nearly
twenty years. He is a very prominent and
mtluential member of the Congregational
C'hurch of Cambridge, and has served as
deacon since its organization. His upright
course in life commands the respect and
commendation of ex'eryone, and his labors as
u founder of the county justly entitle him to
a prominent place in its annals.

PHILIP B. KELLER.

Among the recognized leaders of the
Republican part)^ in Henry county is Pliili])
B. Keeler, the well-known and efficient cir-
cuit clerk, \vhose large acquaintance and en-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bounded popularity give him an influential
following, while his shrewd judgment of men
and aft'airs makes his counsel of value in all
important movements. In business circles
he also takes a foremost rank, and his suc-
cess is all the more notable from the fact that
it has been .secured by his own judicious
management.

;Mr. Keeler was born in Clarendon, Or-
leans county, New York, August 27, 1843,
the youngest child of Ira B. and Clarissa H.
(Foley) Keeler, also natives of the Empire
Slate, and of English and Irish descent, re-
spectively. In early life the father followed
the carpenter's and joiner's trade, and later
engaged in bridge building, constructing
many of the bridges over the Erie canal. lie
was widely and favorably known, and was a
man of considerable prominence in his town,
being called upon to serve as supervisor and
in many other positions of public trust. Fra-
ternally he was quite a prominent member of
the Odd Fellows Society. He died in Jan-
uary, 1852, at about the age of fifty-two
3-ears, wiiile his wife, who was a consistent
and faithful member of the Baptist Church
for many years, was born in 1797 and died
in 1879. To them were born eleven children,
of whom eight reached years of maturity,
namely : Harriet B. is the widow of Clark
Glidden, with whom she came to De Kalb
county, Illinois, in 1854, but is now living
with her son in Aberdeen, Washington ; Ru-
fus died in California in 1898; Delia died in
1852; Josiah was accidentally killed in
Scottsville, Kansas; Elizal^eth \'. is the wife
of J. W. Eddy, a jeweler of Kewanee, and is
now, in 1900, visiting the Paris exposition;
Mary E. is the widow of Andrew \Voo<l and
a resident of Cambridge ; Viola M. married
L. P. Wilson and died in 1889; and Philip
B. completes the family.

The early education of our subject was
acquired in the public schools of his native
state, but later he attended the Union high
school at Kewanee, Illinois, and also took a
si>ecial cour.se in bookkeeping. By the death
of his father he was thrown upon his own re-
st )urces at the tender age of seven years, and
has since made his own way in the world un-
aided. In 1859 he came with his mother to
Kewanee, which he still considers his home,
though in the discharge of his present official
duties he is comi)elled to spend most of his
time at the county seat. On starting out in
life for himself he learned the jeweler's trade
in Kewanee. Subsecjuently he found employ-
ment in a machine shop, l)ut in less than a
\ear he had the niisforlune to lose his right
hand and a portion of his forearm, though
he did not resign his position for three years,
successfully manipulating the machine with
one hand during that time. Following this
he again worked at the jeweler's trade until
1866, when he formed a partnership with
& Keeler he was engaged as a dealer in jew-
elry, sewing machines and musical instru-
ments, being successfully engaged in that line
of trade for thirty years, he taking charge of
the sewing machines and musical instrument
department. P'or a time he was also inter-
ested in the lumber business in southern Ar-
kansas, but his property there was destroyed
by fire. The Building and Loan Association
of Kewanee owes much of its success to Mr.
Keeler, who is a man of keen discrimination,
scnnid judgment and indefatigable enterprise.
.\s one of the organizers and directors and
president he has labored untiringly for its
success, and has succeeded, with others, in
placing the concern on a good financial basis.
Through this organization many poor people
have been able to secure homes for them-
sehes A\hich thev ne\er c(juld have done in

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

any other way, and it has thus advanced tlie
interests of the town.

On the 22nd of December, i8r)C), Mr.
Keeler was united in marriage with Miss
Mary F. Whittemore, a daughter of Caleb
Whittemore, who to-day is one of the oldest
and most highly esteemed business men of
Peoria, where their marriage was cele-
. brated. By this union were born two chil-
dren: Rufus W., an expert electrician; and
Philip B., Jr., a pupil in the public schools.

Since casting his first presidential vote
for Abraham Lincoln ilr. Keeler has '-ecn
an ardent Republican, and has worked un-
tiringly for the success of his party. He
has been honored with several important offi-
cial positions, having served as a member of
the village board of Kewanee and was super-
visor of Kewanee tOAvnship for many years.
While a member of the. vill.age board the gas
plant was put in and preliminary steps were
taken to secure water works. He was char-
man of the board of supervisors from the
time he Avas first elected until his election as
circuit clerk, which office he now so credita-
bly fills, discharging its duties to the entire
satisfaction of all the people. He was re-
elected to the latter office in 1900 by a largely
increased majority, antl had no opposiiion
in the convention. For some )'-ears he v. as a
member of the library board of Keuaace, its
library beiiig one of the finest in the state,
and its rooms kept open every day in the year.
In the building up of this library much credit
is due to him.

As a member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows he has done much for the or-
der, and is one of the most prominent mem-
bers in the state. He was a member of the
building committee when the hall of the Ke-
wanee lodge was built. He is past grand
of the subordinate lodge, and has been a rep-

resentati\e to the grand lodge of the state
for the past twenty-five years. A member
also of the encampment he is now past chief
patriarch, and he has represented his camp
in the grand encampment of the state for
twenty-five vears. He is now past grand
marshal of the grand encampment. L'ntil
his election to the office of circuit clerk,
he was a trustee of the I. O. O. F. prop-
erty in Kewanee from 1870. Philip B.
Keeler is emphatically a man of enterprise,
positive character, indomitable energy and
liberal views, and is thoroughly identified
in every respect with the growth and pros-
perity of his adopted city and county.

WILLIAM RINGLE.

Prominent among the successful stock-
dealers and agriculturists of Henry county
is William Ringle, the present efficient super-
visor of Osco township. He was born in Ar
legheny county, near Pittsburg, Pennsyha-
nia, on the 6th of March, 1847, ^"^ was ten
years of age when brought to this county by
his parents, Josqjh and Mary (W'hitsel)
Ringle, also natives of the Keystone state,
where their marriage was celebrated. His
paternal grandfather was a soldier of the
Revolutionary war under the command of
General Washington, and was trainmaster at
Valley Forge. He died when comparatively
a young man, leaving a large family of chil-
dren, all of whom lived to an advanced age.

Joseph Ringle, father of our subject, was
born in 181 1, and died in 1893. He was
born and reared in western Pennsylvania,
his early home being in Indiana county.
During his early manhood he lived for a time
near Pittsburg, where he was engaged in the
dairy business, but later returned to Indiana

LiBR/JRY

UNIVERSIJy OF ILLINOIS

URBAU

WILLIAM RINGLE.

JOSEPH RINGLE.

UNIVERSlir OF ILLINOIS
URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

county. He was one of tlie fir.st to settle on
the prairies in Osco township, Henry coun-
ty, vvliere he purcliased and improved a farm
of one hunch^ed and sixty acres of land, and
later added eighty acres more, which he re-
tained until a settlement .was made among
the children by their starting out in life for
themselves. He was a supporter and active
member of the Presbyterian Church of
Munson, and was a Prohibitionist in politics,
though he never took a very active part in
political affairs. He was a man of sound
financial stai>ding, and, starting from noth-
ing, he accumulated quite a fortune. His wife
was of Dutch ancestry, her forefathers hav-
ing come from Plolland at an early day and
settled in Pennsylvania. They were quite
wealthy and invested their money in coal
mining, which is still carried on extensively
by their descendants in that state. Mrs.
Ringle died at the home of a daughter in
Cambridge, in 1898. She was the mother of
nine children, two of whom died in infancy,
the others being James, a retired farmer of
IMunson township, who now resides in Gene-
seo; Jiilui, a retired resident of Cambridge;
William, our subject; David \\., a farmer of
Geneseo township; Catherine, wife of Harri-
' son jMoore, a retired farmer of Newton,
Iowa ; Louisa, widow of A. J. Combs and a
resident of Cambridge ; and Mary, wife of
John Sherrard, of Cajnbridge township.

During his boyhood and youth \\'il]iam
Ringle attended the district schools near his
! home and the Orion Academy, and he re-
mained under the parental roof until his mar-
\ riage. It was on the 27th of October, 1873,
I that he wedded Miss Ellen A. Welton, who
! was born in Peoria county, Illinois, Febru-
ary 22, 1852, a daughter of Lester C. and
Ora Welton, both natives of Connecticut.
During her infancy the family moved from

Peoria to Henry county and located in Osco
township, at which time the greater part of
this locality was still in its primitive condi-
tion. Mr. Welton purchased and improved
a large farm and was quite e.xtensively en-
gaged in stock raising. He was also one of
the promoters and a large stockholder of the
Osco & Western Farmer's Mutual Insurance
Company, which was founded and incorpor-
ated in i'&7^, and embraced Osco and West-
ern townships, Henry county, and Rural
township. Rock Island county. It has proved
a great benefit to the resident farmers of this
community. For a time ^Ir. Welton lived
in Cambridge, and then moved to Hutchin-
son, Reno county, Kansas, locating on a
large stock farm, where his death occurred.
He was one of the leading men of Osco
township, and was looked up to by all as a
guide, being a man of intelligence and in-
tegrity. His children were James, a retired
farmer of Geneseo ; Merritt, a farmer of At-
lantic, Iowa: ]\Iargaret, wife of Chester
O'Neale, of Hudson, Kansas; and Ellen A.,
wife of our subject. Mrs. Ringle received a
good education, pursuing a classical course.
After his marriage Mr. Ringle located
upon his present farm, having purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of partially im-
proved land on section 28, Osco township,
on which he at once erected necessary and
substantial buildings, including commodious
barns, sheds and cribs, with the intention of
embarking in the stock business. This he has
always carried on in connection with farm-
ing, and also operates threshers and shellers,
having two steam engines for that purpose.
The Ringle family have always been en-
gaged in the latter business, owning from
one to five outfits among them and operat-
ing the same very successfully in threshing
grain, shelling corn and hulling clover, as

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

well as grinding feed. For the last named
purpose our subject keeps an engine on his
farm all the time, preparing food for the
large herd of cattle which he fattens each
j-ear. He has added one hundred and sixty
acres of land to his first purchase and im-
proved the same to conform to his growing
stock business, being one of the largest
stock men of Osco township. He started on
a small scale, but has gradually increased
the volume of liis business until he now han-
dles many hundred head of stock annually
with profit. He first raised short hoTn cat-
tle for market, and now gives his attention
entirely to the feeding of stock for market
purposes, his average shipments being from
six to eight carloads of cattle and hogs an-
nually. He is also interested in a fine grade
of horses, and has sold some of the finest
teams of Englishshires ever put on the mar-
ket from Osco township, having the hon-
or of receiving the highest price ever paid
for a gelding in that place. He buys stock
wherever he can to an advantage, princi-
pally in the west, and brings them home to
fatten for market. ^Ir. Ringle has met with
most excellent success in this business, and
takes a just pride in his stock and the facili-
ties he has for handling it. Always honora-
ble and upright in all his dealings, he has
the confidence and respect of those with
whom he has come in contact, and his suc-
cess is well merited. For the past eighteen
years he has operated a steam threshing ma-
chine, and has ownedand operated a thresher
since 1867. He is one of the stockholders
and directors of the First National Bank of
Cambridge; is also a director and treasurer
of the Osco & Western Farmers" ilutual
Insurance Company, which does the leading
business of this section, and he has served
the people well in financial concerns.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Ringle is
an active worker for his party and its inter-
ests, and has been selected to fill various
offices in his township. In 1899 he was
elected supervisor, and is now serving in that
capacity with credit to himself and to the
satisfaction of his constituents. Since resid-
ing upon his present farm he has served con-
tinuously as township school trustee. In re-
ligious belief he is a Presbjterian. while
his wife holds membership in the Episcopal
Church of Osco, and he is a liberal supporter
of all church work. He is widely and fav-
orably known throughout the county as a
most progressive and enterprising man, and
is held in high regard by a large circle of
friends and acquaintances.

SA^IUEL H. CALLA\\"AY.

Samuel H. Callaway is one of the lead-
ing farmers and stock raisers of Western
township, his farm of one hundred and twen-
ty-six acres being pleasantlv located on sec-
tion ;^2 and 5 in Lynn township, within two
and a half miles of Orion. He was born in
Warwickshire, England, Jul}' 27, 1839, and
ill his boyhood passed the birthplace of the
immortal Shakespeare on his wa\- to and
from school. In 1849 he came to the new
world with his parents, Samuel and Esther
Callaway, who first located at Utica, New
York, but later removed to Detroit, Michi-
gan, where they spent the remainder of their
lives. In England the father had followed
the stock business.

In 1 85 1 our subject and his older brother,
Jonathan, came to Henry county, Illinois,
where the former worked at anything by
which he could earn an honest dollar. For

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

some time he was employed by the day or
month at clearing land and at farming, and
later, when he had saved enough money, lie
purchased teams and commenced breaking
jjrairie, following that occupation for sev-
eral years, during which time he broke hun-
dreds of acres of land. However, after re-
maining here about three years, on account
of poor health, he returned to Detroit, and
three years later came back tn Western
township. Later he rented land and en-
gaged in farming on his own account. When
the Civil war broke out he tried to enlist
at Detroit, Michigan, but. being lame and
in poor health, was rejected.

On the 2 1 St of November, 1861, in
Henry county, Mr. Callaway married Miss
Julia Belle Harrison, also a native of Eng-
land, and a daughter of William and Sarah
(Williams) Harrison. Her father spent his
entire life in that country. The mother came
to the United States with her daughter in
May, 1850, and after the latter's marriage
made her home with our subject and his
v.ife until her death. For several years
prior to her emigration from England, Mrs.
Callaway made her home with her uncle,
Frank Pears, the noted soap manufacturer
of London. Before coming to this cmintv
she and her mother lived in Detroit, Michi-
gan. Mr. and Mrs. Callaway are the ])ar-
ents of seven children, three sons and four
daughters, namely: Herbert L., who is still
under the parental roof; John H., who has
engaged in teaching school, but is now a
student at Kno.x College, Galesburg; Ezra
S., also a school teacher of Henry county:
Ssther K., wife of Albert Sayre, of Western
township ; Pauline J., wife of S. H. Callo-
way, a farmer of Grundy county, Iowa;
Bertha A., wife of Addison Chase, a farmer
of Western township, this county ; and .Mice

M., a successful school teacher of this coun-
ty, four of the family having followed that
profession.

Mr. and Mrs. Callaway began married
life on a farm of forty acres in Lynn town-
ship, which he purchased in 186 1, and to
which he later added another forty-acre
tract, making it his home for four years.
On selling that place he bought eighty acres
on section 32, Western township, where he
has now made his home since 1865. When
he located thereon about fifty acres had been
jjroken, a small house built and an orchard
and shade trees set out. Subsequently Mr.
Callaway purchased an adjoining tract of
forty-six acres in Lynn township, and has
s-nce devoted his energies to the further im-
provement and cultivation of his land, con-
\erting it into one of the most desirable
farms of its size in that locality. He has
made a specialty of the raising of Poland
China hogs and Shropshire sheep, and this
branch of his business has proved quite
profitable. He commenced life in Illinois
w ilhout a dollar, and by his own labor, en-
terprise and perseverance has accumulated
a comfortable competence, and is to-day the
t^wner of a good home and farm.

Politically Mr. Callaway has been a life-
long Republican, and cast his first presi-
dential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in i860.
He has been a delegate to numerous con-
ventions of his party; has served as high-
way coinmissioner three years ; and as school
director twelve years and president of the
board. Fraternally he is a member of Sher-
man Lodge, No. 535, F. & .\. M., of Orion.
He is a loyal citizen of his adopted country,
and in all the relations of life has been found
true to every trust reposed in him. For
almost half a century he has made his home
in Henry county, and he is lx)th widely and

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

favorably known. He was one of the pro-
moters of the Orion-Sherrard Mutual Tele-
phone Compan)-, in wliich he is a director.
He is also president of the Richland Grove
Vigilance Committee, that has been in ex-
istence fort)- years.

ROBERT G. NEVILLE.

Robert G. Neville, who is successfully
engaged in agricultural pursuits on section
29, Osco township, first came to Henry
county in December, 1879. A native of Illi-
nois, he was born in Kickapoo township,
Peoria count}-, June 22, 1862, and is a son
of George and Catherine (jMoorehead)
Neville, both natives of Ireland. They came
to this country when young and were mar-
ried in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where
they continued to make their home for three
years after their marriage, and then re-
moved to this state, locating in Jubilee town-
ship, Peoria count}-. The father was active-
ly engaged in farming in that county until
his death, which occurred March 4, 1872.
The wife and mother came to Osco in 1893,
and died at the home of her daughter in
Cambridge township, December 23, 1899.
In the family were eight children, one of
whom died in infancy, while five sons and
two daughters are suU living, namely : Will-
iam, fireman in the Monarch distillery of
Peoria; Robert G., our subject; Kate, wife
of Frank Sheen, of \\'olcott, Indiana;
Thomas M., a shipping clerk in a whole-
sale rubber house in Chicago; John F., pro-
prietor of a pool and billiard parlor in the
same city; Richard C, a resident of Cam-
bridge township, this county; and Sarah,
wife of Albert C. Tomlinson, who lives on
D. C. Tomlinson's farm in Cambridge town-

ship. The parents were members of the
Episcopal Church.

As soon as he attained a sufficient age
Robert G. Neville entered the common
schools of his native county, where he pur-
sued his studies until ten years old, when
his father died and he had to assist in the
support of the family. Subsequently, how-
ever, he attended business college at Daven-
port, Iowa, for two terms. His education
was obtained principally by general reading
and observation, and he has thus made up
for his lack of early educational advantages.
He worked by the month as a farm hand un-
til twenty-five years of age, and did his share
in supporting the family until he attained
his majority.

On the loth of February, 1886, ]\Ir.
Neville married JMiss ]\Iargaret McCurdy,
who was born in Montgomery county, Penn-
sylvania, September 19, i860, but who at
the time of her marriage was living in Osco
township, this county, with her parents, both
of whom are now deceased. ]\Irs. Neville
died July 10, 1896, leaving four children:
Alexander, Robert, Harold and M. Edith,
who attend he Osco school. She was a
daughter of Alexander and Kate McCurdy,
of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who came from the
north of Ireland to the United States, first
locating in Penns}-lvania, where they were
married. Later they came to Henry coun-
ty, Illinois, and located on the southwest
quarter of section 20, Osco township, where
he opened up a farm and made his home
until his death. Religiously he was an
Episcopalian, while his wife was reared in
the Presbyterian faith. On that home farm
Margaret grew to womanhood, and there
remained until her marriage.

After his marriage Mr. Neville removed
to Kearney, Nebraska, where he lived for

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

two years and on his return to this county
settled on his present farm, which was deed-
ed to his wife by her fatlier. He has since
greatly improved the place by the erection
of a good residence barns and fences; has
planted trees, tiled the land, and placed it
under a high state of cultivation. The farm
consists of one hundred acres of rich and
arable land. Mr. Neville follows both gen-
eral farming and stock feeding. He usually
buys a car load of cattle in Nebraska, both
spring and fall, which he feeds and pre-
pares for the market. For the size of his
place, he is one of the most extensive feed-
ers in Henry county.

Mr. Neville is one of the leaders of the
Democratic party in his community, and has
been elected to the office of town clerk and
assessor. He has also served as school di-
rector nine years, and has taken an active
interest in maintaining good schools. Re-
ligiously he is an active member of the Epis-
copal Church of Osco township, and for
about ten years has served as vestryman,
during which time a rectory has been built.
He is a charter member of the Modern
^\'oodmen Camp, No. 2248, of Osco, of
which he was consul four. years, and is also
a charter member of the Royal Neighbors
of America. He is a member of Sherman
Lodge, No. 535, F. & A. M., of Orion, and
of the Eastern Star. In social circles he
stands high, and is an active worker in the
socities to which he belongs.

OLOF WALLINi:.

Tireless energy, well directed by sound
business judgment, has bnjught to Mr.
Walline gratifying success in the affairs

of life. For thirtv years he has been a resi-
dent of Henry county, and now owns and
occupies a fine farm on section 14, Andover
township. Like many of the best citizens
of this localit}- he is a native of Sweden,
born February 18, 1847, and is a son of
Olof E. and Betsey (Olson) Walline, also
natives of that country, where the father
followed farm work until his emigration to
America in 1869. His last days were spent
at the home of our subject in Andover to\Am-
ship, this county, where both he and his
wife died. Of the four children born to
them one died in Sweden. The others are
Margaret, wife of Peter Olenius, living on
the old Buck farm in Andover township;
Olof, our subject; and Peter E., now a
resident of California, who was formerly
a farmer of Andover towaiship, and a mer-
chant of Cambridge.

The subject of this review received his
education in the common schools of his na-
tive land, and remained at home with his
parents until he attained his majority. He
then came to the United States and first lo-
cated at Bishop HilJ, Illinois, where he
worked at the mason's and carpenter's
trades, having partially learned the latter oc-
cupation in Sweden. After two years spent
at Bishop Hill, he purchased eighty acres
of land in Andover township in partnership
with his brother, and together they success-
fully engaged in farming for twelve years,
thus securing a good start in life. As they
succeeded in business they added to their
farm until they owned about two hundred
acres, which property was divided when they
dissolved partnership. In 1883, having sold
his portion of the farm, Olof Walline pur-
chased his present place, which at that time
consisted of one hundred and twenty acres
of partially improved land. He has since

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

laid many rods of tiling, built fences and
erected buildings, and now has one of the
best and most attractive farms of the lo-
cahty. He and his brother, P. E., are also
proprietors of the Cambridge Creamery, and
in its operation have also met with well-
deserved success; our subject is manager of
the same.

In January, 1875, Mr. W'alline was
united in marriage witli Miss Elizabeth
Johnson, who was born in Andover town-
ship. May 6, 1855, a daughter of Andrew
M. and Christina Johnson. The former,
now deceased, was among the early settlers
of his township. There Mrs. Johnson still
resides, and with her live her two sons, Al-
bert and Otto, and one daughter Ida, while
Oscar, Alfred and Emma, wife of Swan
Anderson, make their home in Nebraska, and
Mrs. Amelia Norling lives in Cameron, Illi-
nois, where her husband is engaged in black-
smithing. ^Ir. and Mrs. \\'alline have a
family of nine children, namely : Charles
W., Jennie, Henry W., Louvina, Eddie J.,
Esther, Minnie, Ernest and Maljel, all at
home. They have been educated in the com-
mon schools, while Charles W. and Henry
have pursued an agricultural course at Madi-
son, \\'isconsin, and are prepared to accept
and hold any ixjsition in the business world.
They also attended the high school of Cam-
bridge. Charles W. now has charge of the
creamery business of his father.

In his political views Mr. W'alline is a
Prohibitionist, but at local elections supports
the men whom he believes best qualified for
office. For the long period of seventeen
years he has efiiciently served as school di-
rector in his district, and for the past ten
years has been appraiser for the Swedish
Insurance Company in his township, adjust-
ing losses also. He is an active member of

the Methodist Episcopal Church of Andover,
and one of its trustees. He is a public-
spirited and progressive citizen, who takes
a deep interest in everything pertaining to
the welfare of his adopted county, and is
held in high regard by all who know him.

JOHN L. HULL.

It is astonishing to witness the success-
of young roen who have emigratec^to Amer-
ica without capital and from a position of
comparative obscurity have worked their way
upward to a position of prominence. The
readiness with which they adapt themselves
to circumstances and take advantage of op-
portunities oifered brings to them success
and wins them a place among the leading-
men of the community in which they re-
side.

Among the natives of Sweden who have
become prominent in business and public
affairs in Henry county, is John L. Hull,
who has been a resident of Cambridge town-
ship since 1869. He was born November 3,.
1850, in Sweden, a son of Nels P. and Inga
Carolina Larson. The father, who was a
farmer by occupation, died in that country,
but the mother is still living and continues
to make her home there. In their family
were seven children, of whom five are still
living, namely: Christine, who lives on the
old homestead in Sweden; John L., our sub-
ject; A. S., manager of a lumber yard in
Cambridge, Illmois ; and Emma and Nels
P., who are living on the home farm in
Sweden.

In the public schools of his native land
John L. Hull acquired a good practical ed-
ucation. He remained on the home farm

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

103

until eio^Iiteen years of age, when lie emi-
grated to this country with tlie iiope of
bettering his financial coiulitiDn. After
working as a farm hand in this country
for two years, lie located u]K3n his present
farm on section 8. Cambridge township,
where he was at first in the employ of others.
The Brick and Tile works were started upon
the land in 1870, and the following year he
commenced learning the business as a work-
man in the factory. Later he became ni;ji-
ager of the plant, and in 1890 purchased a
half interest in the business, which was car-
ried on under the firm name of Cook & Hull
until 1899, when Mr. Hull bought out his
partner and has since been alone in the busi-
ness. When the plant was first started it
was run by hand and horse power, but while
Mr. Hull was manager an engine of thirty-
horse power was i)ut in, and the factory
otherwise improved. There are now five
kilns, three with down drafts and two with
up drafts and a drying shed, one hundred
by twenty-six feet in dimension. During
the busy season from fifteen to twenty men
are employed in tlie yards. The product of
the factory being of a superior grade, it finds
a ready sale on the market, and is shipped
in carload lots to Stark, Mercer and Rock
Island counties. The success of this enter-
prise has been mainly due to Mr. Hull, who
is a man of good business and e.Kecutive
ability. He owns thirteen acres adjoining
the city of Cambridge, and is also engaged
ill farming and stock raising. He possesses
keen discrimination as well as sound judg-
ment, and in business affairs is prompt, en-
ergetic and notably reliable.

On the I2th of October, 1875. Mr. linll
married Miss Josephine C. I^yon, who was
born in .\merica in 1854. Both her parents
died in i8<;7, leaving seven children, name-

ly: Tilda, wife of J. AI. Anderson, a dry-
goods merchant, of Cambridge; Ida; Jose-
phine, wife of our subject; John, Alfred,
Ludwig an<l Otto, all residens of Cambridge.
Mr. and ]\Irs. Hull have four children : Lettie
v., Edwin, Emma and Ernest. The two
oldest are graduates of the Cambridge public
schools and the others are still i)ursuing ilieir
studies there.

During his entire residence in Cam-
bridge Mr. Hull has taken an active interest
in politics and has been a stanch supporter
of the Republican party, serving on the town
and county central committees. For two
years he filled the office of tax collector, and
in 1898 was elected supervisor, which office
he filled so acceptably that he was re-elected
in 1900 and is the present incumbent. Foi^
three successive terms he has been a mem-
ber of the schcHil board of Cambridge. He
is an active and i)roiiiiiient member of the
Swedisii Lutheran Church of Cambridge,
in which he has served as tleacon and is
now one of the trustees, while socially he
is connected with the ^lystic & Fraternal
Tribune, Xo. — , and the Odd Fellows Lodge,
No. 199, in which he has held office. He
is a ma not recognized abilitv and sterling
worth, and stands high in the community
where he has so long made his home. Those
who know him best are numbered among
his warmest friends, and no citizen in Henry
county is more hoiioreil or highly respected.

JOHX II. McGO\'ERX.

This prominent citizen of Orion, who is
now li\ing a retired life, was born on the
Monongahela river, in Brownsville, Fayette
county, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1834, and is
a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Martzall)

I04

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

^IcGovern, the former a native of the nortli
of Ireland, the latter of Pennsylvania, where
their marriage was celebrated. The father
was reared on the Emerald Isle and was a
young man when he came to the new world.
He died when John H. was but three years
old. leaving a widow and seven children.
He was engaged in business in Brownsville.
The mother's ancestors were originally from
Germany. In 1858 she came to Rock Island
county, Illinois, and in 1865 moved to Iowa,
where her death occurred about 1885. She
was a member of the Presb}-terian church.
In the county of his nativity John H.
McGovern grew to manhood, and at Browns-
ville, Pennsylvania, he learned the carpen-
ter's and joiner's trade, and for a time he
engaged in contracting and building in the
east. Coming to Illinois in 1855, he first
located in Rock Island, where he followed
the same pursuit for five \-ears, and then en-
gaged in farming in Boling township for
four years. In 1864 he went west and was
interested in mining in Montana and Idaho
for a short time. Later we find him in
California, but in 1865 he returned to Illi-
nois, and embarked in business at INIilan.
carrying on operations there for five years.
In 1870 he removed to Orion, Henry county,
where he opened a general store and did an
extensive business for a number of years,
being the leading merchant of the place. He
finally sold out in 1885 on account of ill
health and has since lived a retired life.
He still owns considerable real estate in
Orion, including two store buildings and
two nice residences. His success in life is
due entirely to his own well-directed efforts,
diligence, perseverance and good manage-
ment, and he is to-day one of the prosper-
ous and substantial citizens of his com-
munitv.

In i860 Mr. ilcGovern was married, in
Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Miss Martha
Kerr, who was born, reared and educated in
Meadville, Pennsylvania, and died in Orion,
Illinois, in the fall of 1890. He was again
married, in Henrj' county. May 15, 1894,
his second union being 'with Miss Lydia
Jane Deem, who is a native of Ohio, but
came to Illinois with her father, William
Deem, in i860, and here grew to woman-
hood.

In politics Mr. McGovern is independent.
He cast his first presidential vote for James
Buchanan in 1856, but has since supported
the men and measures of either the Re-
publican or Prohibition parties, being a
strong temperance man. He has never cared
for official honors, preferring to devote his
entire time and attention to his business in-
terests. During his residence at Milan he
joined tlie Masonic fraternity, and now holds
membership in the lodge at Orion. !Mr.
I\IcGovem is an intelligent man, pre-em-
inently public spirited and progressive, and
has done much to advance the interests of
Orion and promote the public welfare along
various lines. He is widely and favorably
known tliroughout this section of the county,
and is numbered among its most valued and
useful citizens.

HOXS SHULT.

Not on the plane of affluence did Hons
Shult start out on life's journey, but in the
valle}' of limited circumstances with the
rough and rugged path of hard undertaking
before him. He has met with many difficult-
ies and obstacles but has steadily overcome
these, and is to-day one of the most prosper-
ous citizens of his communitv. For over a

HONS SHULT.

IfBRARY
UNIVERSIIV OF ILLINOIS

URBAXA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

107

third of a century he has actively engaged
in farming in Lynn township, but now in the
evening of life is enjoying a well-earned
rest at his pleasant home in Orion.

Born in Skepersta Soken, Genspeng,
Sweden, October 16, 1834, !Mr. Shult was
nineteen years of age when, in 1854, he took
passage on a sailing vessel at Guttenberg,
and after what was then considered a speedy
voyage of five weeks, landed in New York
on the 26th of July. He proceeded at once
to Henry county, Illinois, and soon after his
arrival at Hickory Grove, Lynn township,
obtained employment at grading on the Chi-
cago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, work-
ing that summer and fall as far south as
Quincy. He then returned to Henry county
an|d spent the three following winters in
chopping cord wood on the island. Being-
ill with fever and ague he was unable to
work during the summer months for three
years. After his recovery Mr. Shult rented
land which he operated for three years, and
then purchased a tract of seventy acres which
he still owns, it being at that time wild and
covered with a dense growth of underbrush,
which he at length grubbed up. In his farm
ing operations he met with most excellent
success, and was able to add to his landed
possessions from time to time until he now
has five hundred and twenty-five acres of
very valuable and productive land. The last
three hundred acres which he purchased was
an improved farm. Upon his land are three
sets of good farm buildings, and everything
about the place betokens the care and super-
vision of a painstaking owner. Having ac-
quired a handsome competence he removed
to Orion, where he built a fine home in 1894,
and has since lived a retired life.

In 1S62, in Henry county, Mr. Shult
married Miss Mary Johnson, a Swedish

lady and a daughter of Andrew Johnson
who emigrated with his family to the new
world and settled in Henry count}-, Illinois,
in 1 861. iMr. and ]Mrs. Shult are the par-
ents of six chil(dren, who are still living,
namely : Albert, who is married and oper-
ates a part of the home farm; Frank Ed-
ward, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, who is married and is now located
ai Woodhull, this county; Josephine, wife of
August N. Johnson, who is engaged in
farming upon the Shult land ; Oscar, who is
also married and lives on the old homestead ;
Ernest, who assists his brothers in the cult-
ivation of their father's farm; and Lydia,
at home. Two of the children met death
very suddenly November 13, 1888. while
crossing the railroad track on the farm.
Both children and horses were killed, though
Oscar, the oldest, who was driving, was not
seriously injured, These were William, aged
ten, and Ida, aged twelve years. Their death
was a severe blow to the parents and many
friends of the family.

Mr. Shult's political support has ever been
given the Republican party since he cast his
first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln
in i860, but he has never taken a very active
part in politics aside from voting. As a
progressive and enterprising citizen he has
been prominently identified with educational
affairs, and with two others started the
school in his neighborhood, of which he was
a director for many years. Both he and his
\vife are earnest members of the Swedish
Lutheran Church of Orion and are people of
the highest respectability. Meeting with
many discouragements during the first years
.sjjent in this country, Mr. Shult once decid-
ed to return to his native lanid, but being
taken with ague about that time was unable
to travel and so remained in .\merica. Soon

io8

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

prosperity shone upon his efforts, and he is
to-day one of the most substantial men of
the community in which he lives.

ANDREW PETERSOX.

From Sweden came many of Henry
county's most industrious and useful citi-
zens — men who have borne a very active
and prominent part in the development and
upbuilding of the county, and helped to
make it one of the best agricultural
districts of the Prairie state. In Andrew
Peterson we find a worthy representa-
tive of this class. For a period of about
forty-four years he was successfully engaged
in farming and stock raising here, but has
now laid aside all business cares and is liv-
ing a retired life on his farm on section 33,
Western township.

]Mr. Peterson was born in \'ordnas,
Sockeen, Sweden. December 20, 1827, and
was reared upon a farm in the land of his
birth. His father, Israel Peterson, was a
land owner in Sweden, and died when An-
drew was but eight j-ears old. In 1850 he
crossed the briny deep, being about eight
weeks upon the voyage, and on landing in
this country proceeded at once to Henry
county, Illinois, arriving in Andover Au-
gust 7, during the cholera epidemic here.
For three months he worked in the timber
of Knox county, and then went to Rock
Island county, where he was employed as
a farm hand by the month for about a year,
getting from five to eight dollars per month.
Subsequently he worked in the shops at
Moline. accepting any situation by which
he could make an honest living. For a time
he worked in a sawmill at that place, and

was engaged in cutting wood for two years.
Returning to Henry county. Mr. Peter-
son was married August 28, 1857, to Miss
Lena Anderson, a sister of Swan P. Streed.
also a native of Sweden, who came to Henrv
county, Illinois, in 1848. They began house-
keeping in Lynn township in a small frame
house which he erected upon his land, hav-
ing pre\"iously purchased twenty-six acres.
The first three years spent here he suffered
much with fever and ague — a disease quite
prevalent in pioneer districts — ^but when his
health improved was able to devote more
time to the cultivation of his land, and in
his farming operations met with well de-
served success. His home farm now com-
prises two hundred and eighty-five acres of
well improved land, and he also has an ad-
joining tract of sixty acres in Western
township. This property has all been ac-
quired through his own industry, persever-
ance and capable management, for on land-
ing in the new world he was without a dollar,
and has been dependent entirely upon his
own resources for his success in life.

Mr. Peterson has been called upon to
mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who
died ]March i, 1883. leaving four children,
namely : !Mary is the wife of William
Gabrielson, of Rock Island county, and they
have four children, Carl Elmer, Hattie
Amelia, Frank Arthur and Arnold \\'illiam.
Josephine is the wife of Charles J. Chinell,
a farmer of Western township, Henry coun-
ty, and they have one child, \'iolet Irene.
Edmond is also an agriculturist of A\'estern
township. Henry, a farmer of Lyon town-
ship, is married and has one son. Clarence
Henry.

Politically Mr. Peterson is identified with
the Republican party on national issues, and
he has filled the office of highwav commis-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 09

sioner in Lynn township for about ten
years : and school director for about twenty-
five years. Using liis induencc, he succeed-
ed in getting a school house built on his
own farm, and gave the lot for the same.
He is a member of the Lutiieran Churcli of
Orion, and his upright, honorable life has
gained for him the respect and confidence
of a large circle of friends and acquaintances
throughout Rock Island and Henry coun-
ties.

CARL J. LARSOX.

This well-known painter and paper
hanger of Cambridge, Illinois, was born in
southern Sweden, on the 17th of September,
1854, a son of Lars and Chaste Larson,
who spent their entire lives in that country,
where the father followed farming. A man
of good principles and business tact, he was
v.'idely and favorably known, and was called
upon to fil.1 several official positions in his
town. He was born April 8, 1800, and died
in 1876, while his wife departed this life
in 1898, at the ripe old age of eighty-five
years. Both were members of the Lutheran
Church. In their family were eight chil-
dren, of whom four remained in the old
country, namely : Lars, Johannes, Carolina
and Sven. Those who came to America
were Peter, a resident of Cambridge, Illi-
nois; Hannah, wife of Peter Neilson, of
Creston, Iowa; Sana, a resident of British
Columbia; and C. J., who is the youngest
of the family.

C. J. Larson was educated in the schools
of his native land. It was in 1880 that he
crossed the broad Atlantic and came to Cam-
bridge, Illinois, where he was met by his
brother, Peter. For two vears he worked

as a common lalxjrer. accepting any employ-
ment which he could find. He had learned
the carpenter's trade in Sweden, but it was
almost impossible to obtain work along that
hne at Cambridge when he located here.
In partnership with a gentleman from his
native town he embarked in his present busi-
ness in 1884, and has built up an exceljent
trade, having for the past eight years done
all the painting for the leading citizens of
Cambridge and \icinity. About 1891 he
bought out his partner's interest and now has
the leading business in his line in this part
of the county.

On the 24th of 2\Iarch, 1886, was cele-
brated the marriage of ^Ir. Larson and
Miss ]\Iatilda C. Hulting, a daughter of Per
and Johanna Hulting, of central Sweden.
She was born in that country and came to
America November 2, 1874, two of her
brothers having already located here. They
were joined by her parents in 1877, both of
whom are now deceased, the father having
died in 1892, aged seventy-two years; the
mother in 1890, aged sixty-one. Both were
members of the Lutheran Church. By a
former marriage the father had one son,
Andrew. Of the six children born of the
second union Lottie died j'oung; Lottie, the
second of that name, died at the age of
twenty-four years; and Anna died at 'the
age of twenty-two. Those living are J. P.,
a resident of Geneseo, Illinois; Matilda C,
wife of our subject; and Alfred S., who has
resided with Mr. Larson since his mother's
death.

Mr. and Mrs. Larson are active and in-
fluential members of the Lutheran Church
in which he has served as deacon for ten
years, and are highly respected and esteemed
by all who know them. His political sup-
port is given the men and nieasures of the

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Republican party. One of the most reliable
and straightforward business men of Cam-
bridge, he has demonstrated the true mean-
ing of the word success as the full accom-
plishment of an honorable purpose. Energy,
close application, perseverance and good
management — these are the elements that
have entered into his business career and
crowned his efforts with prosperity.

JARED HEMINGWAY S^IITH.

Almost a half century has passed since
this gentleman arrived in Henry county, and
he is justly numbered among her honored
pioneers and leading citizens. As an agricult"
urist he has been prominenth- identified with
her business interests, and makes his home
on section 22, Osco township. His is an hon-
orable record of a conscientious man, who
by his upright life has won the confidence
o: all with whom he has come in contact.

jMr. Smith was born in Harwinton.
Litchfield county, Connecticut, November 18,
1827, and belongs to an old colonial family.
Tracing his ancestry back four generations
he is descended from one of three brothers,
who came from England to America and
settled in the Xutmeg state. His father,
Anson Smith, was also a native of Har-
winton, and received a very limited educa-
tion in the early schools of that place. After
his marriage he located on a farm there,
and was actively engaged in his chosen oc-
cupation of farming until his death, which
occurred when he was about seventy years
of age. He was twice married and by
his first union had four children : Anson,
CaroUne, Amasa and Esther, all of whom
died in Ohio, where thev emigrated to

make homes for themselves. For his
second wife the father married Abigail
Holt, a native of East Haven, Connecti-
cut, and to them were born the fol-
lowing children : Rodney D., who was born
in 1824 and died in 1864; Roxy A., who
died young; Jared H., our subject; and
Minerva A.,'\vho married Mr. Holt and died
in 1896, leaymg two sons. The parents
spent their entire lives in their native state.
Jared H. Smith, the onl}' representative
of the familj' now living, received but a com-
mon school education in Connecticut, and his
early life was passed in work upon the home
farm and in the shops of that locality. On
leaving the parental roof in 1853, at the age
of twenty-six years, he came to the prairies
of Illinois and purchased one hundred and
sixty acres of wild land in Osco township.
Henry county, at which time there were only
three houses between his place and Geneseo,
and about the same number between there
and Cambridge, while not a tree was in
sight. He has watched with interest the
wonderful development of the country, and
has materially assisted in its improvement.
For a number of years he hauled all his pro-
duce to Geneseo and his wheat to Rock Isl-
and, these being the nearest markets. As
time passed acre after acre of his farm was
placed under the plow until all was under a
high state of cultivation, and as he succeed-
ed in his farming operations he added to his
landed possessions until he owned about fif-.
teen hundred acres. He has always retained
the old homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres where he first settled, and besides it
has three hundred acres of valuable land
elsewhere in the county. Nearly all of this
has been impro\ed by himself or under his
supervision. In connection with general
farming he has alwavs followed stock rais-

LIBRnPY

UNIVERSIiy Uh ILLINOIS

URBANA

J. H. SMITH.

MRS. J. H. SMITH.

URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

113

hii^. ami annually feeds from fifty to two
hundred head of cattle for the market. He
was one of the original stockholders of the
First National Bank of Cambridge and one
of its directors for a number of years. He
is also interested in other business interests.

On the 1st of October, 1854, Mr. Smith
was united in marriage with Miss Jane
Amelia W'clton, who was born July 12,
1827, the youngest daughter of Noah and
Ellen (Coles) Welton, life-long residents
of Litchfield county, Connecticut. All of her
family are now deceased with the exception
of one sister, Mrs. Alvira Potter, of Strat-
ford, Connecticut, who is now over eighty
years of age. Mr. Smith was married in
that state and brought his bride to the home
he had prepared for her in this county, where
they began their domestic life. Three chil-
dren came to brighten their home, namely :
Amelia M., born March 15, 1857, is now the
wife of M. M. Nash, of Osco township; An-
son W., born August 23, 1858, died Febru-
ary 24, 1863; and Myra Jane, born Marcli
30, 1862, is the wife of W. F. West, who is
manager for the grain firm of Fleming &
Smith at Osco. The wife and mother died
of diphtheria at the home place February 17,
1863.

Mr. Smith was again married, August
18, 1864, his second union being with Miss
Mary E. Knowles, who was born in Pennsyl-
vania, February 5, 1840, and came to this
state with her parents. Her father died in
llem-y county, and though her mother's
death occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylva-
nia, in 1899, her remains were brought back
and interred by the side of her husband in
the Andover cemetery. None of their chil-
dren now live in Illinois. 'Sir. and jNlrs.
Smith became the parents of six children, as
follows: Henry A., born February 18, 1866,

was married January fi, 1892, to Adelia At-
wood, and is in the employ of the telephone
comjjany at Cambridge, though he makes
his home in Osco where he owns a farm.
Anna, born July 9, 1867, is at home with her
father. Jared Heber, born March 9, 1870,
owns and operates one hundred and sixty
acres of land in Osco township, purchased
from his father. He was married, June 17,
1896, to Minnie M. Hadley, and they have
three sons, Jared H., Julian and Thorwold.
George Rodney, a twin brother of Jared
Heber, also lives on a farm in Osco town-
ship. He was married, December 30, 1894,
to Clara May Marsch, and they have two
children. Charles Edward, born August 17,

1576, and I\Iary Ethel, born September 29,

1577, are both at home. The children have
all received a common-school education and
three sons have attended commercial college
in Davenport and Chicago. All live near
the old homestead. Mrs. Smith died April
27, 1895.

Mr. Smith is one of the most prominent
and influential members of the Episcopal
Church of Osco, who was one of the promo-
ters of and organizers of the parish, and con-
tributed liberally towards the building of the
church. Since its organization he has been
oftcially connected with the same-, having
served as senior warden for about eighteen
years. He has looked after all the improve-
ments of the church, and has ever been one
of its most active workers. On national
issues he always votes the Republican ticket,
but at local elections supports the men wdiom
he considers best qualified to fill the offices,
regardless of party lines. For a number of
years he served as township school treasurer,
and for three years was supervisor of Osco
towniship, during which time many substan-
tial improvements were made in the county.

114

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

During the long years of his residence in the
county, he has championed every movement
designed to promote the general welfare,
lias supported every enterprise for the public
good, and has materialh^ aided in the ad-
vancement of all social, educational and
moral interests. In manner he is quiet and
unassuming, yet he makes many friends and
is held in the highest regard Ijy all who
know him.

willia:\i d. joxes.

William D. Jones, a practical and en-
terprising agriculturist residing on section
34, Colona township, owns and operates one
liundred and seventy-five acres of land, con-
stituting one of the valuable and highly im-
proved farms of the locality. Plis posses-
sions have been acquired through his own
efforts, and as the result of his consecutive
endeavor he has won a place among the well-
to-do citizens of the community.

Mr. Jones was born in Ontario county,
Canada, September 22, 1844, and was there
reared to manhood upon a farm. He is a
self-educated as well as a self-made man,
and 'deserves great credit for the success
tl'.at he has achieved in life. As a young
man he came to the United States, and in
October, 1866, took up his residence in
Henry county, Illinois, where he was at
first engaged in teaming and later in coal
mining. For about three years he worked
by the month as a farm hand, and subse-
quently followed farming during the sum-
mer months, and mining through the winter
season. He also devoted a part of his time
to work at the carpenter's and joiner's trade,
laeing a natural mechanic and handy in the

use of tools of all kinds. In 1877 Mr. Jones
made his first purchase of land, consisting
of an eighty-acre tract where he now re-
sides. When it came into his possession it
was covered with brush and timber, which
he at once began to clear away, while he
erected a small frame house, fenced the land
and made other permanent improvements.
He now owns one hundred and seventy-
three acres, a portion of which is timber
land, but seventy acres of the amount is
under cultivation, and improved with good
buildings.

On the 8th of May, 1869, in Henry
county, Mr. Jones married Miss Anna jNI.
Anderson, who was born in Sweden, but was
only three years old when brought to this
country by her father, Andrew Anderson,
who in 1852 located in Mercer county, Illi-
nois. A few years later he removed to
Minnesota, but in 1864 returned to Illinois,
and took up his residence in Western town-
ship, Henry county. Mr. and Mrs. Jones
are the parents of seven children, namely :
Anna Martha, now the wife of Daniel Mc-
Graw, a farmer of Colona township; Mabel,
wife of Josephus Evans, of Rock Island
county, Illinois; Carrie C, wife of Clarence
A. Garland, of Colona township, Henry
county; W^illiam Manville, who assists his
father in the operation of the farm ; Clarence
Everett, Lucinda Marj^ and Wesley Davis,
all at home, and the last named still in
school.

Politically Mr. Jones is a true blue Re-
publican and has supported that party since
casting his first presidential ballot for Gen-
eral U. S. Grant, in 1872. He has ser\ed
his fellow citizens in a most creditable and
acceptable manner as highway commissioner
for three years ; school director for fourteen
years, and president of the district; and jus-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tice of the peace for seven years. Both he
and his wife are members of the ^lethodist
Episcopal Church, and are held in high re-
gard by all who know them.

MATILDA EATOX, M. D.

■ Among the successful representatives of
the medical profession in Cambridge, Illi-
nois, is Dr. Matilda Eaton, a native of Lu-
zerne county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter
of Hugh and Phebe (JNIunson) Eaton. On
the paternal side she is of Scotch-Irish de-
scent, her ancestors being among the refu-
gees who left Scotland in 1619 to escape
from religious persecution and settled in the
north of Ireland, where they endured a per-
secution scarcely less irksome than that from
which they had fled. For a century they
made their home in that country, and in 1719
their exodus from Ireland to America be-
gan, since which time the emigration of the
Scotch-Irish to America has been continu-
ous. Sandy Eaton, from whom the Doctor
is descended, was born in Scotland; was a
farmer by inheritance and a weaver by
trade. His son Hugh wedded Mary Ram-
sey, of Scotch descent, and to them were
born three sons and three daughters. Of
this family, James Eaton, the Doctor's
grandfather, married Mary Moore, by whom
he had seven children, namely : Eliza, de-
ceased; Hugh, the Doctor's father; Mrs.
Matilda Gingle; Mrs. Margaret Hall; Alex-
ander; John; and Mrs. Jemima Adrian.

Hugh Eaton was born in county Antrim.
Ireland, May 4, 1826, and completed his
education at Dublin, where he studied for
four years. In July, 1846, he came to Amer-
ica, and after spending one year in New

York, located in Luzerne county, Pennsyl-
vania, where he made his home for eight-
een years, Ijeing principally engaged in farm-
ing, though he followed school teaching dur-
ing the winter months for five years. Com-
ing west he located in Bureau county, Illi-
nois, April 15, 1865, but a year later took
up his residence in Burns township, this
county, where he lived until 1885, and then
moved to Cambridge to spend his remaining
days in ease and quiet. Here he died May
16, 1893. He efficiently served as school
director for many years, but would accept
no other office. Religiously he was an
earnest and consistent member of the Chris-
tian Church, to which his wife also be-
longed. In Luzerne county, Pennsylvania,
he was married, in January, 1850, to Miss
Phebe Munson, and to them were born the
following children: Mary, wife of Joseph
Rogers; Susan, wife of Joseph Brown;
Stephen W., a resident of California; James
\V. ; Robert A., who died at the age of
twenty-three years; George Munson; Ma-
tilda; Margaret, wife of Briton Hadley;
iVnnie, wife of Lester H. Hadley, of Chi-
cago; Clara, who died in infancy; Caroline;
William E. C. ; Oscar; and Frank, who died
in infancy. The mother, who was always
a faithful member of the Christian Church,
(lied December 3, 189S, at the age of sixty-
six years.

On the maternal side Dr. Eaton is of
English extraction and traces her ancestry
back to Thomas IMunson, who came to this
country from England about 1637. Her
great-grandfather, Walter Munson, was only
seven years old at the time of the Wyoming
massacre and was too young to enter the
service during the Revolutionary war, but
liad three older brothers, Wilmot, Stephen
and Daniel, who fought for American in-

ii6

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dependence. At the age of sixteen Daniel en-
tered the service, becoming one of General
Green's Hfe guard, and was serving in that
capacity at the time of the surrender of
Lord Cornwallis. He was discharged May
24, 1778, and died soon afterward. Stephen
and Wilmot were with General Washing-
ton's army in the battles of Brandywine and
Germantown, and during the terrible winter
at Valley Forge, when the soldiers were so
poorly clad. Wilmot never received a cent
of pay, neither a pension nor a bounty. Dr.
Eaton's maternal grandparents were \\'alter
and Susan (Bodle) Munson, both natives
of Pennsylvania, where they made their
home throughout life, the grandfather be-
ing engaged in farming. He always kept
well-posted on the questions and issues of
the day and was a supporter of the Whig
party. His children were Phebe, the mother'
of Dr. Eaton; Emily E., wife of Robert
Jones, of Bureau county, Illinois ; Sarah,
wife of Nelson Jones, of the same county;
Deborah, wife of Nathaniel Coleman, of
Bradford, Illinois; William B., a resident
of Creston, Iowa; Mrs. Margaret Ware, a
widow of Sidney, Nebraska; Mary J., wife
of E. Q. Lovering, of Buda, Illinois ; Han-
nah and Giles W., both deceased; and
Loretta, wife of Frank Stevens, of Creston,
Iowa.

Dr. Eaton began her education in the
common schools and later attended the high
school of Kewanee, after which she success-
fully took up the study of medicine, and
was graduated at Bennett Medical College,
Chicago, in 1896. After practicing in that
city for six months, she came to Cambridge
and opened an ofifice. She makes a specialty
of the diseases of women and children, and
is meeting with most excellent success in her
chosen profession. She was the first lady

physician in Cambridge and her skill and
ability have won for her a liberal patronage.
Pleasant and agreeable in manner, she makes
many friends, is held in high regard by all
who know her, and stands deservedly high
in professional circles. Religiously she is a
member of the Christian Church.

JOHN A. LARSON.

No foreign element has become a more
important part in our American citizenship
than that furnished by Sweden. The emi-
grants from that land have brought with
them to the new world the stabilit}', enter-
prise and perseverance characteristic of their
people and have fused these qualities with
the progressiveness and indomitable spirit
of the west. Mr. Larson, who is now livingg
a retired life in Osco, is a worthy representa-
tive of this class. He came to America in
limited circumstances, hoping to benefit his
financial condition, and his dreams of the
future have been more than realized.

Mr. Larson was born in Uppby hamlet.
Recta, L3nidkopenlane, Sweden, August
17, 1826, a son of Lars and Engred (Peter-
sen) Johnson. His father died in that
country and later his mother came to the
new world, where her death occurred. He
followed farming throughout life. Of the
eight children born to them two sons died
in infancy and two in early childhood, while
four reached years of maturity, namely :
Nels P., who is still living on the old home-
stead in Sweden ; John A., our subject; Jonas
W., a farmer of Andover township; and
Andrew Gust, who lives near the village of
Osco, in Osco township.

The earlv education of Mr. Larson was

JOHN A. LARSON.

UNIVtKoi- Of ILLINOIS
URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

119

such as tlie boys of his np.ti\-e land usually
obtained at that day. He studied his lessons
at his mother's spinning wheel, and then
joining a class recited them to the minister
of the parisli. As far as known he was the
first person in his parish to emigrate to
America. When twelve years of age he
found at the home of a comp;'.nion a geog-
raphy in which he gaine<l smne knowledge
of this country and the animals that inhab-
ited it, and resohed to make this his future
home. He saved his money with the view
of carrying out this determination, and at
length, at the age of twenty-two, had enough
money to pa\' his passage, luir five _\"ears
he had worked, receiving on an a\'erage of
fifty cents per month in American coin. His
father owned eighty acres of land, which he
helped to improve and which was worth
about fifteen hundred dollars in Swedish
money, and his interest in this was about
one-sixth, which he finally sold to his older
brother, whose employer, by ad\ancing his
wages, enabled him to pay. From this he re-
ceived about forty dollars in American mon-
ey, and to it added the money he had man-
aged to save from his wages. In 1848 he
took passage on a schooner at (juttenberg,
and after a voyage of seven weeks landed at
Boston, whence he came direct to Andover,
Illinois. The first railroad he ever saw was
the one between Boston and Albany, over
which he rode to the latter city, and from
there proceeded by the Erie canal to Buffalo ;
by the Great Lakes to Chicago; by canal to
Peru, Illinois (but walking most of the way
on account of banks leaking), and l)y team
to Audover. In the party was Gust Johnson
and others to the number of twenty.

Mr. Larson obtained a situation with
Rev. Pillsbury, to whose care, while ill with
typhoid fever, he owes his life. He worked

as a farm hand until the fall of 1848, when
with others he went to Galesburg to find em-
ployment, and worked as a tender to masons
who were erecting an academy at that place.
Subsequently he was employed in the wagon
shop of Fuller & Bergen until the spring of
1 85 1, during which time he partly learned
the business. In company with two others
he then started for California across the
plains and endured many hardships and pri-
\ ations incident to such a journey, including
troubles with the Indians. At Fort Kear-
ney, Nebraska, a comi>any of about fifty
Vi-agons was formed, with about three men to
each wagon. Air. Tucker, an old hulian
trader from Indiana, was elected captain of
the train, and lunl it not been for his leader-
ship possibly all would have perishetl. He
carefully instructed them in regard to the
preservation of life, and years afterward Air.
Larson gratefully remembered a part of his
teaching. On the loth of February, 1898,
he was thrown from a bridge across Edwards
river into that stream, which was then at
highwater mark and full of lloating ice. His
horse and carriage went down with him.
He was partially stunned by the fall, and on
regaining consciousness he remembered Cap-
tain Tucker telling iiis men that when thrown
into water or swimming in swift running
water towing a line never to guide a horse
but give him rein and keep cool, with mouth
closed, breathing through the nose. This he
did and managed to reach the bank in safety,
but he has never fully recovered, as his back
was severely injured in the fall. Edwards
river has since been dredged and converted
into what is now known as the Henry coun-
ty ditch, Mr. Larson being one of the orig-
inators of the enterprise. On arriving in
California he engaged in prospecting and
mining for little over a year, but like many

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

others he did not meet with very gratifying
success, and accordingly returned to IlHnois
I/v way of San Francisco, tlie isthmus of
I'anama, Cu1ja, Jamaica and New York. He
resumed work at tiie bench in the shop of liis
former employers, and in the spring of 1853
moved to Rev. PiUsbury's old residence in
Andover, this county, it being his hrst
home in this country.

That year Mr. Larson was united in mar-
riage with ^liss Martha Hedstrom, who was
born in Sweden in 1830, and came to this
country as one of Bishop Hill's colony. She
died in September, 1878. To them were
born three sons and five daughters, all of
whom reached man and womanhood, but
two sons are now deceased. John O., the
eldest, is engaged in the manufacture of
brooms in California, where he has made
his home since 1878. Emily Caroline, a
resident of St. Louis, is the widow of Leoni-
das McFarland, a son of one of the old set-
tlers of Andover township, this county. He
died in Iowa leaving one son, Roy A., who
v/as on the battleship Boston when Dewey
captured Manila. On his way home he was
taken ill at Port Said and has since been in
2)oor health, although he is now in business
Avith an uncle at Eldora, Iowa. He brought
Jiome many Spanish and other relics from
the places he visited, and feels justly pmud
of the Dewey medal which he wears. He
.also has a shell which came nearly ending
his life, it striking four inches above his
head. Ida M., the second daughter of our
subject, is the wife of John I. Wheelan, who
is engaged in the advertising business in St.
Louis. Cordelia is the wife of Robert P^le-
herty, of New Y<irk. ^lary J. rmd Olive are
both at home with their father.

In 1852 Mr. Larson purchased a tract of
-ivoodland from Mr. Pillsbury, and convert-

ed the timber into lumber, from which he
manufactured wagons. He also bought a
farm near Andover, and for many _\-cars was
acti\'ely engaged in farming and wagon-
making, but since 1890 has lived a retired
life. In his business undertakings he met
u ith excellent success and added to his land-
ed i)ossessions from time to time until he now
owns nearly six hundred acres of improved
pn'operty which he rents. For some years
he also followed auctioneering very success-
fully, his territory extending from Rock
ri\'er into Knox and Mercer counties. In
May, 1900, he moved to the village of Osco,
v,'here he built a good comfortable dwelling
house and v/here he is now living in ease and
retirement, surrotmded l)y all the comforts
of life.

^Ir. Larson is a member of the Swedish
Lutheran Church, and is one of its most lib-
eral supporters. He has always been liberal
in religious matters and has helped toward
building many different churches. Politi-
cally he is a strong Prohibitionist, and has
served his fellow citizens faithfully and well
as commissioner of highways thirty years,
justice of the peace twenty-eight years, and
ii! school offices many years. Public-
spirited and progressive to an eminent de-
gree, his support is always given every
v>orthy enterprise for the public good. At
one time he saved the Swedish Insurance
Company from failure by financial aid, and
through his influence, and that of others, the
ccinipany was incorporated and placed on a
strung financial basis. Over half a century he
has been identified with the interests of Hen-
ry county, and he is to-day numbered among
its most valued and useful citizens — a man
honored and respected wherever known.
There are only one or two Swedes in the
county who were here before him.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

W. PITT WRIGHT.

Tliis well-known retired farmer oi
Orion, first came to Illinois in April, 1848.
and was for many years identified with the
agricultural interests of Rock Island county,
where he located in ^lay, 1852, but since
.April, 1 88 1, has made his home in Orion,
Henry county. He is a native of Ohio, his
birth having occurred in Goshen township,
Belmont county, that state, on the 16th of
March, 1827. His father, Benjamin G.
Wright, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in
1798, and came to America with his father,
Joseph Wright, in 1802, or 1804, being
among the first settlers of Belmont county,
Ohio. Joseph \\ right laid out and founded
the town of Belmont, and being a well ed-
ucated man he became one of the pioneer
teachers of that county. In religious belief
he was a Quaker. In Belmont county Ben-
jamin G. Wright grew to manhood and
married Jane B. Broomhall, a native ~>i Penn-
sylvania, her father being also a pioneer set-
tler of that county. In early life he fol-
lowed the cabinet maker's trade, but later
engaged in farming. In 1851 he came to
Illinois, and after a short time spent in I Ian-
cock county took up his residence in Rural
township, Rock Island county, where he
spent the remainder of his life, dying there
in 1890, at the advanced age of nearly
ninety-two years. His wife passed away No-
vember II, 1869.

Upon his home farm in his native coun-
ty W. Pitt W'right passed the days of his
boyhood and youth, receiving rather lim-
ited educational advantages. On coming to
Illinois in 1848, he first located in Hancock
county, but, in partnership with a cousin, he
owned and operated a threshing machine
two seasons, in Marshall and Bureau coun-

ties, Illinois, but working on the farm the
remainder of each year in Hancock county.
In 1852 he took up his residence in Coal
\"alle\-, now Rural township, Rock Island
county, where he bought one hundred and
sixty acres of land, which he converted into
a good farm. In 1S73 ^^^ purchased a section
of land in Adams count}-, Iowa, of which
he gave his daughter a quarter-section. In
1880 he sold a half-section, and yet retains
a quarter-section of well improved land.
Renting his property he removed to Orion
in 1881 and erected his present comfortable
residence. Although he came to this state
in limited circumstances, he has steadily
overcame the obstacles in his path to success,
and is to-day the owner of two well-improved
and valuable farms besides his town prop-
erty, and can well afford to lay aside all
business cares and enjoy the fruits of former
toil.

Returning to his old home in Belmont
county, Ohio, Mr. Wright was married, De-
cember 31, 1850, to Miss Mary Eliza Gregg,
also a native of that county, of which her
father, John S. Gregg, was a pioneer. For
fifty j'ears they have now traveled life's
journe}' together, sharing its joys and
sorrows, its adversity and prosperity, and it
is their intention to celebrate their golden
wedding on the 31st of December, 1900.
They are the parents of four children, name-
ly: Clara E., wife of James W. Alexander,
a retired citizen of Leno.x, Taylor county,
Iowa; Frank G., who died at the age of
twenty-three years; Harry P., who is mar-
ried and successfully engaged in business
in Orion; and Bertha May, wife of John H.
Spencer, operator and agent for the Santa
r-'e railroad at Ottawa, Kansas.

In his political affiliations Mr. Wright is
a Tacksonian Democrat, and cast his first

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

presidential vote for Franklin Pierce, in
1852. He has filled the office of conimis-
sioner of highways, and has also served as
a member of the school board, but has never
sought political honors. For over half a cen-
tury he has witnessed the wonderful growtli
and development that ha\e taken place
in this section of the state, and in this work
he has borne an active part. When he first
located here deer, geese, turkeys and other
wild game was plentiful, but all have dis-
appeared as the country- has become more
thickly settled, and all the comforts of an
advanced civilization have been introduced.

S. HEXRY BURROWS.

S. Henr}- Burrows, an enterprising and
progressive agriculturist of Henry county,
whose home is on section 12, Andover town-
ship, was born in Franklin count}^ Massa-
chusetts, August 26, 1862, and came to this
county in 1868 with his parents, Barnard
H. and Susan C. (Gould) Burrows. The
Burrows family was founded in America
about 1700, and the father, grandfather and
great-grandfather were all natives of Frank-
lin county, ^lassachusetts. The last named
was a soldier of both the Revolutionary war
and the war of 1812, while the maternal
great-grandfather of our subject also fought
for the independence of the colonies in the
former struggle. His ancestors have always
been associated with agricultural pursuits.

Barnard H. Burrows was the eldest of
a famil}- of five children, one of whom is still
living, Levi Burrows, who resides in Green-
field, ^Massachusetts. During his boyhood
and youth he attended the common schools
near his home and also took a course at an

acadeni)' in Amherst. Throughout his active
business life he followed farming, and
owned a good farm of ninety acres in his
native state, adjoining which is now locat-
ed the Moody school. December 14, 1858,
he married Miss Susan C. Gould, a native
of Canaan, New Hampshire, and to them
were born four children, namely: Alice,
now the wife of Frederick ^^^ Hall, of
Crookston, ^Minnesota; ^linnie, at home; S.
Henry, of this review ; and Leon A., a resi-
dent of Dillon, Montana. All were born in
Massachusetts. In 1868 the father brought
his family to Illinois and settled in Cam-
bridge. The following year he purchased
the farm of one hundred and sixty acres on
section 12, Andover township, which has
since been the homestead of the family, and
was successfully engaged in general farming
and stock raising until called to his final
rest April 3, 1895, ^t the age of sixty-four
years. Politically he was a supporter of the
Republican part}-, and religiously was a sup-
porter of the ^Methodist Episcopal Church.
In business afifairs he was upright and re-
liable, and in all the relations of life was
found true to every trust reposed in him.
FJis estimable wife still survives him at the
age of sixty-four years, and continues to re-
side on the old homestead.

S. Henry Burrows, of this review, grad-
uated at the Cambridge high school in 1881,
as did also his sister ^Minnie. He remained
on the home farm assisting his father in its
operation until 1883, when he went to North
Dakota and took up a homestead in Benson
count)^, remaining there about thirteen
years, during which time he placed the land
under a high state of cultivation and made
many impro\-ements thereon in the way of
buildings. He still retains the same, and
derives therefrom a good income. In the fall

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

123

of 1895 he returned to tlie old homestead
ii. UHnois, but still visits his Dakota farm
eacii fall to see that cveryth.iiig; is kej)! in
perfect order. After the death of his fatlier
he assumed charge of the home place, which
he continues to successfully operate, being-
engaged in general farming. Since the fa-
ther's death a good residence lias been erect-
ed and is fitted up with all motlern conven-
iences. As a Republican Mr. Burrows
t.':kes an active and commendable interest in
public affairs, and while a resident of Da-
kota served two terms as county commis-
sioner in a most creditable and acceptable
manner. lie is one of the most ])ublic-
spirited and enterprising citizens of his
community, and gives his .support to all
AV(M-thy objects for the public good.

Cn.\RI.KS M. SAML'KI.SOX.

l'"nr a ])eriod of about forty years Charles
AI. Samuelson was one of the most active
and successful farmers of Henry county,
owning and operating a well-improved and
valuable place of four hundred and eighty
acres pleasantly located two miles from Or-
ion, but he is now living a retired life in that
village, having acquired a comfortable com-
petence that enables him to lay aside all busi-
ness cares.

Like many of the best citizens of Henry
county, Mr. Samuelson is a native of Swe-
den, where his birth occurred November
28, 182^). His parents were Samuel and
Anna (Nelson) Johnson, in whose family
were six sons and one daughter, the latter
being Airs. Alagnuson, of Osco township,
this county. Th.e two nldei- suns remained
in Sweden, but the other members uf the

family came with the parents to the United
States.

Our subject was reared on a farm in his
native land, and received the rudiments of an
education at his mother's knee, but is almost
wholly self-educated. In 1S51 he took pas-
sage on a sailing vessel at \\'urlemburg, and
was about thirteen weeks in crossing the
ocean to New York, divring wdiich time the
ship encountered a number of severe storms.
In October of that year he went to Buffalo
by way of the Hudson river and the Erie
canal, and was engaged in chopping wood
in the timber until the following spring,
when he crossed the lakes to Chicago, whence
he proceeded by canal boat to La Salle, Illi-
nois, and by team to Andover, Henry cnunty.
Shortly afteiward he went to (ialesburg,
Vvhere he worked by the month on a farm
for two years, and ditl not locate perma-
nently in Henry county until October, 1854.
His father and three brothers also located
here, and the former entered eighty acres of
Isnd in Western township, now uwned by
our subject. He commenced work here and
later succeeded to the place. Prospering in
liis farming operations, he purchased more
land from time to time, until he now^ owns
four hundred and eighty acres. He has
erected thereon a good residence, three barns,
sheds and other outbuildings, has planted an
orchard and made many other valuable im-
jirovements f)n the place, so that it is now
one of the most desirable farms in the locali-
ty. He continued the cultivation of his fields
until 1895, when he rented the farm and
moved to Orion, where he owns a pleasant
home.

In September, 1856, in Henry county,
Mr. Samuelson was united in marriage w'ith
?\Iiss Johanna Swanson. daughter of John
Swanson, who was linrn ;ind reared in .Swe-

124

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

den, but came to Anchn-er in 1853. Tliey
have become the parents of the following
children : All^ert, who is married and en-
gaged in farming on the home place; Peter
and Edward, who are also married and fol-
low farming in Western township; X'ictor,
at home; Oscar, who operates a part of his
father's land; Hannah, wife of Bert Butler,
a noted vocalist, while she is a violinist of
considerable ability, both haxing studied at
the conservatory of music in Berlin; Minnie,
wife of William Westerlund, a business man
of Chicago; and Mary, who died in child-
hood.

Since casting his first presidential bal-
lot for Abraham Lincoln, in i860, Mr. Sam-
uelson has been unswerving in his allegiance
to the Republican party and its principles,
but has never cared for political preferment.
He has, however, taken an active interest in
educational affairs as a member of the school
board. Both he and his wife are earnest
and consistent members of the Swedish Lu-
theran Church, and are justl}' deserving the
high regard in which the\' are uniformly
held. Having started out in life for him-
self empty-handed, his record is one well
worth}- of emulation and contains many val-
uable lessons of incentive, showing the pos-
sibilities that are open to young men who
wish to improve every opportunity for ad-
vancement.

JOHN M. :\IAMTY.

One of the prominent representatives of
the journalistic profession is the gentleman
whose name introduces this brief notice, the
editor and proprietor of the Chronicle of
Cambridge. He was born in Decatur count}',
Indiana, May 14. i86j, a son of John A.

and Susan Z. (Wise) Mavity, both natives
of Jefferson county, that state. His ma-
ternal grandfather was Thomas Wise, a
cousin of Governor Wise, of Virginia, who
hung John Brown. The grandfather was a
member of the first session of tl^e Indiana
state legislature, which convened at Corydon
in 1824, and continued a member for man}^
years, until after the capital was removed to
Indianapolis. He died at the extreme old
age of eighty-eight years. He was a farmer
by occupation, and a soldier of the war of
1 81 2. He took part in the battle of Tippe-
canoe in 181 1.

John A. Mavity, the father of our sub-
ject, followed blacksmithing until after the
Ci\il war broke out, but in June, 1862, he
laid aside all personal interests to join the
boys in blue of Company B, Sixth Indiana
^"olunteer Infantry. He took part in the bat-
tles of Stone River, Lookout ^Mountain and
Chickamauga, and was with Sherman in
the Atlanta campaign until the battle of Re-
saca, when he was seriously wounded in the
right leg above the knee. It was thought
that the limb would have to be amputated,
but he had one of his comrades get him a
dull, and with it he kept the surgeon awa}'.
After his recovery he remained in the hos-
pital as assistant, and in that capacity did
excellent service until discharged, in June,
1865. Returning to his home in Indiana,
he followed his trade for a few years, and
then entered the ministry of the Christian
Church, with which he had united a number
of j'ears before the war. He successfully
engaged in preaching for a quarter of a cen-
tury in different parts of ^lichigan, Indi-
ana and Illinois, filling some of the best pul-
pits of his church, but now, at the age of
sixty-seven years, is living a retired life in
^^'est Lebanon, Indiana. enJDving a well-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

125

earned rest. His lias lieen an lii'noraI)le and
useful life, in which he has labored untir-
jnglv ft>r the good of his fellow men, and he
lias the respect and confidence of all who
know him. His estimable wife is still living'
at the age of seventy-one. and is an active
member of the same church. Of their four
children. Jdhn .M. is third in order of birth.
Jesse, the oldest, is fureuian of a linplate
factorv in Atlanta. Indiana, where he resides
with his wife and three children. Helen
died in infancy. Thomas \\". married Xeltie
Mnsick, of Eureka, Illinois, who tlied in
1896, and he died in 1898, at the age of .
thirty-two years, leaving two children —
]\[aurine and Grace.

After ])ursuing a higli-school course John
^r. Ma\it_\- attended I'"ranklin College, and
after com[)leting his education engaged in
teaching school for four years in Johnson
and Bartholomew counties, Indiana, and six
years in Warren county, that state, having
charge of country schools two years, and
later serving as principal of the schools of
State Line and West Lebanon for two years
each. In 1889 he ]nu-chascd the West Leb-
anon (iazette, which he successfully ci in-
ducted until tile 1st of August, 1900, when
he sold that paper and bought the Chronicle
of Cambridge, Illinois, which he is now \n\])-
lishing. Having studied law, Mr. Mavity
■was admitted to the bar in 1892. and from
that time until coming to L'anibrid'ge he
ser\ed as city attorney of West Lebanon,
Indiana, and also as notary public. He did,
liowe\er, only an office practice.

Mr. Mavit\- was married in Jul\-, 188^),
to Miss Laura F. Hendricks, of 1 ledrick,
Indiana, a daughter of John L. and llethier
Hendricks, and by this union have been liorn
two children: May and J. h.arl. ( )ur
subject and lii> wife are both actix'e members

of the Christian Church, and while a resi-
dent of Indiana he served as clerk and elder
in the same. He is also a jjrominent mem-
ber of the Knights of Pythias and the Mod-
ern Woodmen of America. In the former
he has filled every office and served as dele-
gate to the grand lodge of the state, while
in the Woodmen Camp he has serx'ed as
xenerable consul, a tlelegate to the grand
ledge of Indiana, and to the supreme lodge,
vhich met at Kansas City in 1899. Through
the columns of his paper and Iiy personal
effort Mr. Mavity has done much to ad-
vance the interests of the Republican party
and insure its success, and was a member
of the Kepuljlican central committee of W ar-
ren county. Jndiana, from 1884 to 1898,
i!:clusi\e. ser\ing as secretar\- and chairman
of the same from 1890 ti.i 1896. He has
also been a delegate to numerous county
and state conventions of his party.

T. J. UACHCS.

For the past nine vears T. I. P>achus has
l.een one of the most active and progressive
business men of Orion, where at first he
engaged only in the grain and lumber trade,
but since 1895 has also carried on contract-
ing and liuilding with good success. Keen
discrimination, unflagging industry and
resolute purpose are numbered among his
salient characteristics and to the.se may be
attributed his success in life.

.A native of Henrj'- county, ^h. Baclius
v.as born in Oxford township, February 3,
i860, and is a son of James Bachus, who
was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, of which state
the grandfather was a pioneer. The latter
died there when lames was a child of f>iur

126

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years. On leaving the Buckej-e state in 1843
he came to Henry county, Illinois, and set-
tled in Oxford township, where he i)re-
empted and later entered land, making for
himself a well-improved farm of one hun-
dred and twenty acres. He wedded Aliss
J\lary James, a native of Pittshurg, Pennsyl-
vania, who, like her hushand, was left an
orphan in childhood. He hecame one of the
prosperous farmers of his community, as
vt-ell as one of its most influential and prom-
inent citizens, and served as township trus-
tee for twenty-one consecutive years, heing
then succeeded by our subject. The father
died in 1890, at the age of sixty-seven vears,
and his wife passed away in 1874, at the
age of fifty-tw(_) years. In their family were
six children, namely: I\Iary, wife of Sidney
Mead, of Wichita, Kansas; Jane, wife of
Harry Light; James, a resident of Peoria,
Illinois; Benjamin, of Buffalo, Missouri;
Archibald, of Lakefield, Minnesota; and T.
I., our subject.

T. I. Bachus grew to manhood upon
his father's farm, and received his educa-
tion in the home school. On lea\-ing the
parental roof he went t<> Jacksun ci unity,
Minnesota, where he engaged in farming
and also dealing in grain and hay for about
six years. He made a specialty of hay, which
he bought and shipped in large quantities.
Disposing of his business there he returned
to this county in 1892 and located at Orion,
where he bought out an estabUshed grain and
lumber business with a good elevator and
lumber sheds and yard. B}- fair and hon-
orable dealing he has built up an' excellent
trade, receiving a liberal share of the public
patronage. In 1895 Mr. Bachus also be-
gan contracting and building, and has since
erected many buildings in Henry and Rock
Island counties, including churches, business

houses, elevators and numerous dwellings.
Along this line he has done much to improve
and benefit the country, and is to-day recog-
nized as one of the leading business men
and most public-spirited citizens of Orion.
At that place, Mr. Bachus was married,
May 24, 1894, the lady of his choice being
Miss Gertrude McClosky, who was born,
reared and educated in Orion, and is a
daughter of Edward McClosky, one of the
early settlers of Henry county. In politics
Mr. Bachus is a stanch Republican, having
affiliated with that party since casting his
first presidential vote for James A. Garfield,
in 1880. For two years he served as a
member of the town board, but has never
cared for political honors, desiring rather
to give his undivided attention to his busi-
ness affairs. Fraternally he is a Master
IMason, a member of the blue lodge of
Orion, and both he and his wife hold mem-
bership in the Eastern Star Chapter.

SAMUEL STEWART.

For over thirty-two years Sanniel Stew-
art has been a resident of Henry county, and
liis name is inseparably connected with its
agricultural interests. He is now tlie owner
of a fine farm of one hundrqd and sixty
acres on section 28, Colona township, and in
its operation he is meeting with excellent
success. He was born in county Down,
Ireland, Marcli i, 1865, and on the paternal
side is of Scotch ancestry. His father,
Robert Stewart, was liorn in county Down,
Ireland, in 182 1, and on reaching manhood
was united in marriage with Miss Jane
Craig. In tlie land of his birth he contin-
ued to make his home, being engaged in
farming, until after the birth of all his chil-

SAMUEL STEWART.

UNIVEfiSny OFIUINOIS
URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

129

dren. On Iiis emigration to America in
1868, he took up his residence in Colona
township, Henry county, Illinois, and with
the assistance of his sons opened up the farm
on w^hich our subject now resides, convert-
ing tlie wild tract into a highly improved
farm. There he died in 1887, and his wife
passed away in 1894. They were reared
in the Presbyterian faith, and throughout
life were active and consistent members of
that church.

In the family of this worthy couple were
seven children, five sons and two daughters,
who reached years of maturity, namely :
John went to Nebraska after reaching man-
hood and there died; William is married and
lives in Red Willow county, Nebraska;
James makes his home in Clay county, that
state; Samuel, our subject; Robert is a resi-
dent of Red Willow county, Nebraska; Eh-
za is the wife of William Brown, of Colona
township, this county; and Flora is the wife
of Hugh D. Carey, of Henry county, Illi-
nois.

Reared to manhood on the old home-
stead farm Samuel Stewart became familiar
with the common English branches of learn-
ing in the district schools of the neighbor-
hood. He aided in the work of improving
and cultivating the home farm, remaining
Avith his father until theMatter's death, and
continued its operation for ten years there-
after. He then purchased the interests of
the other heirs and succeeded to the home-
stead, which he has greatly improved. A
well three hundred and thirty-three feet deep
has been drilled upon the place, and a wind
pump put in, furnishing an abundant sup-
ply of good water for his stock. As a farm-
er and stock raiser he has met with excellent
success, and is to-day one of the well-to-do
citizens of his community.

In his political affiliations Mr. Stewart is
an uncompromising Democrat, and an ad-
vocate of the principles of the party's laid
down by W'illiam J. Bryan. He does all in
his power to advance the interests and insure
the success of his party, but has never cared
for political preferment. He has served,
however, as a member of the school board
and clerk of the district. Religiously he is
a member of the Warner Baptist church,
and is highly respected and esteemed by all
who know him.

LEONARD R. BOTHWELL.

Among the most prominent and influ-
ential citizens of Western township is this
well-known and prosperous farmer, who
owns and operates a fine farm of three hun-
dred acres, the home being on section 22,
within one mile of Orion. He was born
in Jefferson county. New York, April 28,
1838, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Plis pa-
ternal grandfather was one of the early set-
tiers of the Empire state, and his father,
David Bothwell, was a native of Washing-
ton county. New York. The latter married
Jemima Spencer, of Jefferson county, who
died in 1842, and his death occurred in
1846.

Thus left an orplian at an early age Leon-
ard R. Bothwell was reared by his sister,
Mrs. Mary Scott, and with her moved to
I'rown county, Wisconsin, in 1846, where
he grew to manhood, his primary education
being obtained in the common schools of
that locality. The knowledge there acquired
has been greatly supplemented by reading
and observation in later years. He aided
ir, the work of the farm and was also em-
pliiycd in a sawmill for a time.

I30

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In June, i860, Mr. Bothwell came to
Henr^- county, Illinois, and worked b}- the
month for a number of j'cars as a farm hand
for N. B. Lloyd, who was one of the first
settlers from Bucks county, Pennsylvania,
to locate here, the date of his arrival being
1838. In August, 1861, Mr. Bothwell joined
the bo3's in blue in the efforts to crush out
the rebellion, becoming a member of the
Eleventh Battery, Ohio Light Artillery,
v.'hich was assigned to the Western army,
and was organized at St. Louis. The win-
ter was spent in Missouri, and their first
engagement was at Xew Madrid, which was
followed by the battle of luka, Mississippi,
September 19, 1862, where Mr. Bothwell
was wounded, being twice shot through the
arm and also in the right side. Being per-
manentl}^ disabled he was sent to the hos-
pital at Jackson, Tennessee, where he re-
mained until honorably discharged from the
service in January, 1863. That spring he
returned to Henry county, and when he had
sufficienth' recovered began work on the
farm of his father-in-law. During 1865
and 1866, he was simikui}- emph.iyed in
Iowa, but since that time has made his home
uninterruptedly in this county.

On the 6th of June, 1867, Mr. Bothwell
married Miss Florence D. Lloyd, a daugh-
ter of X. B. Lloyd. She was born in Henry
county, ^la}- 12, 1844, and was reared and
educated within one mile of her present
home. She attended the Geneseo high school
for a time, and spent about four years with
an uncle in Pennsylvania. After his mar-
riage j\Ir. Bothwell helped carry on the
Lloyd farm until 1871, and then purchased
eighty acres of his present farm, which at
that time was all wild prairie, and which
he at once began to break and improve.
He bought more land from time to time.

including a part of the Lloyd estate, and is
now the owner of an excellent farm of three
lumdred acres, improved with good buildings
and supplied with all the accessories and
con\'eniences found upon a model farm of the
twentieth century. Besides this valuable
property he also owns residence lots in Orion.
In connection with general farming he is
engaged in stock raising, and is meeting with
excellent success in both undertakings. He
became a" stockholder on the reorganization
of the Farmers Bank of Orion, in 1895, and
has since served as vice-president of the
same.

]\Ir. and ^Irs. Bothwell are the parents
of eight children, namely: Ada, the wife
of Charles Anderson, a farmer of Western
township: Amelia. Esther, Lizzie, Herbert,
EKvood, Arthur, William and Clarence, all
at home, while the three youngest are still
in school.

In his political affiliations ^Ir. Bothwell
is an ardent Republican, having supported
that party since casting his first vote for A.
Lincoln, in i860. He has taken (|u-te an
active and prominent part in local politics;
lias served as assessor four years : as town-
ship collector two years; and in 1887 was
elected supervisor, which office he filled so
acceptably that he has been constantly re-
elected, serving in all thirteen consecutive
vears. He has served on a number of im-
portant committees and is now chairman
of the county building committee and the
purchasing committee. He has also been
a delegate to various county conventions of
his party, and has made a faithful and effi-
cient officer in whatever position he has been
called upon to fill. Fraternally he is an
honored member of the Modern Woodmen
of America, the Ancient Order of L'nited
Workmen and the Grand Army of the Re-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

131

public, and has served as quartermaster of
the post at Orion since its organization.
His life has been one of honest and earnest
endeavor and due success has not been de-
nied him.

TOHX LIX.V.

The expression "dijjnity of labor" is ex-
emplified in the life record of this gentleman,
who without reserve attributes his success
tc earnest work. He is a man of strong
force of character, purposeful and energetic,
and his keen discrimination and sound judg-
ment are shown in his capable management
of business afifairs. He is to-day the lead-
ing merchant tailor of Cambridge, in which
city he has made his home since February,
1895.

Mr. Linn was born at Mo, near Smler-
hamm, in the northern ])art of Sweden,
March 12, 1841, his parents being John P.
and Sarah Foline, wlm never came to Amer-
ica. The father, who was born in 1813,
is still living. He has served in the standing
army of Sweden, though never engaged in
war, doing garrison duty most of the time.
The mother of our subject died in 1847,
and the fatlier subse(|uently married again,
but his second wife has also passed away.
His children were Foline, who came to this
country w ith our subject, and is now engaged
in the shoe business in Moline, Illinois;
John, of this review: Andrew, a shoemaker
by tr.ule, who died in St. Petersburg, Rus-
sia, in 1871, at the age of twenty-seven
years ; and Charles, who died in infancy.

On coming to this country in the fall
of 1868, Mr. Linn first located in Geneseo,
Illinois, where he spent four years, and then
went to Davenport, Iowa, where he was en-

gaged in the merchant tailoring business
v.ith P. A. Harling for the same length of
time. At the end of that period he returned
to Geneseo. where he followed the same
business alone until 1881, and later con-
ducted a tailoring establishment in !Moline
until 1892. On leaving that city he again
returned to Geneseo, and continued to carry
on business there with F. F. Aldeen until
1895, when he sold out to his partner and
came to Camljridge, where he has already
built up a large and lucrative trade.

Before leaving his native land. Mr. Linn
was married on the ist of January. 1865,
to Miss Jennie Sparman, who was born in
L^meo, W'esterbotten, Sweden, ]\ray 10,
1842. Of the eleven children born to them
only three have been spared, namely: Han-
nah, wife of Albert Freeman, of Moline;
Jennie, who married Oscar Boom, of Gen-
eseo, and has three children, May and Maria,
twins, and Jennie ; and Clara, who is in a
store in Rock Island. Mrs. Linn and her
daughters are members of the Baptist Church
and are highly esteemed by all who know
them.

In his political views ]\Ir. Linn is a
Republican. He was penniless on coming
to the new world and had to work a }-ear
and a half to get enough money to send for
his wife and two children, who had remained
in Sweden. He therefore deserves great
credit for the success that he has achieved
in life. Besides his pleasant and commodious
residence in Cambridge he is now the owner
of one of the most highly cultivated and
best improved farms in Andover township.
Upon the place is a good ten-room residence,
a barn, cribs and other buildings. Dili-
gence has been the keynote to his success,
and his example is one that might be profit-
abljr followed by all who ha\-e to depend

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

upon their own exertions. His worth is
widely recognized and he enjoys the friend-
ship of the best people of Cambridge.

PETER C. STEWART.

Although well past the Psalmist's span
of three score years and ten, Peter C. Stew-
art is still actively identified with the agri-
cultural interests of Henrj^ county and ably
superintends the management of his fine
farm of four hundred and eighty acres on
section 26, Colona township. He was born
in Somerset count)^ Pennsyhania, March
22, 1818, and is a representative of one of
the pioneer families of New York, where
his father, David Stewart, was born in 1763.
On reaching manhood the latter married
Effa Culverson, who was born in Xew Jer-
sey, but was reared in the Empire state.
For a few years the}- made their home in
Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and then
removed to Muskingiun county, Ohio, be-
ing numbered among its first settlers. In
1838 they came to Illinois and took up their
residence in fiercer county, where the father
died three years later.

Peter C. Stewart was twenty years of
age when he came with his father to this
state, and he spent two seasons working on
the home farm in Mercer county. Coming
to Henry county in 1841 he rented land in
A\'estern township, and commenced farming
on his own account. After about eight or
ten years spent in this way he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres on section 36, the
same township, and at once began its im-
provement and cultivation. Acre after acre
was placed under the plow until the entire
amount was highly cultivated. To the orig-

inal purchase he later added another one-
hundred-and-sixty-acre tract, making a farm
of half a section which he still owns, and
still later he purchased the farm of one hun-
dred and sixty acres on section 26, Colona
township, which he now occupies. The
buildings upon the place are neat and sub-
stantial and everything about the farm indi-
cates the careful supervision of a painstak-
ing owner. He has engaged in raising and
feeding stock quite extensively, and annually
ships to the city markets four carloads of
cattle and two of hogs.

In Henrj^ county 'Sir. Stewart was mar-
ried, December 20, 1845, to Miss Eliza Jane
Piatt, who was born in Butler county, Ohio,
August 5, 1823, but was principally reared
in Indiana. About 1838 or 1839 she came
with her father, Jacob Piatt, to Henr}^ coun-
ty, Illinois. Her father was twice married,
his second union being wnth Jane Thomp-
son. On coming to Henry county he bought
land in Weller township, where he died in
1848. His wife survived him until 1880.
They were members of the Presbyterian
Church. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have five
children living, namely : Frank, who is mar-
ried and engaged in fruit growing in Delta,
Colorado; William J., wdio is married and is
now serving as superintendent of schools in
Nance count}-, Nebraska, being a teacher of
long experience; Edward, who is married
and engaged in the stock business in Trini-
dad, Colorado; Allies K., who is married
and lives on the home farm with his father,
though he owns a farm in Colona township;
Ellen, wife of John Holden, who lives on
the Stewart farm. One daughter. Ada,
died at the age of five years.

Politically Mr. Stewart is a Jefifersonian
Democrat, and cast his first presidential
vote for Martin Van Buren. He has taken

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p. C. STEWART.

MRS. P. C. STEWART.

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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

137

an active interest in educational affairs,
serving as school director some years, and as
president and clerk of the district. Although
eighty-three }'ears of age he has the vigor of
a much younger man and in spirit and inter-
est seems yet in his prime. Old age is not
necessaril)- a synonym of weakness and in-
activity. It needs not suggest as a matter
of course the want of occupation or helpless-
ness. Mr. Stewart stands to-day in his ma-
ture years a strong man, strong in the con-
sciousness of a well-spent life, strong to plan
an.d perform, strong in his credit and good
name, and a worthy example for young men
to pattern after. For almost sixty years he
and his wife have been residents of Henry
county, and are to-day numbered among its
most honored pioneers and highly-respected
citizens.

JOHN A. BRODD.

This gentleman, who has been actively
identified with the farming interests of An-
dover township for several years, was born
at Broddark Parish, sixty-five miles from
Gottenberg, Sweden, on the 2nd of Febru-
ary, 1850, a son of John and Catharine
(Larson) Brodd, natives of the same coun-
try. The father was born October 27, 1821,
and is a son .of Swan and Christine Brodd,
who spent their entire lives in Sweden, Iioth
living to an advanced age.

In his native land John Brodd, father
of our subject, followed the occupation of
farming until 1863, when he sailed from
Gottenberg, Sweden, to Hamburg, Ger-
many, and at the latter place took passage
on a sailing vessel for New York. He was
five weeks in crossing the ocean, that being
considered a <|uick voyage at that time.

Coming at once to Andovcr, Illinois, he took
up his residence in the well known log house
in the center nf the village, where he made
his home until the following fall, when he
bought two and a half acres in the same
place, and lived there six years and a half.
For thirteen years he rented the David Pol-
lock farm, and tlicn purchased the farm
where our subject now resides, buying later
thirty acres, which he improved and placed
under cultivation, and where he now resides.
In his political views he is a Republican, and
in religious belief is a Lutheran, to which
church his wife also belongs. They are still
living in Andover township and are num-
bered among its honored residents. Of their
seven children six were lx)rn in Sweden, and
Clara and Frank G. both died in that coun-
try prior to the emigration of the family.
Anna Sophia died in Andover township at
the age of twenty-five years. John A. is
the subject of this sketch. Frank L. is a
resident of Cambridge. Theodore died in
Andover in 1863, and Alma, born in that
township, in 1864, died in 1865.

Our subject passed the first thirteen years
of his life in Sweden, and then came with the
family to the new wt)rl(l, since which time
he has made his home in Andovcr tinvn-
ship. After completing his education in its
pubhc schools, his advantages being limited,
he took up the occupation to which he had
l)cen reared — that of farming — and in 1886
purchased his present farm oi eighty acres
of his father, to the improvement and culti-
vation of which he has since devoted his en-
ergies, tie has erected thereon good and
substantial buildings, and has done con-
siderable tiling.

December 16, 1886, in Andover town-
ship, Mr. Brodd married Miss Catharine
Sophia Fair, who was born in that town-

I3S

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ship, April 8. 1856, a daughter of Gustoph
and Fredericka Fair, natives of Smolend,
Sweden. Her parents came to the United
States in 1854, and from that time until
1897 made their home in Andover township,
but are now residents of Orion, this county.
Zvlr. and Mrs. Brodd have six children,
namely : Esther, Francis, Philip, Delmore,
Chester and Hannah. The parents are both
active members of the Lutheran Church,
with which Mr. Brodd is officially connected.
In politics he is a Republican, and he takes
an active and commendable interest in all
that will advance the interests of his town-
ship and county.

WILLIAM H. KXOWLES.

-\mong the representative farmers and
leading citizens of Osco township is the sub-
ject of this biography, who has resided here
since 1874, his home being on section 22.
He is a native of Henr^- count)-, his birth
liaving occurred in Linn township. May 3,
1866. His father, ]\Iatthew Knowles, was
born in Matlock, England, on the 19th of
May, 1 82 1, and in 1848 came to the United
States. Choosing Illinois as a future home,
he settled in Henrj- comity, in 1856, and
three years later was united in marriage with
JMiss Annie Radburn, the youngest of a fam-
ily of seven children, <md who was born in
Bedfordshire, England, June 15, 1831, but
was only two years old when brought to
this country bv her parents, who died of
typhus fever in Byverly, Pennsyl.\ania, two
years later. She was reared b}' a sister in
Philadelphia, where she was educated. In
J 859 she came to Illinois, and December 29.
oi that vear, she was married. After com-

ing to this state Mr. Knowles followed farm-
ing continuously until his death, which oc-
curred July 10, 1882, on the farm where
liis widow and son now reside. For a time
he owned and operated a farm in Lynn
township, and on disposing of some of his
propert)' there he moved to Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, where he resided for about
a year. On his return to this county he lo-
cated in Osco township and purchased a
farm of eighty acres on section 22, to the
cultivation and impro^■ement of which he
devoted his energies until called to his final
rest. He was an ardent supporter of the
Republican party, and his fellow citizens,
recognizing his worth and ability, called
upon him to fill numerous township offices.
Religiously he was an earnest and faithful
member of the Episcopal Church of Osco.
In his family were five children, two sons
and three daughters, of whom one son died
ii' infancy. The daughters are Sophia R.,
wife of Walter Christiance, now a resident
of Nebraska, but formerh- of Henry count}',
Illinois; Emma ^^'., a resident of Osco and
widow of F. J. Stoughton, who died of ty-
phoid fever in October, 1900; and Annie
L., a graduate of the Geneseo Collegiate In-
stitute and an instructor of music and draw-
ing in the public schools of Portage, Wis-
consin.

\\'illiam H. Knowles, the only son of the
family now living, was educated in the dis-
trict schools of Lynn and Osco townships.
He grew to manhood on his father's farm,
and on the latter's death he took charge of
affairs for his mother. He is a thorough
and skillful farmer and in the management
of the place he has been quite successful.

In 1889 he led to the marriage altar
Miss Hattie E. Frederick, who was born in
Osco township, August 3, 1865, a daughter

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

J39

of A. A. and Xancy (Weaver) Frederick,
residents of Geneseo, where they have made
their home since 1872, tlie father working at
liis tratle of liarness making. Mrs. Knowles
is the oldest of their four children, the others
being Kate, wife of X. E. Sage, of Daven-
port, Iowa: \'ictor, a resident of Lexing-
ton, Illinois; and Edna, wife of Arthur
Peterson, of Geneseo. Mr. and Mrs.
Knowles are the parents of two interesting
children: Kenneth F. and Ethel May. Mrs.
Knowles was a graduate of the Geneseo
high school in the class of 1884, and was
a successful teacher for some years.

In his ix)litical affiliations Mr. Knowles
is a Republican, and has served as tax col-
lector in his township. For the past five or
six }-ears he has been a member of the Re-
publican central committee for Osco town-
ship, and has been influential in Republican
circles. He is one of the leading members
of the Episcopal Church of Osco, and was
appointed vestryman in the spring of igoo,
which office he is now filling. His wife is
also a member of the same church. Frater-
nally he is connected with the Modern
Woodmen Camp, Xo. 2248, of Osco, and
both he and his wife are members of the
Royal Xeighbors, Xo. 2022, of the same
place. They are widely and favorably
known, and are held in warm regard by
a large circle of friends and ac(iuaintances.

DAXIEL L. KELKHER.

Since the 7th of April. 1857. this gen-
tleman has resided in Henry countv and his
name is inseparably connected with its agri-
cultural interests. Coming to the new world
in limited circumstanc.es, his enterprise, en-

ergy and perseverance have enabled him to
mount from a lowly position to one of
affluence. One of his leading characteris-
tics in business affairs is his fine sense of
order and complete system and the habit
of giving careful attention to details, without
which success in any undertaking is never
an assured fact.

Mr. Keleher, who is familiarly known by
his many friends as Dan, owns and operates
one of the most desirable farms in Western
township, it being pleasantly located on sec-
tions 14, 20, 2^ and 24, three and a half
miles from Orion. A native of Ireland, he
was born in county Kerr}-, August 20, 1836,
and received a good practical education.
In 1853 he emigrated to the United States
and first located in Bucks county, Pennsyl-
vania, where he peddled apples, butter and
other farm produce for some time, and also
worked on the market square now occupied
by the public building in Philadelphia.

Coming to Henry county, Illinois, April
7. 1857, he accepted a situation on the farm
of M. B. Lloyd, the father of Western town-
ship, where he remained two years, and
then purchased twenty acres of land from
that gentleman. After operating it for one
year, he traded it to Mr. Lloyd for a forty-
acre tract of raw prairie land, upon which
he has since made his home. The twenty-
acre tract was on the pnjposed line of the
Peoria & Rock Island railroad. Anticipat-
ing the location of a depot there, as it was
the central jx^int between Coal \'alley and
Orion, he wished to retain it, but was given
an extra good bargain by Mr. Lloyd and so
sold it. The forty-acre tract was fenced,
broken and improved by the erection of a
little house, and there he lived alone for a
tmie. His labors were at length crowned
with success, and to his landed possessions

I40

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he has added from time to time until he now
owns five hundred and eighty-six acres of
ver}' vahialjle and productive land, having
paid as high as seventy-three dollars per
acre for a portit)n of it. This farm he has
tiled, fenced and placed under a high state of
cultivation, and has erected thereon a com-
modious residence, a good cattle barn, the
largest in the county, and substantial out-
buildings, which stand as monuments to his
thrift and enterprise. He also has another
well improved farm of one hundred and six
acres west of Orion, and in connection with
general farming is successfully engaged in
the stock business. He annually feeds and
ships from five to seven carloads of cattle
and hogs, and has found this business profit-
able.

At Rock Island, in 1863, Mr.-, Keleher
was united in marriage with Miss Ellen
Currin, a native of county Donegal, Ire-
land, who came to the United States in
childhood and was reared in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, removing to Cambridge, Illi-
nois, when a young lady. By this union
have been born four children, namely: jNIary
A., wife of Andrew Long, a farmer of Osco
township, Henry county; Ellen, at home;
D. C, who is married and follows farming
in Western township; and Lizzie, who mar-
ried Anton Ecksted and lives in (Jrion. The
son completed his education by three }'ears'
attendance at the Geneseo Collegiate Insti-
tute.

Being a strong temperance man, Air.
Keleher supports the men and measures of
the Prohibition party; has been a delegate
to numerous conventions; and in the years
1S96 and 1900 was the nominee of his party
for representative from Henry county. He
has served as township trustee and road
commissioner, and is now serving his second

term as president of the Henry County
Farmers Institute. At its session November
7, 1900, a vote was taken as to the most
popular farmer in Henry county, and he
was given that honor almost vmanimously.
He was a delegate to the Farmers Congress
at Colorado Springs, and has filled other
positions of honor and trust, the duties of
which he has most capably and conscien-
tiously discharged. He is a strong advo-
cate of the township central public school.
Religiously he and his family are communi-
cants of the Catholic Church, and are peo-
ple of prominence in the community where
they reside. Mr. Keleher is one of the most
enterprising and public-spirited citizens of
his township, and favors the erection of
a monument to the memory of the first set-
tlers of Henry county. He enjoys the well-
earned distinction of being what the public
calls a "self-made man," and an analyzation
of his character reveals the fact that enter-
prise, well-directed effort and honorable deal-
ing have been the essential features in his
prosperity.

JOHN V. SWANSON.

For almost half a century John V. Swan-
son has been identified with the agricultural
interests of Henry county, and is to-day one
of its most prosperous and successful farm-
ers, his home being in section 36, \\'estern
township. He was born in Linchpuenglan,
Sweden, on the 6th of September, 1835, and
is a son of John and Lena Catherhie Swan-
son, also natives of that country, the former
born June 24, 1798, the latter February 4,
1799. In the land of his birth the father
followed farming for some years, and there
all of his children were born, the family be-

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UNIVtRbllY Oh ILLINOIS

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Jj^SjjU,.

^m^-^

J. V. SWANSON.

MRS. J. V. SWANSON.

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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

145

ing comixised of three sons and four daugh-
ters. In the summer of 1853 tlie parents and
cliildren emigrated to .\merica and tcwk up
their residence in Henry county. Illinois,
where the father improved a farm oi eighty
acres, making it his home until called to his
final rest Septemljer 15, i86g, at the age of
seventy-one years. The mother, who siu'-
vived him a numljer of years died at the
home of our subject March 28, 1887. and
was laid to rest by the side of her husbaml
in Andover cemetery, where a substantial
monument has been erected tn their mem-
ory.

John \'. Swanson was a young man of
seventeen years when he caiue to the United
States with his parents, and during early life
he assisted his father in the labors of the
farm, remaining under the parental roof un-
til 1863. On the 28th of March. 1863, he
was united in marriage with Miss .\nna M.
Peterson, also a native of Sweden, who was
born January 8, 1846, and was brought to
America by her parents in 1 849, being reared
in this county. Her father, Xels Peterson,
was one of the early settlers of Western
township, where he developed and improved
a farm. He was born in Lounberga, Swe-
den, November 18, 1812. and died in Henry
county, Illinois, August 9, 1888, while his
wife, who bore the maiden name of Eva
Carrie Mannosdoter, was born in the same
county, February 10, 1821, and died Sep-
tember 5, 1883.

To Mr. and Mrs. Swanson were born
seven sons and two daughters, as follows:
Hannah M., wife of John A. Anderson, of
Phelps county, Nebraska; Amelia, wife of
Oscar Larson, of Western township, this
county ; Joseph, at home ; Nathan, who holds
a business position in the office of the North-
western Railroad Company at Chicago;

Luther, who wedded Mary Johnson and fol-
lows farming on section 34, Western town-
ship; Charles A., at home; William, a stu-
dent in an art school in Chicago; Otto A.
and \'ictor C, botii at home.

Throughout his entire business career
!Mr. Swanson has followed the occupation to
which he was reared, and is to-day one of
the l)est and most substantial farmers of
Henry county. Success has attended his
well-directed efforts, and today he is the
owner of si.x hundred and thirty-four acres
of valuable land, divided into three well-im-
proved farms. This property has all been
acquired by his own labor and enterprise
and the assistance of his estimable wife, who
lias proved a faithful helpmate. The fam-
ily are active and prominent members of the
Swedish Lutheran Church of .\ndover. in
which Mr. Swanson has served as deacon
for many years. He is an advocate of good
schools and competent teachers, and has done
effective service in the interest of education
while serving as school director for a number
of years. Politically he is a stanch supporter
of the Republican party and its principles,
and never withholds his aid from any enter-
prise which he believes calculated to advance
the moral, .social or material welfare of his
township and county, and is therefore num-
bered among the most valued and highly
esteemed citizens of the community.

ANDREW J. LARSON.

The subject of this biography is a worthy
representative of the agricultural interests
of Henry county, and now operates a good
farm of one hundred and si.xty acres on
section 26, Andover township. He is a na-

146

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tive of this county, his hirth having occurred
in Osco township on the 28th of June, 1867.
His fatlier, A. G. Larson, was born in
Sweden, July 25, 1S37, and remained in his
native land until the summer of i860, when
lie came to America and took up his resi-
dence in Henr\- county, Illinois. For four
years he worked by the month in Andover
township, and then purchased eight)^ acres
of land on section 28, Osco township, on
which he erected a good set of farm build-
ings. To the original purchase he has added
from time to time as his financial resources
permitted until he now has seven hundred
acres of fine farming land in this county.
He is independent in politics and is a man
highly respected and esteemed by all who
know him. His home is still in Osco town-
ship. He has two brothers living in this
county: Jonas, a resident of Andover town-
ship, and August, of the village of Osco.

On the I St of November, 1866, in Lynn,
Illinois, A. G. Larson was united in mar-
riage with jNIiss Tilda L. Hokanson, who
was born in Sweden, May 18, 1846, and
they have become the parents of eight chil-
dren, of whom four are now living, namely :
Andrew J., our subject; Henry J., Carl R.,
Gust A., all at home. May Augusta, who
died in 1899. L. Edward, twin brother of
our subject, was accidentally injured by a
corn stalk cutter and died from the effects
of the same ; Nellie A. died from the effects
of an injury from a blow given accidentally
by one of her schoolmates; and two children
died in infancy.

Reared on the home farm, Andrew J.
Larson acquired his education in the district
schools of Osco township. In 1893 he be-
gan Hfe for himself as a farmer in Lynn
township, where he remained until he bought
his present farm of P. E. Wallinein 1897.

He carries on general farming and stock
raising, and in his labors is meeting with
marked success. He is a thorough and sys-
tematic farmer, and the neat and thrifty ap-
pearance of his jjlace plainly indicates his
careful supervision. As a Republican he
takes an active interest in political affairs.
]Mr. Larson was married, in Cambridge,
March 7, 1893, to Miss Carrie Youngquist,
a native of Western township, Henry coun-
t}', and a daughter of J. A. Youngquist, of
Cambridge, of whom more extended men-
tion is made in the sketch of Albert Peter-
son on another page of this volume. i\Ir.
and Mrs. Larson now have an interesting
family of three children: Earl Russell, Mil-
dred Irene Ruth and Florence Maud. He
attends and supports the Lutheran Church of
Andover, of which his wife is a member.

JOHN W. STEARNS.

Among the farmers of Henry county
who have met with most excellent success
in their chosen calling is the gentleman
whose name introduces this review. He is
now the owner of nearly five hundred acres
of fine farming land in this county, which
is divided into two well improved farms,
and upon one of these, on section 12, West-
ern township, he now makes his home.

]\Ir. Stearns is a native of the Green
?vIountain state, his birth having occurred
in the town of Waterbury, ^^'ashington
county, Vermont, April 28, 1835. The
family to which he belongs was founded
in this country by three brothers, natives
of England, one of whom settled in Massa-
chusetts, another in New York, and the
third in Ohio. From the first branch our

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

147

subject is descended. His grandfather, John
Stearns, Sr., and his father, John Stearns.
Jr., were botli nati\'es of Massachusetts, and
were among the early settlers of \'ermont.
where the former improved a farm of three
hundred acres on the side of a hill. There
the father was reared, and during his boy-
iiood and j'outh he aided in the arduous
tssk of clearing away the timber and plac-
ing under cultivation the wild land. In
Massachusetts he married Abigail Hall
Toby, a native of that state, and upon a
farm in \\'ashington county, Vermont, they
juade their home until he was called to
his final rest February 28, 1855. His wife
survived him many years and spent her last
days with our subject in this county, where
she died ^klarch 26, 1896, at the ripe old age
of eighty-six years.

In the county of his nativity John W.
Stearns, of this review, pursued his studies
in the common schools, and he remained on
the home farm until reaching man's estate.
Coming west in October, i860, he stopped
at Rock Island for a short time, but later
in the same season came to Henry county.
\\ here he engaged in farming on a rented
tract of eiglit}- acres for two years, and later
on the James Glenn farm of one hundred and
si.xt\- acres for three years. In 1864 Mr.
Stearns purchased one hundred and si.xty
acres of wild land, where he now resides,
and at once began its improvement, his first
home here being a small house. .\s time ad-
vanced and he prospered in his undertak-
ings, he bought more land, and has made
many valuable improvements upon his place,
including the erection of a large and pleas-
ant residence, two good barns and other
outbuildings, has set out fruit and shade
trees, and in other ways has added to the
value and attractive appearance of the farm.

Tiesides this place, consisting of one hun-
dred and sixty acres, he has another farm
of two hundred and sixty-eight acres ad-
joining, and is to-day one of the substan-
tial farmers and stock raisers of his com-
munity..

^Ir. Stearns was married in Vermont,
October 14, i860, to Miss Albina Stone, a
r.ative of that state, who died in this coun-
ty, in August, 1866, leaving one son, John
-Arthur, who is now married and follows
farming in Osco township. He has two chil-
dren, Bessie and Willis. On the i8th of
July, 1867, in Henry county, Mr. Stearns
was united in marriage with Miss Louisa
Glenn, who was born February 9, 1840, and
1 eared in Clinton county, Ohio, and came.
to Illinois with her father, Jacob Glenn, in
1856, locating in Colona township, Henry
county. No children were born of this
union, but Mr. and Mrs. Stearns have reared
and educated two. A niece, ^lary Harper,
made her home with them from the age of
ten j-ears until her marriage, being now the
wife of Milton F. Edwards, of Colorado
Springs, Colorado. .\ nephew, Harry Rue,
w as only eighteen months old when he came
to live with them, and now as a j'oung man
he assists in carrying on the farm.

Since attaining his majority ilr. Stearns
has been identified with the Republican
party, and cast his first vote for Abraham
Lincoln in 1864. He has served t)n the
township committee of his party and has
been a delegate to numerous conventions,
but has never sought political honors, though
he has been called upon to serve his fellow
citizens as township school trustee, as road
commissioner, and as treasurer for about
eighteen years. He has ever taken an active
and commendable interest in public affairs,
and gives his support to every enterprise

148

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

calculated to advance the moral, social or
material welfare of his township and county.
His estimable wife is a member of the
Methodist Church, and both are held in high
regard by all who have the pleasiire of their
acquaintance.

THOMAS M. ROBERTSON.

Prominent among the citizens of Henry
county who have witnessed the marvelous
development of this section of the state in
the past sixty-five years, and who have, by
honest toil and industry, succeeded in ac-
quiring a competence, and are now able to
spend the sunset of life in quiet and retire-
ment, is the gentleman whose name intro-
duces this sketch. For many years he was
one of the leading agriculturists of the coun-
ty, but is now living a retired life in Cam-
bridge, to which city he remo\ ed Xo\ember
I, 1899, and where he owns a desirable
home.

ilr. Robertson was born a few miles
north of Galesburg, in Henderson township,
Knox county. Illinois, ^la}' 2, 1835, and is
a worthy representative of one of the most
prominent pioneer families of this section
of the state, his parents being Daniel and
Mary (Maxwell) Robertson. The father's
birth occurred in Perth, Scotland, but he
was only six months old when brought by
his parents to America. From New York
the familv removed to Morgan county, Illi-
nois, in 1 81 7. They constructed a flatboat
in Pennsylvania, on which they loaded their
household goods, horses and cattle, and they
floated down the Ohio river to Lewiston,
near St. Louis. Going to the land office, at
Dixon, Daniel Robertson entered a tract of
government land at Henderson Grove, which

was said to be the nicest grove in the state
at that time. He secured the deed to a
quarter-section of land on section 1 1 , Hen-
derson township, Knox county, and his
brother, Alexander, who died in 1848, also
obtained at that time one hundred and sixty
acres and later entered a quarter-section
more. The father of our subject lived at
v.hat is now Hendersonville, which was a
thriving village before the railroad was laid
out, but as the company saw fit to lay their
line through Galesburg and skip Henderson-
ville, the latter was virtually killed. He and
his brother were the first white men to set-
tie in Knox county. During the Black
Hawk war, the latter entered the army, leav-
ing Daniel to care for the home and family.
He was well acquainted with Shabbona,
the friendly Indian of those troublesome
times. Mr. Robertson was reared in the
Scotch Presbyterian faith, but never united
with anj^ church. \Miile a resident of
Schuyler county. Illinois, he was appointed
justice of- the peace by Governor Edwards
and held the office for some j-ears. He died
at his home in Knox county, April 6, 1890,
at the ripe old age of eight)--six years, hon-
ored and respected by all who knew him.
The mother of our subject, who was a most
e.xceljent woman, had died in 1840, at the
earl}' age of twenty-seven years. She was
a daughter of Thomas and Clarkie (Will-
iamson) Maxwell. Her mother's people
came from Indiana to Illinois at a very early
day and first located in Sangamon county,
but in 1829 removed to Knox county. By
his first marriage Mr. Robertson had five
children, namely : Elizabeth, the first female
white child born in Knox county, married
Isaac Reed, and is now fiving in this county
at the age of sixty-nine years; Alexander
R. died from the effects of an accident Oc-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

149

tober II, 1891. at the age of titty-eight
years; Tiiomas M., our sul)ject. is next in
order of birth ; Malissa, deceased, was the
wife of James Smelser: Mary is tlie widow
of Robert Adcock and a resident of \\'ar-
ren county, HHnois. For his second wife
the father of these children married Miss
Jane Riddle, who died in Galesburg, in 1895.
at the age of eighty-five years. By that
union were Ix>rn six children, five of whom
are now living: John T., a resident of Gales-
Inirg: James G.. who died Xovember. 1900.
at Marysville. California; Amanda, now
Mrs. Briggs, of Oklahoma; and Harlen. of
Indian territory, and Harbin C, twins, liv-
ing near Galesburg, Illinois.

The boyhood and youth of Thomas M.
Robertson were passed upon tiie home farm
in Knox county, and he received a good com-
mon-school education. \t the age of se\-
€nteen he and his brother Alexander began
breaking prairie, with three plows and five
yoke of oxen to each plow. They broke
much of the sod between W'ataga and Little
York, Mercer county, their largest day's
work being ten and a quarter acres near
W'ataga. getting two dollars and twen-
ty-five cents per acre. The brother re-
tired from the business before our sub-
ject, who continued to follow it for about
nine years. He became the owner of
seventy-seven acres of land in Kno.x town-
ship, wiiich he sold on coming to Henry
county in 1867. and bought one hun-
dred antl si.xty acres in W'elier town-
ship, to which he subsetiuently added tracts
of sixty-two, eighty and one hundred
and forty acres, but has since sold a portion
of tiiis land, though he still retains one hun-
dred and seventy-six acres of well improved
and valuable land on section 7. and one hun-
dred and thirtv-seven and a half acres on

section 8. \\ eller tnwnshii). Upon tliese
farms he has erected good and substantial
buldngs, has placed the land under a high
state of cultivaton and otherwise improved
them, until they are now among the most
desirable of their size in that section of the
county. He has also owned land in Ne-
braska.

On the 28th of October. 1858, Mr. Rob-
ertson was united in marriage with Miss
yiary J. Bick, who was born in Ohio. May
17, 1840, a daughter of Elias and Cather-
ine (Stein) Bick, natives of Pennsylvania,
who in 1852 removed to Knox county, Illi-
nois. Her father was a successful merchant
tailor, who did a large business and em-
ployed many workmen. He was born -Au-
gust 15, 1813, and died February 24. 1864,
while his wife was lx>rn December i. 181 5,
and died February 12, 1852. Both were
devout members of the Methodist Episco-
])al Church, and were held in high regard
by all who knew them. Mrs. Robertson was
the eldest of their four daughters, the others
being as follows: (2) Alsetta is the wife
of William Collins, a railroad employe of
Atchison, Kansas, and they have five chil-
dren, Frederick, William, Forest, Harry
and May. (3) Susie is the wife of Albert
Thompson, a farmer of Norton, Kansas;
and they have seven children, Frederick,
Charles, Howard, Florence. Cora, John and
Maii|de. (4) Louisa is the wife of John
Maxwell, a farmer of Grinnell, Iowa, and
• their children are Catherine, Jennie, Atha,
Cora and Charles.

Eight chiltlren were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Robertson, but Cora died at the age of
three years, and three of the number died
in infancy. Those living are .Arthur, on the
home farm ; Fannie, wife of \'. J. Poppy,
a farmer of Weller township, this county.

ISO

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

by whom she has one child, Jessie ; Harry
B., a grain buyer of Bishop Hill, who mar-
ried Hattie Hunt and has one child, Mildred ;
and Carrie, wife of C. \\'. Nelson, who lives
en the home farm.

For many years Air. Robertson has been
identified with the financial, interests of Cam-
bridge, serving as one of the directors of
the Farmers National Bank since its or-
ganization, in 1882, and as vice-president
during that entire time with the exception
of two years. He is now one of the oldest
bank officials in this part of the county.
He has also been interested in the mercan-
tile business some ten or twelve years. His
political support is always given the men
and measures of the Democratic party, and
while living in the country he served his fel-
low citizens as road commissioner some time,
and as a member of the school board for
nine years. At the age of twenty-one years
he was made a Alason in Hiram Lodge,
Henderson, Illinois. Being demitted from
that lodge, he became one of the charter
members' of Oxford Lodge, and later as-
sisted in the organization of the lodge at
Woodhull, Henry county. He and his es-
timable wife are members of the Baptist
Church. They are widely and favorably
known throughout the county, and it is safe
to say that no couple within its borders are
more honored or highly esteemed, or more
justly deserve the high regard in which they
are held by all who know them.

ANDREW LINCOLN.

The well-known and ]iopular superin-
tendent of the Swedish Orphan Home in
Andover township, was born in \'ennland,

Kroppa Congregation, Sweden, April 29,.
1842, a son of John and Maria (Olson)
Lindgren, also natives of that country, where
the father, who was a farmer by occupation,
died. Tlie mother subsequently came to
the United States and settled in Kansas,
her death occurring in Linsberg, that state,^
January 7, 1893. Our subject was reared
and educated in his native land, and contin-
ued to make his home thfere until his emigra-
tion to America, in April, 1869. On his
arrival in this country he proceeded to Kan-
sas, where he received a contract for stone
work on the Santa Fe railroad. His first
contract was around Emporia and Florence
and in that vicinity. He located in Linsberg,
]\IcPherson county, where he purchased two
hundred and forty acres of land and followed
farming for a time. For twelve years he was
also engaged in the lumber business at that
place, hauling the first load of lumber from
Salina to that place. He took up govern-
ment land there, and in his farming op-
erations was fairly successful, though he
met with some reverses, caused principally
by the grasshopper plague. While residing
in McPherson he was a member of the city
council during which time many improve-
ments were made. He was also a trustee
of Bethany College, from the beginning of
the school, a period of sixteen years, and
was one of the officers ^\■hen the college
buildings were erected.

While a resident of Kansas, Mr. Lincoln
was married, October 21, 1871, to Miss
Anna Christine Johnson, a native of Sweden,
and to them were born nine children, as fol-
lows: Julius L., who was ordained a Lu-.
theran minister in 1893, and is now pastor
of a church at Jamestown, N^ew York ;
Da\-id, an undertaker and embalmer at
that place; Simon, who is now attending

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

151

Rusli Medical College at Chicago; Hannah;
Selma, who is preparing herself for a trained
nurse in Chicago; Carl, who is a student in
Augustana College; and Luther.

Mr. Lincoln contiiuied to reside in
Kansas until September i, 1896, when he ac-
cepted the superintendenc}' of the Swedish
Orphan Home in Andover township, Henry
county, Illinois, and removed to this place,
and has since most creditably filled that re-
sponsible position. This institution was or-
ganized in Minnesota and belongs to the
Augustana Synod. It is known as the Swed-
ish Evangelical Orphan Home and School
and was first located in Swedonia, Mercer
county, Illinois, where a building was erect-
ed in 1867 and dedicated the following year,
but in 1869 the institution was transferred
to Andover, Henry county. The first build-
ing erected here answered all purposes until
1880, when what is now known as tiie main
building was erected. The farm consists
of four hundred and thirty acres, of which
three hundred acres are under a high state
of cultivation. The farm is largely oper-
ated by the inmates under the superxision
of Mr. Lincoln, and in 1899 they raised ten
thousand bushels of corn upon the place.
The first sui^erintendent, S. P. Lindell, was
succeeded by John S. Swanson, who filled
that position for eight years. E. Hoogner,
of Swedonia, was then suijerintendent for
three years, and was followed by Gust John-
son for two years, and J. E. Munell for
eighteen months. Mr. Lincoln then took
charge of affairs, and has most capably and
acceptably filled the office since Septemlier,
1896. There are now forty inmates at the
home, though the enrollment has been as
high as sixty-eight. During the sciiool year
of 1 899- 1 900, the school was conducted in
English for seven months, and in Swedish

for three months. The present capacity is
forty, and the inmates receive home care,
Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln being father and
mother to all.

GEORGE J. S^^IITH.

-Vmong tb.c leading and representative
agriculturists of Western township, stalwart
and sturdy tillers of the soil, there is none
who stands a more prominent figure tlr.>n
George J. Smith, whose b.ome is on section
I, where since 1883 he has successfully en-
gaged in general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Smith was born in Kombach, Ba-
varia, Germany, on the 15th of October,
1851, a son of jolin P. and Margaret
(Grampp) Smith, also natives of that coun-
try, where the father followed farming until
his emigration to the new world in 1856.
On their arrival in this country the family
first located in Maryland, but a year later
came to Illinois, and the father opened up
and improved a farm in Long Point town-
ship, Livingston count)-, on which he sjjent
his remaining days. He was born in 1805
and died in January, 1886. His wife died
about five years later.

George J. Smith was about six years cE
age when he came to America with his par-
ents, and in Livingston county he grew to
manhood, aiding his father in the improve-
ment and cultivation of the farm, which he
subsequently purchased. He continued his
residence there until after his marriage, but
ill 1883 removed to Henry county and \n\v-
chased his present farm of three hundred
and twenty acres, to the further improve-
ment and cultivation of which he has since
devoted his energies with most gratifying

is:

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

results. He has built a ucat and substantial
residence, good barns and other outbuild-
ing-s. has set out an orchard and shade trees,
and has a gnnd system of water works oj)-
erated by a wind pump. In fact, all of the
conveniences and accessories of a model
farm are there found, and the place is one of
the most desirable farms of its size in the
township. Mr. Smith makes a specialty of
raising and feeding stock for market, and
airnually ships about four carloads of cattle
and the same of hogs, being accounted one
of the most successful farmers and stock-
nien of the county.

On the i6th of Alarcli. 1882. in Henry
county. Mr. Smith married Miss Carrie
Smith, who was born in Edford township.
Henry county, a daughter of William Smith,
who was one of the early settlers of the coun-
ty, and improved the farm on which our sulv
ject now resides. He was born near Hano-
ver, Prussia, in 1822. and wdien about twentv
years of age came to the United States, first
locating in Cumberland. Maryland, where he
married Caroline Emmert. also of German
birth. In 1851 they came to Henry count}-.
Illinois, and settled in Edford townshiji.
where he purchased land and still lives. He
is an extensive land owner, and at one time
was the owner of eleven hundred acres.

Having no children of their own. om-
subject and his wife have adopted a daugh-
ter, Edna Smith, who was an orphan. Thev
are active and consistent members of the
Lutheran Church, and are highlv respected
and esteemed by all who know them (mi ac-
count of their sterling worth and manv ex-
cellencies of character. In his political views
Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican, and has
supported every presidential nominee of that
party since casting his first vote for General

U. S. Grant in 1872. He is now serving as
township trustee with credit to himself and
to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

AMOS A. DYAL.

Among the self-made men and honored
citizens of Orion who have laid aside busi-
ness cares to spend their declining years in
peace and quiet is the subject of this review,
who has been a resident of Henry county
since the ist of October, 1856. A native of
Pennsylvania, he was born in the citv of
Pittsburg on the 7th of March, 1834. and is
a son of William H. and Eliza A. (Stewart)
Dyal, both natives of West Virginia, though
their marriage was celebrated in the Key-
stone state. The father was born in 1807,
and in early life was engaged in flatboating
on the Ohio river, running coal barges. He
finally located on a farm in Coshocton coun-
tv, Ohio, and devoted the remainder of his
life to agricultural pursuits. There he died
in 1891 at the ripe old age of eighty-four
years. The mother died in 1885.

On the home farm Amos D\al grew to
manhood, receiving but limite^l school priv-
ileges in his youth. In the fall of 1856 he
came west, arriving in Henry county, Illi-
nois, on the 1st of October, and for about
four years he worked by the month on the
farm of L. C. W'elton. one of the early set-
tiers of Illinois, who came to Henry county
from Peoria county. Later he rented land
and engaged in farming on his own account
for three or four years in Osco and Andoxer
towmships. 'In 1862 he purchased eighty
acres of land on section 14, Western town-
ship, but did not locate thereon until two

AMOS DYAL.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

155

years later. At time of purchase tliis was
a wild tract, which Mr. Dyal fenced, hroke
and improved, and as his financial resources
increased he added to his property from time
t(j time until, he now owns two hundred and
tliirty-fnur acres of rich and arable land,
which he has placetl under a higii state of
cultivation and improved with a good set of
farm buildings, including a pleasant resi-
dence and two barns. He raised and fed
considerable stock for market, and in all his
undertakings met with a fair success.

In November, i860, in Henry county,
was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dyal antl
Miss Isabella McFarland. who was 1)orn and
reared in Holmes county. Ohio, and died
here in 1872, leaving two children. Ida
Eliza, the older, is now the wife of Harry
McCleese, of Hancock county. Iowa, and
the}' have seven children: Myron, Clarence,
Walter, Bertha, Isabella, Ralph K. and
Hazel. Robert, the younger child of our
subject, grew to manh(X)d and married, but
died May 8, 1896. In 1S74 Mr. Dyal was
again married, his second union being with
Mrs. Marietta Hovey, who was born in Xew
York, but was reared and educated in Henry
county, Illinois, and engaged in teaching
school prior to her marriage. She died in
1889, and June 29, 1892, in Fayette county
Pennsylvania, Mr. Dyal was united in mar-
riage with Miss Mary E. Showalter, a native
of that county, educated at George's Creek
Academy and the Lock Haven Normal
School, and also a school teacher. Through-
out his active business life her father, James
Showalter, also followed that profession, but
is now living a retired life in Smithfield.
Pennsylvania. He belongs to an old family
of that state.

In his political views Mr. Dyal is inde-
pendent, but being a strong temi)erance man.

he usually supports the men and measures
of the Prohibition party. He and his wife
attend the Baptist Church of Orion, with
which he holds membershi]). but she is still
connected with the Presbyterian Church
of Smithfield, I'ennsyhania, basing been
reared in that faith. .\s a citizen of Henry
county, with whose interests he has long
been identified, he is highly respected, enjoys
the confidence of his neighbors and friends,
and is regarded as a man of excellent busi-
ness judgment. His success in life is due
entirely to his own well-directed efforts, dil-
igence and sagacity. He is now living re-
tired in Orion, to which [ilace he remoNcd in
October, 1895, and where he owns a home.

P. E. OSTRAN.

This prominent business man of Cam-
bridge, Illinois, who is a member of the well-
known firm of Ostran, Hunt & Company,
was born in Sweden August 31, 1866, a son
of P. Ostran and Catherine Ostran. By
occupation the father was a dairy farmer,
and was an active member of the Christian
Church, to which his wife also belongs. She
is still living in Gtfle, Sweden, at the age of
sixty-eight years, but he died in that country
in 1878. at the age of forty-nine. In their
family were five children, namely: Mary,
w ife of August Peterson, of Hartford, Con-
necticut : .\nna. wife of X. L. W'ahlburg. of
Cambridge. Illinois; P. E., our subject;
Christin. wife of C. Nordstrum. of Hart-
ford. Connecticut; and Hannah, who lives
w ith her mother in Sweden.

P. E. Ostran was reared and educated
ill his native land, attending both the com-
mon schools and an academy. In the spring

156

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of 1882, in company with a sister, who after
landing remained in Xew York, he crossed
the Atlantic and came direct to Cambridge.
On his arrival here he began clerking in a
store, and at the same time attended school
that he might learn the English language.
He was employed as clerk here until the
fall of 1887, when he went to Kearney, Xe-
braska, where he held a similar position un-
til July of the following year. He then re-
turned to Cambridge and purchased the in-
terest of James Mascall, now deceased, in
the firm of Mascall, ^^'alline & Company,
for whom he had previously worked. The
name was then changed to W'alline, \\'en-
nerstrum & Company, ilr. Ostrah being the
company, and it remained such until 1894,
when it was again changed to Ostran, Hunt
& Company. Theirs is the largest store in
Cambridge, and they carry a full and
complete line of general merchandise, in
fact everything found in a first class es-
tablishment of the kind. They buy all
kinds of country pToduce, and conduct a
branch store at Ulah, Illinois. Besides the
members of the firm, employment is fur-
nished six or seven clerks, and they en-
joy a verj- large country and city trade,
which is constantly increasing.

On the 13th of September. 1888, ^Mr.
Ostran married ^liss Delia Pederson, who
was born in ilandal, Xorwa}', October 3,
1864, a daughter of Ola and Anna (Olsen)
Pederson. She came with her parents to
America in 1871, and located in Chicago,
where the family were living at the time of
the great fire in October, 1871. In 1881
they moved to Kearney, Xebraska. where the
father, a carpenter by trade, remained until
1895, since which time he has been a resi-
dent of Cambridge, but her mother died May
9, 1898, at the age of sixty years. Mrs.

Ostran died of apoplexy, July 18. 1900.
She was a faithful and consistent member of
the ilethodist Episcopal Church, and on the
day of her death a committee of ladies from
the church met at her house. She was
called to the door by a visitor, and a few
minutes after her return to the parlor the
ladies noticed her unnatural breathing, and
fearing something serious was the matter
summoned a physician and her husband by
telephone, both arriving a few minutes be-
fore her spirit took its flight. She had
united with the church in 1891 and became
an earnest and zealous worker, who loved the
church of her choice with an intense devo-
tion. Genial and pleasant in manner, she
made many friends, and was highly respect-
ed b)' all who knew her. After dinner, on the
day of her death, while apparently in per-
fect health, she sat down to the piano and
played and sang stanzas of a song, the last
of which was :

"In mansion of glor}- and endless delight.
I'll ever adore Thee in Heaven so bright..
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my

brow
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now."

She was buried by the Eastern Star, of
v.hich she was a member.

Mr. Ostran is a prominent member of
the Masonic order, and for several terms
has been treasurer of the blue lodge at Cam-
bridge. He is also a member of the chapter
at Kewanee. Everts Commandery of Rock
Island, the Eastern Star Chapter of Cam-
bridge, and is a charter member of Mo-
hammed Temple of the Mystic Shrine at
Peoria. By his ballot he supports the men
and measures of the Republican party, and
his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

157'

and ability, have called u])Mn him to serve as
aklernian for se\eral terms. He has made
for himself an honoral)le record in business,
and by his well-directed efforts has acquired
a handsome competence. As a. citizen, friend
and neiglibor he is true to e\ery duty, and
justly merits the esteem in which he is held.

ALBERT PETERSON'.

Among tile representative farmers and
l)rominent citizens of Andover township,
none stand higher in public e^tecnl than the
gentleman whose name introduces this
sketch. He was born in Jefferson county,
Iowa, December 27, 1861, his parents be-
ing P. M. and Hadda Charlotte (Anderson)
Johnson, the former born in Norravi
Soken, and tiie latter in Ashy Ostergotland,
Sweden, where they were reared and mar-
ried. In i860 they left the mother country
and came to the L^nited States, locating
at Salina, Jefferson count}-, Iowa, where the
father purchased land and improved a farm,
making his home there until his death in
1869. His widow subsequently married John
Gabrielson, who died Sei)teml)er 6, 1896.
She is still living and yet makes her home
in Jefferson county, Iowa. By her first
marriage slie became the mother of four
children — Oscar and Peter, who died in
Sweden; Albert, our subject; aiul William,
a resilient of ]\Ioline, Illinois. By the sec-
ond union there were no children born. By
a former union, John Gabrielson had two
sons: Alfred, deceased, formerly a physician
and surgeon of Trenton, Iowa; and Henry,
a resident of Montana.

The primary education of .Vl.bert Peter-
son was obtained in the public schools of

his native county, where he remained until
he was eleven years old, when he came to
Henry county, Illinois, to make his home
with an uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. John
Carl.son, of Osco township, who were among
the early settlers of the county, and with'
whom he lived until his marriage, since
\\hich time he has liecn a resident of An-
dover township, where he has successfully
engaged in farming. Shortly after attain-
irg his majority, and wishing to be better
prepared for the active duties of life, he
took a three-months' course in a business
college in Da\enport, Iowa, and he feels
that the time was well spent.

At Orion, Illinois, on the i6tli of April,
1884, was celebrated the marriage of Mr.
Peterson and Miss Emma Matilda Young-
quist, a native of Western township, Henry
county, Illinois, born April 16, 1864. Her
father, Jonas A. Youngquist, was born in
southern Sweden. He lost his father when
c|uite young, and his mother subsec|uently
came to .\merica and spent her last days
ill Lvnn townshi]), Henry county, where her
death occurred. ]\Ir. Youngquist was sev-
enteen years of age when he came to the
United States, and in June, 1854, came to
Andover township, Henry county. For one
year he worked on the railroad south of
Galesburg, and for the same length of time-
was employed as a farm hand by Daniel
Mix, who li\ed south of Galesburg, in Kno.x
c<Huity. ,\fter working fourteen months at
twehx dollars and lifty cents i)er month, he
came to Andover and labored in this locality
for seven years, during which time he saved
enough from his wages to purchase eighty
acres of wild prairie land in Lynn town-
ship. Later he sold that place and bought
one hundred and twenty acres of land in
Western townshij), which he improved by

158

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tlie erection of good and substantial build-
ings. Prospering in his farming operations.
he added to his landed possessions from
time to time until he owned six hundred
and sixty acres in Western and Andover
townships. At Andover. he was married.
February ii, 1862, to Miss Eliza C. Lin-
berg, who was born in southern Sweden.
September 29, 1840, and who in 1842 came
to the L'nited States with her parents. Swan
and Catherine Linberg. She was third in
order of birth in a family of five children,
of whom the two youngest died in Oxford
township, where the death of the parents
also occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Voungquist
have five children: Emma M., wife of our
subject : Mary A. : Carrie B. : Julia A., and
Anna !M. The famil\- all held membership
in the Swedish Lutheran Church, and are
highly respected and esteemed b yall who
know them. In ix)litics }^Ir. Youngquist is
a Republican. He and his wife make their
home in Cambridge, Illinois.

^Ir. and Mrs. Peterson have bne child,
Esther, born January 26, 1890. Both he
and his wife are members of the Swedish
Lutheran Church, in which he has served
as deacon. In politics he is a thorough Re-
publican, and an earnest advocate of the
principles of the party. He keeps well post-
ed in all the political and current events of
the day, and while strong in his political
convictions he is willing that others should
enjoy the same rights as he claims from
them. He has never been an office seeker,
but has served efficiently as a member of the
school board. His interest in the public
schools is shown b\' his service in a thankless
position. As an agriculturist, he has always
kept abreast of the times, with eyes open to
every invention and suggestion that will
benefit himself or those in his chosen call-

ing. He is a frequent paid correspondent
of some of the leading agricultural jour-
nals of the day, a fact that sj)eaks volumes
in his favor. His private library is worthy
of sjiecial mention, comprising the best
literature of the day, as well as the standard
authors, found in all carefully selected li-
braries. He is the only farmer in Andover
township, and ixjssibly in Henry county,
having a library of over five hundred vol-
umes. Xo enterprise of a public nature that
is calculated to build up his township or
county but finds in him a friend.

PLIXY FREEMAX.

At the time of his death Pliny Freeman
was one of the prosperous citizens of Gene-
seo, and his possessions had been acquired
entirely through his own efiforts. He had also
won b)- an honorable, upright life an untar-
nished name, and the record which he left
behind is one well worthy of emulation. He
was born in Sturbridge, Worcester county,
Massachusetts, April 14, 1806, a son of Pliny
and Delia (Marsh) Freeman, and belonged
to one of the old and honored families of
X'ew England, tracing his ancestry back to
Samuel Freeman, who came to America from
England in 1630, with Governor Winthrop,
and located at Watertown, or Xewtown,
Massachusetts, where he died in 1638. He
left a son, Samuel, who was born in Water-
town, May II, 1638, and married Mary
Southworth of Plymouth. Their son, Sam-
uel Freeman, was lx)rn in 1662. and in 1684
married Elizabeth Sparrow, by whom he had
a son Samuel, who was born September i.
1688, and wedded Mary Paine. Their first
son, who also bore the name of Samuel, was

PLINY FKEEMAN.

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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

i6i

lirirn Xovember 12. 17 iT). and married Mary
Cluihl). He was the first of the family to
make his lionie in Sturliridge, Massachusetts,
locating- in what is now the central portion
of the village- about the middle of the eight-
eentii century, the town ha\-ing been incor-
lX)rated February 13. 1739. After Ms
death, his widow-, who bore the maiden name
cf Mary Chubb, marrietl again and died in
1807, at the advanced age of ninety-two
years. Their children were Benjamin, Com-
fort, Jared, Samuel, \\'alter, Rachel, Mar-
tha and ]\lary, twins, and Raney. Of these,
Comfort Freeman, the grandfather of our
subject, was Ixirn August 23, 1750, and was
married. May 6. 1771, to Lucy Walker, who ,
was Ixirn in Sturbridge, February 13. 1749,
and died August 5, 1S3J, while his death
occurred Deceml)er 4, 1806. In their fam-
ily were nine children.

Pliny Freeman, the seconil son and fifth
child of this family and the father of our
subject, was born in Sturbridge, Massachu-
setts, September 24, 1780, and lived in the
vicinity of his birth place throughout the
greater part of his life. During his active
business career he followed the occupations
of farming and carpentering. He was one
of the prtiminent and successful men of the
community, served as selectman of his town
for several years, and was captain in the
home militia. Politically he was identified
with the old Whig 'party. On the 5th of
October, 1802, he married Miss Delia Marsh,
a daughter of Silas and Deliverance (Fisk)
Marsh, fanning people and life-long resi-
dents of Sturbridge, where the former died
in June, 1836, the latter in December, 1842.
Mr. Marsh was a soldier of the Revolution-
ary war. Mrs. Freeman was Ixjrn .\pril 2,
178:, and died on the old hoiuestead in Stur-
bridge, March 19, 1839. The father of our

subject died at the himie of a daughter in
Webster. Worcester county, Massachusetts,
October 10, 1855. In their family were the
following chiUlren : ( 1 ) Silas Marsh. Ijorn
.\ugust 7, 1803, married Maria Upham of
Sturbridge, and died at Millbury. Massachu-
setts, Xovember 4, 1880. His wife died at
the same place. Their children were .\ndre\v
Silas, Sarah M. and Mora B. (2) Pliny,
our subject, was next in order <if birth. (3)
Beulah, lx>rn in 1807, married \\'alter L.
Rosebrooks, a fanner of O.xford, Massa-
chusetts, and was killed by lightning July 5,
1835. Their two children, Walter F. and
Mary 11., are both deceased. (4) Delia, born
April 4. 1810. became the wife of J. S. W.
l\lav. fo Holland. Massachusetts, and ihey
ha\-e had three children. Laura, Pliny and
Comfort. (5) I'lcirilla, born May 26, 1812,
was married in 1833 tt) Bradford Bayliss. of
Southbridge, Massachusetts, and died at
Bristol, PennsyKania, Xovember 22, 1876.
(6) Augusta, lx)rn December 25, 1815, was
married in 1841 tn H. .\. F'errin, nf Massa-
chusetts, and died January 14, 1873. Their
children were .\mbrose D., Charles H. and
Myra. (7) Dwight, born in Worcester
county, Massachusetts. January 15, 18 19,
is the only mem1)er of the family now living,
his home being in Geneseo, Illinois. In 1852
he married Mrs. Sarah Lincoln Xegus, who
died in (Jeneseo. Their children were Isa-
dora, wife of Joseph .\. McLaughlin, of (ien-
eseo; Arabella, wife of Robert T. Smith, of
Lincoln, Xebraska ; Florence L., wife of R.
W. Wing, of Oakland California; and Fran-
ces L., deceased wife of William B. Hunter.
Reared on his father's farm, Mr. Free-
man of this review was given the advantages
of the common schools of his day, which
can hardly be compared to the educational
institutions which are now the pride and

«l62

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

boast of New England. He was early in-
ured to hard work, and during his youth
learned the carpenter's trade, completing his
apprenticeship with Loren Merrick. Believ-
ing that the West furnished better opportu-
nity for avancement than the older states of
the east, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, at the
age of twenty-three, having friends residing
in that city. There he found employment
at his chosen occupation, but not long after
locating there he was seriously injured in the
left knee, and was confined to his bed for
. some months. He then resumed work where
he had left off, and for forty j-ears was iden-
tified with the carpenter's trade in Cleveland,
h.is specialty being inside finish. In the
meantime he saved some capital which he in-
vested in a small piece of land near the city,
selling it afterward to an advantage.

During this period Dwight had settled
in Geneseo, and Air. Freeman paid him a vis-
it in 1853, ^^ which time he bought property
near the village with the intention of making
it his future home, but it was not until the
fall of 1869 that he located here. He at once
identified himself with the local interests and
assisted materially in building up the city.
Among the permanent improvements that
he made was a business block and hall which
bears his name.

On the 8th of September, 1835, in Cleve-
land, Ohio, was celebrated the marriage of
Mr. Freeman and Miss Marcia A. Prichard,
v.ho was born in W^aterbury, New Haven
county, Connecticut, April 11, 1816, a
daughter of Gaines and Mary (Bronson)
Prichard. In 1820 her family removed from
tliat state to Ohio, the journey being made
with an ox team and occupying six weeks.
The mother died in August, 1821, and a
month later the father also passed away at
the age of twentv-seven vears. Her ances-

try, however, were noted for longevity, and
during her infancy she had six grandmothers
living. 'Her grandmother Prichard was
ninety-six years of age at the time of her
death, while her maternal great-grandmother
lacked only a few weeks of being one hun-
dred when she passed away. At the age of
ninety the latter was as \'igorous as a per-
son thirty years younger. She had her sec-
ond sight and could read and sew without
glasses. The male representatives of both
families were principally farmers, though
two of Airs. Freemen's cousins were Episco-
pal clergvmen, and one a ph3'sician. Her
maternal grandfather. Gates Bronson, was
born during the Revolutionary war and was
named for the celebrated General Gates. His
father, Alichael Bronson, served as a lieu-
tenant in the Continental army and also did
the duty of an adjutant. He never applied
for a pension, but after his death his wife re-
ceived about two hundred dollars annually
from the government.

On coming west it was the intention of
Mr. Freeman to lay aside business cares and
live a retired life, but he was much too ener-
getic a man to enjoy such a life, and became
actively identified with different enterprises.
He took considerable interest in fruit cult-
ure. Although he was intensely a public-
spirited man and an advocate of all that tends
to advance and impro\e the community in
which he lived, he did not care for public
office. He died in Geneseo on Friday, No-
vember 2, 1894. at the age of eighty-eight
years, six months and eighteen days. He
was a man of strict integrity, good business
ability and great energ}% and commanded
the respect and confidence of all with whom
he came in contact, either in business or so-
cial life. He was an active and prominent
member of the Protestant Episcopal Church

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163

and a constant attendant upon its services.
His widow is also a commi-nicant of that
church, and takes an active part in its work.
She is a woman of many excellent traits of
character which have endeared her to the
entire community, and she is held in high re-
gard by a large circle of friends and ac-
quaintances.

FRANK W. l)Uim.\XX.

This well-known farmer, residing on sec-
tion 28, Colona township, Henry county, is
a native of Illinois, his birth having occiu'red
in Rock Island county Octnljer Ji. 1847.
His father. Joseph Durmann. was born in
Bavaria, Germany, December 15, 1813, and
when a young man emigrated to .\nierica.
In April, 1845, he was married in Daven-
port, Iowa, to Miss Amanda Killing, also a
native of Germany, though she was reared in
Davenport. Mr. Durmann followed the
cooper's trade in Rock Island fnr smne years,
and then located i>n a farm in Rock Island
county, to the cultixatinn nf which he de-
voted his time and attention until 1867,
when he removed to Colona township. Henry
county, and purchased three hundred and
twenty acres of land, making it his home un-
til his death, which occurred in March, 1805.
Irj his family were five chikhxn. four sons
and one daughter, of whom uur subiect is
the eldest. Jo.seph, John and William are
all substantial farmers of Colona townshi]);
and JNIary is the wife of Patrick McKee, a
farmer of Rock Island counlv .

F. W. Durmann was a young man of
about eighteen years when he came to Henry
county with his father, and in the improve-
ment and cultivation of the home farm he
•bore an active part. On Thanksgiving day,

November 24, 1870, be was married in Rock
Island county to Miss Josephine Davis, who
was born in the city of Rock Island on the
same street where our subject's birth oc-
curred. Her father was John C. Davis, a
native of New York, and a son of Garry.
Davis, who was one of the pioneers of Rock
Island county, and built and conducted the
first hotel at Milan, then Camden Mills.
There her father grew to manhood and mar-
ried Jane Renfrow, who was born in Illinois,
her father, Absolam Renfrow, being also an
early settler of Rock Island county, and the
first cabinet maker and undertaker of Rock
Island.

Mr. and ^Irs. Durm.inn began their do-
mestic life on a farm where they now re-
side, and consisting of eighty acres of well-
improved land. He has built a neat and com-
fortable residence, and is successfully en-
gaged in general farming and stock raising.
The marriage of our subject and wife has
been blessed with five sons, namely : Burd
C, Louis A., Ray, John D. and Harry W.
In politics Mr. Durmann is a Jefferson-
ian Democrat, and at national elections al-
ways supports that party, though he usually
votes independent of party lines in local af-
fairs where no issue is involved. He served
two terms as township collector, and was a
member of the school board some years,
but has never sought ]X)litical honors, pre-
ferring to devote his undivided attention to
bis business interests. b'raternallv he is
connected with the Home I'orum. and relig-
iously both he and his wife are earnest and
consistent members of the Baptist Church.
They have witnessed almost the entire
growth and development of this section of
the state, and are justly deserving of promi-
nent mention among its honored pioneers
and worthy citizens.

164

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

SWEDISH EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

At an early day a large Swedi.'^li culuny
was founded at Andover, and it soon be-
came necessary' to found a church at that
place. Accordingly the Swedish Evangeli-
cal Church was organized on the i8th of
March, 1850. with ten communicants. The
first of the Swedish colony to locate in An-
dover was Swan Xelson, who took up his
residence here in 1840, but in 1847 ^^e find
that only a few families had settled here.
When John A. Larson arrived in 1848 land
could still be purchased at the government
price of one d(illar and a quarter per acre,
and ten acres was considered sufficient fur a
family. The village was laid out at that
time.

The Re\'. L. P. Esbgorn arrixed in An-
dover Octdber 24, 1849. being sent as a
missionary from Sweden. He was a well-
educated man. and the first winter spent here
he instructed the young people in algebra and
other studies. The church was organized by
him on the i8th of ^larch. 1850. with twenty
members, as previously stated, but five days
later the membership was increased to thirty-
five. He served as pastor until 1856, dur-
ing which time a small brick building was
erected acconling to- plans given by the
company in Xew York who located the col-
ony here and <gave to the diurch ten acres of
land. The church was built by donations,
Jenny Lind. the famous singer known as
the Swedish nightingale, giving the most
towards its erection. When Mr. Esbgorn
left the church had a membership of three
hundred, but being without a pastor for two
years the membership decreased. Acce])t-
ing a call from the church Rev. Jonas Swen-
son became resident pastor in the fall c»f
1858, and being a strong man the congre-

gation increased so rapidly that it was found
necessary to build a more commodious
church edifice in 1867. It is to-day the larg-
est Protestant church in Henry county, the
seating capacitv being twelve hundred. At
that time the memliership was over one
tliiiusand. but since railroads have been laid
out in all directions other churches have
sprung up at different places which ha\e
taken members from the parent church,
though the congregation at Andover still
numbers o\'er eight hundred.

In 1863 Rev. Esbgorn returned to Swe-
den, where he was given a large pastorate
over about eight thousand, and there he dietl
in 1870. Rev. James Swenson, who was
also a highly educated man, was pastor of
the church at Andover for fifteen years, and
died at this place on the 20th of December,
1873. The congregation here reared a mon-
ument to his memory, costing five hundred
dollars. On the 13th of October, 1875, Rev.
E. Carlson became pastor, and was in charge
here for twelve years. He was promoted and
given the degree of D. D. in 1892. and during
the vacancy from 1873 to 1875 the congre-
gation wVis given a supply. In 1887, Rev.
\". Setterdahl became pastor, and is yet serv-
ing the church in a most acceptable manner.

ANDREW PETER FRAGD.

Among Andover township's most intlu-
ential and prominent citizens is A. P. Fragd
who is now so efficiently serving as super-
visor of the township. He was born in Kal"
n^.erlan. Central Sweden, on the 22nd of
Sejitemljer, 1852, and was five years old
when he came to America with his parents,
John and Ann (Peterson) Fragd, also na-

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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A. P. FRAGD.

MRS. A. P. FRAGD.

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

169

lives of Sweden. The family took passage
on a sailing vessel at Liverpool, and after a
voyage of seven weeks' duration landed in
Kew York, whence they came direct to
Henry county, Illinois. locating in Andover
township, where the father followed farm-
ing throughout the remainder of his life.
In his native country he served tifteen years
in the standing army, serving up to the time
of his emigration to the Uniteil States, in
1857. He was an ardent Republican in pol-
itics and both he and his wife were earnest
and consistent members of the Lutheran
Church. The father died the latter part of
May, 1 89 1, and the mother ten weeks later.
They were among the honored pioneers and
highly respected citizens of Andover town-
ship. Their children were Caroline, now
deceased ; Sophia, wife of Captain Anderson"
of Iowa; Lottie: Augusta; Christine, de-
ceased ; Andrew P., and August, a resident
of Chicago.

Reared in Andover, our subject was edu-
cated in the schools of that village, and since
starting out in life for himself has success-
fully engaged in farming and stock raising
in Andover township. In 1875 he was
united in marriage with Miss Emma Ander-
son, also a native of Sweden, and a daugh-
ter of John Anderson, who lives at Osco.
By this union were born eight children,
namely: Sherman, who died October 8,
1900; Anna, Esther, Elmer, Walter and Eda,
all at home; and Mary and b'sly, Ivith de-
ceascid. The wife and mother ilied in .\n-
dover in 1896, and two years later Mr.
Fragd wedded ^Irs. Mary Davis, a native
of Pennsylvania, and widow of William
Davis, who was an early settler and large
land owner of Andover township, where he
made his home until his death, August 17,
1894. Mrs. Fragd was born in Kiskimini-

tus, Armstrong county. Pennsylvania, De-
cember 18, 1836, and is a daughter of
George W. and Rachel (Starry) Dun-
Uiire. Her father was a son of Sojunion
Dunmire, a native of Germany, while
lier mother was a native of .\rmstrnng
county, I'ennsylvania. but of German an-
cestry. In 1850 her lather came to Henry
county, Illinois, and located in Wiestern
township, where he purchased unimproved
land and opened up a farm, which was his-
home until his removal to Butler county,
Kansas, in 1875, where his death occurred
some seven years ago. His wife died in
Pennsylvania when Mrs. Fragd was an in-
fant. The latter accompanied her father to
Henry county and remained with him until
her marriage tt) \\ illiam Davis, in March,
iS6j. Pier education was principally ob-
tained in the schools of her native state, but
she attended the schools of Western town-
ship for a time after the removal of the
family. William Davis was born in Ireland,
and when less than eighteen years old came
to the United States and direct to .Vndover
township, Henry county, where he first
worked as a farm hand. Later he purchased
land, and at the time of his death, August
14, 1894, he was a well-to-do man. He was
a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

As a Republican I\Ir. Fragd has ever
taken a very active and prominent part in
local politics, and has been honored with
several official positions of responsibility ami
trust. For the long period of twenty years
he has been a public official of Andover
township. He v»as commissioner of high-
ways fourteen years, during which time
many iron bridges were constructed in his
township, and the first road graders owned
by the township were purchased. He wa.s

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

assessor some seven or eight years, and
since 1897 has held the office of supervisor
to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.
He takes a commendable interest in county,
state and national politics, and gives his
support to all measures which he believes
will prove of public benefit. As a member
of the township central committee of his
party he has rendered considerable service.
Socially he is an honored member of the
Odd Fellows Lodge of Cambridge, and re-
ligiously holds membership in the Lutheran
Church of Andover.

REV. \'ICTOR SETTERDAHL.

For thirteen years Rev. \"ictor Setter-
dahl has been pastor of the Evangelical Lu-
theran Church at Andover, during which
time he has ministered faithfully to the spir-
itual needs of his people and given powerful
and effective aid to all influences which work
for the advancement of the community.
He was born in Ostergoetland, Sweden,
January 20, 1844, a son of M. Anderson and
his wife Catherine Larson, who lived and
died in that country. Our subject took his
name from his old home in Sweden, where
he was reared and educated.

In 1864 Mr. Setterdahl came to the
United States, and the following year en-
tered Augustana College at Paxton, Illinois,
■where he took the seminary course and was
graduated in 1873. From June of that year
until June, 1874, he was pastor of a church
ai Rock Island. He then took charge of
the church at Orion, Henry county, becom-
ing its first pastor, and built up the congre-
gation until it numbered three hundred and
forty-five communicants. Prior to coming

to Andover he was connected with the
churches at Lockport and Joliet, Illinois, as
pastor, for three years, and before the estab-
lishment of the churches did mission work
in those cities. In 1887 he accepted a call
from the church at Andover, and has since
remained at this place. The church here has
had a remarkable career, and from it seven
churches have branched off — Swedonia,
Xew A\"indsor, \\'oodhull, Orion, Cam-
bridge, Oppheim and Cable. Its elegant
house of worship here was erected at a cost
of thirty-five thousand dollars. It was sup-
plied with a pipe organ in 1874, at a cost
four thousand dollars. In 1875 the par-
sonage was built. This is the oldest church
in Augustana Sjniod, and one of the largest
countr}- churches in the countr}^ A summer
school of two months is held here each year.
There are ten acres of land attached to both
church and parsonage.

On the 5th of May, 1874, in Mercer
county, Illinois, ^Ir. Setterdahl married Miss
Albertina Larson, who was born in that
county in 1853, and after her graduation at
the high school in Galesburg she success-
fully engaged in teaching in her native coun-
ty for a time. Her parents were Gustaf and
Catharine Larson. Her father was born in
Sweden, and became a resident of Mercer
county, Illinois, in 1850. He died in 1870,
and his wife passed away in 1893. Mr. and
Mrs. Setterdahl have five children. \'ictor
E., now engaged as a bookkeeper in Chicago,
is a graduate of Augustana College. He was
married February 2, 1898, to Miss Edith
Hanaway, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, but
of Scotch descent. Etta, also a graduate of
Augustana College, was for a time a stu-
dent of music of the Conservatory of Music
of Rock Island, Illinois. She is now a teach-
er in the village school in Andover, and is

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

171

■organist for the churcli. Fred, \'iolet and
Naomi complete the family.

For twenty-three year.s Mr. Setterdahl
l.as been connected with ministerial work in
Henry county, and his labors have been
crowned with success. RcNcred and loved
by his iiwn congregation, he has also won
the honor and esteem of all others who ha\e
.seen his devotion to his noble calling.

PETER WESTERLUXD.

One of the early settlers of Henry coun-
ty is Peter Westerlund, now retired from
business activities and quietly enjoying the
income which he accumulated in former
years. I'or many years he was successfully
engaged in farming in Western township.
V, here he still owns a valuable place of three
hundred and twenty acres within three miles
of Orion, but is now living a retired life in
that village.

Mr. Westerlund was born in Sweden,
August 21, 1839, and was eleven years of
age when, in 1850, he came with his father
to the new world and took up his residence
ill Henry county, .\fter living for two years
in Andover township the father bought one
hundred and sixty acres of go\-ernment land
in Lynn township, in the improvement and
cultivation of which our subject bore an act-
ive part until reaching man's estate. He be-
gan his education in his native land, and
Icter attended the schools of .\ndover and
Lynn townships for a time.

Leaving home in 1859, Mr. Westerlund
went to Pikes Peak with ox and mule teams,
and after prospecting in the mountains for
some time went to Denver September 4 of
the same year. The first house, where now

stands the city, was then being erected.
From there he proceeded south to Fort Albu-
querque, New Mexico, but not being pleased
with the country, he and his companions
sold their three wagons and oxen and float-
ed down the Rio Grande river to El Paso,
Mexico, passing numerous rapids and hav-
ing exciting adventures. Selling their skiffs
thev went with some freight trains to San
Antonio, and then started for Jefferson City
on foot, carrying with them their luggage,
;i distance of one thousand miles. On reach-
ing Quitman Mr. \\'esterlund secured work
ai getting out timber for the sawmills, and
was thus employed for two months. He
then went to Jefferson, Texas, where he spent
the summer at work in a brick yard, and in
the fall of i860 he and his associates started
north, arriving home in November of that
year.

The following spring Mr. ^^'ester!und,
with others, established a brick yard at
Woodhull, which they operated one season,
but he then sold his interest in the business
and took charge of the old home farm, which
he carried on until 1865. He then bought his
first property, consisting of eighty acres of
uild prairie land, to which he subsequently
added from time to time until he now has
three hundred and twenty acres of land all
in one body. This he has divided into two
farms, has erected thereon two sets of good
farm buildings, and has placed the land un-
der a high state of cultivation. These places
are now successfully operated by his sons,
v.hile he practically lives a retired life in
Orion, where he has made his home since
the spring of 1897, owning a good residence
in that place. He is now vice-president and
one of the stockholders of the State Bank
of Orion, having been elected to that office
on the reorganization of the bank. The

172

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bank was first started by our subject and his
sons, associated with two others, as a private
bank.

On the i/th of February, 1863, in Henry
county, Mr. W'esterlund was united in mar-
riage with Miss Eleanora HuUman, who was
also born in Sweden, and came to the United
States when a j'oung lady. The)' have be-
come the parents of five children, namely:
William, who is married and engaged in
business in Chicago: John A., a business man
of Alabama; ^lay, wife of Dr. Magnuson,
a dentist of Orion; Arndt L., on the old
homestead; and Perry E., also on the farm;
both are married.

^Ir. W'esterlund cast his first presidential
vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, being in
Texas in i860, and has since been an ardent
supporter of the Republican party and its
principles. Both he and his wife hold mem-
bership in the Lutheran Church of Orion,
and enjoy the hospitality of many of the best
homes of the village. His success in life
has been worthily achieved, and his career
demonstrates what may be accomplished
through energy, careful management, keen
foresight and the utilization of the powers
with which nature has endowed one, and
the opportunities with which the times sur-
round him.

DAVID CLIXTOX TOMLIXSOX.

Among the successful, energetic and pro-
gressive farmers of Henry county is D. Clin-
ton Tomlinson, who has been a resident of
the county since 1857, and now resides on
section 20, Osco township. His birth oc-
curred in Hollv, Oakland county, Michigan,
August 17, 1844, his parents being D. S. and
Hannah (W'inegar) Tomlinson, both na-

tives of Xew York, the former born in 1810,
the latter in 1807. After their marriage
they moved to Michigan about 1837. and
first located in Genesee county, but later set-
tled in Oakland county, where the father
owned and operated a farm. On disposing
of that place, in 1857, he came to Henry
count}', Illinois. ^Ir. Tomlinson purchased
one hundred acres of land in Osco township,
which he improved, and throughout life fol-
lowed general farming. He died on his farm
ir October, 1883, having survived his wife
twelve years, as her death occurred April
14. 1 87 1. By his ballot he always supported
the men and measures of the Republican
party, and took an active interest in edu-
cational affairs. His children were Jennie
H., now the widow of William Perkins and
a resident of Buffalo, X'ew York ; Catherine,
wife of George Thomas, a fanner of Shelby
county, ^Missouri; Ellen, deceased wife of
John Beers, a resident of Osco township,
this count}-; D. Clinton, our subject; and
William H.. who lives on the old homestead
on section 1 1 . Osco township.

ilr. Tomlinson, of this review, began his
education in the common schools of ilichi-
gan, and after coming to this county with
his parents, at the age of thirteen years, he
attended school for a time. He was reared
to agricultural pursuits, and while assisting
liis father in the work of the farm acquired
an excellent knowledge of its labors. At the
age of sixteen he began work for himself,
though he made his home with his parents
until his marriage, October i, 1871. Mrs.
Caroline D. (Harper) Geer becoming his
wife. By her first marriage she had three
children, namely: (i) Pearl G. is the wife
of William McXeill, who is running a cream-
ery in Prophetstown, Illinois, and they have
four children, June, Leola, Arneda and A'a-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

173

da. (2) Jessie is the wife of Charles Pur-
viance, proprietor of a laundry and bottling
works at \\ yoming. Illinois, and they have
five children. Leroy, Edith, Grace. Carol and
Charles. (3) Grace is the wife of George
Reese, a farmer and stock raiser of Proph-
etstown. and they have two children, Ralph
and Avis. The children born to Mr. and
Mrs. Tomlinson are as follows : ( i ) Albert
C who is engaged in fanning on his father's
land in Cambridge townsliip, married Sarah
Neville, and they have two children. Gwen-
dolin and Duane C. (2) ilabel is the wife
of Charles Arnett. a fanner of Penora. Guth-
rie county. Iowa. (3) Duane S. married
Esther C. Fragd and lives at home. Mrs.
Tomlinson was born in Xew York, April
13, 1839, and died on the home place in
Osco township, this county. Xovember 6.
1899. On leaving her native state she went
to Wisconsin, and after spending one year
there came to Illinois in 1857. living for a
time in Whiteside county, and later in Gen-
eseo. this county. She was of a willing dis-
position, and to her our subject attributes
much of his success in life, for she aided him
much hy her encouragement and supix)rt.
Pleasant anil agreeable in manner, she made
many friends, and was higlily respected and
esteemed by all who knew her.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Tom-
linson located on the farm where he now
resides, his wife there owning one hundred
and sixty acres on section 20, Osco township.
He has made many improvements upon the
place, and has added to his landed posses-
sions, having two hundred and forty acres
of rich and arable land on sections 13 and 24,
Cambridge township. He has always fol-
lowed general farming and stock raising,
making a specialty of hogs, and in his busi-
ness undertakings has steadily prospered un-

til he is now one of the most substantial men
of his community.

As a Republican Mr. Tomlinson has been
quite prominently identified with political
affairs, and is a recognized leader of the party
in his community. For nine consecutive
years he served as supervisor of his town-
ship, and later filled the same otifice for
four years, always serving the people to
the best of his ability. While he held
that office the court house was in course
of construction. He was also officially
connected with the schools of his town-
ship for a number of years, and has al-
ways given his support to church work.
Over his life record there falls no shadow of
wrong; his public service was most e.xem-
plary; and his private life has been marked
l)v the utmost fidelitv to dutv.

ANDREW P. JOHNSON.

Andrew P. Johnson is a successful con-
tractor and builder of Orion, of whose skill
many notable examples are to be seen
throughout Henry and Rock Island coun-
ties. Thoroughly reliable in all things, the
quality of his work is a convincing test of
his own personal worth and the same ad-
mirable trait is shown in his conscientious
discharge of the duties of different positions
of trust and responsibility to which he has
been chosen in business and i)olitical life.

Mr. Johnson was born on the 30th of
August, 1843. '" Sweden, where he grew
to manhood and learned the carpenter's
and joiner's trade, which he followed in
that country for some jears. In 1869 he
emigrated to America, his destination being
Henry county, Illinois, some friends of his

174

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from Sweden having previously located in
Western township. For about nine years
he engaged in farming upon rented land,
and then turned his attention to his trade,
being engaged in contracting and building
for the past twenty years. He has erected
many of the business houses, residences,
barns and other buildings in this section of
the state. In 1895 he also opened a lumber
yard, which he has since successfully con-
ducted, carrying a good supply of lumber and
all kinds of building material, as well as
coal, tile, etc., and he has already built up
an excellent trade.

On the 7th of June, 1873, was celebrated
the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Au-
gusta Magdalina Lunguin, who was also
born and reared in Sweden. They have a
family of three children : Louise, now the
wife of B. S. ^lillett, of Jewell Junction,
Iowa; Marie, at home; and Arthur C, who
assists his father in business.

In his political affiliations Mr. Johnson
is a stanch Republican, and cast his first
presidential ballot for Rutherford B. Hayes,
but has never taken a very active part in
political affairs, though he is now most
capably serving as a member of the town
board. He and his wife are members of the
Swedish Lutheran Church, and are held in
high regard by all who know them. He
was elected a member of the village board
April, 1900, since which time the electric
light has been installed.

REGINALD HEBER HIXMAX.

For many years this gentleman was
prominently identified with the agricult-
ural interests of this countv, but is now liv-

ing a retired life in Cambridge, where he-
is surrounded by all the comforts of life,
which were secured by former years of toil.
He was born in the town of Bristol, Hart-
ford county, Connecticut, February 4, 1828,
and comes of good old colonial stock. His
parents, ^^'illis and Olive (Atwater) Hin-
man, were also natives of the Xutmeg state,
as were also his grandparents. His ma-
ternal grandfather, Isaac Atwater. fought
for American independence as a private in
the Continental army during the Revolution-
ary war. The paternal grandfather. Phile-
mon Hinman, spent his entire life as a house
carpenter in Connecticut.

Willis Hinman, our subject's father, also
learned the carpenter's trade and clock mak-
ing in Connecticut, from which state he re-
m.oved to Miami county, Ohio. With the
view of locating farther west, he came to
Henry coimty, Illinois, in December, 1850.
and being pleased with this region, he re-
turned for his family, who took up their
residence in Osco township the following
IMay. Most of the county at that time was
government land, and deer, prairie chickens
and other wild game was plentiful. Willis
Hinman engaged in farming in Osco town-
ship until 1858, when he removed to Gen-
eseo, and later to Cambridge. He was borrr
July 8, 1798, and died September 18. 1888,
while his wife was born February 8, 1799^
and died April 21, 1889. Both were mem-
bers of the Episcopal Church, and were high-
ly respected and esteemed by all who knew
them. Of their seven children three reached
years of maturity, namely: Clarissa, wha
married Xelson Gaines, of Geneseo. and died
in 1877, at the age of fifty-six years; Reg-
inald H., our subject; and William, who
was bom in 1833, and died in 1892. He
served as sergeant in the One Hundred and

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

175

Twelftli Illinois \'olunteer Infantry during
the Civil war, and married Elizabeth
Townsend, now a resident of Cambridge.

In the town of his nativity Reginald H.
Hinman sfjent the first j'ears of his life and
then accompanied his parents on their re-
moval to Miami county, Ohio. He attend-
ed school in Troy, that state, and when
his education was completed learned the
carpenter's trade with his father. At the
age of nineteen he turned his attention to
farming, and to that pursuit he devoted the
greater part of his active business life.
Coming to Henry county, Illinois, in Jan-
uary, 1 85 1, he has since resided here, and
was actively engaged in farming in Osco
township for many years, raising princi-
pally com, oats and stock, but is now rest-
ing from his labors at his comfortable home
in Cambridge, though he still owns a
quarter-section of land in Osco township,
which was entered from the government
by his father in 185 1, and also has one
hundred acres in Cambridge township.

Mr. Hinman was married, October 8,
1852, to Miss Elizabeth Miller, of Miami
county, Ohio, a daughter of Christley and
Hannah (Wright) IMiller, of Troy, that
state. 13y this union were born three chil-
dren, namely : ( i ) William Elliott, who car-
ries on a fruit ranch and is also engaged
in the feed and grain business at Pamona,
California, married Xora Xolind, and has
three children, Frances E., Susan and Harry
H. (2) Frank M., a resident of Allentown,
Pennsylvania, married Lilly ^Miller and has
three children, May, Ralph and Ethel. (3)
Jennie M. died in March, 1877, at the age
of twenty-three years, and the mother of
these children passed away September 20,
1867, at the age of thirty-three. Both
mother and daughter were active and con-

sistent members of the Episcopal Church.
On the 8th of October, 1868, Mr. Hin-
man was united in marriage with Mrs. Susan
Corl, who was born in Germantown, Bucks
county, Pennsylvania, j\Iay 2, 1832, a daugh-
ter of Thomas and Anna (Fraley) Combs,
natives of the same place. Her father, who
was a farmer by occupation, came to Illi-
nois in 1852, and died here in 1859, at the
age of fifty years, while his wife died in the
spring of 1852, at the age of forty-eight.
Both were earnest members of the Society
of Friends and most estimable people. Be-
sides Mrs. Hinman they had another daugh-
ter, Leah, now the widow of Reese Xolind
and a resident of Iowa. For her first hus-
band ilrs. Hinman married Henry Corl,
with whom she came to the Prairie state
in 1850, locating first in Bureau country,
but in 1857 removing to Cambridge, this
county. In September, 1862, ^Ir. Corl en-
listed in Company D, One Hundred and
Twelfth Illinois X'olunteer Infantry, of
which company our subject's brother was
also a member. Mr. Corl served as a non-
commissioned otVicer, and was instantly
killed during the siege of Knoxville, Xo-
vember 18, at the age of thirty-eight years.
In religious belief he was a ^lethodist.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Hinman hold mem-
bership in the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and before coming to Cambridge he served
as warden in the church at Osco. He is
a prominent member of Cambridge Lodge,
Xo. 49, F. & A. M., which is one of the
oldest lodges in the state, and in which he has
filled all the offices. He is also secretary of
the Old Settlers Association. The Demo-
ocratic i)arty has always found in Mr. Hin-
man a stanch supporter of its principles, and
he has been honored with several important
official positions, having served as supervisor

176

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

nianj- years and as cliainnan of the county
board. He also filled the positions of town-
shij} collector and justice of the peace for
some time. For the long period of tvven-
t}'-two consecutive years he has been secre-
tary of the Henry County Agricultural So-
ciety, and has always taken a deep interest
in its affairs and has done much to insure its
success. Public-spirited and progressive to
an eminent degree, he has ever been num-
bered among the most valued and useful
citizens of his community — one willing to
give his support to any enterprise for the
public good.

CHAUNCEY E. WASHBURX.

In the pioneer epoch in the history of
this section of Illinois Chauncey E. Wash-
burn came to Henry county, and has been
an important factor in its substantial de-
velopment and permanent improvement. He
has seen its wild lands transformed into fine
farms, while industrial and commercial in-
terests have been introduced. In the work
of progress he has borije his part and has
been particularly active as a representative
of the agricultui'al interests of the commu-
nity. He is to-day the owner of three hun-
dred and twenty acres of land on section _',
\\'estern township, where he makes his
home.

J\Ir. Washburn was born in Springfield,
Massachusetts, May 17. 1834, and on the
i6th of May, 1837. was brought to this
county by his parents, .\bisha and Isabella
(Clapp) Washburn. The former was a na-
tive of \'ermont. the latter of Connecticut,
^nd their marriage was celebrated in Spring-
field. Massachusetts, where the father
•worked as a mechanic in the armorv until

coming west. The journey was made by
way of the Connecticut river, Long Island
sound, the Erie canal, and the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers to Hampton, Illinois. His
destination was Henry county, which his
brother. Nathan Washburn, had helped to
survey the year previous. He purchased
eighty acres of land in what is now Colona
township, but the first season spent here he
engaged in farming upon rented land, while
the family lived in a little old outbuilding
about ten feet square through the summer.
Jn the meantime a good log house was
built upon the land, and he began to break
and improve his place, adding to it another
eighty-acre tract. Later he purchased more
land and erected a good set of frame build-
ings, making it his home until his death,
August 31. 1873. He was the first super-
visor of Colona township, and was active
in establishing its schools. In politics he
was always a Democrat.

Amid pioneer scenes in this county
Chauncey E. Wasiiburn grew to manhood
His first lessons were taught by his mother,
and for a time he attended the district
schools; but he is mostly self-educated, as
the countr\' afforded but limited educational
privileges during his boyhood. He assisted
his father in the arduous task of breaking
the land and converting the wild tract into
<i highly cultivated farm. After reaching
manhood his father gave him one hundred
and sixty acres of land in \\'estern town-
ship, only about twenty-five acres of which
had been broken. A year or two later he
sold that place and bought one hundred and
sixty acres where he now resides, of which
one hundred acres had previously been
broken and a small house erected thereon.
To its further improvement and cultivation
lie has since devoted his energies, and has

C. E. WASHBURN.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

179

added to it an adjoining quarter-section.
making a good farm of three iiundred and
twenty acres and also two hundred and ten
acres in Colona township. When a young
man he engaged in breaking prairie two
seasons with a team of five yoke of cattle,
breaking as high as five acres in one day.
and has ever taken a \ery acti\e part in tiie
de\-elo])ment of tlie county.

^larch 28, 1858, in Cojona townsiiip.
Henry county, Mr. \\'ashl)urn was united
in marriage with Miss Emily Piatt, who
was born .\pril 5, 1833, near Covington,
Indiana, and came to Illinois in childhood
with her father. Joshua Piatt, locating south
of Cambridge, where lie opened up and im-
proved a farm. By this union were born
the following children: Ida, wife of Rob-
ert McLeese, a farmer of Western town-
ship; Lettie, wife of William Durmann, a
farmer of Colona township ; George, a sub-
stantial farmer of Western township; Otis,
a teacher of typewriting and shorthand in
Chicago; Edward, a farmer of Colona town-
ship; Jane and Emma, lx)th at home. The
wife and mother, who was an earnest and
consistent member of the United Brethren
Church, passed away .\pril jo, 1893, leaving
many friends as well as her immediate
family to mourn her loss.

In his political views Mr. Washburn is
a Jacksonian Democrat, and cast his first
presidential vote for James Buchanan in
1856, though he supjiorted Cieneral (}rant
in 1872. He has for the long period of
twenty years efficiently served as school di-
rector, having done much in build new
school houses. For over sixty-three years
he has now been identified with the interests
of Henry county, and has witnessed almost
its entire growth and development. He has
seen great prairie fires sweep over the coun-

try, where now are waving fields of grain.
W'hen he first located here, deer, turkey and
other wild game was found in abundance,
and furnished many a meal for the early set-
tlers. Swamps have been drained and con-
verted into highly cultivated fields ; rail-
roads, telegraphs and telephones have been
introduced ; and now all of the conveniences
and comforts of an advanced civilization
can here be found. Mr. Washburn can re-
late many interesting incidents of pioneer
days, and wrote a very able article on front-
ier life which was published in the papers
of the county and was read with interest by
all the old settlers. With his two sons, be
introduced between their homes the first
telephones in his section, getting at first
much ridicule from his neighbors. As others
saw the convenience, more 'phones were add-
ed, the lines exten,ding to Orion, and now
hardly a land owner in the western part of
the countv is witlii>ut one.

JOHN O. AXDERSOX.

Among Orion's most honored and highly
esteemed citizens is this retired farmer, who
for almost half a century has been identified
with the interests of- Henry county. His
early home was on the other side of the At-
lantic, for be was burn in Jonkopingland,
X'estra liared. Sweden, March 25, 1830,
and was there reared upon a farm. It was
ir. 1854 that he emigrated to the new world,
taking passage on a sailing vessel at Gutten-
Ijerg, and arriving in New York after a
rather pleasant voyage of six weeks. He
landed and at once proceeded west by train
to Buffalo, the lakes to Chicago, and train
to (jeneseo. where he joined his brother

i8o

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Malcolm Anderson, who had located here
ill May, 1854.

Renting land in Andover township, 'Sir.
Anderson engaged in farming there for five
3'ears, and being unfamiliar with the methods
and customs of America, had many new
experiences during those years. Being
economical, industrious and ambitious, he
saved some money and in 1861 purchased
eighty acres of raw prairie land in Lynn
township, which he commenced at once to
fence, break and improve. His first home
was a good frame residence, though rather
small, but it has since been replaced by a
more commodious and pretentious dwelling.
Good barns and outbuildings have also been
erected, and the place converted into a
highly improved farm. Mr. Anderson added
to the original tract from time to time, and
now has a valuable farm of four hundred
acres. He continued its operation until
1895, W'hen he retired from active labor and
has since lived in Orion, where he has built
a fine residence.

In Andover township, ]\Ir. Anderson was
married August 4, 1854, to Miss Sophia
Youngquist, who was also born and reared
ill Sweden, and came to the L'nited States
on the same vessel as her future husband.
Six children bless this union, namely : John,
who is married and follows farming in
Webster county, Iowa; Charlotte, wife of
Peter Samuelson, a farmer of Western town-
ship, this county; Carl A., who is married
and lives in Orion ; Albert, who married and
died August i, 1896; Amanda, who is now
her father's housekeeper; and Cordelia, wife
of Edwin Linquist, w-ho operates Mr.
Anderson's farm in Lynn township. The
\vife and mother died May 20, 1898, and was
laid to rest in Orion cemetery. Mr. Ander-
son has several times visited his son in

\\'ebster cduiUv, Iowa, si)en(liiig two weeks
with him in September, 1900. He and his
daughter. Miss Amanda, are members of
the Swedish Lutheran Church of Orion.
He was first a member of the Swedish Lu-
theran Church in Andover, and there served
as deacon for six years. He was one of the
church officials when the large church build-
ing was erected. He is identified with the
Republican party, which he has always sup-
ported since casting his first presidential
vote for Abraham Lincoln in i860. Empty-
handed he came to America in search of
home and fortune, and his ambitious dreams
have been realized, for he has acquired a
comfortable competence and handsome prop-
erty, which now enables him, in his declin-
ing years to lay aside all business cares and
enjoy a well earned rest, surrounded by a
host of warm friends and acquaintances.

THOMAS H. JOHNSTON.

Among the prominent and influential
citizens of Cambridge, Illinois, is Thomas
H. Johnston, who is now efficiently serving
as county treasurer. He is a native of
Henry county, born December 25, 1865, and
is a son of John and Lucy M. (Selon) Johns-
ton, the former a native of County London-
derry, Ireland, the latter of Stark county,
Illinois. In 1854 the father came from
Connecticut to this state and took up his
residence in Henry county, where he fol-
lowed the occupation of farming through-
out the remainder of his life. He was ac-
tively interested in educational affairs and
served as school director for many years,
but aside from this he never took any part
in public affairs. Religiously he was in

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

early life a Scotch Presbyterian. He died
May 5. 1889, at the age of si.xty-three years,
but iiis wife is still living at the age of fifty-
si.x, and now makes her honie in Galva.
Thomas H. is the oldest of their six chil-
dren, the others being Edward I., assistant
cashier in the First National Bank of Ke-
wanee, Illinois; Phoebe J., who was formerly
a teacher of this county, but is now at home
with her mother; William J., who is en-
gaged in the restaurant business in Ke-
wanee; Robert E., manager of the E. W.
Houghton Lumber Company branch at Al-
tona, Illinois; and George E., bookkeeper
for the same firm at Galva.

Thomas H. Johnston remained upon the
home farm until twenty-six years of age,
and his primary education was obtained in
the public schools of the locality. Later he
attended the Galva high school and the
Davenport Business College, graduating
from the latter institution with the class of
1887. On leaving the farm in 1892 he ac-
cepted the position of traveling salesman,
and was with two different firms before he
became connected with the banking establish-
ment of L. M. Yocum & Company, at Galva.
He remained with the bank until his elec-
tion to his present office.

On the 31st of October, 1895, Mr. Johns-
ton was united in marriage with Miss Susie
E. Calhoun, a daughter of Andrew Calhoun,
of Henry county, and to them have been
born two children : ^lary Janet and Will-
iam C. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Johnston
are both members of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church. Politically he is a stanch Re-
publican, and on his party ticket was elected
treasurer of Henry county in 1898 by a ma-
jority of twelve hundred and eighty. His
fellow citizens speak in unqualified terms of
his abilitv for that office, the duties of which

he is now so capably and satisfactorily per-
forming. His genial, pleasant manner makes
him quite popular, and he has a host of warni
friends throughout his native county.

JOHN SAMUELSOX.

Since 1852 John Saniuelson has been a
resident of Henry county, and was for many
years successfully engaged in farming and
stock raising in Western township, two and
a half miles from Orion, where he still owns
a fine farm of three hundred and twenty
acres, but is now living a retired life in
Orion. Although of foreign birth his duties
of citizenship have ever been performed
with a loyalty equal, to that of any native
son of America, and when the country be-
came involved in Civil war he went to the
defense of the Union and protected its in-
terests on many a southern battle field.

Mr. Saniuelson was torn in Askerland,
Sweden, November 25, 1835, and with his
parents, Samuel and Anna (Nelson) John-
son, crossed the briny deep to the new world
in 1 85 1. After spending one season in
Buffalo, New York, the family came to this
county, in the spring of 1852, and the fa-
ther, Samuel Johnson, took up land in what
is Western township, where he improved
a good farm of eighty acres, making his
home thereon until his death in 1865.

Being a young man of seventeen years
upon his arrival in Henry county John Sani-
uelson was of much assistance to his fa-
ther in developing the farm, and remained
with him until the latter's death. In i86i
he enlisted in Company C, Forty-third Illi-
nois \'olunteer Infantry, which became a
part of the Western army. The first im-

l82

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

portant battle in whicli he participated was
that of Shiloh, which was followed by nu-
merous battles and skirmishes. He took
part in the siege of Vicksburg and the cap-
ture of that strongly fortified place, and
later went to Little Rock, Arkansas. He
was also in the engagement at Jenkins Ferry.
He entered the service as a private, but was
promoted to corporal and later to sergeant.
Losing no time from illness or other causes
when his term of enlistment had expired he
was honorably discharged in the fall of
1864 and returned home.

For one season Air. Samuelson worked
on the old home farm, and then commenced
farming on his own account, having previ-
ously purchased forty acres of land. He
and three brothers bought one hundred and
sixty acres of land, which they improved and
operated together for a few j-ears, but finally
divided the land, each taking forty acres.
Subsequently our subject purchased two
hundred and forty acres more and now
has an excellent farm of three hundred
and twenty acres, upon which he has
made many substantial impro\ements, in-
cluding the erection of good buildings,
and the planting of fruit and ornamental
trees. He continued to actively engage in
the cultivation of his land and in stock rais-
ing until i8g8, when he removed to Orion
and laid aside all business cares to spend his
remaining years in ease and quiet, owning
a good home in the village. He was early
identified with the Swedish Insurance Com-
pany and served as a trustee in the same.

In ilay, 1866, in Henry county, Mr.
Samuelson was united in marriage with
Aliss Mary Lawrence, who was born and
reared in Sweden, and they became the par-
ents of six children, four sons and two
<laughters, namelv : John W. and Arthur

H., who are engaged in farming on the old
homestead ; William, who is married and
follows farming in Andover township;
Guy, who is at home; and Alabel and Esther,
who are now attending school in Orion.
The wife and mother passed away March
17, 1893, and was laid to rest in Andover
cemetery.

Mr. Samuelson's political support has al-
ways been given the Republican party since
he cast his first presidential ballot for Abra-
ham Lincoln in i860, and has done all in
his power to insure its success. For nine
years he served his fellow citizens as school
trustee, discharging his duties with prompt-
ness and fidelity, and in days of peace as well
as in time of war has been found a true and
loyal citizen of his adopted country. Fra-
ternally he is an honored member of the
Grand Army Post at Orion, ilr. and Mrs.
Samuelson were members of the Swedish
Methodist Church of Andover.

XELS M. XELSOX.

Xels ]\I. Xelson, who for over half a
century has been an honored resident of
Henry county, and who is now practically
living a retired life, was born in Sweden
on the 1st of January, 1829, and in that
country grew to manhood. In 1 849 he em-
igrated to America, and on landing on our
shores proceeded at once to Henry county,
Illinois. About i860 he sent for his father,
Xels Samuelson, his mother having died
when he was quite young. One sister, Chris-
tina, the widow of Charles A. Rosell, lives
in \\'oodhull, this count)-. His brother,
Peter, died at the home of our subject in
Henrv countv.

LIBRARY

UNIVIRSIlt Qi ILLINOIS

URBANA

NELS M. NELSON.

MRS. NELS M. NELSON.

LIB9ARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

L'RE.WA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

187

During the first year of his residence here
our subject worked as a farm hand for Jolm
Jennings for six dollars per month, and then
went to the northern part of the county
where he was in the employ of several farm-
ers at different times. In 1854 he was mar-
ried to Miss Anna Johnson, who was born
in Sweden July 22, 1837, and at the time of
their marriage was living in Andover town-
ship with her parents, both of whom are
now deceased. The others of her family
were Mailta, wife of August Swanson, of
W'oodhull, Illinois; John \'., a resident of
Linn township, this county ; and Jacob, who
makes his home in Nebraska.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nel-
son located on the farm on section 31, .Vn-
dover township, which is still occupied by
them. In partnership with another gentle-
man our subject purchased one hundred and
twenty acres of land which was still in its
primitive condition and at once began its im-
provement and cultivation. At first he car-
ried on general farming on a small scale, but
as time advanced he steadily prospered and
was able to add to his landed possessions
until he now owns two hundred and ten
acres, all acquired through industry, tlili-
gence and good management; When a boy
Mr. Nelson received only a common-school
education, but was early inured to hard
work, and is a self-educated as well as a self-
made man. Throughout his active business
career he always followed general farming
and stock raising, feeding both hogs and cat-
tle for market, and in both branches of his
business he was quite successful.

Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Nelson four died between the ages of four
and fifteen years. Those living are as fol-
lows : John A., who works at the carpen-
ter's trade and makes his home with his par-

ents; Louisa, wife of A. A. Nelson, a farm-
er of Lynn tov.nshi]j, by whom .she has
three children livinp^. Edwin, Delia and El-
mer, and one deceaseil ; Edward, wlm as-
sists in the operation of the home farm : Ida,
wife of Z. C. Johnson, who is engaged in
farming on a part of her father's place, and
by whom she has two children, Roy and
Mabel : Otto, also at home, who was mar-
ried in Minneapolis and has one son, Au-
gust L. ; and Gust Emil, who heips his
brothers carry on the home farm.

Mr. Nelson is one of the very early set-
tlers of Henry county remaining to tell to
the present generation the story of pioneer
life in this region. His political support is
always given the men and measures of the
Republican party, and he most efficiently
served his fellow citizens as county conmiis-
sioner for twelve years and as school direc-
tor for fifteen years. He has always been in
favor of maintaining good schools, and has
given a liberal support to all worthy enter-
prises that would refiect credit on the people
and the county in which he makes his home.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of
the Swedish Lutheran Church of Andover,
of which he is now one of the trustees, and
they take an acti\e part in promoting good
work. He had no special advantage in his
youth, and without the assistance of influen-
tial friends in his early business career, has
steadily advanced step by step until he now
occupies a creditable position as one of the
prominent and well-to-do men of his town-
ship.

RE\'. WILLIAM M. PURGE.

.\s the rector of Grace Episcopal Church
at Osco, Rev. William M. Puree has become
widely and favorably known throughout

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Henry count)^ where he has now made his
home for over four years. He was born in
Davis county, Iowa, on the ist of Novem-
ber, 1865, and is a son of John A. and De-
Jilah Jane (ColHns) Puree, natives of New
York and Ohio, respectively. The father,
wlio was a farmer by occupation, died at
Chariton, Iowa, May 24, 1886, but the
mother is still living and continues to make
her home at that place.

In the county of his nativity William M.
Puree spent his boyhood removing with his
parents to Chariton, Iowa, when but thirteen
years of age. He there attended the public
and high school, from which he was gradu-
ated in 1885. In September of that year he
became a student at Griswold College, Dav-
enport, Iowa, where he pursued the classical
■course for two years and received the degree
of B. S. in 1891. He was then engaged in
editorial work as cit}^ editor of the Daven-
port Tribune for four years, and for two
years took an active part in political affairs
as political editor of that paper. While en-
gaged in newspaper work he was reading
preparatory to entering the ministry of the
Episcopal Church. Mr. Puree took the e.x-
amination for the deaconship, and was or-
dained a deacon by Bishop Perry at Daven-
j)ort, September 23, 1892. He began pas-
toral work at Christ Church ^Mission, West
Davenport, in Xo^•ember, 1S93, where he
remained one year, and from November,
1894, until accepting his present charge at
•Osco, Henry county, Illinois, in Septem-
ber, 1896, was rector of St. George's Church
at Farley, Iowa. He was ordained a priest
on the 30th of December, 1895, by Bishop
Perry. As rector of Grace Episcopal
Church at Osco, he succeeded Rev. Mr.
Brown, who was only there for ten months,
Jiowever. The church at this place was built

in 1873, "i""^ J^ow has forty-five communi-
cants. Under the pastorate of our subject
it is in a flourishing condition.

Mr. Puree has always been an active
missionary worker. While at Farley, he
had charge of the mission work at Dyers-
ville and Bellevue, and also started a mission
at ilonticello, Iowa, which he continued
as long as he remained at Farley. On coming
to Osco, he took charge of the work at Cam-
bridge, Geneseo and Galva, at which places
he holds regular services. He is particularly
interested in the Galva mission, from the
fact that when he first commenced holding
services there the attendance was but from
five to ten. The services were first held in
a hall, but the}- now meet in their own church
building, have a good congregation, a lay
reader, Sunday school, and are well equipped
for effective work. He has charge of all
the work of his church in Henry county,
with the exception of the churches in Ke-
wanee and Woodhull.

ilr. Puree was married at Davenport,
June 28, 1892, to Miss Jessie J. Cook, a
daughter of William L. and Amanda AI.
(Fletcher) Cook. The father died in that
city in 1886, but the mother is still a resi-
dent of Davenport. Mr. and Mrs. Puree
have one child, Jessie Grace B.

Mr. Puree is quite an enthusiastic chick-
en raiser, and is also starting a rabbitry,
owning only pedigreed Belgian hares, but
the greater part of his time is devoted to
church work. He is a member of the board
of missions, and publishes at the rectory a
twelve-page paper called the Church News,
which is issued each month in the interest of
diocesan and parochial work. There is a
parochial school conducted in connection
with his church at Osco. Mr. Puree is thor-
oughlv familiar with conditions of both

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

189

church and state in Iowa and IlHnois^ and
still takes an interest in politics, supporting
and advocating the principles of the Re-
publican party. He is a man of thoughtful,
earnest purpose, of strong intellectual en-
dowments, of broad charity and kindly na-
ture, and by all denominations, as well as
his own people, is held in high regard.

THEODORE BOLTEXSTERX.

.Vniong the representative business m;n
of Cambridge is the subject of this review,
who is now at the head of the ice trade in
that city. He is a native of Henry county,
born in Lynn township, April 15, 1858, and
is a son of William and Mary (Anderson)
Boltenstern, natives of Germany and
Sweden, respectively. At an early day the
mother came to this country with her par-
ents and the father arrived here in 1852,
their marriage being celebrated in Lynn
township, where he purchased land and fol-
lowed farming for many years. He was a
recognized leader in the Republican party
in his locality, served as recruiting officer
during the war of the Rebellion, and filled
the office of highway commissioner for the
long period of thirty-six years. In 1893 he
moved to Cambridge, where his death oc-
curred the same year, but his widow is still
a resident of that place. They were among
the pioneers of the county, and were highly
respected and esteemed by all who knew
them. Their children were Theodore, of
this sketch; Morris A., who resides on the
old homestead in Lynn township; Edward
A., who died in that township in 1867;
Henry E. and Victor F., who are at home
Avilh their mother.

Theodore Boltenstern was reared on the
home farm and received his education in
the district schools of Lynn township. On
starting out in life for himself he com-
menceil farming in Andover township,
where, in 1887, he purchased a partially
improved farm of one hundred and seventy
acres, which he placed under a high state
of cultivation, and on disposing of that he
l)ought the well-known Davenport farm ad-
joining the city of Cambridge, on which he
lived for eight years, and which he still
owns. While carrying on farming he was
also largely engaged in the stock business.
In 1892 he became interested in the ice
business, and now has the exclusive trade
of Cambridge, to which city he moved in
1899. He is a wide-awake, energetic busi-
ness man of known reliability, and in his
undertakings has met with well-deserved
success.

In Andover township, Mr. Boltenstern
was married, in 1891, to Miss Ernestine
Longshore, a native of that township, and
a daughter of S. J. Longshore, one of the
pioneers of Cambridge, where he now re-
sides. By this union have been born two
children, namely: Nellie M., aged seven
years; and Wihiam S., aged four.

Mr. Boltenstern's father was one of the
founders of the Fair Association, and our
subject has been connected with it through-
out life. He has also served as secretary of
the Henry county agricultural board for
nine years, and is still filling that office. He
is one of the most enterprising and pro-
gressive citizens of Cambridge, and takes
an active and commendable interest in pub-
lic affairs. By his ballot he supports the
men and measures of the Republican party,
and for years has been secretary of the
countv central committee. While a resi-

I go

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dent of Andover township he served as jus-
tice of the peace for some time with credit
to himself and to the entire satisfaction of
his constituents.

LARS BEXSOX.

Tliis well-known retired farmer of Cam-
bridge, Illinois, is one of the worthy citizens
that Sweden has furnished to the new world.
He was born on the 13th oi August, 1826,
in Brearede Socken, near Halmstead, Swe-
den, in which country his parents, B. Alun-
son and Engarg Swanson, spent their entire
lives. The mother died at the age of forty
years when our subject \\as only seven years
old. She was twice married and by the first
union had one daughter, Charste. Lars is
the oldest of the four children born of the
second marriage, the others being Botelle, a
widow, who resides with her youngest
daughter in Chicago; and Andrew, a resi-
dent of Cambridge. The father dieil in
1890 at the extreme old age of ninety-six
years. He was (|uite an extensive and suc-
cessful farmer, was a devout and wortliy
Christian, a member of the Lutheran Church,
and was well and favorably known through-
out his communitv.

Lars Benson was educated in his nati\e
land, and when his school days were over
he left home at the age of fifteen years. In
1854 he took passage on a sailing vessel, and
after a stormy voyage of seven weeks antl
four days landed at Boston. The ship en-
countered a tornado, during which the iron
stored in the bottom of the vessel broke loose.
but no li\es were lost, though one person died
during the storm and two others during the
voyage. Mr. Benson spent about twenty-
four hours in Boston, and then proceeded to

Moline, Illinois. b\- way of Chicago. He
worked in a sawmill, blacksmith shop and
foundry at Aloline, and one _\-ear in a hotel
at Aledo, after which he came to Henry
county, arriving here March 14, 1S61. For
eleven 3-ears he was in the employ of Mrs.
Jennings, of Cambridge township, as mana-
ger of her large farm, having from four to
se\'en hands working under Him. His first
purchase of land consisted of one hunilred
and sixty acres on section 15, Cambridge
to\\^^ship. to which he later added eighty
acres, and now has a fine farm of two hun-
dred and forty-six acres, besides fi\'e lots in
the city, where he makes his home. On
coming to America he had but twenty dol-
lars, and the property he has acquired has
been gained bj- hard work, good manage-
ment and strict economy. Because of these
sterling qualities he has succeeded where
many others would ha\e failed. After be-
ing here for three }ears and a half, INIr.
Benson had saved five hundred dollars with
which to return to Sweden, but was taken
ill, and being unable to work for a year, it
required that amount and fifty dollars more
to pay his expenses during that time. He
has never returned to his native land.

Since casting his first presidential \'ote
for Abraham Lincoln, Air. Benson has al-
ways affiliated with the Republican party,
and is a stanch advocate of its principles.
He remembers how in the "505 the money in
circulation, especiall}- that issued by state
banks, was very uncertain, and he was well
schooled in the disadvantages of carrying
money "which is good now as far as we
know, but whether it will be good and pas-
sable in an hour from now no man know-
eth." Air. Benson lost much bv being com-
pelled to take money for which he had no
use at the time, taking it because his cred-

^^^^^^^^^^K' .

.!f.

^^^^^^p;^^

^KL X

^^^^^^^^^^^^t^£^_

i^^^bI

LARS BENSON.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

I 93

itors tliil in)t wish to carry it. Having
passed tliroiigh tliat crisis he lias a keen ap-
preciation of what it is to liave a sound mon-
ey basis.

Mr. Benson is unniarrietl and liis fani-
iiy consisted of an adopted son, Edward Le-
ander Benson, wlio was born in St. Louis,
November 27, 1884. and has hvcil with
our subject for tliirteen years. His parents,
JMartin and Hannah (Olson) Johnston,
were both natives of Sweden, and the latter
died March 6, 1899. Edward is a steady,
reliable i)oy, who finds a plea.sant home with
Mr. Benson, antl gives a wonderful amount
of happiness to his benefactor.

Mr. Ben.son has been a life-long member
of the Lutheran Church, holding member-
ship first in Moline, and later in Geneseo.
He is a consistent Christian man and carries
his religion into all the affairs of life.

JOIiX M. HUNT.

This thrifty and progressive farmer, re-
siding on section 20, Colona township,
where he has an excellent farm of one hun-
dred and twenty acres, was born upon that
place February 12, 1842, and is a worthy
representative of the oldest and most highly
respected pioneer families of Henry county.
His father, Anthony Hunt, whose birth oc-
curred in Germany in 1802, crossed the
ocean in 1829 and first located in Louisiana,
where he spent six years on a plantation.
He then came to Illinois with the Glenn
brothers in 1835, and pre-empted eighty
acres of land in what is now Colona town-
ship, Henry county, where our subject now
resides. Later he entered the tract and
built thereon a little cabin, in which he and

Thomas and John (ilenn lived alone for
some time, doing their own house work.
In the first election held in Henry county,
he was one of the first voters. Mr. Hunt
was subsequently married in St. Louis to
Miss Catherine Rider, also a native of Ger-
man}-, where she was reared. They be^an
their domestic life in the log house which he
had erected upon his farm, and which in
1856 was replaced by a good frame resi-
dence. Besides his home farm consisting
of one hundred and forty-four acres Mr.
Hunt owned another place of eighty acres
and a good home in Geneseo, where he re-
sided for a number of years prior to his
death, which occurred October 6, 1875,
when he was seventy-three years of age.
His wife survived him, passing away ten
years later.

In the family of this worthy couple
were eight children who reached years of
maturity, but John M. is the only son.
Nothing occurred to vary the routine of
farm life during his youth. He attended the
district schools and worked with his father
on the farm until grown, when he purchased
the place and has since successfully carried
it on. At Geneseo he was married February
9, 1867, the lady of his choice being Miss
Caroline Garland, who was born in Penn-
sylvania, October 25, 1844, and in childhood
came to Illinois with her father, Daniel Gar-
land," locating in Marshall county, where
she was reared. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunt
was born one son, James C, who grew to
manhood upon the home farm and received
a good practical education in the district
schools of Colona. He died March 29,
1900. He was one of the prominent young
men of the neighborhood, and had served
on the school board and as clerk of the dis-
trict for about seven years.

194

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Hunt's political support has always
been given the Republican party since he cast
his first presidential vote for Abraham
Lincoln in 1864. His fellow citizens, recog-
nizing his worth and ability, have called
him to ofiice, and he has most capably served
as road commissioner and path master and
as school director for about twenty years.
As a native son of the county he has been
prominently identified with its agricultural
interests throughout life, and has done
much to promote the general welfare. He
is widely and favorably known, and his
commendable Ufe has won for him the con-
fidence of all with whom lie has been brought
in contact.

ERIC HEDBLOOM.

Prominent among the successful and en-
terprising agriculturists of Andover town-
ship is Eric Hedbloom, who owns and op-
erates a valuable and well-improved farm
on section 25, where he has made his home
since 1877. He was born in northern
Sweden, on the 12th of December, 1849,
and is a son of Peter and Breta Peterson,
also natives of Sweden, where the father
followed the occujiation of farming until his
death about i860. The mother came to
America in 1876, and died at the home of
our subject in 188 1. To this worthy couple
were born eight children, namely : Peter,
who came to Andover, Illinois, in 1857 and
located upon the farm where our subject
now resides, was burned to death ; Jonas was
drowned in Sweden; Catherine resided for
a time in Kewanee, Illinois, but now makes
her home in Nebraska; Lars is living with
our subject; Lena died in infancy; Betsy is
now Mrs. Nordstrum, of Bishop Hill,

this county ; Lena died in Sweden ; and Eric,
our subject, completes the family.

Reared in his native land, Eric Hedbloom
i.: indebted to its public schools for his edu-
cational advantages. In 1868 he crossed the
broad Atlantic and took up his residence
in Kewanee, Henry county, Illinois, where
he began work as a laborer on a construc-
tion train. In 1876 he visited Sweden, but
returned to this country the same fall, bring-
ing his mother with him. He then located
at Bloomington, Illinois, where he worked
in the coal mines for a short time, but in
1877 removed to his present farm, having
purchased it from his brother's heirs. It is
a well improved place, having a good house
and barn, and is under a high state of culti-
vation.

In 1876, at Bloomington, Mr. Hedbloom
was united in marriage with Miss Betsy
Peterson Berg, also a native of Sweden,
where her parents, Eric and Catherine
(Larson) Berg, still reside. Nine children
were born of this union and with one ex-
ception all are still living, namely : Peter
Emil; Ida; Hulda, who died in 1880;
George; Inez; Hulda; Oscar; \'ictor; and
Alice.

In his political views Mr. Hedbloom is
independent, and he has efficiently served as
a member of the school board in his district.
He is one of the honored and representative
citizens of Andover township, and is highly
respected and esteemed by all who know

HENRY JOHNSON.

This well-known merchant and leading
business man of Orion, Illinois, has shown
in his successful career that he has the

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

>95

ability to plan wisely and execute with en-
ergy, a combination which, when possessed
by men in any walk of life, never fails to
effect notable results.

Mr. Johnson was born on the 22nd of
July, 1832, in Linkuping, Kisa Socken,
Sweden, of which country his parents, Sam-
uel and Christina (Lawson) Johnson, were
also natives. In 1846 the family crossed the
■ocean to America, and first located in Buf-
falo, Xew York, where they spent about two
years, coming to Henry county, Illinois, in
1848. The father purchased a Mexican
war land warrant which he located on sec-
tion 36, Western township, and for some
jears successfully engaged in the operation
of his land, but tinally sold the land and re-
moved to Orion, where he spent his last days,
dying there in 1888, at the advanced age
•of over eighty years. The mother of our
subject passed away many years previous,
dying of cholera in 1853. In her loving
jiature, she took into her home several emi-
grants suffering with that dread disease,
and after caring for them she, too, was taken
sick and died. After her death he again
married. By his first union he had three
sons : John M., who married and located
in Orion, where his death occurred ; Hem-y,
of this review ; and Andrew, who followed
the river for many years as clerk anil steward
on different steamers and died in St. Louis.

Henry Johnson was brought by his par-
ents to the new world and since 1848 has
"been a resident of Illinois. At the age of
fifteen he began his business career as an
employe in a hotel at Rock Island, where
he remained for about two years, and for
four years worked in a brick yard there.
Returning to Henry county, he was next
employed in a brick yard in Andover for
■two years, and then accepted a position as

clerk in the general store of Peterson &
Anderson, at Andover, remaining with them
until their failure during the commercial
crash of 1857-57. After assisting in set-
tling up the business, Mr. Johnson was em-
ployed as clerk by V. M. Ayers for about
two years, and then was for one year farm-
ing in Western township. He next took
charge as manager for V. M. Ayers in the
milling business, taking charge of the grist
and custom mill belonging to him, and oper-
ating it successfully for five years. Itwas then
sold to Morrison Francis, and Mr. Johnson
managed for him twn years. Purchasing a
tract of wild prairie land in Osco township,
Henry county, he was next engaged in its
improvement and cultivation for about a
year, and at the end of that time rented the
place and removed to Orion, in 1870, where
he built a good residence. Later he erected
a flouring mill in partnership with Lloyd
& Peterson, and under the firm name of
Johnson, Lloyd & Company carried on the
milling business most successfully for sev-
enteen and a half years, when the plant was
destroyed by fire. In 1882 he had purchased
a half interest in the established mercantile
business of John Owen, and while he contin-
ued to engage in milling he employed John S.
Smith as clerk to take his place in the store.
-After the death of Mr. Owen he purchased
his interest from the administrators of the se-
tate, and then sold a fourth interest in the
business to his old and faithful clerk, John S.
Smith. This partnership was continued un-
til 1894. when Mr. Smith was elected county
treasurer and Mr. Johnson bought his in-
terest, and has since been alone in business.
He has been actively connected with the
store since 1890, and by fair and honorable
dealing and courteous treatment of his
patrons has succeeded in building up an

196

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

excellent trade. In years of continuous
service he is now the oldest business man
in Orion, and his success has been most
worthily achieved, being due to his own dili-
gence, enterprise and straightforward busi-
ness course, foT he started out in life for
himself with no capital and from the age
of fifteen years has been dependent upon
his own resources for a livelihood.

On the 1st of May, 1858, in Andover,
Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with
Miss Catherine Olson, who is also a native
of Sweden, and was a miss of about ten sum-
mers when she came to the United States.
Her father died during the voyage. On
landing she and her mother proceeded at
once to Henry county, Illinois, and she grew
to womanhood in Andover township. Unto
Mr. and INIrs. Johnson were born two chil-
dren. Lineas was accidentally killed in an
elevator in 1886, at the age of sixteen
years; and Oliver B., a young man of good
business ability and sterling character, now
assists his father in the store.

Mr. Johnson cast his first presidential
vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, but is
now independent in politics, voting for the
men whom he believes best qualified to fill
the offices, regardless of party lines. Fra-
ternally he is an honored member of the
Odd Fellows Lodge of Orion, in which he
has filled all the chairs and is now past
grand, and is also one of the leading mem-
bers of the Ancient Order of United Work-
men, which he has represented in the grand
lodge of the state. His life has been an
active and useful one, in which he has not
only won success but has also gained for
him the confidence and high regard of
those with whom he has come in contact
either in business or social life.

WILLIAM N. GLENN.

If one desires to gain a vivid realization
of the rapid advance in civilization which
the last few decades have brought about^ he
can listen to the stories of men who are still
living among us and by no means overbur-
oened with years, and who can tell of their
boyhood. As a native of Henry county the
subject of this sketch can relate many inter-
esting incidents of pioneer days w"hen this
region was all wald and unimproved, when
deer, turkeys and other wild game was
plentiful, before the days of railroads, tele-
egraphs and telephones.

yiv. Glenn was born on the old homestead
in Colona township, on the i8th of May,
1838, a son of James Glenn, who was born
and reared in Kentucky, and in 1835 came
to Henry county, Illinois, being one of the
first to locate here. He pre-empted a claim
of one hundred and sixty acres, and later
entered the land, wdiich he made his home
throughout the remainder of his life. Pros-
pering in his farming operations, he became
the owner of four good farms, and was
numbered among the well-to-do and sub-
stantial men of his community, as well as
one of its highly respected and honored citi-
zens. In this county he was united in mar-
riage with Miss Nancy Kincaid, a sister of
G. W. Kincaid, whose sketch appears on
another page of this volume. She died May
10, 1896, and his death occurred August
26, 1896.

Reared on the home farm amid pioneer
scenes, William N. Glenn obtained his liter-
ary education in the district schools, and
gave his father the benefit of his labors until
twenty-five years of age. About 1856 he
bought one hundred and sixty acres of

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

197

■wild land on section 31, Colona township,
where he now resides, and to its improve-
ment and cultivation he at once turned his
attention. Acre after acre was placed un-
der the plow until the entire amount was
highly cultivated, and all the improvements
found thereon are of a substantial character.
As a farmer and stock raiser he has met with
excellent success, and is to-daj- the owner of
a most desirable farm of two hundred and
eighty-five acres pleasantly located within
two miles of Coal Valley. He was one of
the promoters of the telephone line and had
one of the first 'phones in his vicinity. For
many years he has been a stockholder in the
Mutual Insurance Company. He is a large
stock feeder and has fine cattle upon his
farm.

In 1866, in Henry county, was celebrat-
ed the marriage of Mr. Glenn and Miss
Ellen R. Reynolds, who was born in Moline,
Illinois, but was principally reared and edu-
cated in Henry county, attending the com-
mon and high schools of Geneseo, and suc-
cessfully engaging in teaching prior to her
marriage. By this union was born a son,
James X., who married Lina Lease and as-
sisted his father in the operation of the farm
until his death, which occurred December
30, 1897. He left a wife and two children,
Lois and Jean Neva, all of whom live with
our subject.

By his ballot -VIr. Glenn supports the
men and measures of the Republican partv,
and cast his first presidential vote for Abra-
ham Lincoln in i860. He has been a mem-
ber of the county central committee, and has
taken quite an active and influential part in
local politics. For three years he most effi-
ciently served as supervisor, has also served
as township trustee, and has filled other po-
sitions of honor and trust with credit to

himself and to the entire satisfaction of his
constituents. Fraternally he is an honored
member of Coal \'alley Lodge, No. 547,
F. & A. M.. and lioth lie and his wife hold
membership in the Eastern Star Chapter.
They are people of prominence in their
community and enjoy the hospitality of its
best homes. Mrs. Glenn is a member of the
First Presbyterian Church of Coal X'alley, of
which Mr. Glenn is an attendant and sup-
porter.

DANIEL S. MASCALL.

Prominent among the business men of
Cambridge is numbered the subject of this
review, who is one of the leading liverymen
of that place. No one in the vicinity is better
known, for his entire life has been spent
here, and all his interests from boyhood have
been closely associated with those of this
locality. In his special line of business he
has met with success, and by the energy and
zeal which he has manifested he has won
the confidence and esteem of the public.

A native of Henry county, Mr. Mascall
was born in Cambridge township March
10, 1856, and is a son of James and Mary
A. (Lilly) Mascall, whose sketch appears
elsewhere in this work. He is the third in
order of birth in a family of five children.

In early life Daniel S. Mascall acquired
a fair knowledge of the common English
branches of learning in the public schools
of Cambridge, in which city he grew to
manhood. At the age of twenty-one he left
home to make his own w-ay in the world.
He married Miss Julia Perkins, who was
born in Virginia, and they have become the
parents of six children, two of whom died
in infancy. Those living are: Mary J. and

198

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

James D., both attending the Cambridge
schools; and Eva A. and Ralph, at home.
On starting out in life for himself Mr.
Mascall embarked in the horse business, buy-
ing for shipment to the northern markets.
Some years ago he purchased a livery stable
in Cambridge, which he conducted success-
fully, and as he conducted the business on
strictly business principles he built up an
excellent trade and received the confidence
of the entire comunity. Since then he has
bought and sold the business several times,
but for the past thirteen years he has had
charge of the stable uninterruptedly. Be-
sides his city property he now owns three
hundred acres of fine farming land in Cam-
bridge township, which he rents. Since at-
taining his majority he has affiliated with
the Republican party, but has never taken
an active part in political affairs aside from
voting. Socially he is quite popular with
a large circle of friends and acquaintances
and is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge
of Cambridge.

WILLIAM DURMAXX.

The subject of this personal narrati\e is
one of the most successful and progressive
farmers and stock raisers within the borders
of Colona township, his place of residence
being the old Durmann homestead of two
hundred and sixty acres on section ^t,. He
has made his special field of industry an
eminent success. He is a native of Illinois,
his birth having occurred in Black Hawk
township, Rock Island count v, March 15.
1856.

His father, Joseph Durmann. was born
and reared in Germany, wh.ere he learned
the cooper's trade, and as a young man he

came to the L'nited States, first locating in
St. Louis, where he pursued that vocation for
a time. In 1836, he removed to Rock Island,
Illinois (then called Stephenson), where he
and John Staubach started the first cooper
shop. In partnership with August Littig
he also established the first brewery at that
place. There he married Miss Amanda
Killing, a German lady, and they continued
to make their home in Rock Island and Milan
for some years. They finally located on a
farm one mile west of Coal Valley, where
they resided for four years, and on disposing
of that place Mr. Durmann bought the farm
in Colona township where our subject now
lives. He built a good residence on the
place, and made many other improvements
which enhanced its value and attractive ap-
pearance. L'pon this farm he passed away
March 4, 1896, and his wife died July 26,.
1898.

\\"illiam Durmann was reared in much
the usual manner of farmer boys of his dajv
and his early education, acquired in the com-
mon schools, was supplemented by a year's-
attendance at the Davenport Business Col-
lege. He aided his father in the operation-
of the farm until thirty-two years of age,
and for his services his father gave him a
farm of one hundred and sixt}- acres near
Cordova, in Rock Island county.

As a companion and helpmate on life's
journey Mr. Durmann diose Miss Lottie
\\'ashburn, their marriage being celebrated
in Henry county, on the i6th of March.
1892. She was educated in the public
schools of this count}-, and is a daughter of
C. E. \\'ashburn, whose sketch and portrait
appear elsewhere in this volume. Two-
children bless this union, Dorsey and Chaun-
cey.

For a year or more after his marriage,.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

"99

Mr. Durmann continued to engage in farm-
ing on the old homestead, and tlien renu)ved
to liis own farm in Rock Island county, to
the further improvement and cultivation of
which he devoted five years. At the end
of that period he purchased the interests of
the other heirs in the old homestead in Co-
lona township, and has since resided thereon,
\\hile he rented his farm in Rock Island
county. He feeds considerable stock for
market, and is accounted one of the most suc-
cessful farmers and stock raisers in Colona
township. Politically Mr. Durmann is a
Jeflfersonian Democrat, and he has been
called upon to serve his fellow citizens as
township collector four years; assessor one
year ; and school -director fifteen years. He
is still a member of the school board, and
has done much to secure better schools and
more competent teachers in his <listrict. He
is progressive and enterprising, and gi\cs his
supiJort to all measures which he believes
calculated to prove of public benefit.

JAMES :\IASCALL.

Among the honored early settlers and
highly esteemed citizens of Henry county
was James Mascall, who took a very active
and prominent part in the development of
this region. He was born in East Kent,
England, on the 29th of January, 18 14, and
in 1830 accompanied his ixirents, John and
Elizabeth (Xeeves) Mascall, on their emi-
gration to America. The family first lo-
cated in Litchfield, Pennsylvania, where they
spent eight years, and then came to Illinois.
After a short time passed in Stark couny,
they located in Henry county the same year
— 1838. At that time there were but few

setlements on the [irairie, and most of the
land was still in its primitive condition,
very few improvements having been made
throughout the country.

Our subject purchased one hundred and
sixty acres of land on section 15, Cam-
bridge township, and was interested in farm-
ing during his active business life. Although
he met with many misfortunes he steadily
pros[)ered, and at the time of his death
owned about. fifteen hundred acres of land.
Eighteen years after coming to Henry
county he embarked in the grocery and pro-
vision business in Cambridge, and in that
enterprise was \ery successful. His capital
on starting out in life for himself was less
than fifty dollars, but by judicious invest-
ments and the rise in \alue of land as the
country become more thickly settled he
prospered, and in all his undertakings met
with success.

On the 4th of April, 1848, Mr. Mascall
was united in marriage with Miss Mary A.
Lilly, who was born in Oneida county. New
York, August 1, i8_'7, a daughter of Carlo
H. and Wealthy (Laddj 1-illy, also natives
of the Empire state, where her father died.
In 1846 ^Irs. Lilly came to Henry county,
Illinois, and spent the remainder of her life
with her eight children, her death occurring
in Andover township. The children born
to Mr. and lilrs. Mascall were as follows:
John 1\., who grew to manhood in Henry
county, but is now a resident of What Cheer,
Iowa; Jennie, wife of I'ctcr Walline, of Cal-
ifornia; Daniel S., who is represented on
another page of this volume; Annie, wife of
Seth Perkins of Chicago, Illinois; and Mary,
wife of Robert Melloy, of Cambridge. The
children were all reared and educated in this
county. The mother of this family, who
was a very acti\e member of the Methodist

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Episcopal Churcli, died in Cambridge, in
April. 1900. loved and respected by all who
knew her.

Mr. ]^Iascall was never a very healthy
man and unfortunately met with a number
of accidents, which finally, as a very great
affliction, caused him to lose his eye-sight
about 1879. His was a varied career with
many ups and downs, but with indomitable
energy he conquered fate, and he became one
of the wealthiest and most substantial men
of Cambridge, where his death occurred.
For a time he was engaged in buying grain
quite extensively, and was prominently iden-
tified with a number of business enterprises.
As a citizen he was always true and faith-
ful to e\'ery trust reposed in him, and an
of the community, he was well worthy of
the high regard in which he was uniformly
held.

JOHN H. LIPPLXCOTT.

The deserved reward of a well-spent life
is an honored retirement from business in
which to enjoy the fruits of former toil.
To-day, after a useful and beneficial career.
John H. Lippincott is quietly living at his
pleasant home in Orion, Illinois, surrounded
bj- the comfort that earnest labor has brought
him.

ilr. Lippincott was born in Springboro,
Warren county, Ohio, on the loth of Aug-
ust, 1837. and is a son of Pennington Lip-
pincott, who was born at Moorstown, New
Jersey, in 1808. The paternal grandfather,
Thomas Lippincott, was also a native of
New Jersey, in which state the family was
founded at an early day by English emi-
grants. Reared in his native state, Pen-
nington Lippincott there learned the black-

smith's and wagonmaker's trades, at which
ht subsequently worked in Cincinnati, Ohio,
when a young man. Later he located in
\\'arren county, Ohio, and opened a shop at
Springboro. which he conducted some
years. There he was united in marriage with
Miss Susan Haines, who was also a native
of Xew Jersey, and a daughter of John
Haines, one of the early settlers of Ohio.
The wife and mother died during the child-
hood of our subject, about 1843, 3"^ the fa-
ther afterward married Mar\- J. Haines,
who. though of the same name, was no rela-
tive of his first wife. In 1850 he came to
Illinois, and purchased a farm near what is
now Sherrard. Mercer comity, to the im-
provement and cultivation of which he de-
voted his attention for some vears, but spent
his last days with our subject in Orion,
where he died December 20. 1896, at the ad-
\anced age of eighty-eight years, lacking
four days.

John H. Lippincott was a lad of thirteen
vears of age when he came with his father
to Illinois, and he grew to manhood upon
the home farm in ^Mercer county. He at-
tended the common schools near his boy-
hood home, but is mostly self-educated by
reading and study in subsequent years.
Feeling that his country needed his services
during the Civil war, he enlisted in Aug-
ust, 1862, in Company C. One Hun.dred and
Second Illinois \'olunteer Infantry, which
became a part of the Army of the Tennessee.
He participated in the battles oi Resaca and
Peach Tree Creek, and all of the engage-
ments of the Atlanta campaign, and after
the surrndcr of that city went with Shennan
on his celebrated march to the sea. He also
took part in the last engagement of the war
— the battle of Bentonville, Xorth Carolina
— and then marchetl through Richmond to

LIBRARY
UNIV&RSIIY OF ILLINOIS

JOHN H. LIPPINCOTT.

MRS. JOHN H. LIPPINCOTT.

LI8'?ARY

UNIVERSITY OF iillNOIS

URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

205

Washington, D. C, where he participated in
the grand review. The war having ended
and his services being no longer needed, he
was mnstered out at \\'ashington. and hon-
orabiv discliarged at Chicago, in June, 1865,
after wliich lie returned to his home in Mer-
cer county.

On the 19th of September, 1865, at
Orion, Henry county, Mr. Lippincott was
united in marriage with Miss Ehzabeth T.
Biackfan, of Orion, who was born in Green-
ville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, Septem-
ber 2, 1839. Her ancestors were from
England and were among the Quakers who
first settled in the Keystone state, where the
birth of her grandfather, Samuel Biackfan.
occurred. Her parents, William and Eliza-
beth (Trego) Biackfan, were also natives of
Bucks county, where they were married
September lO, 1835, and where they con-
tinued to reside until their removal to Illi-
nois in 1 84 1. They located at Orion, Hen-
ry county, then known as West La Grange,
where Mr. Biackfan died in the fall of 1843.
His wife long survived him and in the man-
agement of her affairs and in rearing and ed-
ucating her ciiildren she proved a most ca-
pable and successful person, adding materi-
ally to the small farm left by her husbantl.
Her death occurred in Orion January 16.
1871. She had a private sc1uh)1 in her home
for three winters. During her girlhood Mrs.
Lippincott attended both private and public
schools of Orion, and the Genesee Sem-
inary. The first school in the school house
at Orion was when she was sixteen years
old and which she then attended. Prior
to her marriage she successfully engaged
in teaching for some time. Our subject and
his wife have one son, Charles H., who is
assistant secretary and treasurer of the Mo-
line Plow Company, of Moline, Illinois.

He married Miss Nellie M. Stevens, young-
est daughter of George Stevens, president
of the Moline Plow Compau}-. and they ha\e
one child, Mary Stevens Lippincott.

After his marriage our subject success-
fully engaged in general farming and stock
raising in Mercer county for seven years, and
became owner of a valuable farm of two
hundred and forty acres. Renting his place
in 1873. he moved to Orion, where he pur-
chased residence property and has since lived
retired life. As he succeeded he added to
his farm until he now ov.mis a fine farm of
five hundred and twenty acres with three
sets of farm buildings. Politically he has
been a life-long Republican, having cast his
first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln
in i860, but he has never sought nor desired
ofticial honors, though he has served as a
member of the village board of Orion and
commander of the Grand Army post at that
place. Both Mr. and IVIrs. Lippincott were
reared in the belief of the Society of Friends^
and still adhere to that faith, though they
I'.ow attend and give to the supptirt of the
Alethodist Episcopal Church of Orion. They
are widely and favorably know 11, and are
held in high regard on account of their ster-
ling worth and true nobility of character.

GEORGE W. BUCK.

.Among tile honored pioneers of Henry
county and the brave defenders of the Union
during the Civil war was George \\'. Buck,
whose home is on section 6, Western town-
ship, where he owns and operates an excel-
lent farm of two hundred and ten acres. He
also has an adjoining tract of three hundred
and ten acres in Rock Island countv, and in

2o6

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the management of his property is meeting
with most gratifying success.

Mr. Buck was born in Cliautauqua coun-
ty, New York, April 9, 1834, and is a son
of Roswell and Harriet (Meech) Buck, na-
tives of Massachusetts, where their marriage
was celebrated. They were early settlers
of Chautauqua county, Xew York, where
both died, the mother when he was but three
weeks old, and the father in 1861. On the
death of his mother he was taken and reared
by Isaac Stanbro, with whom he came to
Henry county, Illinois, in May, 1838, locat-
ing in Hanna township. As soon as old
enough to be of any assistance he com-
menced to help in the work of the farm, and
continued to aid in its operation until 1851,
v\-'ien he staited out in life for himself, being
engaged in rafting on the Mississippi river
for about two years. For a few years fol-
lowing this he worked by the month on
farms in Henry county, and then purchased
eight yoke of cattle and engaged in breaking
prairie for three seasons. In 1859 he
crossed the plains to California with oxen,
the journey occupying the entire summer,
and for about two years followed mining
and other occupations on the Pacific slope,
returning home by way of the Istlimus and
New York.

In the meantime the country had become
involved in Civil war, and on the 15th of
August, 1862, Mr. Buck enlisted in Com-
pany C, One Hundred and Twelfth Illi-
nois \"olunteer Infantry, being mustered
into service as sergeant. He was on de-
tached duty most of the time as wagon mas-
ter, and while in Xorth Carolina was made
master of transportation of the Third Divi-
sion, Twenty-third .Army Corps. On the
cessation of hostilities he was honorably dis-
charged at Greensboro, Xorth Carolina, in

June, 1865, and after being paid off at
Chicago, July 7, returned to his home in
Henry count}-.

^Ir. Buck then purchased a farm of
sixty-six acres on section 6, Western town-
ship, where he has since made his home.
^^'hen he located thereon it was but slightly
improved, and to its further development
and cultivation he has since devoted his en-
ergies. He has added to the original pur-
chase from time to time and now owns fi\e
hundred and twenty acres of very valuable
and productive land in Henry and Rock
Island counties, which he has placed under a
high state of cultivation. For many years
he has rented other propert}-, and for some
years operated about one thousand acres,
\\hich under his careful management is made
to yield a golden tribute in return for the
care and labor bestowed upon it. He is ac-
counted one of the most skillful and thor-
ough farmers and stock raisers of his com-
munity, and his success has been worthily
achieved as he started out in life for him-
self empty-handed, and his prosperity is but
the just reward of continuous labor, hon-
orable dealing and good management.

On the 8th of July, 1863, while home
on a furlough, Mr. Buck was married to
iliss 2^Iary A. Glenn, a native of Henry
county, and a daughter of James Glenn,^
who located here as early as 1835, and built
the first house in the county. He was
widely and favorably known throughout this
section of the state, and was always a good
friend of Mr. Buck. Our subject has beea
called upon to mourn the loss of his estima-
ble wife, who died June 26, 1897, and was
laid to rest in Glen wood cemetery. By tliat
union he had four children: George B., who-
is married and lives in ^loline. Illinois;
Marv Eliza, now the wife of George Miller;

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

207

Cliarles G., at home; and James Dana, who
was married and died in this county June
16, 1895.

On attaining liis majority, Mr. Buck
supported John C. Fremont for the presi-
dency in 1856, and has since been unswerv-
ing in his allegiance to the Republican party
and its principles. His fellow citizens rec-
ognizing his worth and ability have often
called him to positions of public trust, and
he has most capably served as justice of the
peace, township collector and trustee, and
supervisor for eight years. He was a mem-
ber of numerous committees, and was chair-
man of the committee that erected the sol-
diers' monument at Cambridge. For tlie
long period of twenty-one years he served
as school director, and for some time was
president and clerk of the district. He is
past command of the Grand Army Post at
Orion, and is one of the most honored and
highly respected citizens of his community.
As a pioneer of the county he has witnessed
almost its entire growth and development,
and in the work of improvement he has ever
borne his part.

JOHN A. FORS.

Among the native sons of Henry county
is numbered John A. Fors, who belongs to
one of the oldest families of Andover town-
ship, where he now makes his home on sec*
tion 4, though he was born in Linn township,
December 22, 1866, a son of Andrew M. and
Johanna (Falk) Fors, both natives ©f Swe-
den. The mother died in Andover April
14, 1899, at about the age of sixty-eight
years, and since her deatli the father has
made his home with his children in Moline

and Andover township. He was born in-
1828, and in early life learned the tailor's
trade, which he followed in Sweden, but in
this country he engaged in farming tln'ough-
out his active business career. He was mar-
ried in his native land and about 1859 came
to the United States, his destination being
Henrv county. Illinois. He purchased cightv
acres of land in Lynn township, a part of
which was raw prairie, the remainder timber
land, and soon improved the same. Subse-
quently he bought the farm of one hundred
and sixtv acres on section 4, where our sub-
ject now resides, and located there<-in about
1875, being actively engaged in agricultural
pursuits here for several years. He then
lived a retired life in the village of Andover,
where his wife died. His father, Mr. Fors-
borg, came to Henry county and settled near
the present site of Andover, being one of its
first settlers, at which time there was not a
house between his home and Geneseo. He
was one of the first to locate on the prairie.
He died at the age of eighty-five years, his
wife at the advanced age of ninety-five, and
both were laid to rest in the Andover ceme-
tery. They had three daughters who are
still living, namely: Mrs. Christina Stein-
holm, of Cambridge; Clara, wife of Otto
Johnson, of Opheim ; and Anna. Our sub-
ject's mother and two sisters were the only
members of her family to come to the new
world, the latter being Mrs. Eva Nelson, a
resident of Andover; and Mrs. Clara Lind-
love, of WoodhuU, Illinois. Both her par-
ents lived to an advanced age, one of them
being about ninety-six years of age at the
time of death.

Of the seven children born to Antlrew
M. and Johamia Fors two are now deceased.
Those living are Peter, a successful farmer
of Iowa; Frank O., a member of the police

208

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

force of Pueblo, Colorado; John A., our sub-
ject; Julia, wife of Frank Palm, of Moline.
where he is employed in a machine shop ;
and William C. a farmer on section 20, An-
dover township. All were educated in the
common schools of the district and have be-
come useful and respected members of so-
ciety. The father is a valued member and
supporter of the Swedish Lutheran Church
of Andover, and in politics is a stanch Repub-
lican.

On the home farm John A. Fors grew to
manhood and remained under the parental
roof until his marriage, December 19, 1894,
]Miss Ella Florence Burgman becoming his
wife. She was born in Burlington, Iowa,
December 7. 1873. and is a daughter of
Fred and Tillie (Johnson) Burgman, who
were born in Sweden and are now residents
of Moline, Illinois. Mrs. Fors is the old-
est of their three children, the others being
Hattie and Emil, both at home. On coming
to the United States. Mr. Burgman first set-
tled in Iowa. This was in 1865, when he
was about twenty }-ears old. He made his
home in various places until after his mar-
riage, January 19. 1872, when he located in
Burlington, Iowa, where he was employed as
a plumber of the gas works. However, he
soon moved to ]Moline, Illinois, and for twen-
ty years was a salesman in the Keator lum-
ber yards, retaining his position there until
the yards were destroyed by fire. He then
secured a position with the Dimmock &
Gould Lumber Compaii}'. with whom he
yet remains. His wife came to the United
States with her parents, John F. and Johanna
Johnson, the family locating in New Sweden,
Iowa, which was her home until her mar
riage. Mr. and Mrs. Fors have two children ;
Florence Olive, aged five years; and Ruby
\'iolet, aged one year.

For one year after his marriage Mr. Fors
was engaged in farming upon land owned
by his father in Knox county, this state, but
since then has resided upon his present farm
on section 4, Andover township, Henry
county. His father was the first to improve
the place, and these improvements have been
added to and kept up by our subject, who is
justly regarded as one of the most enter-
prising and skillful farmers of his commun-
ity. He is meeting with good success, and
is held in high esteem by friends and neigh-
bors. Religiously he is a member of the
Swedish Lutheran Church and politically is
identified with the Republican party.

MATS ERSON.

Prominent among the honored early set-
tlers of Andover township is Mats Erson,
w hose home is on section 9, where he owns
a well-improved and highly cultivated farm
of eighty acres. He has laid many rods of
tiling, has erected good and substantial
Iniildings and made other necessary improve-
ments to make it a pleasant and comfortable
home.

^h. Erson was born in Sweden on the
9th of August, 1 82 1, and is the eldest child
of Eric and Breeta (Hillen) Matson, who
were life-long residents of that country.
They were educated in the early schools of
their native land, and were honest, hard-
working and highly respected people. In
their family were five children, namely:
Mats, of this review; Hillen, the eldest
daughter, who is still a resident of Sweden ;
Catherine, deceased ; Breeta, a resident of
Sweden; and Christine, deceased.

During his boyhood and youth Mats
Erson attended the schools of Sweden, and
worked with his father on the farm. Hear-

MATS ERSON.

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

L'RBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing- sucli good reports of the progress ^f the
new world and the chances for a poor man
on this side of the Atlantic, he resolved to
Uy his fortune here. Prior to his emigra-
tion, however, he was married, in 1846, to
Miss Breeta Olson, who was born in 181 1.
On the 28th of June, 1849, they sailed for
this country, and on landing proceeded at
once to Andover, Illinois, where they ar-
rived October 16, 1849.

Here Mr. Erson worked by the month
for a short time. He then had but little
capital, and with the hope of making money
more quickly he went to he gold fields of
California in the spring of 1850, being one
of a party of fi\e who made the trip o\'er-
land with horse teams. After reaching the
Pacific coast, they engaged in prosjxjcting
in California for eleven months, and in
course of their mining operations, each made
a stake for himself and then returned to
their chosen home — Illinois. They took a
steamer August 2, 1851, for Panama, and
on the 22d of September, following, were in
Andover, coming by waj' of New York.
During the trip both ways Mr. Erson met
with many adventures and endured many
privations, but he felt repaid for them,
however. On again reaching Henry coun-
ty, he purchased forty acres of land on sec-
tion 16, Andover township, and built there-
on a house, in which the family lived while
he began the improvement and cultivation
of his land. As he prospered in his labors he
was at length able to purchase another tract
of eighty acres upon which he now lives.

Mr. Erson has been called upon to mourn
the loss of his estimable wife, who passed
away April 5, 1897. They had no children.
In 1881 Olof Hellblom, a son of his sister
Hellen, came to America, and has since
rented his uncle's farm, making his home in

the house first erected by our subject. Since
his wife's death Mr. Erson has resided with
him. having given him the forty-acre tract
on section 16. Mr. Hellblom is married
and has seven children.

Mr. Erson has always lived a quiet, un-
eventful life and has been a supporter of all
movements that have tended to advance the
interests or aid in the (leveU>pnient of the
county and community in which he makes
his home. On his arrival here there were but
few houses in Andover or between that
place and Geneseo. He has watched with
interest the many changes that have since
taken place and in the work of advancement
has ever borne his part. Since voting for
John C. Fremont, in 1856, he has been an
ardent supporter of the Republican party and
its principles, and has efficiently filled sev-
eral minor offices of his township, as well
as that of school director. He is one of the
leading and influential members of the
Swedish Methodist Episcopal church of An-
dover, and has been one of its trustees since
1854, and has also been a steward for thir-
ty-nine years. He is one of the oldest mem-
bers of the Old Settlers' Association and
takes an active interest in its affairs. His
has been an active and useful life, and al-
though now well advanced in years he still
enjoys e.Kcellent health, tlu)ugh he has re-
tired from active labor, and in ease and re-
tirement is enjoying the fruits of former
toil. No man in the community is held in
liigher regard or has more warm friends
than Mr. lirson, of this review.

.\XDRE\V P. XOKELL.

.\mong the leading farmers and highly
respected citizens of Andover township is
numbered A. P. Norell, who was born in

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Sweden, April 12, 1826. His parents, Peter
A. and Christine Johnson, were also natives
of Sweden and there spent their entir lives.
■Our subject was reared and educated in his
native land, and prior to his emigration to
America was married in 1850 to Miss Brita
Peterson, who was also born in Sweden.
He was thirty years of age when he sailed
from Helsingland, and after a long and
ledious voyage of eight weeks landed in New
York, whence he proceeded at once to .'Vndo-
ver, Henry county, Illinois. In that village
he first worked at day labor. Saving what
he could from his wages, ^Ir. Xorell was
able to purchase a tract of ten acres in Linn
township in 1861, and upon that place he
lived for four years. He then sold and
bought one hundred and seven acres of un-
improved land in the same township, upon
which he erected a house costing two thou-
sand dollars and also built large barns and
other outbuildings. On disposing of that
property he came to Andover township and
purchased his present highly cultivated and
well improved farm of one hundred and six-
ty acres on sections 11 and 14. and has since
made his home on section 14.

Mr. and ^Irs. Xurell are the parents of
three children, namel}' : Peter, who is mar-
ried and lives in Nebraska; Eric, who is
married and makes his home in Andover
township, this count}-; and John Alvin, who
resides on the home farm. The last named
was married in Andover township, Decem-
ber II, 1897, to Miss Olive Nordquist, a na-
tive of Andover and a daughter of E. Nord-
quist, who was one of the early settlers of
the township. By this union there are two
children, Anna Elizabeth and John Eric A.
Xorell.

Politically ^Ir. Xorell is a supporter of
the Republican party, and religiously is a

member of the Lutheran Church. He is
widely and favorably known throughout the
county where he has so long made his home,
and is held in high regard on account of his
sterling worth and excellent character. He
is one of the self-made men of the com-
munity and his success has been worthily
achieved.

M. M.\URY NASH.

This well known and popular resident of
Osco township, whose home is on section
35, was born in Coalsmouth, West Virginia,
September 21, 1847. His father. Rev.
Francis Burdett Nash, was born in Spring-
field, Massachusetts, November 16, 1812,
and when a mere boy accompanied his par-
ents to Connecticut, where he had to sustain
himself at manual labor. For a time he was
with a brother in St. Albans, Vermont,
where he attended the Franklin County
Grammar School. In 1829 he returned to.
Connecticut and read medicine at \\'ooling-
ton. He was next a teacher at Swedesboro,
New Jersey, and from there moved to Ken-
tucky, and entered the Theological Semi-
nary in Lexington from which he was grad-
uated in 1837. For some years he was a
missionary of his church in Kentucky, and
he devoted his whole life to his sacred call-
ing, preaching in Kentucky, West Virginia,
Illinois and JMinnesota, his last charge being
in the latter state. At one time he was a res-
ident of Tiskilwa, Bureau county, Illinois,
and his circuit covered several parishes. He
built the Episcopal Church at Princeton,
and held services at Cambridge, Geneseo
and Osco, conducting the first meeting in
Cambridge. In 1873 he went west, but
later returned to Henrv countv, and was

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

213

rector of the church at Cambridge, and also
at Osco until 1881 when he went to Min-
jiesota. He was well known by all pioneers,
and will long Ik." remembered lor his good
works. He was an ardent and untiring
worker in building up the different churches
with which he was connected, and at his
death left a record of which his family may
be justly proud. He died October 6, 1890,
at the home of his son in Nashua, Minne-
sota, which town was named in honor of
the family. His father, Ebenezer Nash,
was also a preacher of western New York,
and was of old New England stock. While
in Kentucky Francis Burdett Nash married
Elizabeth JMaury, a native of that state, who
was of southern ancestry, her family being
slave holders in the south before the war.
She died in Tiskilwa, Bureau county, Illi-
nois, in 1866. Ten children were born to
them, two of whom died in early childhood.
The others were Susan P., a resident of
Nashua, Minnesota; Miranda P., widow of
Edward Morris and a resident of Minneap-
olis; Elizalieth, deceased; ]\1. Maury, the
subject of this sketch; Francis B., a graduate
of Griswold College, of Davenport, and an
Episcopal clergyman now of Newark, Ohio;
Harry S., a graduate of Harvard University
and a clergyman of Cambridge, Massachu-
setts; Fontian, a farmer of Nashua, Minne-
sota; and Mary L., a music teacher, who
died in Chicago, Illinois. (For a full record
see the "Townsend Family Record," and the
"Nash Genealogy.")

In early boyhood M. Maury Nash at-
tended the common schools near his home
and later took a course at Griswold College,
Davenport, Iowa. At the age of sixteen
he began earning his own living, and being
one of the oldest of the family, he assisted
his father until he attained his majority.

when he went to Missouri, where he was en-
gaged in farming, remaining there three
years. We next find him in Nebraska,
where he was engaged in the stiKk business.
Later he moved to Iowa where he owned and
operated a farm. In 1879 he moved to
Nashua, Minnesota, where he purchased two
sections of wild prairie land with his brother,
which they broke up and put in wheat, mak-
ing his home there for three years, during
which time he assisted in organizing the
townships and county, and was one of the
hrst justices of peace. After leaving there
in 1882 he spent about two years in hospitals
having his eyes treated, and in 1883 joined
his family in Iowa, where they had located
on the removal of the family from Nashua.
In 1889 he returned to Illinois and purchased
one hundred and sixty acres of land on sec-
tion 35, Osco township, Henry county, to
the improvement and cultivation of which
he has since devoted his energies with most
gratifying results. All of the buildings
found upon the place have been erected by
him, and its neat and thrifty appearance in-
dicates the careful supervision of a progres-
sive farmer and thorough business man.
He is a prominent stock feeder, buying most-
ly in Nebraska and feeding here.

In 1880 Mr. Nash married Miss Amelia
.M. Smith, a daughter of J. H. Smith, whose
sketch appears on another page of this vol-
ume. .She was born March 15, 1857, on
the farm in Osco township where her father
settled half a century ago, and was gradu-
ated from the Cambridge high school, after
which she successfully engaged in teaching
in the district schools of Osco township for
a time. By her marriage to our subject
she has become the mother of six children,
one of whom, Lawrence, died at the age
of four years. Those living are Mary L.,

214

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

known as Lutie, born in 1882 ; Jared B., born
in 1884; Anson M., born in 1886; Bessie,
born in 1890; and Jane A., born in 1899.
Those who have attained a sufficient age are
now pursuing their studies in the district
school.

In connection with fanning Mr. Xa.-h
has always followed the stock business with
the exception of the time spent in Minnesota,
where he was engaged exclusively in the
raising ci wheat. He deserves great credit
for what he has accomplished in life, for
since an early age he has depended entire'y
upon his own resources. Diligence has
been the keynote to his success, and his ex-
ample is one that might be proritably fol-
lowed by all who have to deperd upon their
own exertions. His worth is recognized
and he enjoys the friendship of many of the
best people of the county. In the \ arious lo-
calities where he has resided he has taken an
active and prominent part in public affairs,
has always been a member of the township
committee of the Republican party, and is
now chairman of the same in Osco township.
He has also been prominently identified with
educational affairs, and is now a school di-
rector. He was one of the organizers of
the Farmers Institute, has been a member of
the board of management, and is now vice-
president of the county institute. He is
one of the leading and influential members
of the Episcopal Church of Osco, and has
been vestrvman of the same for ten years.

SAMUEL BEXXISOX.

This well known retired miller and hon-
ored citizen of Kewanee, Illinois, was born
near Manchester, Cheshire, England. Feb-

ruary 13, 1830, his parents being Samuel
and Mary (Turner) Bennison, who were
married X'ovember 29, 18 19. In 1845 they
came to America on a sailing vessel, which
was nearly six weeks in crossing the Atlan-
tic. Landing in X'ew York, they proceeded
at once to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where
the father worked in the coal mines for six
years, having followed that business in Eng-
land. In May, 1851, he crossed the Alle-
gheny mountains, and by canal and steam-
boat down the Ohio river and up the Mis-
sissippi river, he went to the lead mines in
Shullsburg, Wisconsin, where he engaged in
prospecting for five or six years, but met
with failure in that venture, losing all that
he had accumulated by sinking deep shafts.
The mining company of which lie was a
member was composed of himself, his four
sons and one son-in-law. They would work
at their mine until their money and credit
were exhausted, and then, while some of the
company continued the labor, the others
would work for wages to meet their expenses
in the operation of their mine. In 1851 our
subject came to Rock Island. Illinois, and
found emplojanent in a coal mine five miles
from that city, and while working there he
managed to save one hundred dollars. At
that time the others were also in the employ
of different mining companies, but were no-
tified that they must either work their own
claim or give it up. They had previously
sunk a shaft seventy-five feet deep near
Shullsburg, \\'isconsin, to which our sub-
ject returned on leaving the coal mines of
this state, and resumed work there. After
digging about forty feet the company struck
a cave, which was twenty feet in all its di-
mensions, and was lined with mineral and
loose rock. Their labors were at length
crowned with success, and the mine became

UNIVfeRSIlt UP ILLINOIS
URBftNA

SAMUEL BENNISON.

MRS. SAMUEL BENNISON.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBAXA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

219

very valuable. They found another cave
more \ahiable than tlie first, and the mine
was workeil with profit to the company.
Having prospered in this venture, the father
was able to lay aside all business cares and
spend Iiis last days in ease ami quiet. After
tliirteen years spent at Shullsburg, Wiscon-
sin, he came to Kewanee, where he lived re-
tired until his death. He was born July 20,
1797, and (lied August 23. 1885. His wife,
who was liorn in Manchester, England, May
20, 1798, tleparted this life January 6, 1896.
During their long married life of nearly
tw()-thirds of a century thej- were never sep-
arated longer than three months. The fa-
ther was confirmed in the established church
of England, and was a teacher in the Sunday
school, but later joined the Primitive Meth-
odists, and was a member of that church at
the time of his death.

In the family of this worthy couple were
nine children, namelv : John, a miner and
miller, who died at the age of seventy-two
years; Bettie, who died in England at the
age of twenty-two; Eliza, who married
Richard Hill, and died October 24, 1891, at
the age of sixty-six years ; William, deceased ;
Samuel, our subject; Henry, who died in
Kewanee; Mary, wife of Samuel Hill, of
Mexico ; Thomas, a retired merchant of Ke-
wanee ; and James, who married Lydia Hew-
iit October 8, 1861, and died in 1865. Only
three of the family survi\etl their mother,
and these are still living.

AVliiie engaged in mining at Shullsburg,
\\'isconsin, our subject and his brother Hen-
ry decided to go to California on accaunt of
the latter's health, leaving the father and
brothers to operate the mine. They started
in January, 1855, and by way of Xew York
and the Isthmus went to the gold fields of
California, being- four weeks in makin<r the

trip. In their mining ojierations there they
met with good success, and Henry Bennison
spent twenty years on the Pacific slope. He
then returned to Kewanee, where his deatli
occurred. Samuel Bennison, of this review,
remained in California only four j^ears.
After more than a year's separation he was
joined by his wife, and together they re-
turned east in 1859, by the Isthmus route.
I'or several j-ears he was engaged in lead
mining in Wisconsin, and in 1864 removed
to Kewanee, Illinois, where he has since made
his home. For some years he and his broth-
ers were engage<l in the mercantile and mill-
ing business at this place, but he is now liv-
ing a retired life, enjoying a well-earned
rest. He has had to overcome many obsta-
cles in the path to success, but with deter-
mined effort he has worked his way steadily
upward, and is to-day one of the pro.sperou.>
and substantial citizens of the community.
He is a director of the First National Bank
of Kewanee, and in all business transactions
his word is considered as good as his bond.
On the 27th of Septemljer, 1855, at
Shullsburg, Wisconsin, Mr. Bennison was
united in marriage with Miss Eleanor W^ort-
ley, also a native of England, and a daugh-
ter of George and Catherine (Wilkinson)
Wortley. Her father was born in Lincoln-
shire, May 30, 1802, and brought his family
to America in 1850, locating at Shullsburg,
\\'isconsin. He was a local preacher in the
Primitive Methodist Church, and died in
1884. His first wife passed away during the
infancy of Mrs. Bennison, who is now the
only survivor of their four children, those
deceased being Ann, George and Eliza. He
was again married in 1843, his second union
being with Mary Linager, who is still living
in Shullsburg, \\'isconsin, and by whom he
had three children — Rebecca, Mary J. and

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Musson. Mrs. Bennison Avas born March
21. 1835, and was fourteen years of age
when she came to the United States with
the family.

Of tlie ten cliildren born to our subject
and liis wife, two died in infancy. The oth-
ers are as follows : Eliza A. is the wife of
Samuel Tallxjtt. a farmer living near Ster-
ling. Illinois, and they have four children,
Fred. Grace. \\'alter and Floyd: James H.,
born Decemlier 4. 1858. died July 20. 1873;
Louise G. is the wife of William Melbourn.
a machinist of Kewanee. and they have three
children, Harry. Edward and Eleanor G. :
Samuel, a farmer of Kansas, married Helen
Acre, and they have two children, Laura
and Harold; George \V., a member of the
mercantile finn of George \V. Bennison &
Brothers, of Kewanee, married Elizabeth
Corkill, and they have two children, Seward
A. and George; Edward, a member of the
same firm, married Augusta Schaefer, and
they have three children, Grace, Clarence
and Raymond; Alvin C, also one of the
same firm, dealers in drj' goods and grocer-
ies at Kewanee, married Zella Stone, and
they have one child, Helen; Elizabeth; and
Raymond died in infancy.

Politically Jlr. Bennison is an ardent Re-
publican, and religiously both he and his wife
are earnest and consistent members of the
Congregational Cluirch. They are widely
and favorably known, and are held in high
regard on account of their sterling worth
and manv excellencies of character.

CHARLES E. CHASE.

Among the self made men and thrifty
farmers of Henry county is Charles E. Chase
who is proprietor of a good farm of one hun-

dred acres on section 29, Western township,
within two miles of Orion. He has been a
resident of the county since the 12th of
March, 1869, and has been actively identi-
fied with its agricultural and stock raising
interests.

Merrick Chase, father of our subject, was
born in Massachusetts, in 181 1, a son of Ben-
jamin Chase, and grandson of David Chase,
also natives of the old Bay state. The fam-
ily is originally of English ancestry, and was
founded in America by three brothers, one
of whom settled in Massachusetts, another
in Elaine, and the third in Xew Hampshire.
At an early day Benjamin Chase removed to
\'ermont. and became one of the pioneers of
Windham county, where the father of our
subject grew to manhood and married Miss
Sarah ]Maria Brigham, a native of that coun-
ty. There they continued to reside until
after the birth of all their children. Mr.
Chase followed farming, hotel keeping and
various occupations. He also served as dep-
uty sheriff of the county. In 185S he re-
moved to ^\'ashington county, Xew York,
where he made his home until 1873, when
he came to Henry county, Illinois, and in
partnership with our subject purchased a
farm in Western township. There he spent
his remaining days, dying January 3, 1889.
His wife survived him a few years, and
passed away in 1897.

Charles E. Chase, whose name introduces
this review, was born in Jacksonville. \\'ind-
ham county, \'ermont, on the 17th of Jan-
uarv, 1844, and was a lad of fourteen years
when he accompanied his parents on their
removal to \\'ashington county, Xew York,'
w here he grew to manhood upon a farm, be-
coming thoroughly familiar with agricult-
ural pursuits and acquiring his literary
knowledge in the common schools of that

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

locality. Coming west in 1869 he took up
liis residence in Henry county, Illinois,
where he worked by the month at farm labor
for three years, and then purchased his pres-
ent farm on section 29, Western township,
ir; company with his father.

Returning to \'ermont Mr. Chase was
th.ere married February 26. 1874. to Miss
Sopliia H. Farnesworth. who was born,
reared and educated in W'indliam county,
tliat state, and prior to her marriage success-
fully engaged in teaching. For about twelve
years she made her home in Boston, Massa-
chusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Chase iiave one
son, Arthur F.. who is now in his senior
year at Knox College. Galesliurg.

For se\eral years after his marriage,
]\h". Chase engagetl in farming on rented
land in this county, but on the death of his
lather located on the farm which they had
jnirchased, and here he has continued to
make his home. He has made many im-
jirovements upon the place, including the
erection of a good residence, barns and out-
buildings, has tiled the land and set out
fruit and shade trees, which add to tlie at-
tractive appearance of the farm. He also
owns a forty-acre tract of land south of
Orion, which he uses as pasture, as he raises
considerable stock, keeping on hand a good
grade of cattle, hogs and horses.

In his political affiliations. Mr. Chase
is a stanch Republican, having always sup-
ported that party since casting his first
presidential vote for General U. S. Grant
in 1868, but he has never sought official
honors. He has, however, efficiently served
as a member of the school board for some
years, and also as township trustee. Fre-
ternally he is a member of Sherman Lodge,
^'0. 535, A. F. &. :M.. of Orion, while re-
ligiouslv his wife is a member of the Meth-

odist Episcopal Church. His success in life
is due entirely to his own well dlirected
eft'orth for he began his business career with-
out capital, and to his diligence, industry
and good management may be attributed
liis success.

SIVILIAX LESTER.

Sivilian Lester, deceased, was numbered
among the honored pioneers of Henry coun-
ty, where he located in 1840, when this
region was mostly wild and unimproved.
In the work of development he took an ac-
tive part in early days and aided in opening
up the country to civilization. As the years
l)assed he faithfully performed his duties
of citizenship and his interest in the wel-
fare and progress of the community never
abated.

Mr. Lester was Ixirn in Delaware coun-
ty, New York, March 17, 1828, his parents
being Samuel T. and Emily (Ward) Lester,
both natives of the Empire state, and rep-
resentatives of old colonial families. The
Ijaternal grandfather, Jeremiah Lester, was
a member of a Connecticut regiment in the
Revolutionary war. After his death, which
occurred in New York, his widow came
to Henry county. Illinois, with a daughter,
and died here at the advanced age of ninety-
four years, her remains being interred in
Wethersfield township. The father, Sam-
uel T. Lester, followed farming throughout
his active business life and continued to
make his home in Xew York until 1840.
when he came to Illinois, and located in
w hat is now Burns township, Henry county.
His last days, however, were spent in Weth-
ersfield. In his family were eleven chil-
dren, of whom SiviHan was the oldest.
The three now living are Matilda, widow of

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

J. H. Hall and a resident of Miiniesota ;
Nancy, widow of William Craig and a resi-
dent of Smith's Center, Kansas ; and Charles
N., a resident of Bureau county, Illinois.
The early education of our subject was
obtained in New York, and for a time he
attended school in Illinois after the removal
of the family to this county. Although
only seventeen years of age at the time of
his father's death the responsibility of car-
ing for the family largely devolved upon
him, and from that time on he took a man's
part. He remained at home until twent}-
three years of age, when he was married,
December 7, 185 1, to Miss Martha W.
Dudley, who was born in Monson, Maine,
and is a daughter of Warren and Alvena
(Barrett) Dudley, the former a native of
Massachusetts, the latter of [Maine. Mr.
Dudley's ancestors were of English origin.
At an early age he removed with his par-
ents, Luther and ilartha Dudley, to the
Pine Tree state, where he was reared and
educated. For a time he followed farming
in Somerset county, [Maine, and then re-
moved to Piscataquis county, where he made
his home until 1846, when he came to Henry
county, Illinois, and took up his residence
in Andover township, where he purchased
eighty acres of raw prairie land, paying for
the same three dollars an acre. In 1853 he
removed to Rock Island county. Illinois,
where the following three years were passed,
and then went to Cedar county, Iowa,
where he continued to reside throughout
the remainder of his life. He died in 1873
of nervous prostration brought on b}- the
death of his wife, who died very suddenly
of heart failure only eight days before.
They were the parents of eight children,
all of whom readied man and womanhood,
but Luther and Bethiah are now deceased;

Tvlartha is the widow of our subject; Jo-
seph B. is engaged in stock raising near
Denver, Colorado; Levi is also deceased;
Xelson S. is a resident of Kansas; Helen
is the wife of \Villiam Tevis, who lives
near Sioux City, Iowa; and Josiah W. died
in Andersonville prison in 1864 while a
prisoner of war.

Eight children were born to Air. and
Airs. Lester, as follows: (i) Lucetta is now
the wife of George \\'. Rogers, of ^'alley
county, Nebraska, and they have four chil-
dren : Thomas, Anthony, Daisy and Esther.
(2) Rufus was killed in a snow slide in
Idaho, in Alarch, 1882, at the age of twen-
ty-eight years. (3) Ellen Grace is the wife
of Charles Leaming, of Kansas, and they
have one child. Alvaretta. (4) Julia X.
is the wife of Thomas R. Stanton, of Ke-
wanee, and they have three children, Alat-
tie E., Letha A. and Ethel L., all attending
school at that place. (5) Juliet, twin sister
of Julia X., married George Reed, of Xe-
ponset, Illinois, and died September i,
1900. {6) Edmund, who lives on the old
home farm in Burns township, wedded
Alary Potter, and they have three children,
Bessie, Rufus and Guthrie. (7) Susie is
at home with her mother. (8) Samuel \V.,
who also lives on the home farm, mairied
Eva Wells, and the}- have one child, Leo.

Throughout his active business life Air.
Lester followed farming. After his mar-
riage he purchased a tract of eighty acres
Mith no improvements in Burns township,
he building first a one-room frame house,
16x20 feet, in which he and his family lived
until i860, when it was enlarged, making
a comfortable and commodious residence,
and in 1865 he built a fine residence which
is still standing. From time to time, as his
financial resources increased he extended

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

223

tlie Ijoundaries of liis farm until he had
four hundred and forty acres of rich and
arable land, which he placed under a high
state of cultivation. In connection with gen-
eral farming he gave considerable atten-
tion to stock raising. In November, 1894
lie removed with his family to Kewanee,
where he died after a continued and pain-
ful illness, on the 1st of August, 1895, and
was laid to rest in the cemetery in ^^'eth-
erstield, township. He was a member of
the Grange and Sons of Temperance, and in
politics was identified with the Republican
party. Although his township was strong-
ly Democratic, Mr. Lester was chosen to
several official positions of honor and trust,
which fact indicated his i^ersonal popu-
larity and the confidence reposed in him by
liis fellow citizens. He served as super-
visor a number of terms, was also col-
lector and assessor for one term each; was
road commissioner a number of years; and
school director for some time. He was
true to every trust reposed in him, whether
public or private, and in his death the com-
munity realized that it had lost a valued
and useful citizen.

ELOX BEACH GILBERT, M. D.

Dr. Gilbert is a skilled physician and
surgeon of Geneseo, Illinois, whose knowl-
edge of the science of medicine is broad and
comprehensive, and whose ability in apply-
ing its principles to the needs of suffering
humanity has gained him an enviable
prestige in professional circles. He was
horn in Geneseo, February 23, i860, a son
of E. C. and F. B. (Beach) Gilbert, na-
tives of Allen's Hill, Ontario county, New

York. For many years the father was a suc-
cessful farmer and stock raiser of this
county, where he died October 14, 1889,
aged fifty-two years. He attended the Con-
gregational Church, of which his wife is a
member. She is still living at the age of
sixty-two, and is a resident of Geneseo.
To this worthy couple were born six chil-
dren, of whom the Doctor is the oldest, the
others being Horace S., who operates the
old home farm in Geneseo township; Anna
E., who died of consumption in 1888, at the
age of twenty-one years; Laura C, who is
now acting as clerk in the Doctor's office;
Morey and Mary, twins, w ho died at the age
of six months.

The early life of Dr. Gilljcrt was spent
ujx)!! the home farm and his literar}' educa-
lion was obtained in the common and high
schools of Geneseo and Knox College,
Galesburg, leaving the latter institution in
his junior year. He then took up the study
of medicine with Dr. W. C. Brown, of
Geneseo,, and later attended a course of lec-
tures at Rush Medical College at Chicago,
He subsequently entered Jefferson Med-
ical College, Philadelphia, where he
was graduated in 1885. During his col-
lege course he did some interne work in
hospitals. After his graduation he entered
irito partnership with his former preceptor.
Dr. Brown, and that connection continued
fur three years, since which time our sub-
ject has been alone in practice, while Dr.
Brown has gone to Los Angeles, California.
He is now the oldest physician in years of
continuous practice in Geneseo, and re-
ceives a liberal share of the public patron-
age. He has reported cases and written
.several able articles for medical journals, and
is medical examiner for se\eral of the old
line insurance companies and for some fra-

224

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

served as local surgeon for the Rock Island
railroad, and was county physician for ten
jears.

On the I2th of April, 1885. Dr. Gilbert
led to the marriage altar Miss Cora Thomas,
also a native of Geneseo and a daughter of
the late H. Thomas, of that place. By this
union has been born one child, Alice B.
The Doctor and his wife are botli members
of the Congregational Church, and he is also
connected with the Masonic order. In pol-
itics he is an ardent Republican. He is a
general practitioner, who is well read in
his profession and stands deservedly high in
his chosen calling. While yet a j'oung man
he has been quite successful, and is a thor-
oughly enterprising and progressive citizen,
alive to the best interests of his county and
state.

CAPTAIX ALEXANDER .MURCH-
ISOX.

Captain Alexander Murchison, who is
now living a retired life in Wethersfield,
served with distinction as an officer in the
Civil war and bears an honorable record for
brave service in the cause of freedom and
union, and in the paths of peace he has also
won an enviable reputation through the
sterling qualities which go to the making of
a good citizen. He dates his residence in
Illinois from September 12, 1849. ^vhen he
located in Stark county, where he lived un-
til 1866, and for many years he was actively
identified with her farming interests.

A native of Scotland, the Captain was
born in Rosshire, July 7, 1831. and there
grew to manhood upon a farm. He had but
limited school advantages in early life, and
is almost whollv self-educated, as well as

self-made man. In 1849 he emigrated to the
new world with his father and the other
members of the family, taking passage on a
sailing vessel at Glasgow. They were out
of sight of land for eight weeks and one day,
and it was nine weeks before they dropped
anchor in the harbor of Quebec. They ex-
perienced one very severe storm. From
Quebec the family proceeded up the St. Law-
rence river and by the Great Lakes to Chi-
cago ; by canal to Peru : and by team to El-
mira. Stark county, Illinois, where they
joined some friends who had previously
come from Scotland, where the father locat-
ed permanently.

Captain Murchison first worked by the
month at herding sheep, which he followed
for two years. During the following three
years he worked as a farm hand at Elmira.
and then purchased a team and commenced
breaking prairie, devoting his energies to
that pursuit for nearl}' four years. He next
purchased and operated a threshing ma-
chine and reaper. In 1852 he bought two
liundred acres of land in Stark and Henry
county, the dividing line crossing his farm.
This place he sold at a profit three years
later.

On the 4th of ^Nlarch, i860, he had helped-
to organize a military company, which he
drilled, and when the Civil war broke out in
1 86 1, at the first call for troops, he entered
the service in Company B, Nineteenth Illi-
nois Volunteer Infantry. Our subject \\as
commissioned second lieutenant, but the fol-
lowing October was promoted to first lieu-
tenant, and was made captain of his com-
pany, in July, 1867, with which rank he
served until mustered out when his term of
enlistment expired. As a part of the Army of
the Cumberland the regiment participated in
the battle of Stone River, the Tullahoma

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

2 2 C

campaign, and then drove General Bragg's
command across tlie Tennessee river after
some liard lighting. On Septemher 15. 1863,
tliey took part in an all-day engagement at
Dugs Gap. where two of Captain Murchi-
son"s men were killed and one wounded.
They were in the battle of Chickamauga on
Sunday, and the Captain was rendered un-
conscious by being hit by a piece of shell,
but the following day resumed command
of his company. He had command of his
regiment in an engagement in front of Dal-
ton, in February, 1864, at which time he lost
two of his own company. He was in the bat-
tle of Resaca. Georgia, and was under al-
most constant tire for nearly a month during
the Atlanta campaign. His command was
ordered back on reaching ^larietta. and he
received an hontirable disciiarge at Chicago,
July 9. 1864.

Returning to his home he resumed farm-
ing, having previously purchased one hun-
dred and sixty acres of land in Stark county,
and later bought eighty acres adjoining in
Henry county. This he fenced, broke and im-
proveil. and erected thereon one of the best
country residences in the community, to-
gether with good and .substantial outbuild-
ings. Upon his place was a beautiful grove
of forest trees covering ten acres. In con-
nection witli the cultivation of liis kunl he
engaged in the raising of cattle and hogs, and
in iiis business affairs met with excellent suc-
cess. Having acquired a comftirtable com-
petence he retired from active labor in 1897,
and renting his farm he removed to Wethers-
field, where be has since made his home.

In Stark county. Captain Murchison was
married, July 3, 1866. to Miss Margaret N.
A\'eed. a daughter of Rev. M. C. Weed, a
native of Pennsylvania, and one of the pio-
neer preachers of Stark county. Mrs. Mur-

chison was principally reared and educated
in Marshall county. The Captain and his
wife are the parents of three children. A.
Clarence, who is married and engaged in the
practice of dentistry in Toulon, Illinois;
Lorena L., wife of William C. Palmer, an
undertaker of Kewanee; and Frances C. J.,
who is well educated and is engaged in
teaching in the Kewanee schools.

Since casting his first presidential vote
for John C. Fremont in 1856, Captain }^Iur-
chison has affiliated with the Republican
party, and has been a stanch advocate of its
principals. He has served as a delegate to
county, congressional and state conventions,
and for thirty years was a member of the Re-
publican central committee of his township,
serving as its chairman most of the time.
For some years he was a member of the
school board, and has also filled the offices
of supervisor and township trustee. He is
a prominent member and past commander
of the Grand Army Post at Kewanee. and
stands deservedly high in the esteem of his
fellow citizens. Throughout his career of
continued and far-reaching usefulness his
duties have been performed with the greatest
care, and his business interests have been
so managed as to win him the confidence of
the public and the prosperity which should
alwavs attend honorable effort.

NICHOLAS BFCKliR.

In this enlightened age, when men of
energy, industry and merit are rapidly push-
ing their way to the front, those who, by
their own individual efforts, have won favor
and fortune, may properly claim recogni-
tion. Years ago, when Illinois was entering

226

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

upon its era of growth and development and
Henry county was laying its foundation for
future prosperity, there came thither from
all parts of the world men poor luit honest,
and with sturdy independence and determina-
tion to succeed that justly entitles them to
representation in the history of the county.
Among this class was numbered Nicholas
Becker, who for many years was a highly es-
teemed citizen of the county.

He was a native of Hettersdorf, Saar-
louis, Prussia, and obtained a meagre edu-
cation in the land of his birth. In 1853 he
came to the new world and began life as a
stranger in a strange land, entirely unfa-
miliar with the English language and the
customs of the country. He was, however,
willing to work, and possessed indomitable
courage and perseverance. He obtained
employment w'ith the Illinois Central rail-
road at Chicago, with whom he remained
until coming to Henry county in 1856, when
he began work for the Rock Island Railroad
Company. He remained in their employ,
his home being in Geneseo, until 1870, when
he secured a position with the Haywood
& Smith Company, with which he -was con-
nected for eight years. Owing to his dili-
gence, economy and industry during these
years, he managed to acumulate a comforta-
ble competence, and throughout the remaind-
er of his life successfully engaged in garden-
of his life successfully engaged in garden-
ing' and stock raising on his own account.

On the 9th of :March, 1858, at Cam-
bridge. Illinois, Mr. Becker was united in
marriage with Miss Augusta Bode, a native
of Grosfreden, Germany, and to them were
born five children, namely : Henry R. mar-
ried Jennie Reams and resides in Elden.
Iowa. Mary owns and occupies the old
homestead at No. 108 South Oakwood ave-

nue, Geneseo, and also owiis other city prop-
erty and some farm land. She is a member
of the Catholic Church and is a most esti-
mable lady. Caroline died in infancy. John
J. married Bessie Kehoe and lives in Nor-
man, Oklahoma. Carrie died in infancy.

After a useful and well-spent life Mr.
Becker died February 14. 1892, at the age
of sixtj'-eight years, and his wife passed
away March 16, 1898, at the same age, the
remains of both being interred at Geneseo.
He was a devout member of the Catholic
Church and was one of the first trustees of
the church at Geneseo, which position he re-
tained for a number of years. He was just-
ly recognized as one of the energetic and
representative citizens of his community,
and he had the confidence and high regard
of all with whom he came in contact either
in business or social life. His wife was a
member of the German Lutheran Church,
with which body she held membership dur-
ing her life.

V. W. CLOUGH.

Sound judgment combined with fine abil-
ity in mechanical lines has enabled the sub-
ject of this biography, a well-known resi-
dent of Geneseo, to attain a substantial suc-
cess in life, and his history is of especial in-
terest. He was born in \\'indham county,
\'emiont, January 20, 1856, a son of Har-
vey V. and Sophia L. (Heins) Clough, also
natives of the Green Mountain state. His
maternal grandfather was William Heins.
The father, who was a verj' successful farm-
er, came to Henr}- county, Illinois, in 1857,
and purchased a tract of woodland in Ed-
ford township. He converted the timber
into cordwood, and that undertaking proved

LIBRARY

UNlVERSnv OF ILLINOIS

URSAXA

THE BIOGRAriilCAL RECORD.

229

quite profitable. He finally sold his property
in that townsiiip and removed to Genesee
township, where he owned and operated a
large farm, but spent the last few years of
his life in retirement from active lalmr in
Geneseo, where he died in 1899, at the age of
sixty-nine years. He was an ujjright, hon-
orable man, of most exemplary habits and
liberal views, and was a Republican in poli-
tics. His estimable wife is still living, at
the age of sixty-five years, an honored resi-
dent of Geneseo. In their family were eight
children: V. W., of this review; Henry C.,
a resident of Davenport, Iowa; Frank, who
died at the age of thirty years; Harry, who
died in boyhood; Llewellyn, who died when
a young man; Clyde M., a resident of Dav-
enport; and two who died young.

Coming to this county during his in-
fancy, \". W. Clough was educated in the
public schools of Geneseo. He early became
familiar with every detail of farm work in
assisting his father, and grew u]) to be one
of the most progressive and skillful farmers
of his community. He made a thorough
study of the lousiness, ever seeking for the
best methods of carrj'ing on his work, and
was what is properly termed a scientific
farmer. For twenty years he followed that
occupation with good results. Possessing
much mechanical ingenuity and very handy
with tools, he finally turned his attention to
manufacturing enterprises. He has invented
many contrivances and some very important
machiner}', including the first successful
traction separator, which consists of a trac-
tion engine coupled to a threshing .separator
in such a way that it makes the two machines
into one. It can be moved forward or back-
ward without removing the main drive belt:
i-i always set and always in line: and is ab-
solutely safe from fire. 1 te built bis tirst ma-

chine in si.xty days in 1898 after having de-
voted three years to practical observation and
to the study of old machines being operated
in the fields. His niachine was first tested in
Illinois, and then shi])pe(l to Minnesota, be-
ing used in the large wheat fields in that
state, also in North and South Dakota and in
Oklahoma. In this undertaking Mr. Clough
has been unassisted. The practical working
of the machine in the fields has been its best
recommendatiiin and has secured the most
sales. A large expense is saved in help and
labor as it moves one-third easier than dlhcr
machines, and nearly one-foiu-th easier when
ibreshing. It is con.sequently also a fuel and
w ater saver. The first machine was so com-
])lete that little changes have since been made.
Mr. Clough has listened to thousands of gra-
tuitous suggestions, but has not found it
feasible to change the pattern. In furnishing
the engraving on another page. Mr. Clough
writes :

Illustration Xo. i was taken while in op-
eration, threshing ior t'bas. (). Mnnter July
-'8, 1898. I threshed about sixty acres of
heavy oats, stacking the straw on a pole shed
for his stock. This straw stack was over one
lunidred feet long, only a small i)ortion of it
being shown in photo. I moved the machine
four times in threshing this job, and while
moving there were no belts renicnetl aiul the
separator ne\-er stopped running. It was such
a surprise to the grain man watching the
operation he forgot to place the wagon under
the grain spout, and the weigher dumped
several half-bushels on the ground. The only
time lost in setting this combination is wait-
ing for the fanner to get his grain wagon in
l^lace. Time saved, however, is about one
(la\" in a week over the nld way in Illinois
anti two days in the great wheat field of
the Xorthwest.

J30

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

No. 2 is \vhat is called a perfect "set."
This photo was taken -while threshing; for
ir. Pritchard, .\ugust 1st. This "set" elim-
inates all fire danger. The smoke and sparks
from the engine Avill be noticed hlowing
baclcward, the straw stack some forty feet
to one side and a little to the front. The
Avind may blow a gale and threshing can go
on with perfect safety. This "set" will leave
grain slide clear from all dirt and be clean
tor engine. This is a "slight catering wind
set."

No. 3 shows the main or drive l)elt side
of the traction separator.

No. 4 is the opposite side of traction
separator with the inventor at the steering
wheel with hand on throttle ready to move
the machine backward or forward. It is
guided easier, leveled quicker than can be
done with two machines the old way.

Mr. Clough has also invented a self-
feeder for threshing machines, which is very
simple, consisting of a band cutter and car-
rier, ha\-ing none of the com])licated shake
l)oards found in other machines. This in-
vention is all his own and the secret of its
success is the way the grain is fed to the
cylinder of the thresher. With eight men
pitching from t\)ur ricks into the feeder it
seems hungr}- for more grain. It has been
estimated by competent judges that this feed-
er is capable of recei\'ing and threshing ten
bushels of grain per minute, .\nother of
Air. Clough's inventions is the combination
water, coal and straw tender attached to trac-
tion engines which carries the water and coal
supply in the coal burning districts and the
straw used as fuel in the great wheat fields of
tlie north. These iiu'entions will all be man-
ufactured at the factor}- established by our
subject at Geneseo. In business afiairs he
is energetic prompt and notably reliable and

his upright, honorable course in life com-
mends him to the confidence of all. Politi-
cally he is identified with the Republican
])arty, and socially affiliates with the Masonic
fraternity, Stewart Lodge, No. 92, A. F.
& A. M.'

On the 1 8th of May, 1880, Mr. Clough
v.as united in marriage with ]\Iiss Josie
Thayer, a native of New York and a daugh-
ter of Henr}- and Emily Thayer, .\fter the
Ci\il war her father, who was a farmer by
occupation, came to Illinois and settled at
W'oodhull, Henry county. He was a most
upright and worthy citizen of that jilace for
many years, and died in 1894, at the age of
si.xty-five. His wife is now a resident of
.Vurora, Illinois, and is about si.xty years of
age. Their children were Josie, wife of our
subject: Carrie, wife of Charlie Hart; and
Ivobert, a resident of .-Vlpha. Illinois. Mr.
and Mrs. Clough have two children : Leslie
V. and Florence S. During the Spanish-
American war Leslie V. Clough enlisteil in
Company B, Si.xth Illinois \'olunteer Infan-
try, and with his regiment went from Spring-
field into camp at Camp Alger, and later to
Porto Rico. He A\as finally mustered out
of service, and on his return home completetl
a business course at Moline. He is a }-oung-
man of good ha'bits and much promise. He
has had much experience as an engineer and
is a first class workman in that line, to which
he has devoted considerable attention since
tile earlv age of nine years.

WILLIAM .V. REMINGTON.

There are in ev^ery community men of
great force of character and e.xceptional abil-
ity, who by reason of their capacity for

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

231

leadership become recognized as foremost
citizens, and bear a most important part in
tlie development and progress of the locality
with which they are connected. Such a man
is William A. Remington, mayor of (iene-
sco, Illinois, and manager of all the stock-
yards on the Rock Island railroad system.

He was born in Rehoboth. Massachu-
setts, on the 29th of .\pril. ICS30. and is a
son of Samuel W. and Harriett (Reed)
Remington, also nati\es of the old Bay
state. His paternal grandparents were Enoch
and Ruth (Kent) Remington, the former of
whom died January i. 1794. at the earl\- age
of twenty-five years, while the latter sur-
vived until the 24th of May. 1H57. Shortly
after tlie birth of our subject his parents re-
mo\ed to \\'arren. Rhode Island, where the
father engaged in mercantile business until
his death, which occurred in 1850. His
wife survived him several years and died at
her home in Providence, Rhode Island, in
1877. Both were active members of the
Congregational Church. and he affiliated w itli
the old \N'hig party, but never took a promi-
nent part in political affairs, although he was
a public-spirited man and an advocate of all
that tend to improve or advance the com-
munity in which he lived.' In his family
were five children, four sons and one daugh-
ter, namely : Harriet, who married Simeon
Talbot, a contractor of Providence. Rhode
Island, and died leaving three children, one
of whom is Ella, wife of Charles H. Boyer,
assistant superintendent of the public schools
of Philadelphia; William A., our subject,
who is second in order of birth ; Samuel and
John X., Ix3th retired merchants of Provi-
dence, Rhode Island; and Samuel .\., who
died in infancy.

Being taken by his parents to Warren,
Rhode Island, during his infancv, William

.\. Remington was reared in that city and
educated in its common schools. In 1S50
he embarked in business at that i)lace. but
four \ears later rcnio\cd to Providence,
where he conducted a mercantile establish-
ment until going to Davenport. Iowa, in
1856. He was one of the leading merchants
of that city until 1861, when he was ap-
pointed route agent on the Rock Island
railroad diu'ing President Lincoln's admin-
istration. Dm-ing his residence in Davenport
lie also served as city treasurer for eleven
years. In 1872 Mr. Remington came to
Geneseo. Illinois, ami was made manager of
stockyards for the Rock Island Railroad
Company, being associated with Colonel
Galligan. now deceased, for ten years. He
has held that responsible position continuous-
ly since, and now has charge of all the stock-
yards of the system, \\hich require his ser-
vices in Kansas. Iowa and Illinois.

In 1855 yiv. Remington was united in
marriage with Miss Maria L. Cole, a daugh-
ter of Ebenezer and Maria (Thompson)
Cole, of \\'arren. Rhode Island. Through-
out his actix'e business life her father was
engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods.
Both he and his wife died in Warren. The>'
were the parents of four children, of whom
two are still li\ing. Unto Mr. and ^Irs.
Remington ha\e been born three children,
but only one survixes : Henry W., born in
Rhode Island, married .\nnie E. Watson, of
Bristol, that state, and has for some years
been connected with the Merchant Publish-
ing Company of Chicago, where he makes h.is-
home. Minnie, born in Davenport. Iowa.
died at the age of eight years, and William
Gibbs died at the age of fourteen months.

Mr. Remington has been a director of
the Eirst National Bank of Geneseo for many
years. Socially- he is a prominent Mason.

23:

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

having taken the degrees of the Scottish
Rite and the 3ilystic Shrine, and poHtically
he is an ardent Repubhcan. On coming to
Geneseo he at once became identified with
pubhc affairs, and liis fellow citizens recog-
nizing his worth and ability, have called upon
him to fill the highest office of their city. He
is now efficiently serving his fourth term
as mayor of the city, and the reins of city
government, have never been in more capable
hands, for he is a progressive man, pre-emi-
nently public-spirited, and all that pertains
to the public welfare receives his hearty en-
dorsement.

JOHN M. HATCH.

After an active and useful life, mainly
devoted to agricultural pursuits, J. M. Hatch
is now living retired in Kewanee, Illinois.
He is a native of the Green Mountain state,
his birth having occurred in Caledonia coun-
ty. March lo, 1827. and is a son of Moses
and Jane (Gates) Hatch, natives of Elaine
and Vermont, respectively. The father be-
came a prosperous farmer of the latter state,
where he owned and operated two hundred
and fifty acres of land, and as one of the
leading men of his community he was hon-
ored with town offices. He died in April,
1858, at the age of sixty-four years, having
long survived his wife, who was only thirty-
four at the time of her death. In religious be-
lief they were Presbyterians. In their family
were six children, namely : Jane, who be-
came the wife of A. L. Clark and died in
January, 1848, at the age of twenty-seven
years, leaving two children, Horace and W'n]-
hice; Martha, who became the wife of Sam-
uel Page and died in 1851, at the age of
twenty-six, leaving one child, Martha, who

died in 1852, when only tvvo years and a
half old; Eliza, who died at the age of eight-
een months J. !M., our subject; Horace, who
d:ed in March, 1843, at the age of fourteen
years and a half; and Eliza, the second, of
that name, who is the wife of S. D. Lyle of
Neponset, Illinois, and has three children,
Charles, Herbert and Maxwell.

During his boyhood and youth J. ^L
Hatch became familiar with agricultural
pursuits upon the home farm, where he was
reared and acquired a good knowledge of the
common English branches in the schools of
the neighborhood. After completing his ed-
ucation he worked in a sa\%inill, a brick
kiln, and at the carpenter's trade for a time,
and operated his father's farm one year. On
coming west in 185 1 he located in Stark
county, the nearest town of any importance
at that time being Henry. He purchased
land in Elmira township, and meeting with
success in his farming operations he became
the owner of five hundred acres of valuable
land, a portion of which he has since divided
among his children. Some of this property
was in Henry county. In February, 1895,
he removed to Kewanee where he built a fine
home with all modern appliances for com-
fort and economy, where he has since li\-ed
a retired life, enjo3'ing the fruits of former
toil. He was one of the original stockhold-
ers of the Union Bank of Kewanee.

On the 24th of February, 1853, was cele-
brated the marriage of Mr. Hatch and Miss
Roxana Lyle, also a native of Vemiont and a
daughter of William Lyle, who brought his
family to Illinois in 1834 and became one of
the pioneers of Stark county, where he spent
the remainder of his life, dying there in the
fall of 1858, at the age of fifty-five years.
His wife, who bore the maiden name of At-
lanta Darling, passed away in 1885, at the

UNlVtRSllT UF ILLINOIS

J. M. HATCH.

MRS. J. M. HATCH

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URSP.NA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

237

age of seventy-seven years. She was a mem-
ber of the Congregational Churdi, and the
mother of fifteen cliildren, fourteen of whom
reached adult ages and ten are still living. In
order of birtli they were as follows : Eliza-
beth, wife of William G. Perkins, of Elmira,
Illinois Thomas, deceased ; Thomas, the sec-
ond of that name, who died at Pikes Peak
in 1859; Stephen D., a resident of Neponset,
Illinois; Roxana, wife of our subject; Wal-
ter and Jennette, twins, the former a resident
of Dakcjta county, Nebraska, the latter the
wife of John L. Price of Republic county,
Kansas; Julia, deceased wife of Silas Paten ;
Lydia J. .who died at the age of twenty years ;
George W., who enlisted in 1864 with the
one-hundred-day men called out by Gov-
ernor Yates, and died in the service at the age
of twenty years; Franklin, a fanner of El-
mira, Illinois; Xorris, a farmer of Alodena,
Stark county; Emeline, wife of William Ber-
ry, of Reno, X'evada; Lucinda, wife of Dav-
id Moffit ; and Rufus D., a resident of Xepon-
set, Illinois.

Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Hatch, Horace died at the age of thirteen
months and Burton at the age of fifteen
months. Clara E. is the wife of Charles N.
Good, a farmer of Elmira, Stark county,
and they have two children, Maxwell C. and
^lartha. Cora L. married first John Wilcox,
by whom she had one child, Burton B., and
for her second husband she married Albert
Early, a fanner of Kewanee townshi]). this
county. Martha J. died at about the age of
eleven years. Orin L., a farmer of Elmira,
Stark county, married Mrs. Minnie (Barry)
Higgtns, widow of James Higgins, by whom
she had one child, Nevada. By her mar-
riage with Mr, Hatch she had two children :
Bertha; and John, who died at the age of one
year and two weeks.

B}- his ballot our subject supiwrts the
men and measures of the Democracy, and he
has filled miucir township offices. Having
always taken a deep interest in educational
affairs, he efficiently served as school direc-
tor for .some time. While a resident of
Stark county he served fur ten years as di
rector and treasurer of the Farmers Mutual
Fire Insurance Company, but resigned the
office on his removal to Kewanee. He is a
njan of genial disposition, is progressive and
public-spirited, and holds a high place in the
esteem of his fellow citizens.

WILLIAM L. KIRKPATRICK.

This well-known • and ^xDpular pho-
tographer of Geneseo is a native of Illinois,
born in \'ermilion county, February 5,
1841, and is a son of Dr. William Kirk-
patrick, who was for many years a promi-
nent and successful physician of Tiskilwa,
Bureau county, this state. The father was
l)orn in New Athens, Harrison county,
Ohio, July 17, 1 81 7. hi his youth his
health was not the best, and for that reason
his attention was called to the consideration
of medicine, which resulted finally in his
becoming a practicing physician. In Knox
county, Ohio, he was married, April 25,
1840, to Mrs. Cornelia (Benson) Gunn,
who by her former marriage had two chil-
dren: Abel died in Chicago, aged fifty-two
years, and Lewis, who died when one year
old, while on the way across the country
with his parents coming west. Of the
children born to the Doctor, William L..
our subject, is the oldest; Sarah is the wife
of William H. Whalen, of Des Moines,
Iowa; Mary E. is the wife of Frank Has-
kins, of Sioux City, Iowa; Lyman died at

2S8

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the age of nineteen years; and IMargaret
A. is the wife of George Dexter, of Tiskil-
\\a, Illinois. In the fall of 1851 Dr. Kirk-
jjatrick moved to Tiskihva, where he was
engaged in practice until 1863. when he
opened a drug store at that place and con-
ducted it until his death, which occurred
July 26. 1888. He was widely and favor-
al)ly known and was held in high regard b\^
a large circle of friends. In his political
\iews he was a strong Reiiublican, and for
a score of years was an efficient member
of the board of education in his town. His
estimable wife, who was born in Hart-
ford, Connecticut, February 29. 1816, a
daughter of Lyman Benson, is still one of
the honored residents of Tiskihva. She is
one of the pioneers of this section. In 1836
she droA-e an ox team from Knox county,
Ohio, to Keokuk, Iowa, her onl}- companion
being her sick husband, who died while on
the journey, and the child Lewis, who also
died while on that trip. She has been a
life-long and active member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church.

\\'illiam L. Kirkpatrick. of this review,
grew to manhood in Tiskihva, and received
a good common-school education. From
the age of fifteen years he followed tele-
graphing at various places, and was dis-
patcher at Geneseo in 1857. In 1856 he
began learning the old daguerreotype pro-
cess of making pictures and in 1858 he
learned the ambrotype process and in i860
cijmmenced taking photographs. He has
since devoted his attention to that business,
always keeping abreast with the advance-
ment and progress made in the science. In
March, 1869, he opened a studio in Geneseo,
and now has one of the best equipped gal-
leries in this section of the state, it being
supplied with the latest improved apparatus

needed in the business. He has gained an
enviable reputation as one of the best pho-
tographers in this section, and his patron-
age comes from a wide extent of territory,
b.aving at the present writing work from
Cambridge and Atchison, Illinois, Grinell,
Iowa, and other cities. He is very progress-
i\e and has invented a device for taking
stamp pictures, giving fifteen different po-
sitions or expressions. This instrument
makes one, two. four, eight of fifteen pic-
tures all on one plate.

On the 17th of July, 1862, :Mr. Kirk-
patrick married Miss R. F. Trask, a native
of Elaine, and a daughter of William
Trask, who with his family was living in
Buda, Illinois, at the time of our subject's
marriage. B}- this union there is one child,
Hali T., collector in a store in Pueblo,
Colorado. The son was married, in 1895,
to Emma Koster, who has been blind for the
past two years, supposedly the residt of
an attack of smallpox. Owing to ill health
yirs. Kirkpatrick has resided with her son
in Colorado for the past two years. She
is a member of the L'nitarian Church.

At national elections ^Ir. Kirkpatrick
supports the Republican party, but in local
affairs votes independently of party lines.
He has served as secretary of the board of
health for nearly five years, and was alder-
man from the First ward two years. He is
Line of Geneseo's leading business men and
honored citizens, and well deserves the suc-
cess that has come to him.

THOMAS McCLURE.

Among Kewanee's leading citizens and
prominent business men is numbered
Thomas McClure, who was born in Knox

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

239

county, Illinois. May 16, 1848, a son of
Daniel and Laura Ann (Little) IMcClure.
The Little family is of Puritan descent, ami
was founded in America by one of the pas-
sengers of the Mayflower. Our subject's
father was born in Ireland of Scotch par-
entage, and when a young man came to the
"United States. He first located in Xew
York, where he was connected witli .\. T.
Stewart for some time, they having been
schoolmates in the old country. Coming
to Illinois, in 1836, he visited what is now
Henry county, but decided to locate at
Cairo, where he spent some years. He
would build flatboats, which he would load
w ith produce and float down the Mississippi
to Xew Orleans, where he would dispose of
his stock, sell his boat for wood and return
to Cairo and repeat the operation. This
business he followed several years and was
very successful in the enterprise. Later he
was engaged in general merchandising in
that city with a partner for some time, but
finally sold out in 1848 and returned to
Henry gaunty. He erected a .store build-
ing in W'ethersfield, which he stocked with
everything neetled by the early settlers.
He was one of the pioneer merchants of the
place, as only one man was engaged in
business there when he opened his general
store. Instead of money, which was scarce
among the early settlers, he received most-
ly produce in exchange for his goods, and
this he would sell in Lacon and Peoria, or
sometimes Chicago, driving cattle and hogs
to those cities, where he received for dressed
hogs only seventy-five cents or a dollar per
I'lUndred. He continued in that line of busi-
ness for about twelve years and later dealt
in real estate, and was an extensive owner
of real estate in the county. He died at
\\'ethcrsfield February 16, 1893, at the age

of nearly ninet\'-one years, in the house
which had been his home for forty-five
years. His first wife had passed away in
185-', leaving two children: Thomas, our
subject; and William B., also a resident
of Kewanee. For his second wife the Fa-
ther married Matilda Case, a native of In-
diana, who died in 1895. From the or-
ganization of the Republican party he was
a supporter of its principles, and always
took an active interest in public affairs,
though he never would accept ofiice, with
the exception of school trustee, which he
filled for a number of years. He was ^•cry
successful in business, was a good financier
and an excellent judge of men. His circle
of friends and acquaintances was extensive,
and he was highly respected and esteemed
by all who knew him. He was rearetl in
the Presbyterian faith, and, though not a
member of any church, he gave liberally
to all, and was very charitable and benev-
olent.

Reared in \\'ethersfield, Thomas Mc-
Clure received his early education in the
primitive schools of pioneer days, which
he attended until fifteen years of age. In
the meantime the Civil war had broken out.
and, imbued with a spirit of patriotism, he
enlisted in February, 1863, in Company
H, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, which was as-
signed to General Wilson's corps and sent
to Memphis, Tennessee. He remained in
the service and was in all the engagements
of his regiment until the close of the war.
He was mustered out at Selma, Alabama,
October 30, 1865.

Returning to Kewanee he attended
school two winters and then commenced
farming in Wethersfield township on ninety
acres of land belonging to his father, lie
followed that pursuit successfully for twenty

240

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years, and is still the owner of two hun-
dred and fifty acres of land in Kewanee
township and one hundred and thirty-three
acres in Annawan township. On his retire-
ment from farming he engaged in buying
and selling stock for some years, but dis-
continued that business on his removal to
Kewanee in 1893, shortly before the death
of his father. He has since been interested
in the real estate and loan business, and ir.
1899, in connection with Frank A. Cahow
built the Kewanee Opera House, at a cost of
twenty-five thousand dollars, but has since
purchased his partner's interest. It is one
of the finest buildings of the kind in any
town the size of Kewanee in the country,
while the scenery and general appointments
would do credit to a city ten times as large.
The stage is 40x60 feet ; there are ten dress-
ing rooms, supplied with iiot and cold
water; and in fact all modern appliances
and conveniences of a first-class theater are
here found. ^Ir. ilcClure secures only the
best entertainments of high moral charac-
ter and does all in his power to satisfy the
wishes and desires of his patrons. He is
also the owner of ninety acres of land in
W'ethersfield township.

On the j/th of May, 1867, .Mr. :Mc-
Clure married ^liss Jane Atherton, a na-
tive of Henry county, and a daughter of
Milton Atherton, now deceased, who was
one of the early settlers of Stark comity,
Illinois, where he followed farming for
many years, ilrs. McClure is the sixth in
order of birth in a family of nine children,
the others being as follows : Phebe A., wife
of Cyrus Pratt, of ^Murray, Iowa; A. S.j a
^Methodist Episcopal minister, who is now
engaged in farming in Nevada, Missouri;
Joseph C, a resident of West Jerse3% Stark
county, Illinois; Eliza Ellen, widow of

Alexander Johnson and a resident of Cali-
fornia; Kate, wife of J. M. Jones, of La-
fayette, Stark county; Jasper, a farmer of
Nevada, Missouri ; Emma, widow of John
Coucins of the same place; and Carrie, wife
of Dorington M. Good, of Wethersfield
township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Mc-
Clure are the parents of three children,
namely: (1) Fred D., general manager of
the Gail Borden condensed milk factory at
Elgin, Illinois, married Mattie Mc\'icker,
and they have three children, Leland, Sadie
and i^Iaxie. (2) Emma Edith is the wife
of Ira J. Dunlap, of Johnson county, Illi-
nois. (3) Sadie died March 15, 1888, at
ilie age of fifteen years.

Fraternally Mr. McClure is an honored
member cf Julius A. Pratt Post, No. 143,
G. A. R... m which he has held nearly all
the ofiices, and politically he is identified
Avith the Republican party. He served one
term as supervisor of Kewanee, but has
never cared for the honors or emoluments
of public office, preferring to devote his un-
divided attention to his business interests.
He possesses untiring energy, is quick of
perception, forms his plans readily and is
determined in their execution; and his
close application to business and excellent
management have brought to him the high
degree of prosperity which is to-day his.

JOHN LEWIS.

For half a century, John Lewis, now de-
ceased, was one of the highly esteemed citi-
zens of Henry county, and in early life was
prominently identified with its agricultural
interests, though he was living a retired life in
Geneseo at the time of his death, which oc-
curred ]klarch 5, 1900. He was born in Penn-

Ll6'?ARY
UNIVtRSIir OF ILLINOIS

JOHN LEWIS.

MRS. JOHN LEWIS.

Llb'^ARY

UNIVERSnv OF ILLINOIS

URSAKA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

^43

sylvania, April 17. iSjo, but was only three
years old when he removed with his parents
to Jackson county. Ohio, where he continued
to make his home for several years. During
his boyhcwd and youth he assisted his father
in the labors of the home farm, and early ac-
quired an excellent knowledge of the occupa-
tion to which he devoted his active life.

In 1847 ^Ir. Lewis wedded Hiss Mary
Cozad, of Ohio, and three years later came
to Henry county, Illinois, locating in Corn-
wall township, where he purchased land, and
successfully engaged in general farming and
stock raising for several years, accumulating
a large property. In 1878 he laid aside all
business cares and removed to Geneseo,
where he lived retired until his death. He
^\•as called upon to fill nearly all the local of-
fices of his township, and in all the relations
of life was found true and faithful to every
trust reposed in him. He commanded the
confidence and respect of his associates and
was held in high regard by all who knew
him.

Mr. Lewis' first wife died in 1897. By
that union he had fourteen children, namely :
William, deceased; Abraham, a resident of
Cormvall township; Samuel, who lives in
Atkinson township, this comity ; George W.,
who is engaged in fanning in Jasper county,
Illinois; John and Stephen, both residents of
Cornwall township; Francis M., of Peoria
county, Illinois; Charles A., of Kansas City,
^Missouri; Charity, wife of James Fell, of
Geneseo; Alfred, of Munson township, this
county; Robert, of Kansas City, Missouri;
Mary, wife of George Hudson, of Indian
Territory; Albert, who died in infancy; and
Andrew, of Spring Creek, Illinois.

On the 29th of November, 1899, Mr.
Lewis married Mrs. Kate Grain, a native of
McHenry county, Illinois. Her parents,

Horace and Rebecca (Warner) Mitchell,
were born in New York state, and on coming
to Illinois about 1850 settled in McHenry
county. Her father was a railroad conduct-
or, and was with the Rock Island road for
r.early fifty years, during which time he
made his home in Geneseo. He was killed
while in the discharge of his duties in 1877.
]^Irs. Lewis' mother had died many years be-
fore, and for his second wife he married
Eva Mitchell, by whom he had two children.
There were five children by the first mar-
riage and four of the number are still living,
Mrs. Lewis being the third in order of
birth. ]\Ir. Mitchell was a prominent Mason
and took an active interest in the work of
that order. ^Irs. Lewis' first husband was
Bruce Grain, who was born in New York
state, and was only two years old when
brought by his parents to this county, the
family locating in Atkinson township. Mr.
Grain was a soldier of the Civil war and fol-
lowed the carpenter's trade for many years.
By her first marriage !Mrs. Lewis has two
sons : Albert, who was born in Kansas in
1877, noAV employed in the boiler shop at
Kewanee, and who served as a soldier in the
Spanish-American war in Porto Rico; and
Frank, who was born in 1886 and lives with
his mother in Geneseo, and is attending the
liisrh school.

JOHN FISCHER.

Prominent among the energetic, far-
seeing and successful business men of Ke-
wanee is the subject of this sketch, whose
life history most happily illustrates what
may be attained by faithful and continued
effort in carrying out an honest puri>ose.
Integrity, activity and energv- have been the

244

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

crowning points of his success, and his
connection with the various business enter-
prises and industries have been of decided
advantage to Kewanee, promoting its ma-
terial welfare in no uncertain manner.

Mr. Fischer was born in Schafifhausen,
Prussia, Germany, February 20, 1858, and
attended the public schools of his native
land from the age of six until coming to
America with his parents, Peter and Mar-
guerite Fischer, in 1870. The famih- ar-
rived on the 27th of June at Kewanee,
where our subject's oldest brother. Nicholas,
had located in 1867. Here the father
worked in the mines for some years, having
lieen a mine carpenter and boss in Germany.
He was born in 1820, and died in 1878,
while his wife was born in March, 1820,
and died on the seventy-second anniversary
of her birth. In their family were ten chil-
dren, namely: Nicholas, who died in 1870,
at the age of twenty-three years ; Michael,
who conducts a meat market at Kewanee;
Mary, wife of Joseph Hofifrichter o.f the
same place; Elizabeth, widow of C. G.
Bauer; Margaret, widow of John Streicher;
Peter, who died in infancy; John, our sub-
ject; Peter, a business man of Kewanee;
Carl, who died in infancy; and Mitchell,
who died in this county at the age of six
years. The family are communicants of
the Catholic Churfch.

After coming to this country John
Fischer attended a country school in Ke-
wanee township for two years and then be-
gan his business career by working in the
mines with his father for three weeks, which
he says was one of the happiest periods of
his life. He then worked on a farm for
two years, and at the end of that time be-
gan delivering groceries for the firm of
Wood & Lewis. When those gentlemen

dissolved partnership he found employment
with the Haxtun steam heater works at sev-
enty-five cents per day, but three months
later L. W. Lewis again embarked in the
grocery business and persuaded our sub-
ject to again enter his services. He re-
mained with him five years, and then clerked
for M. C. Ouinn one year, at the end of
which time he purchased Mr. Lewis' store
and continued in the grocery business alone
for three years. He was a member of the
firm of Fischer & Mahew from 1884 to
1889, and then sold out to his partner and
embarked in the real estate and loan busi-
ness, which he still carries on. He has a
government broker's license, for which he
pays fifty dollars per year, and does the
largest business in his line in the city. In
1890 when C. C. Blish was president of
the First National Bank he iiuluced Mr.
Fischer to buy some stock, and at the fol-
lowing election our subject was made a di-
rector, which position he has filled ever
since. For the past five years he has served
as vice-president. He is also a stockholder,
secretary and treasurer of the Kewanee
Coal & Mining Company. He is the owner
of the Fischer building, which is the oldest
brick store building in Kewanee. This he
has remodeled and converted into one of
the nicest store and oftice buildings in the
city. He also owns five new store and office
buildings in Chicago. He does an extensive
business in buying and selling mortgages
for friends and clients, having handled over
three hundred thousand dollars worth, but
has foreclosed only one and that was a
friendly foreclosure. He makes loans in
Kewanee, Chicago and elsewhere.

On the 2nd of October, 1883. Mr.
Fischer was united in marriage with Miss
Etta R. Lyle, a native of Kewanee and a

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

245

•(.laug-hter of George and Sarah (Snugs)
Lyle. Her father was also born in Henry
county, but her mother's birth occurred in
London. Juigland. They were married in
Kewanee, and here both ihed at an carh-
xige, leaving four children : George, now a
farmer of Monroe, Jas[)er county, Iowa:
William H., who married Mollie P. Shrop-
^;hire and lives in Kewanee; and Etta R.,
wife of our su1)ject. One son, John, died
in childhood. These children were reared
by the i)aternal grandfather, John Lyle,
who was born at nr near Paisley, Scotland,
July 2y, 1806, and was brought to -Amer-
ica by his mother in 1816, joining his fa-
ther, \\'illiam Lyle, in Alexandria, Vir-
ginia. Two years later the family remo\-ed
to Caledonia county, \'ermont, where his
lather died in 1834. at the age of sixty-
si.x. In 1836 John Lyle came to Illinois,
and entered a tract of land in Elmira town-
ship. Stark count}-, where he was joined b\'
his mother and the uther members of the
family a year later. The nK)ther li\ed to the
advanced age of ninety-hve years. Air.
Lyle received oniv a limited educatiun in
the subscription schools, and was entirely
a self-made man, who through his own un-
xiided efforts became • quite wealthy. Al-
though almost sixty years of age he enlisted
-March 24, 1864. in Cumijany K, ( )nc Hun-
dred and Thirt_\-fourth Illinois X'olunteer
Jnfantr}-, and served until his term expired
on the 25th of the following October. In
X'ermont he was married, June ly, 1833,
to iMiss Hester D. Craig, who was to him
a faithful helpmate throughout a long mar-
ried life. Their onl}- child, Cieorge Lyle,
the father of ilrs. Fischer, was born in Oc-
tober, 1834. and died May 19, i86j. The
grandfather died in July, 1889, at the age
of eighty-three, and his wife passed away

in May, 1897, at the age of seventy-nine.
From Stark county they came to Henry
county at an early day, and were numbered
among its honored and highly respected citi-
zens.

To Mr. and Mrs. Fischer have been bom
live children, as follows: Haydn L., who
is attending the high school of Kewanee;
J. Emmons; Marguerite, who died July 2,
1893, at the age of two years and a half;
Lawrence, who died in 1896, at the age of
fourteen months : and George Lyle. The
mother and chiklren are members of the
Episcopal Church, while Mr. Fischer is a
Catholic in religious belief. Since casting
his lirst presidential vote for James A. Gar-
field he has affiliated with the Republican
party, but has never cared for political
honors. He had no cai)ital on starting out
in life for himself, and as a farm hand
worked for one hundred dollars the first
year and one hundred and twenty dollars the
second, which amount went to the support
of his widowed mother. His record is
therefore that of a man who by his own un-
aided efforts has worked his way upward
tL' a position of affluence. His life has been
one of industry and perseverance, and the
systematic and honorable business methods
he has followed have won for him the con-
fidence and respect of those with whom he
has been brought in contact. He is a man
of line personal appearance and excellent
business qualifications.

EMERY C. GRAVES.

Emery C. Graves, of Geneseo, has at-
tained distinction as one of the able mem-
bers of the Henry county bar, and is now
most capably and satisfactorily serving as

246

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

states attorney. In this profession prob-
ably more than in any other success depends
upon individual merit, upon a thorough un-
derstanding of the principles of jurispru-
dence, a power of keen analysis, and the abil-
ity to present clearly, concisely and forcibly
the strong points in his cause. Possessing
these necessary qualifications, Mr, Graves
is accorded a foremost place in the ranks
of the profession in this county.

He was born in Cherry Creek township,
Chautauqua county. New York, January 19,
1853, and is a son of Calvin S. and Martha
K. (Kingsley) Graves, also natives of that
state, the former born in Herkimer county,
the latter in Chautauqua county. On first
coming to Illinois, in the spring of 1853, the
father located at Earlville, La Salle county,
but remained there only one season before
coming to Yorktown township, Henry coun-
ty, where he followed farming until 1865.
He then embarked in the furniture business
in Geneseo and later turned his attention
to the drug trade. He is still an honored
resident of this place. He was seventy-six
years of age on the 20th of June, 1900, and
his wife w'as seventy-three on the 25th of
February, that year. She holds member-
ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Their children are Mrs. Grace A. Sweeney,
of Geneseo; and Emery C, of this review.

The first thirteen years of his life Emery
C. Graves spent upon a farm. After com-
pleting his education in the schools of Gen-"
eseo, he commenced the study of law in the
offices of Buckles & Twells, with which firm
he remained until the former's death, when
he entered the office of George E. Waite.
Subsequently he attended law school at Mad-
ison, Wisconsin, and after his graduation in
1874 opened an office in Janesville, that
state, where he engaged in the practice of

the law. Returning to Geneseo in 1876, he
has since followed his chosen profession at
this place, and has built up quite a large and
lucrative practice in the state and federal
courts. He has had many notable cases,
and has served as city attorney ten consecu-
tive years, while prior to that time he held
the same office for about two years. In the
fall of 1889 he was first elected states at-
torney, and so acceptably did he fill that
office tfiat he has been constantly re-elected.
He has proved a most efficient man for the
place, and is a veritable terror to e\'il doers.

^Ir. Gra\-es is married and has had two
children. May, the older, received her lit-
erary education in the Geneseo common
schools and the Collegiate Institute, and is
now attending the Chicago Art Institute
She possesses remarkable musical and artis-
tic talent, being specially proficient in draw-
ing. Kathryn, the younger, died in her
infancy. Mrs. Graves was for several
years a successful teacher in the public
schools of Geneseo, and is a member of the
Congregational Church.

Socially Mr. Graves is a prominent
Mason, belonging to Stewart Lodge, No.
92, F. & A, M., of Geneseo; Barrett Chap-
ter, R. A. M., and Evarts Commandery,
both of Rock Island; and Kaaba Temple, of
the Mystic Shrine, of Davenport, Iowa.
Politically he has always been an ardent
Republican, and besides the offices con-
nected with his profession he has twice
served as mayor of Geneseo. Never w'ere
the reins of city government in more capa-
ble hands for he is pre-eminently public-
spirited and progressive, and gives his sup-
port to every enterprise for the public good.
He is a man of fine appearance, is genial
and pleasant in manner, and very popular,
having a most extensive circle of friends

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

247

iintl acquaintances. In business affairs he
has steadily prospered and is the owner of
one of the most beautiful homes of Geneseo.
Holding marked precedence among the
members of the bar of Henry county, and
retaining a clientele of so representative a
character as to alone stand in evidence of
his professional ability and personal popu-
larity, Mr. Graves must assuredly be ac-
corded a place in this volume.

CORNELIUS HAYES.

This highly respected citizen of Geneseo
is the possessor of a handsome property,
Avhich now enables him to spend his years
in the pleasurable enjoyment of his accumu-
lations. The record of his early life is that
of an active, enterprising methodical and
sagacious business man, who bent his ener-
gies to the honorable acquirement of a
comfortable competence for himself and
family.

Mr. Hayes was born in Ballaugh,
Clonouty Parish, County Tipperary, Ire-
land, August I, 1832, a son of Laurence
and Alice (Ryan ) Hayes, who spent their
entire li\es in that country. The father was
a cooper by trade, but also followed the oc-
cupation of farming throughout life. He
died at the age of seventy-six years, his
wife at the age of sevent3^-six. To this
wortliy couple were born ten children, four
sons and six daughters, but our subject,
the youngest of the sons, is the only male
representative of the family now living,
though four sisters are still living. ( i )
Laurence engaged in farming on the old
homestead in Ireland and died there about
two years ago. (2) Ella married John
O'Brien, a farmer of section 32, Alba town-
ship, this county, and bdth are now de-

ceased. (3) Mary is the wife of Cornelius
Dwyer, a prominent farmer of Alba town-
ship. (4) Alice is the widow of Uriah
Jennings, who was a farmer of Lyons, New
York. (5) Bridget is the wife of Patrick
McLaughlin, a retired farmer living on
Oak wood avenue, Geneseo. (6) Margaret
is the wife of James Dwyer, a retired farmer
of Geneseo, Illinois.

The first twenty years of his life Cor-
nelius Hayes spent in the land of his na-
tivity, and received his early education in
the private schools of his birthplace. On
laying aside his text books he learned the
cooper's trade. In 1852 he came to Amer-
ica, landing at New York, and in that city
and at Seneca Falls, New York, he followed
that occupation for a time. In the spring
of 1853, however, he commenced farming
at Junius, Seneca county, New York, where
he remained five years, and then removed
to Springfield, Illinois, where he was engaged
in farming two years.

On the 4th of March, i860, Mr. Hayes
came to Henry county, having purchased
land the year before on section 32, Alba
township. It was a wild tract on which not
a furrow had been turned or an improve-
ment made, but he at once erected a good,
substantial house, barns and other buildings,
and finally placed the eighty acres under
excellent cultivation. After residing there
four years, he bought an additional tract
of two hundred and forty acres on sections
20 and 21, the same township, but two years
later sold the homestead of eighty acres,
and purchased two hundred and forty acres
on sections 29 and 2d, and ten acres in sec-
tion 9, Alba township. This was also a
wild, uncultivated tract, which he converted
into a fine farm, erecting on section 21 an
elegant residence at a cost of three thousand

248

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dollars, and two large barns on section 20.
Here he snccessfully engaged in general
farming and stock raising until March,
1883, when he rented his farm of four hun-
dred and eighty acres in Alba township and
moved to Annawan, where he had built a
hotel a number of years before. He pur-
chased one hundred and sixty acres of farm-
ing land on section 10, of Annawan town-
ship, just eighty rods south of the village,
and while operating that farm for twelve
years he used the hotel as his private dwell-
ing. Subsequently he spent about a year
and three months in Blue Island, Illinois,
at the end of which time he sold his hotel
in Annawan, and on the 6th of May, 1897,
took up his residence in Geneseo, where he
has purchased a fine home on College axenue,
and is now living retired, surrounded by
all the comforts that make life worth the
living.

On the 1st of December, 1872, at Gen-
eseo, Mr. Hayes married Miss Margaret J.
Smith, who was born February 24, 1852,
a daughter of John and Ellen (Stewart)
Smith. Her father, who was a prominent
farmer of Bureau county, Illinois, died at
the home of our subject in Annawan, and
her mother's death occurred in Gold town-
ship, Bureau county. Mrs. Hayes is the
fourth in order of birth in their family of
twelve children, ten of whom are still liv-
ing, two sons being deceased. Our sub-
ject and his wife have one child, Alice E.)
who was born in Annawan, April 22. 1883,
and has attended the public schools of that
village, St. Benedict's school of Blue Island
and the high school of Geneseo.

Mr. Hayes gives his political support
to the men and measures of the Democratic
party, and represented Alba township on the
board of supervisors six years. He also

ser\ed as township treasurer eight and a
half years, commissioner nine years, and
assessor fourteen years in Alba tow'nship ;
and for many years was also a school di-
rector there and in Annawan. In religious
faith he is a Roman Catholic and takes an
active interest in church work. His success
in life has been marvelous. As a young
man of twenty years he came to America,
and with no capital started out in a strange
land to overcome the difficulties and ob-
stacles in the path to prosperity. His
youthful dreams have been realized, and in
their happy fulfillment he sees the fitting re-
ward of his earnest toil.

THE SWEDISH EV. LUTHERAX
CHURCH OF KEWANEE.

The year after the organization of the
village of Kewanee, in 1S54, the Swedes
began to move in but only a few remained
permanently, and it was not until Septem-
ber, 1869, that a congregation could be or-
ganized with sixteen members. It belongs-
to the Ev. Lutheran Augustana S}-nod.

In 1870 a church was built for three
thousand dollars. The congregation con-
tinued for sixteen years to be serv'ed by
non-resident pastors. In 1886 Rev. S. A.
Becklund accepted a call and staid four
years, increasing the membership to one
hundred and ninety-two. On account o£
scarcity of ministers the congregation was
now left vacant for two years.

In 1 89 1 a theological student from
Augustana College and Theological Sem-
inary, at Rock Island, Illinois, was called
to have charge of the congregation until a
permanent pastor could be secured. Instead

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

149

of renovating the old church a new cliurch
huikhng was immediately begiui and com-
pleted the following year, 1892, costing
eleven thousand dollars. This same year
Rev. S. G. Youngert, was ordained, and,
having won the esteem and confidence of
the congregation as a faithful student, he
was called as pastor. He accepted and took
charge of the congregation in June, 1892.
Two years later a commodious parsonage
was erected. Total value of church property
fifteen thousand five hundred dollars.

After four and a half years Rev. Young-
ert resigned, the membership having in-
creased in the meantime from one hundred
and ninety-two to three hundred and four.
The present pastor. Rev. J. M. Rydman,
took up his work here June i, 1897. The
membership is now (January i, 1901)
three hundred and fifty-nine- Total income
for 1900 three thousand two hundred and
twenty-seven dollars and fifty-two cents.
The auxiliaries are the Ladies' Sewing So-
ciety, and, among the young ladies, the
Dorcas Society, and a Young People's So-
cietv.

KE\'. J. M. RYD.MAX.

Rev. J. yi. Rydman, pastor of tlie
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Kewanee, was born in Kronol>ergs Lan,
Sweden, September 19. 1863, and received
his primary education in the schools of that
country. On coming to America at the
age of seventeen years he joined some rela-
tives in Colorado, where he attended a
grammar school for one year, and then en-
tered the first class of Bethany College at
Lindsborg, Kansas; where he pursued his

studies four years. In 1887 he became a mem-
ber of the sophomore class at.\ugustana Col-
lege, Rock Island, Illinois, and was gradu-
ated with the degree of A. B. from the in-
stitution in 1890. He ne.xt attended the
theological seminary connected with that
college, where he was graduated in 1892,
and the same year was ordained a minister
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at
Lindsborg. Kansas, by the president of the
synod.

Mr. Rydman was first called to the pas-
torate of the Swedish church at Calumet,
Michigan, where he remained five years,
and during that time built an eleven-thou-
sand dollar stone church and a parsonage
costing four thousand dollars. He then ac-
cepted a call from the church at Kewanee,
coming here on the ist of June, 1897. He
is a man of good address and winning man-
ners. He is a zealous, active and efficient
worker for the church, and is held in higli
esteem not only by the people of his own
congregation, but by the residents of Ke-
wanee generally.

On the 15th of June, 1892, Mr. Rydman
was united in marriage with Miss Helena
M. Lund, a nati\e of Henry county and a
(laughter of John and Anna S. Lund. Her
father was one of the early settlers of the
county, having located iiere in 1854, and
was engaged in farming in Andover town-
ship. He died some years ago, but his
widow is still living and makes her home
with her children. Mrs. Rydman is the
sixth in order of birth in this family, com-
prising nine children. Our subject and his
wife have two sons and two daughters,
ho.se names and dates of birth are as fol-
lows : Egbert, May 9. 1893; .\nnette, June
30, 1895; Philip, July 25, 1898; and Ruth,
September 20, 1900.

2SO

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Since coming to Kewanee Mr. Rydnian
has reduced the churcli debt two thousand
dollars and has added fifty memliers to the
church.

JOHX McXEELEY.

John McXeeley, one of Kewanee's es-
teemed citizens, was for many years promi-
nently identified with the agricultural inter-
ests of Henry county, but at present is not
actively engaged in any business. He has
led an honorable and useful life, and is one
of the men who make old age seem the bet-
ter portion of life.

Mr. McXeeley was l)orn in Jefferson
county, Indiana, March i, 1826, a son of
John and ilargaret (Redinbaugh) McX'^eel-
ey, of Irish and German descent. His par-'
ents were both natives of Ohio, where their
marriage was celebrated, and at an early day
removed to Indiana, floating down the Ohio
river on a flatboat. In the latter state they
spent the remainder of their lives. Through-
out his active business life the father en-
gaged in farming. In the family were twelve
children, nine sons and three daughters, of
whom live sons are still living, and with the
exception of our subject all are residents of
Indiana. All have followed agricultural pur-
suits except William H., who is a carpenter
of Crawfordsville, Indiana. He is a veteran
of the Civil war, having served for over three
years in an Indiana regiment.

Reared on the home farm, John Mc-
X'eeley received but a limited education in
the subscription schools of his native state.
On reaching the age of twenty-one, he
learned the -carpenter's trade which he fol-
lowed for six years or until coming to Illi-
nois in 1 85 1. On his arrival, here he en-
tered eighty acres of government land in

Henry county, and at once commenced to im-
prove and cultivate his land. At that time
the unbroken prairies stretched for miles
in ever}' direction, and abounded in wolves,
deer and feathered game. Few towns had
been established and ^Ir. McX''eeley hauled
his produce to Henry, which was then his
nearest market place. Prospering in his new
h.ome he added to his original eighty-acre
tract from time to time until he now owns
four hundred and forty acres of very valua-
l)le land in Annawan township, which has
been improved liy him and placed under a
high state of cultivation. He engaged in
farming quite extensively, and also carried
on stock raising, his specialty being short
horn cattle. He also fed stock for ship-
ment to the city markets. In 1890 he pur-
chased a residence in Kewanee, and has since
lived a retired life in that city, enjoying a
well-earned rest.

Returning to Indiana, Mr. McXeeley was
married, October 30, 185 1, to Miss Catherine
Slaughter, who was also born in Jefferson
county, that state, October 2, 1827. She is
a daughter of Jeremiah and Rebecca (Lo-
gan) Slaughter, the father a native of Xew
York, and the mother of Ohio. They were
early settlers of Indiana, where their
death occurred. His occupation was that
of a farmer. The father of Jeremiah
Slaugliter was a soldier in the war of 1812,
while his grandfather, Isaac Slaughter,
also a native of Orange county, X'ew York,
fought for seven years in the Revo-
lutionary war, and later lived and died on his
farm in Xew York. The family were of
German descent. Rebecca Logan was a
daughter of William Logan, who remo\'ed
with his wife, Elizabeth Dement, from Xew
Jersey to Ohio, locating in Montgomery
county, where they were pioneers.

LI6RARV

UNIVtRSIlY Of iLLihuli.

URBANA

JOHN McNEELEY.

MRS. JOHN McNEELEY.

UNIVtRSllV OF ILLINOIS
UREANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

255

The children of Mr. and Mrs. McNeelcy
are as follows : Margaret A., wife of Seth
Moon, of Annawan; John M. ,a farmer of
Storm Lake, Iowa; Mary, at home; Will-
iam H., a resident of Adair, Iowa; George,
who died in infancy; Sarah Elizabeth, now
Mrs. Elmer J. Troyer, of Lincoln, Nebras-
ka ; Dora, who married John Moon, and died
in Iowa in 1893; Emma and Oliver. All the
children received good common school edu-
cations, and Oliver was graduated from the
Annawan high school, and later took a two-
years' preparatory course at Knox college,
Galesburg.

The Republican party has always found
in Mr. McNeeley a stanch supporter of its
i:)rinciples, but he has never taken an active
part in jxjlitics. He was officially connected
with the public schools of Annawan township
for many years, and has always done all in
his power to maintain good schools. He was
an active member and liberal supporter of the
United Brethren Church, and on account of
his strict integrity and sterling worth is rec-
ognized as a valued citizen of the commu-
rsitv in which he resides.

THOMAS J. HUGHES.

Thomas J. Hughes, engineer of the Ke-
■wanee water works, was born in Liverpool,
England, in 1856, and is a son of John and
Ellen (Jones) Hughes, "vvho are still living
at Burkin Head, just across from Livcrptx)].
The father was born in that country in 1835,
but the mother's birth occurred in Wales in
1837. They are members of the established
church of England, and the father served
as organist for about twenty years. By oc-
cupation he. too, is an engineer, and for
years has been superintendent of the Lon-

don & Xorthwestern Railway Company.
His brother, William D., who once visited
America, has also followed the life of an
engineer during his entire business career.
Our subject is the oldest of a family of
eight children, the others being Catherine,
who became the wife of Robert Evans and
died in 1895, at the age of thirty-seven years ;
William, who died in Cardiganshire, South
Wales; Anna, Ellen, and Ellen (second),
who all died at about the age of two years;
John, who luiited with the Presbyterian
Church and died at the age of four-
teen j'ears; and David B., a resident of We-
gan, England. Only our subject and his
youngest brother are now living.

Having very limited school privileges
during his youth, Thomas J. Hughes is al-
most wholly self-educated. He began life
for himself as coal trimmer for firemen, and
later was promoted to the latter position,
and subsequently was made engineer. He
served a two years' apprenticeship in a ma-
chine shop; went from there to the boiler
shop, and later to tb.e blacksmith shoi), be-
coming very proficient in all of these
branches of mechanics.

Before leaving England Mr. Hughes was
r.nited in marriage with Miss Catherine Rob-
erts, who was born in North Wales, Sep-
leml>er 29. 1853, a daughter of James and
Catherine (Jones) Roberts, of Anglesey,
Whales, where the father is still living at the
age of seventy-eight years. He was a con-
tractor and builder in stone masonry, and
for many years served as sexton of an Epis-
copal Church, in which he holds member-
ship. He is well known and highly respect-
ed in the community where he has so long
n\ade bis home. His parents were James
and Elizal>eth Roberts. In 1843 he married
Catherine Jijnes, \vho die',! April 23. 1878,

256

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

at the age of fifty years. She was a loving
wife, an affectionate motlier, an excellent
neighbor and a thorough Christian. In the
Roberts family were eight children, namely :
Elizabeth, who became the wife of Professor
Richard Roberts and died at the age of fifty-
six years; Thomas, a resident of New York,
who first married Ellen Owens and second
Mary Evans; John, a resident of Anglesey,
Wales, who married for liis second wife
Jane Jones; Grace, wife of John E. Jones,
of Csernarvonshire, Wales ; Catherine, wife
of our subject ; Mary, who died unmarried at
the age of thirty-two years; Margaret, who
died in 1872, at the age of twelve ; and James,
who is married and lives in Wales.

In 1881 Mr. Hughes, with his wife and
one cliild, came to the United States, arriv-
ing here a few weeks before the assassination
of President Garfield. On reaching Castle
Garden he had but a half penny remaining,
and this was sjient for an apple to appease
the appetite of the child. After spending the
night there in sleep uixm the floor they
boarded a slow-going emigrant train, and
for three days, from Thursday to Saturday,
were without food. Two years were spent
in Wyoming county. New York, where ^^Ir.
Hughes soon found employment and was
able to provide for his family. He then
came to Kewanee, Illinois, and found a sit-
uation with John and Thomas Pierce in
the Haxton Steam Heater Company's works,
where his ability as a skilled workman was
soon recognized, and in every way he proved
an excellent and trustworthy employe. He
remained with that company nine years, his
work being core making. At the end of that
time he became engineer at the Kewanee
water works, and his long retention in that
position plain! V indicates his faithfulness to

duty and his excellent knowledge of the
business undertaken.

Of the eight children born to INIr. and
Mrs. Hughes two, Maggie and James, died
in infancy. Mar}' C, who was a type-set-
ter before her marriage, is now the wife of
Malcolm Dicks and lives at home with her
parents; Darius R. is learning engineering,
and being a bright boy and willing to work
has become (juite proficient for one of his
years; Ellen J. is attending school; Grace
Anna, John T. and Margaret B. are all at
home.

Mr. Hughes now owns a pleasant home
in Kewanee. The success that he has at-
tained is due entirely to his own well-direct-
ed efiforts and the assistance of his estimable
wife, who has indeed proved a true help-
meet to him. Bright and cheerful in dispo-
sition she has made for her family a happy
home, and has displayed excellent business
ability in her management of affairs. She is
a member of the First Baptist Church of
Kewanee, ha\ing brought her letter frorii
England, while her husband is a Primitive
Methodist in religious belief. In politics
he is an ardent Republican, and in his social
relations is a member of the Improved Or-
der of Red Men. He is one of the most re-
liable men of Kewanee, and his many ad-
mirable qualities have tended to mak€ him
popular with those with whom he has come
in contact either in business or social life.

XELS J. SVEXSSOX.

Since 1871 X'els J. Svensson has l)een
identified with the agricultural interests of
Henry county, and is now the owner of a
well-improved and \aluable farm on .section

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

257

5, Andover township. A native of Sweden,
he %Yas born December 2. 1844, and is a .son
of Swan and Inga Cliristina Xelson, both of
whom were born in 1819. The mother died
at the old home in Sweden in 1892, but tiie
father is still li-ving and continues to reside
in that coimtry. By trade he is a carpenter
and blacksmith, but has also followed farm-
ing in his native land. Of his five children
Xels J. is the oldest, the others being Caro-
lina, who is married and lives in Sweden,
but her daughter, Ellen Peterson, now makes
lier home witli our subject: Carl .\ugust, a
resident of Saline county. Kansas; Li>uisa,
wife of Knute Larson, also of Kansas: and
Mrs. X'ictoria Swansfjn, a scIuxjI teacher of
Sweden.

Xels J. Svensson received his education
in the public schools of his native land and
on the home farm became thoroughly famil-
iar witii all the duties which fall to the lot
of the agriculturist. He worked as a farm
hand in Sweden for a time, but believing that
he could better his financial condition in the
new world, he crossed the Atlantic in 1871,
and came direct to Henry county, Illinois.
Here he was similarly employed until he had
saved enough to rent a farm and embark in
farming on his own account. Prospering in
business he was at length able to purchase
seventy acres of land on section 5, Andover
township, to the improvement and cultivation
of which he has since devoted his energies
with most gratifying results. He has re-
modeled the buildings, built fences and other-
wise added to the value and attractive appear-
ance of the place. In connectii^n with gen-
eral farming he carries on stock raising.

In 1 88 1 Mr. Svensson was iniited in
marriage with Mrs. Mary Ogren, who by
her first union has one son, Eddie, living at
home. Mr. and Mrs. Svensson iiave a

daughter. Mary. l)orn in i88_'. In his po-
litical views our subject is independent and
supix)rts the men whom he lielieves best qual-
ified to fill the ofiices regardless of party
lines. In 1892 he returned to Sweden on a
visit to relatives and friends. He gives lib-
erally to all church work, and is regarded as
one of the most valued and useful citizens of
his communitv.

AXDREW HALLIX.

The subject of this review, who is one
of the leading business men of Kewanee.
was born in Soderbarke Soken, central Swe-
den, on the 1st of August, 1850, and in his
successful business career has displayed the
characteristic thrift and enterprise of his
race. Beginning with no capital except that
acquired by his own industry he has built
up a large trade as a tailor and dealer in
hats, caps, trunks and valises, and is to-day
one of the prosperous citizens of Kewanee.

His parents, Peter and Christina Pers-
son were life-long residents of Sweden,
where the father died at the age of eighty-
five, the mother when about sixty-se\en
years of age. Andrew is the fourth in order
of birth in their family of five children. The
oldest, Christina, is the wife of D. (jran-
lund, of Minnesota, while the others are
still residents of Sweden.

Mr. Hallin was reared and educated in
the land of his birth, and there learned the
tailor's trade. In 1869 he crossed the Atlan-
tic, landing at Ouel>ec, Canada, whence he
came at once to Kewanee, Illinois. At first
he worked at anything which he could find
to do, and finding employment with the Chi-
cago, Burlington & Ouincy Railroacl Com-

258

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

pany. he stuck the first spade into the Biula
&: Rnshville branch of tliat road. For a few-
months he worked upon a farm, but wlien
cold weather came he found more congenial
employment in a tailor shop in Kewanee.
He worked by the piece tmtil he embarked
in business for himself in 1878. From the
start his trade has steadily increased, his
work having always given the utmost satis-
faction, and he furnished employment to
from eight to twelve men, having eleven at
the present writing. He carries as complete
a line of goods as any establisbment of the
kind in this section of the state, and re-
ceives a liberal share of the 'public patron-
age. He was ofie of the organizers of the
Kewanee National Bank, and has served as
director from its inception.

In 1873 ^I''- Hallin married Miss Anna
Hallquist, also a native of Sweden, where her
parents died during her early ' childhood.
She passed away July 14, 1896, on the for-
ty-fifth anniversary of her birth. She was a
devout and earnest Christian, a member of
the Swedish Lutheran church, and was
highly esteemed by all who knew her. By
this union one child was born, Forrest L.,
who had charge of the store during his fa-
ther's absence in 1900, and is a cutter in the
manufacturing department of the establish-
ment. He is now serving as master of
excheciuer in the Knights of Pythias lodge of
Kewanee; has been organist in the Swedish
Lutheran Church for the past eight years;
and is also secretary of the Sunday school.

As a Republican Mr. Hallin takes an
active and commendable interest in political
affairs, and has served as aid reman of Ke-
wanee. He also is a member of the Swedish
Lutheran Church, and of the Odd Fellows
lodge. In 1900 he W'ent to Europe ami vis-
ited the Paris Exposition and his old home

in Sweden, thus pasing four very enjoyable
months. From his stopping place in Swe-
den he traveled seven hundred miles north
to Lapland to see the midnight sun, the sun
being visible there at twele o'clock at night
from the 5th of June to the nth of July.
He and his party spent five weeks in north-
ern Sweden, viewing the beautiful and ro-
mantic scenery of that region, and they
climbed the Dundret mountain, on the top
of which no vegetation of an}- kind will
grow. They were two hours in making the
ascent.

In addition to his mercantile and banking
interests ' in Kewanee, Mr. Hallin has also
becorhe one of the prominent real estate own-
ers in the city, having built, in 1887, ou Sec-
ond street, a fine brick business building, 25
x/O, two stories in height, whic?h he occu-
pied from 1887 to 1899. In the latter year
he erected an elegant three-story stone front
building, also on Second street, 25x63, the
first floor and part of the third floor being
occupied by himself, while the remainder is
leased.' While not the largest, it is the finest
store room in the city. He has also erected
some buildings for residence purposes, and
deals successfully in real estate.

JACOB FRANK.

No better illustration of the characteristic
energy and enterprise of the typical German-
American citizen can be found than that af-
forded by the career of this well-known har-
ness dealer of Genesee, Illinois, who has been
prominently identified with the business in-
terests of that place for forty-five years.
Coming to this country with no capital ex-
cept his abilities he has made his wa}' to sue-

^K ^'

^B* "^

- ~*'^^^^^9BS^7!9^^^^^|

JACOB FRANK.

liBWRY

UNIVERSllr OF ILLINOIS

URBAKA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

261

cess tlirough \visel_\--(Iirected efYort ami he
can now look hack witli satisfaction upon
past struggles.

The early life of ]\lr. Frank was passed
near the River Rhine, for he was born near
the city of Worms, Germany, May 8, 1829,
a son of Leonard and Margaret (Boas)
Frank, who were born in France and from
that country remo\-ed to Germany, where
the father owned a large vineyard and ex-
tensively engaged in the manufacture of
v.ine, following that business in connection
with farming throughout his active life. He
died in Germany at the age of eighty-four
years, having long survived his wife, whose
death occurred when our subject was about
fifteen years of age. They were the i)arents
of nine children, but Jacob is now the only
survivor. Besides himself there was only one
other member of the family who came to the
iJnited States, this being Charles Frank,
who enlisted in the Mexican war, and was
drowned in the Ohio river by the explosion
of the steamer on which he had taken pas-
sage for Mexico. His death left our sub-
ject without a relative in this coutnry.

The greater part of the education of Ja-
cob Frank was obtained in the schools of
liis native land. In 1849, ^t the age of twen-
ty, he came to America, and immediately
after landing joined his brother at Ashland,
Ohio. Together they went to Cleveland
where they worked on a railroad then being
constructed, but subsequently returned to
Ashland, where our subject learned the har-
ness and saddlery trade, serving an ajjpren-
ticeship of three years and a half, in the
meantime attending school for three months.
He then formed a partnership with John Mc-
Culley which existed for three years, during
which time they engaged in the harness busi-
ness at Lucas, Ohio, and established hi.s

present business, which he has carried on
continuouly since, and has met witli marked
success.

During his residence in Ohio, Mr. Frank
was married, September 5, 1854, to Miss
Delilah Bowman, a native of that state and
a daughter of David Bowman, a prosperous
fanner of Ashland county, Ohio, who, after
the death of his wife, came to Illinois, to
make his home with !Mr. I'^rank, but died
while on a visit to a daughter in Iowa and
was buried there. To our subject and his wife
were born five children, namely: (i) Leon-
ard D., a harness maker, born in Ohio, mar-
ried a Miss Daly and died in Oregon, in July,
1884, at the age of thirty years, leaving two
sons, Sharmcy antl William, who are still res"
idents of that state. (2) Qiarles, born in
CJeneseo, died in that city at the age of four-
teen years. (3) William, a farmer of Ala-
bama, married Kate Celner, now deceased,
by whom he had one son, Leonard. (4)
Alice is the widow of David McLaughlin,
who was overseer of a large packing house
at San Francisco, California, and was form-
erl}' with the Armour Company of Chicago.
Her son. Earl, is now a stenographer and
expert penman. (5) Minnie is now the wife
of William Brown, a barber of Elgin, Illi-
nois, and they have several children. Mrs.
Frank, who was a faithful member of the
Baptist Church, and a devoted wife and
loving mother, died at Geneseo on Thanks-
giving Day, 1883, at the age of fifty-five
years, and was laid to rest in Oakwood cem-
etery. For his second wife Mr. Frank mar-
ried I\Irs. Mary Orr Hall, widow of William
Hall, a prominent farmer of Henry county,
now deceased. By this union was born a
son, Ira, and by her first marriage, Mrs.
Frank also has a son, Frank Hall, a cattle
raiser of Idaho.

262

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

As a business man Mr. Frank has steadily
prospered, and his success is due entirely to
l:is industry, perseverance and good manage-
ment, for he started out in hfe empty-handed
and has liad to make his own way unaidetl.
That he is a man of good business abiHty is
shown by the wonderful success that he has
achieved. In addition to his handsome resi-
dence on North College a\enue, he is the
owner of two business blocks on West Ex-
change street, in one of which he carries on
liis business, and rents the other, and also has
five vacant business lots adjoining and a \'al-
uable fami of two hundred and forty acres
in Cornwall township, which he leases. Mrs.
Frank also owns one hundred and sixty acres
ill the same township. These are well-im-
proved places, each having a good residence
and other buildings found upon the model
farm of the twentieth century. He also
owned three hundred and twenty acres of
land near The Dalles, Oregon, one-half of
which he gave to his son who is now de-
ceased. The other one hundred and sixty
he has since sold. Mr. Frank has been
C]uite an extensive traveler making, among
others, four trips to the Pacific coast. Mr.
Frank is president of the Oakwood Ceme-
tery Association of Geneseo, which embraces
sixty-six acres of land and is beautifully sit-
uated just outside of the corporation, south
of the city. Many improvements are con-
stantly being made to the grounds. Mr.
F'rank is public-spirited and progressive, and
advocates all measures that tend to advance
the interests of the city and county. He
was formerly a Democrat in politics, but now
affiliates with the Republican party. Relig-
iously he is a member of the German Lu-
theran Church, and socially is connected with
the Odd Fellows Lodge of Geneseo, in
which he has lield office.

DANIEL D. SHELLHAMMER.

Among the representative farmers of
Henry county is the subject of this review,
whose home is on section 15, Geneseo town-
ship. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born
in Luzerne county, October 11, 1834, and
is a son of David and Catherine (Gottschall)
Shellhammer, who spent their entire lives
in the Keystone state. The father, who
was a millwright by trade, died at his home
in Pennsylvania, at the age of seventy-eight
years, and his wife passed away two years
later at about the same age. In their family
were seven children, five of whom are still
living, namely : Joseph, a carpenter of
Hazelton, Pennsylvania; George W., a car-
penter of Indianola, Iowa; Daniel D., our
subject; Rebecca, wife of John Wagner,
foreman of a coal mine of Drifton, Penn-
sylvania; and Hannah, wife of Alexander
Shiner, a farmer of Luzerne county, Penn-
s}'lvania.

In the count)' of his nativity, Daniel D.
Shellhammer grew to manhood, while his
education was obtained in its common
schools. On leaving home, in 1857, at the
age of twenty-three years, he came to Illi-
nois, and first located in Whiteside county,
where he worked at his trade of a carpenter
for a few years. Subsequently he spent a
year in Pheni.x township, this county, work-
ing at his trade and at farm labor. After
the inauguration of the Civil war, he en-
listed at Geneseo, in August, 1862, becom-
ing a member of Company K, One Hundred
and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
with which he served until hostilities ceased,
being mustered out at Chicago, in July,
1865, and discharged at the same place. He
was engaged in some of the principal bat-
tles of the war, including the siege at Knox-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

j63

ville, Tennessee. He did considerable
scouting and was wounded while in Georgia,
in 1864.

\\'hen discharged, ]\Ir. Shellliammer re-
turned to this county and located in Phenix
townshi]). where he worked at the carpen-
ter's trade for three or four years, after
which he rented a farm in Goniwall town-
ship, which he operated two years. He
then removed to his present farm of forty
acres on section 15, Genesee township, which
has now been his home for twenty-eight
years. He has erected thereon a fine res-
idence, a good barn and other outbuildings,
and now has a well-improved place, whose
neat and thrifty appearance stands as a mon-
ument to his industry and diligence. In
connection with farming he continued to
work at his trade up to within the past six
years, when he retired from that occupa-
tion. I'oliticall}- he affiliates with the Re-
publican party, and fraternally he holds
membership in the Grand Army of the
Republic.

On the 30th of Xovembcr. i8()y, Mr.
Shellliammer was united in marriage with
Miss W'ilhelmina Barnhart, only daughter
of Jacob and Catherine (Rinck) Barnhart,
mentioned below. By this union were born
iivc children, namely : Frank, born October
25, 1872, died March 30, 1881; Ada, born
June 21, 1878, is at home; Bessie, born Jan-
uary 30, 1882; Grant, born November 11,
1884; and Lucy, born October 27, 1887, are
all at home.

JACOB BARXMART.

Prominent among the pioneers of this
section of Illinois was Jacob Barnhart, who
was for several years actively identified with

the early development and upbuilding of
Henry county. He was a native of Nassau,
Germany, and was about twenty years of
age on his emigration to the United States.
He first located near Galveston, Texas,
where he followed farming for some years,
and al)out 1847 came north. For about two
years he worked at the stone mason's trade
in Rock Island, Illinois.

In Whiteside county, this state, Mr.
Barnhart was married in December, 1849,
to Miss Catherine Rinck, and later they came
to Henry county, locating in Phenix town-
ship, where he followed farming until the
Civil war broke out. He manifested his
love for his adopted country l)y enlisting, in
1862, in Company 1, One Hundred and
Twelfth Illinois \'olunteer Infantry, and re-
mained in the service until hostilities ceased,
being honorably discharged in Tennessee,
in 1865. He served as scout much of the
time and was disabled in the service. Re-
turning to Illinois, ]\Ir. Barnhart resumed
farming in this county, where he continued
to make his home until his death. He died
in the city of Geneseo, in 1871, from the
effects of injuries received in the war. He
was a faithful member of the Evangelical
Church, and was highly respected and es-
teemed by all who knew him. As a pioneer
of this section of the .state he endured all the
hardships and privations incident to such a
life. His upright autl honorable career
commanded the respect and confidence of all,
and as one of the honored early settlers and
leading citizens of this section of the state,
he is certainly entitled to prominent men-
tion in its history.

Mr. Barnhart left a widow and one
daughter to mourn his loss, the latter being
W'ilhelmina, wife of Daniel D. Shellhammer,
mentioned above. Mrs. P>arnhart, who now

264

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lives with her daughter, was born in Alsace,
France, now a province of Germany, and
was three years old when brought to this
country by her parents, Louis and Veronica
(Schatta) Rinck, natives of the same place.
It was about 1828 that they crossed the At-
lantic and took up their residence in \\'ar-
ren, Pennsylvania, and in 1837 came to
\\'hiteside county, where Mr. Rinck took
up a tract of government land, on which he
built a log house. To the improvement and
cultivation of that farm of eighty acres he
devoted the remainder of his life, dying there
in December 25, 1857, at the age of sixty-six
years. His wife passed away October 20,
1857, at the age of sixty. Both were mem-
bers of the Evangelical Association and he
was a Jackson Democrat until the organiza-
tion of the Republican party. In their fam-
ily were five children, but only Airs. Barn-
hart, and her brother, Frank J. Rinck, a
marble cutter of Geneseo, are now living.

MRS. CAROLINE W. HURD.

The state of Illinois owes its high stand-
ing among the sovereign commonwealths
that make up the L'nited States to the high
character and dauntless spirit of the settlers
who made their home within her borders in
the early days. To their inspiration and
work is due her wonderful progress in ag-
riculture, manufacturing and the arts.
Among the honored pioneers of Henry coun-
ty the Little family occupy a prominent posi-
tion. Mrs. Hurd, who is a worthy represen-
tative of this family and a highly esteemed
citizen of \\'ethersfield, came to Illinois in
1836, and therefore has witnessed almost its
entire development.

She was born in Hollis, Xew Hampshire,
September 15, 1821, and is a daughter of
Abner B. and Xancy (Tenny) Little, also
natives of the old Granite state, the former
born in Salem, the latter in Hollis. Their
marriage was celebrated January 20, 1802.
Coming west in 1836, Mr. Little located
in A\'etliersfield township, Henry county,
Illinois, where with the assistance of his
sons he opened up and improved a farm,
making his home here until called to his
final rest, at the advanced age of ninety years.
In his family were eleven children, all of
whom reached years of maturity and became
lieads of families, but only ]\Irs. Hurd and
her sister, Mrs. Sarah F. Stewart, of Du-
Intli, are now living. Five of the family,
however, lived to celebrate their golden
weddings. One son, Hon. H. G. Little, was
the last of the survivors of those Avho assisted
in organizing this county. In early days he
v,as one of its most prominent and influen-
tial citizens, and was called upon to repre-
sent his district in the state legislature and
serve as sheriff of the county. He voted at
the first election held in Wethersfield. He
was born in Gosstown, Xew Hampshire, in
1813, and died in Grinnell, Iowa, November
3, 1900, having removed to that place in
1867. There he also became prominently
identified with public affairs, did much to
advance the interests of its schools, colleges
?nd churches, and efficiently served as mayor
of the city. He was very public spirited and
enterprising, and with two others bought the
land on which Kewanee is now located and
laid out the town. His first home in Weth-
ersfield was a little one-room house, sixteen
by eighteen feet.

Mrs. Hurd w as about fifteen years of age
when she came with the family to this coun-
tv, and can well remember when this re-

UNlVERSIli Uh ILLINOIS
URBANA

DR. LEWIS HURD.

MRS. CAROLINE W. HURD.

U8RARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

269

gioii was very sparsely settled ami almost
entirely unimproved. On tjie 22nd of Au-
gust. 1837. at the age of sixteen, she gave
her hand in marriage to Dr. Lewis Hurd.
theirs lieing the first recorded wedding in
Henry county. The Doctor was born in
Hamilton. Mailison county. Xew York. Au-
gust 19. 181 I. and was reared and educated
in his native state. In early life he deter-
mined to become a physician, and attended
u'.edical lectures. On first coming to Illinois,
in 1836. he located in Lafayette. Stark coun-
ty, where he engaged in the practice of his
profession for a time, and while there board-
ed with Mrs. \Mieeler, a sister of Mrs. Hurd.
In this way he became acquainted with his
future wife, .\fter their marriage they lo-
cated in W^ethersfield, where the Doctor en-
gaged in practice for a few years, and then
removed to Chicago, Illinois, and later to
Si)ringfield, Massachusetts, where he made
his home for a number of years, his time be-
ing devoted to his professitMi. Later he
owned and conducted an electric institute at
Talmage, Ohio, and in that enterprise met
with excellent success. He was also en-
gaged in the practice of medicine at Ann
Arl)or, Michigan, for a few years, but in the
fall of 1865 returned to W'ethersfield. and
practically lived retired throughout the re-
mainder of his life. He died here in 1892,
at the age of eighty-one years, honoretl and
respected by all who knew him. He was a
^ery prominent physician and was remarka-
l)ly successful, his specialty l)eing chronic
diseases.

For over iialf a century Dr. and Mrs.
Hurd traveled life's journey together, and in
1887 celebrated their golden wedding. To
them were born seven children, but only one
reached years of maturity, Lewis Gardner,
who was educated at .\nn Arbor, and at the

opening of the Civil war cnlistetl at the first
call for three year men. He went with his
regiment to Washington. D. C but was soon
afterward taken ill with typhoid pneumonia,
and died there March 15. 1862. His remains
were brought back to W'ethersfield for in-
terment. The other children were Ann Car-
nline, who died at the age of nine years;
Julius A., at the age of six years; .\nn C,
at the age of seven months; Eliza A., at the
age of four years; William L., at the age of
one year; and Edwin H. N., abso at the age
cf one year. Mrs. Hurd is widely known
throughout Henry county, and is highly re-
spected and esteemed by a large circle of
friends, who appreciate her sterling worth.
As a pioneer of the county she is certainly
worthy of prominent mention in its history.

ALBERT W'. BLAIR.

Among the high!}' esteemed citizens of
Genesee is Albert W'. Blair, one of Henry
county's native sons and a representative of
one of her honored old families, whose iden-
tification with her history dates from an
early peril hI in the development of the
county. He was born in Phenix township,,
on the 23d of September, 1844, and is a son
of Asa Blair, whose birth occurred June 6,.
1810, in Ontario county. New York, where
he lived until twelve years of age. Going to^
Ohio, he worked for three years in a distil-
lery at ten dollars per month, and being very-
economical he saved a part of his small earn-
ings. Afterw ard he engaged in farming near
Detroit, Michigan, for about six years, and
from that state came to Henry county, Illi-
nois, in 1838, locating in Phenix township,
where he purchased land and engaged in
farming for a short time. Selling his clainx

2/0

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he removed to Geneseo townsliip, where he
purchased a farm of eighty acres, but after
residing there for a time, he was taken ill
and moved about three miles northeast of
that place, where he took up government land
in Phenix township, making it his home for
fifteen years. In the meantime he had pur-
chased a farm in Loraine township where his
last days were spent, dying there January
15- 1873. These several farms were all wild
land when they came into his possession,
and by his labors were placed under cultiva-
tion and improved with good buildings. He
was actively identified with the early develop-
ment and improvement of the county, and in
its transformation from a wild uncultivated
tract into one of the best farming districts of
the state he ever bore his part. In his polit-
ical views he was a Republican, but ne\er
took an active part in politics, though as a
public-spirited man he advocated all measures
tended to advance or improve the community
in which he lived. For some j^ears he served
as school director in Loraine township. Re-
ligiously he was a member of the L'nited
Brethren Church.

On the 24th of September, 1835, in
Wayne county, Ohio, Asa Blair married
Miss Abigail Sinnott, who was born in St.
John's, Xew Brunswick, September 18, 1812.
and whose parents continued to make their
home in St. John's throughout life. She
died at the home of her daughter in Loraine
township, this county, March 17, 1888. By
this union were born eight children, namely :
( I ) ^Marilla first married Daniel Beers, by
whom she has three children, Frank, Byron
and Dora, but she is now the widow of Lor-
enzo Norton, a farmer of Loraine township,
and resides in Geneseo. By her second mar-
riage she has two children, Hugh and Mrs.
Elma Carson. (2) Nancy is the wife of Will-

i;im Kemmis, a retired farmer of Geneseo.
(3) Hiram was a member of Company I,
Forty-fifth Illinois \'olunteer Infantry in
the Civil war, and was wounded at the bat-
tle of Shiloh. He was then brought home
and died from the efifects of his injuries two
weeks later at the age of twenty years. (4)
Albert ^^'., our subject, is next in order of
birth. (^5) Sinclair married Emma E. Mun-
ger and follows farming in Loraine town-
ship. (6) John, also a farmer of Loraine
township, married Ada Haskins and has two
children, Malcolm and June. (7) Anna died
in 1896 at the age of forty-five years. (8)
Abigail died in infancy.

During his boyhood Albert ^^'. Blair
pursued his studies in the common schools
of Phenix township, and assisted his father
on the home farm. After the latter"s re-
moval to Loraine township, he continued to
operate the farm in Phenix township until
he took up his residence in Geneseo in 1892.
He added to the place until he had one hun-
dred and seventy-one acres of valuable land
on section 25, and made a number of im-
provements thereon, while he succesfully en-
gaged in general farming and stock raising
throughout his active business life.

On the 7th of October, 1861, at Geneseo.
!Mr. Blair enlisted in Company I, Forty-
fifth Illinois ^'olunteer Infantry, with which
he served two years and two months, being
engaged in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort
Donelson, Shiloh, Meeding Station, Tennes-
see, and Raymond. Port Gibson, and Cham-
pion Hills, i\Iississippi. During the engage-
ment at the last named place. May 16, 1863,
he was wounded in the left leg, which has
left him a cripple for life, after undergoing a
very painful operation. The bullet taken
from the wound he still has in his possession.
He was on the extreme right of the line, be-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

271

ing one of twelve from his company detailed
to watch that the army was not flanked.
The sergeant in command ordered a charge
I in the enemy entrenched in a ditch, and they
-captured a cannon, but in this encounter Mr.
Blair was wounded after having his gunstock
knocked from his hand by a ball. He was
wounded while in the act of capturing a rebel
who had hidden behind a tree. He was
first taken to the plantation belonging to Jef-
ferson and Joseph Davis, where he was cai)-
tured about a week later by a squad of Con-
federate soldiers, but was paroled after tak-
ing the oath not to take up arms until his
«.xchange. He was sent to the barracks at
St. Louis, and honorably discharged in Xo-
\ember, 1863. He now draws a pension of
thirty dollars i)er month as a sort of compen-
sation for his injuries.

Mr. Blair was married, March 5, 1872,
to Miss Mary E. McClellan, who was torn
in Genesee township, this county, December
10, 1850, a daughter of John Wesley and
Tulina (Murray) ilcClellan, natives of In-
diana. ^^'hen he was about twenty-five years
of age her father came to Illinois, and for
many years engaged in farming in Geneseo
township, where he died in 1896 at the age
of seventy-two years. His widow is still liv-
ing at the age of seventy and now makes her
home with our subject. They had a family
of four children, namely: Mar\- E., now Mrs.
Blair; Mrs. Evaline Roberts, of Oklahoma
territory, who has one child, Nora, wife of
^\'ilbur Green; Thomas, clerk in a hardware
store in Latham, Kansas, who married Laura
Fisk, and has two children, Hugh and Elsie;
and Sarah Jane, who died in infancy. Mr.
and Mrs. Blair have one child, Cora E., born
January 12, 1873. She is now the wife of
Edgar McHenry, who occupies the old
Blair homestead in Phenix township.

Our subject and his wife have a pleasant
home on West Cemetery street, Geneseo,
where they delight to entertain their many
friends. Both are active members of the
Methodist Church, and are held in high re-
gard by all who know them. The Repub-
lican party finds in Mr. Blair a stanch sup-
porter of its principles, and he efficiently
served as school director in Phoenix town-
ship for many years. Fraternally he is an
h.onored member of the Grand Army of the
Kepublic, the Modern Woodmen of America,
and the Home Forum, while his wife holds
membersliip in the Circle of the G. A. R.,
the Home Forum, and the Woman's Chris-
tian Temperance Union of Geneseo, of which
she is at present secretary.

ANDREW WEIDLEIN.

This gentleman, who is a prominent and
succssful farmer of Geneseo, Illinois, is a
native of Pennsylvania, his birth having oc-
curred in Bedford county, that state, on the
iTnh of April, 1840. His father, John
Weidlein, was born in Germany, January 17,
1 812, and emigrated to America with his
parents during the '20s. The grandfather
died many years ago. In early life John
Weidlein married Miss Elnora Emmert,
also a native of Germany, who died Febru-
ary 20, 1894, at the age of seventy-five 3'ears,
having celebrated her birthday on the 2nd
of that month. He is still living, however,
at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years. In
1851 he came west from Pennsylvania, and
first located in Osco township, this county,
l>ut subsequently removed to Edford town-
ship, and died at the home of our subject in

2/2

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Geneseo on the 30th of December, 1900,
He was widely and favorably known and
was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church, to which his wife also belonged.
Andrew was the oldest of their twelve chil-
dren, the others being as follows : Philip, a
grain inspector of Kansas City; Lavina, who
died unmarried at the age of twenty-five
years; Lewis, a resident of Kansas; Jake, a
resident of Missouri; George, a farmer of
Iowa; Edward, a resident of Augusta, Kan-
sas ; Carrie, wife of George Drehmer, of this
county; A\'allie, a resident of ^luscatine,
Iowa; and three others deceased.

Andrew W'eidlein accompanied his par-
ents on their removal to Henry county, Illi-
nois, and his early life was spent in plowing,
planting and reaping on the home farm. At
the age of twenty-four he started out in life
for himself, and has always followed farm-
ing, in which he has met with marked suc-
cess. He is the owner of a valuable and well
improved farm of four hundred and si.xty-
five acres in Osco township, which he him-
self operates, and also has a couple of other
farms now occupied by his sons.

ilr. W'eidlein was married April 3, 1864,
to Miss Sarah E. Conrad, also a native of the
Kejstone state, and a daughter of Almon
and Elizabeth (Pierce) Conrad, who came
to Illinois in 1856, and after spending a short
time in Rock Island county, located in Henry
county, where both died. The father was
fifty-five years of age at the time of his death
and was long survi\'ed by his wife, who
died August 2, 1898, when lacking only a
month and five days of being ninety years
of age. Both were earnest members of the
Lutheran Church. Of their children, Fre-
derick, John, I\Iary J.. James, Thomas and
Elvira are all deceased. Those living are

J. H., a resident of Dodge City, Kansas;
^Margaret, wife of George Enderton, of Mer-
cer county, Illinois; and Sarah E., wife of
our subject. Her maternal grandparents
were John and ^lary (_Rice) Pierce, farm-
ing people of Butler county, Pennsylvania,
and active members of the Presbyterian
Church. Both lived to an advanced age,
;Mr. Pierce being over ninety-six years at the
time of his death, and his wife over ninety-
tliree.

Eight children were born to Mr. and
^Irs. \\'eidlein, namely : ( i ) W. Elmer, a
resident of Galesburg, Illinois, married
Kittie ilarlatt, and they have three chil-
dren, Grace, Cleone and Lysle. (2) Joseph
C, a farmer of Edford township, this coun-
ty, married Anna Glenn and they ha\e two
children, Boyd and Mildred. (3) Vina is
the wife of Harry King, of Champaign, Illi-
nois, and they have five children, Jessie M.,
Xellie H., Laura I., Florence ^I. and Henry
A\'. (4) Xora E. is the wife of John Schroe-
der, and they have one child, Lucile. (5)
L. Arthur, of Edford township, married
Gertie Rogers and they have one child,
Marie. (6) Carrie A. is the wife of Lewis
Schroeder, of Osco. (7; Laura Edith is at-
tending the Geneseo high school, where she
will graduate in 1903. (8) ilargaret J. died
September 28, 1885, at the age of eleven
Axars.

yir. W'eidlein takes little interest in pol-
itics but generally supports the Democratic
ticket. He has served his fellow citizens
in a most creditable manner as road master,
supervisor of his township two years, and
a member of the school board many years.
Religiously he and his wife are earnest mem-
bers of the Lutheran Church, and enjoy
the hospitality of many of the best homes of

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

273

Geneseo. They receive and merit the high
regard of the entire community, and those
who i<no\v them best are numbered among
their warmest friends.

GEORGE W. WEST.

Tiiis well-known and liighly esteemed
■citizen of Geneseo is a worthy representa-
ti\e of the agricultural interests of Henry
count}'. He was born near Ithaca, New
"S'ork, March 25, 1835, and on the paternal
side I)elongs to an old Colonial family, his
ancestors having come to this country on
the Mayflower or soon afterward. They
took (juite an active part in jniblic affairs
and are supposed to have fouglit in the Con-
tinental army during the Revolutionary war.
They were ni English descent and had much
to do in organizing !3oth the Maryland and
A irginia colonies.

(jarder West, our subject's father, was
a native of Rhode Island, nufl a son of
Johnnie West, who at an early (hiy removed
witii his family to New York. Ther<.' Clar-
der engaged in farming ami dairying quite
■e.xtensively, and as one of the leading men of
his community he served in .several local
offices. He and his wife visited here but
never came west to live. She bore the
maiden name of La\ina Pease and was a
native of New York, wiiere she died at the
^ge f)f seventy-four years. The father was
eighty-si.x at the time of his death. Both
■were devout members and zealous work-
ers in the Methodist Episcopal Church,
with wiiich he was officially connected, and
their home was always the stopping place
of the itinerant ministers. Mrs. West's
paternal grandfather was a native of Eng-

land, and she was also of Scotch extraction,
her ancestors being sturdy and reliable peo-
ple. Her father, Thaddeus Pease, was a
life-long resident of New York, where he
died at the advanced age of ninety-nine
years. Owing to an accident his days were
shortened. He was a man of powerful build
and was \ery active for one of his years. In
early life he was an athlete, and had the name
of being the most powerful man in Tomp-
kins county.

George ^\'. ^^'est, of this review, is the
sixth in order of birtii in a family of tea
children, the others being as follows: Mary
A. wedded R. Marsh and died at about the
age of fifty years; Lydia J. is tlie wife of
Thomas Space, of Tompkins county. New
York; John T., a successful farmer of Osco
township, this count}-, died at the age of
forty years, and his widow subsequently
married Robert Fleming, of Cambridge;
Harriet, deceased, was the wife of Frank
Tuttle, of Beloit, Wisconsin ; Caroline died
unmarried at the age of twenty-eight years;
Nancy J. died unmarried at the age of twen-
ty-four; l_)eli)hine married Henry Lormore,
and ilied at the age of forty-one; .Vdaline
married tjeorge Lormore. a brother of
Henry, and died in Cleveland, Ohio, at the
age of thirty-seven ; and Emily, died at the
age of eighteen years.

Mr. W'est was reared on a farm at Dry-
den, New York, and after completing lii.>
education in the public schools of that local-
ity, he followed farming initil he attained
his majority. At Cortland, New York, Le
boarded a train — the first on which he ever
rode — and went to Beloit, Wisconsin, and
from that city came to Henry county, Illi-
nois, riding across the country on an un-
broken colt and arriving here in the spring
of 1855, at which time there was only one

274

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

house between Geneseo and Caml^ridge, a
distance of twelve miles, it being the prop-
erty of Job Price. With his colt and ox
teams, Mr. \\'est assisted his brother, John
T., in breaking prairie and improving the
latter's farm, being thus employed for a
year. He then went to Iowa, where he
spent the cold winter of 1856, when the ther-
mometer for forty degrees below zero much
of the time, and the crust on the snow was so
thick that he could ride over fences indis-
criminately. He was engaged in buying
furs and deer skin, which he sold for a good
profit in Galesburg the following spring.
Mr. West was next employed as collector
for G. W. Brown, and later engaged in the
fruit tree business until the Civil war broke
out, when he turned his attention to buying
horses and delivering them to the United
States authorities at Galesburg. In the
meantime he purchased and improved eighty
acres of land in Alunson township, this coun-
ty, though he made his home in Galesburg
during the war, and for nearl}- two years was
engaged in the crockery and stoneware busi-
ness in Chicago, under the firm name of
West & Tomlinson, being burned out at the
end of that time. Since then he has carried
on farming and stock raising in this coun-
ty, and has owned some fine blooded cattle
and also a good grade of horses and hogs.
Success has attended his well-directed efforts
and he and his wife now have a well im-
proved and valuable farm of over four hun-
dred acres. The Hennepin canal crosses
this property and cuts off about eighteen
acres. Mr. \\'^est still operates his farm
with the aid of a tenant. In 1890 he pur-
chased and brought to this county six thou-
sand sheep from ^Montana, and in 1897
three hundred head of cattle from Colorado.
He has found stock raising and feeding

quite profitable, and is to-day one of the
most substantial men of his community.

In politics Mr. West is an ardent Repub-
lican, and takes a commendable interest in
public matters, especially educational affairs,
which he has done much to promote. He
was chairman of the committee that had
in charge the erection of the second brick
public school building in Henry county ( ?).
Fraternally he is identified with the Ma-
sonic order, and religiously both he and
his estimable wife are active and consistent
members of the Congregational Church, in
which she has been a member of the choir
for over forty-two 3"ears.

It was on the 6th of June, 1865, in Henry
county, that Mr. West led to the marriage
altar ^liss ^lary Amelia Allan, and by this
union were born three children, namely :
(i) James Allan, a resident of Rock Island
and postal clerk on the Chicago, Rock Islaml
& Pacific Railroad between that city and
Chicago, married Fay Cinnamon, in Janu-
ary, 1 89 1, and they have two children, Allan
C. and Harold T. (2) George GL is a gravl-
uate of the Northwestern Normal School,
and is now engaged in farming near Gene-
seo. (3) John Edward is a graduate of the
same institution and also of the dental de-
partment of the Northnestern Universit\v
and is now engaged m the practice of dental
surgery at Geneseo. He married Minerva
E. Benedict, in January, 1897, and they have
one child, Stewart Benedict.

James M. Allan, Mrs. West's father,
was born in Sumner county, Tennessee, No-
vember 23, 181 4, a son of John and Nancy
(Hodge) Allan, and grandson of Joseph,
and Euphemia (Agnew) Hodge. Duriiig
the Revolutionary war Joseph Hodge, a na-
tive of North Carolina, captured a Tory,
who had wounded him most severely with

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

275

a rami'iul. In 1S36 Jj'mes M. Allan came
to Henry county, Illinois, and became prom-
inently identified with public affairs here.
He spent the winter of 1836-7 at \'andalia,
where the legislature was then in session,
and succeeded in getting Henry county set
apart from Knox. He served as tlie first
county and circuit clerk,, and also filled I he
office of county judge. In 1850 he was
elected to the state legislature and succeeded
in getting a charter for what is now the Chi-
cago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad.
Strange as it may seem it was a chfficult mat-
ter to obtain the support of the governor and
many of the leading men of the slate, wno
were much afraid that a railroad constructed
in the vicinity of the canal would prove det-
rimental to the best interests of the state.
Mr. Allan also held the office of provost
marshal during a part of the Civil war. In
his journal he wrote: "One of the hardest
jobs I have undertaken with others is the
construction of the Hennepin canal. I have
now been t\\ent\- years actively working
to secure this important improvement. I
think the Hennepin canal will come soon.
I have spent much time and money in its
behalf. I spent winters in Springfield en-
deavoring to get the legislature to pass laws
for its construction. The result of such
effort was the beginning of the improvement
of the Illinois river and the passage of the
law to cede to the general government the
Illinois «!t Michigan canal. Its enlarge-
ment and the improvement of the Illinois
river, with the Hennepin canal completed,
would gi\e the northwest excellent facilities
for cheap transportation, both for the Mis-
sissippi river and the Great Lakes." Mr.
Allan was in early life a member of and was
ever in deep sympathy with the church and
its work, and was highly respected and es-

teemed by all who knew him. After a long
and useful life he passed away December 20,
1885. His father, John Allan, was a native
of Hereford, England, was a Presbyterian
minister, who for the long period of thirty
years had charge of one church in Ilunts-
ville, Alabama. He sent his sons. James M.
and William T., to college in the north,
where they imbibed the northern spirit of
enterprise, and soon began to see the wrong
of slavery. This was more than their rev-
erend father had bargained for in sending
them to school. William T. Allan was
licensed to preach, and for many years lec-
tiu'ccl on the wrongs of sla\cr_\-, being a con-
temporary worker anil in s}nipalhy with the
anti-sla\XT}- views as promulgated by Owen
Lo\ejoy.

On the 6th of ^Nlarch, 1S39. James M.
Allan married Miss Susannah D. Stewart,
who was born in New York, January 28,
1820. Their wedding was the first per-
formed in Henry county, and she had the
honor of teaching the first school within its
borders. She was a life-long member of
the Congregational Church and one of its
most zealous workers. Her death occurred
June 8, 1889. Five children were born to
Mr. and ^Irs. Allan, as follows: Sarah A.
resides in Geneseo. She taught under the
A. M. A. in the south for several years.
Hilary Amelia, wife of our subject; Clara F.,
wife of William Harrington; Emily I., who
ilied at the age of two years; and Anna L.,
wife i>f Frank Williams, of Geneseo.

Mrs. Allan was a daughter of Roderick
R. Stewart, who, in 1836, was one of the
first three to locate in what is now Geneseo,
the others being Messrs. Bartlett and Cone.
His grandfather, Elisha Stewart, aided the
colonies in their struggle for independence,
which makes Mrs. W'est and her descendants

276

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sons and daughters of the Revolution. In
1812, Roderick R. Stewart married Clar-
issa Dresser, a native of Massachusetts, who
served her country during the war of 1812
b)' devoting her spare time to molding bul-
lets for the army. She furnished a full
choir for the church from her own family,
and was called the mother of "the Geneseo
colony." She died in 1867, at a ripe old
age. honored and respected by all who knew
her. Roderick R. Stewart organized the
Masonic lodge at Geneseo, which bears his
name.

JA:\IES RAMSEY.

James Ramsey, deceased, was for many
years prominently identified with the busi-
ness interests of Geneseo, and was one of its
most highly esteemed citizens. A native of
New Hampshire, he was born in !Marlow on
the 29th of June, 1812, and remained at the
place of his birth until seventeen years of
age. His parents, James and Xancy (Tin-
ney) Ramsey, were life-long residents of
Marlow, where both died at an advanced age.

On leaving home Mr. Ramsey went to
Boston, ^Massachusetts, where he was em-
ployed for some years, and first embarked in
business on his own account at Newton. Mas-
sachusetts, where he conducted a grocery
store for several years. On disposing of his
business there he returned to New Hamp-
shire and engaged in the general mercantile
business at Alstead, where he remained until
1866. He then went to Nashua, where he
was engaged in the grocery business until
coming west in 1870. Locating in Geneseo.
Illinois, he purchased a grocery store, which
lie and his eldest son, Allen, conducted until
a few vears before his death, when he re-

tired from active business and spent his re-
maining days in ease and quiet at his pleas-
ant home on Oakwood avenue, which he
Iniilt shortly after his arrival in Geneseo.
Here he was surrounded by all the comforts
which usually attend a well spent life of in-
dustry. His son continued the business until
1896, when he sold out.

^Ir. Ramsey was twice married, his first
wife being !Miss Sarah Jane Hopkins, of
Nashua, New Hampshire, who died in Al-
stead. that state, leaving three children,
namely : ( i ) Allen, who was his father's
partner in the grocery^ business, married
Ellen Brady, who died leaving one child,
Frank. Allen died in Chestervillle, Texas,
October 24. 1900. During the Civil war he
enlisted in the Eighteenth New Hampshire
A^olunteer Infantry, and after serving some
time was taken ill and sent home. In the
spring of the following year, however, he
re-enlisted, and remained in the service until
tiie close of the war. ( 2 ) Emily J. is the
w ife of Nathan Smith, now probate judge at
Sabetha, Kansas, and they have three chil-
dren, Daisy, Edith and Blanche. (3) John
E., who died in Erie. Pennsylvania, about
twelve years ago. ser\ed for some years in
the United States navy, and was quarter-
master on the U. S. S. Brooklyn for a time.

On the 8th of September. 1863. at Heb-
ron, New York. Mr. Ramsey was again mar-
ried, his second union being with Miss Laura
J. \\'ilson, a daughter of Isaac and Phcebe
(Temple) AX'ilson. Isaac \\'ilson was a son
of James Wilson, of Hebron, New York,
who served as a major in the Revolutionary
war. The father was a native of that place,
and about 1868 came to Henry county, Illi-
nois, purchasing a farm in Edford town-
ship, where he continued to make his home
until a short time before his death, which

JAMES RAMSEY.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

279

occurred at the residence of his daughter.
Mrs. Ramsey, Marcli lo, 1875, when he was
eighty-one years of age. His wife passeil
away a week previous, at the age of eiglity
years. P>y his second marriage Mr. Ramsey
had two children: (i) Eugene \\'., horn in
Alstead, Xew Hampshire, April 16, 1865 —
the day President Lincoln was assassinated
— and was educated in the public schools of
Geneseo and Wood Business C'ollege at
Davenport, Iowa. He is a painter l)y trade.
On the 13th of September, 1899, at Indian-
apolis, Indiana, he married Annie Kile, a
daughter of John \V. Kile, a farmer of La-
])el, Indiana, and they have one child, Har-
old, born in Geneseo June 5, 1900. (j)
Gertrude P. is the wife of Dr. Harry Brown-
ing, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and tliey ha\e one
child, Floy L.

While a resident of Alstead, Xew Hamp-
shire, before his removal to Nashua, Mr.
Ramsey served as representative to the state
legislature on two different occasions, and
held the office of justice of the peace for
many years at that place. Religiously he
was an earnest and consistent member of the
Methodist Church, and a regular attendant
upon its services. He was held in high re-
gard by his fellow citizens on account of his
upright dealings and Christian charity, and
in his death, which occurred .\pril 17. 1894.
the city lost a prominent and valued citizen ;
his family a devoted husband and father.
His remains were interred in Oakwood cem-
€terv.

LOWRY BROTHERS.

This enterprising tirm of liverymen of
Geneseo, Illinois, is comiwsed of Andrew
P. and Thomas M. Lowry, both natives of
Indiana countv, Pennsvlvania. and sons of

William C. and Mary J. ( Duncan) Lowry,
who were also born in that state and are still
living on the farm in Indiana county where
the birth of our subject occurred. The fa-
ther is now about seventy-five years of age,
while his wife is si.xty-five. Throughout
his active business life he has been engaged
in agricultui'al ptn"snils, and the old home-
stead upon which he li\es is composed of
one hundred and lift}- acres of rich and val-
uable land. For several terms he has effi-
cienth- serxed as supervisor of his township,
and has held other minor offices. During
the Civil war he joined a Pennsylvania reg-
iment and served for about a year, being
honorably discharged when hostilities
ceased. Religiously he and his wife are faith-
ful and consistent members of the Presby-
terian Church. Her parents were Thomas
autl Jane (Machesney) Duncan. Her fa-
ther was also a native of the Keystone state
and a tanner by trade, which occupation he
followed until his death. He died about
thirty-five years ago, but his widow is still
li\'ing and makes her home in Marion. Indi-
ana county, I'enns_\l\ania.

William C. and Marv J. ( Duncan)
l.owry are the ])arents of si.x. children, all
born in Indiana county, Pennsyhania. and
all still living, namely: Sadie J., at home;
.\ndrew P. and Thomas M.. of this review;
Olive B. resides with parents in Pennsyl-
vania; Harry L. resides in Indiana county,
Pennsylvania, and Settle resides at home.

Andrew P. Lowry was b(_)rn September
30, 1858, and remained on the home farm
until he attainetl his majority, rocei\'ing his
literary education in the common schools
of the township in which he lived. In 1879
he came to Illinois and located in Annawan
township. Henry county, where he engaged
in farming for se\en years, and then re-

28o

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

moved to the city of Geneseo, and embarked
in his present business with his brother
Thomas M. They conduct a general livery
and feed stable, and enjoy a liberal patron-
age. They are energetic and progicssive
business men, and have met with well-mer-
ited success in their undertakings. On the
24th of May, 1892, Andrew P. Lxjwry was
united in marriage in Geneseo with Airs.
Elsie McFadden, a native of Canada, and
a daughter of Colon and Catherine (Bowen)
Fick. Her mother is now deceased, but
her father is still living at Annawan, where
he is engaged in the manufacture of wagons
and also operates a feed mill.

Thomas M. Lowry was born on the i ith
of August, i860, and was a young man of
twenty years wlien he left the parental roof
and came to this state, being engaged in
farming in Annawan township, Henry coun-
t}', for about three years. He then came to
Geneseo and established himself in the
livery business with his brother as previous-
ly stated. He is a member of Geneseo Lodge,
Xo. 1 7 J. I. O. O. F., and is also connected
with the Mystic ^^'orkers of the World,
while politically he is identified with the Re-
publican party. He was married in Rock
Island, Illinois, September 8, 1887, to Miss
Celia Fick, a sister of his brother's wife, and
by this union were born three children :
Charles William, who was born in Geneseo
and is now twelve years of age; Oral Mary,
who was born in the same place and is now
four years old ; and Bessie, who was a twin
of Oral M. and died in infancw

AAROX PALMIER.

For about forty-five years the subject of
this sketch has been a resident of Kewanee,
his home at present being at Xo. 210 West

Sixth street, and during all this time he has
been actively identified with its business in-
ests. He is now engaged in draying and gen-
eral teaming and controls the greater part of
that business done in the city.

Mv. Palmer was born in Lake county,
Ohio, X'ovember 20, 1833, and is a son of
X'orris and Lucy (Emerson) Palmer, natives
of Xew York and Ohio, respectively. The
father became a well known farmer of the
Buckeye state, where he died at about the age
of forty years. The Palmer family is quite
prominent in Concord and ^Mentor, Ohio, and.
each year its members hold a reunion either
at Concord or Painesville. For her second
husband the mother of our subject married
Alexander Li\ingston, and by that union
had four children, while by the former mar-
riage she had five. She was an earnest
member of the Methodist Church and died in
that faith when less than forty years of age.
Of the children born of the first union only
our subject and his sister, Mrs. J. S. Stone,
of Omaha, now survive. Those deceased are
Grove X'., Isaac Gideon and George, the last
named having died young, while the others
grew to manhood.

Aaron Palmer was educated in the public
schools of Ohio and Illinois, having come to
this state with his step-father in 1849, and
located on a farm in Wethersfield township,
Henry county. For a time he and his broth-
er, Grove Xorris, conducted a general store
in the village of Wethersfield, and later were
engaged in running a threshing machine and
separator for eight seasons threshing much
of the wheat raised in their section of the
county. They at first used an old Elgin
thresher, and later a J. I. Case separator,,
manufactured at Racine, Wisconsin. On dis-
continuing that business Mr. Palmer en-
gaged in raising and selling hedges and

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

fruit trees. Since then lie has devoted his
time and energies to his present business,
and in connection with general teaming and
draying has also run a hack, and engaged in
funeral work, keeping four teams constantly
busy.

On Christmas day, 1856. at the Method-
ist Episcopal parsonage on \\'est Fifth
street — then consideretl the finest residence
in Kewanee — was celebrated the marriage of
Mr. Palmer and Miss Prudence Tuimicliff,
a native of Derbyshire, England, wlin came
to America with her parents, Edward anti
Sarah Tuimicliff, and first located in Zanes-
ville. Ohio. In 1855 the family came to Ke-
wanee, where the father is now living re-
tired at tlie age of eighty-seven years, the
mother at the age of eighty-two. He was a
manufacturer of brown and yellow pottery
ware, his family in England being potters.
Mrs. Palmer is the eldest of his thirteen
children, the others being George, now dep-
uty poor master in Kewanee, who took his
brother William's place in the Civil war and
served three years; William C, who enlisted
in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth
Illinois \'olunteer Infantry and died at Tip-
ton, Missouri, after having served five
months; Joseph S., who was also one of the
boys in blue and is now living in Bingham,
Iowa; John, a resident of Moline, Illinois;
Edward M., clerk of the circuit court and a
ranchman of Burwell, Nebraska; Mary,
widow of Dane! Holt, and a resident of Ke-
wanee; Anna, wife of J. S. Minor, who is
connected with the shoe department of Lay
& Lyman's store in Kewanee; and five chil-
dren, deceased.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have been
born ten children, as follows: Lucy E., who
died at the age of fifteen months; Sarah,
who died at the age of two montlis and six-

teen days: .\dilie M., wife of Bert Roul-
ston, of Bingham, Iowa; William C. wlu>-
is mentioned below; Ernest E., at home;
Xora J., who died at the age of fifteen
months; Walter .V.. a physician of Redwood,.
Minnesota, who married Alice Bi)nny, of
Chicago, and has two sons, Walter L. and
Donald; Bessie M., wife of G. C. Stratton,
head clerk in Hoffman's store of Kewanee,.
by whom she has three children, Frank P..
and and Prudence F.. twins, and Genevcive;
Grove (i.. who is his father's assistant in
business; and Frank X.. who died at the age
of five years.

Mr. Palmer, his wife and family hold
membership in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, where he sang in the choir for over
twenty years, and has also served as class-
leader and leader in the young people's meet-
ing. Fraternally he is a member of the
Knights of Honor and served as its secretarj-
and treasurer for many years. Since casting
his first presidential vote for John C. Fre-
mont he has been an ardent Republican, and
for one year he filled the office of ta.x col-
lector of Kewanee. He is one of the worthy
citizens of that place and is a man highly
respected and esteemed by all who know
him.

William L". Palmer, son of our subject^
was born on the 29tli of October, 1863. in
Kewanee, and was etlucated in the public
schools of that city and at a business college
in Quincy, where he was graduated in 1892.
Prior to taking -the commercial course, he
had clerked in a grocery store for five years,
and for ten years was similarly employed by
the firm of Lay & Ljnnan, of Kewanee. He
tlien embarked in the furniture and under-
taking business on his own account as a
member of the firm of Roadstrand & Palmer,
but fifteen months later Mr. Roadstrand sold

28:

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

liis interest to Mr. Good, and tlie name was
changed to Palmer & Gcxid. In Felirnary.
1900, Mr. Good took the furniture depart-
ment, while Mr. Palmer kept the undertak-
ing business, which he has' since carried on
with marked success, doing the largest busi-
ness in that line in the city. Politically he is
a supporter of the Reiniblican part}-, socially
is a member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias,
while religiously he is officially connected
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
was married, June 25. 1890, to ^liss Rena
!Murchison, by whom he has two children.
A\'illie M. and ^lerwyn. ]^Irs. Palmer was
born in Illinois, and is a daughter of Cap-
tain Alexander and Maggie Murchison. who
^^■ere natives of Scotland and Pennsylvania,
respectively, and are now residents of W'eth-
ersfield township, this county.

MARTI X ROOS.

^lartin Roos comes from the Fatherland,
and the strongest and most creditable char-
acteristics of the Teutonic race have been
marked elements in his life and have enabled
him to win success in the face of opposing cir-
cumstances. He possesses the energy and
determination which mark the people of
German}-, and by the exercise of his powers
he has steadily progressed, and has not only
v.-on a handsome competence, but has com-
manded universal respect by his straight-
forward business methods. He is now liv-
ing a retired life in Geneseo.

yir. Roos was born in Hesse-Darmstadt.
Germany, September 22, 1816. a son of
Henry and Margarette (Hinkel) Rcx>s. w ho
spent their entire lives in that country. The

father, who was a prosperous and progress-
ive man, as well as an honorable and upright
citizen of his community, died at the age of
forty-two years, when ottr subject was only
two years old. The mother survived him,
and was sixty-five years of age at the time
of her death.

In their family of six children our sub-
ject is the youngest and only one now liv-
ing. Of the others, Henry, 'born in 1800,
came to the United States in 1852. and lo-
cated in Loraine township, Henry county.
Illinois, where he owned and operated a
farm of two hundred and forty acres until
his death, in 1872. He left a widow and
six children. Jacob, born April 10, 1863,
spent his life as a farmer in Germany, where
he died at the age of eighty years. He mar-
ried and had one child. Philip, born De-
cember 5, 1805, came to America in 1853,
and died about twenty years ago, leaving a
farm of one hundred and twenty acres in
Loraine township, this count}', which is now
operated by his son Jacob. Edward P. died
i.i Germany in the fall of 1839, at the age of
twenty-seven years.

Martin Roos grew to manhood upon a
farm in his native land, and received a good
common school education. In 1840 he sailed
for the new world, and after a voyage of thir-
ty-two days the \essel cast anchor in the har-
bor of Xew York, on the 3d of June. On
landing our subject found that he had only
five dollars with which to begin life in a
strange land, but he was willing to work
and possessed the determination to succeed,
which have been important elements in his
career. For a year he was employed as a
farm hand in Pennsylvania for si.K dollars
per month, and then went to Delaware, where
he obtainetl work at double the salary. A
vcar later he returned to Pennsyhania,

■

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MARTIN ROOS.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

UR6ANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

2S5

u here lie made his home until going to Chi-
cago in 1843. Failing to find a situation in
tliat city, he went into the country, where he
worked two years in a grist and saw mill,
and also hauled flour into tlie city, a distance
of forty miles.

In the spring of 1845 •^^■'- Roos came to
Henry countj-, and took up eighty acres of
government land on sections 8 and 17, Lo-
raine township, on which he erected a log
house. He at once commenced to break and
improve his land, and added to his original
purchase until he had over four hundred
acres of land, on which he successfully en-
gaged in general farming and stock raising
for forty years, but since 1885 has lived a
retired life in Geneseo, having a comforta-
ble home on Russell avenue. He still owns
two hundred and forty acres of his farm, and
from it derives a good income.

In 1845, in Loraine township, Mr. Roos
was married to Miss Magdalena Leiimann,
a native of Alsace, Germany, who ilied De-
cember 7, 1855, and was buried in Loraine
township. She was a devoted wife and a
kmd and loving mother. By that union
there were five children, all born in Loraine
township, namely: (i) Martin J. enlisted at
the last call for troops during the Civil war,
and served until hostilities ceased. He is
now engaged in merchandising and farming
ill Bon Homme county. South Dakota. He
married Tillie \'oigt, and they have four
children, Mary, Eddie, Rebecca and Blanche.
(2) Philip, a farmer of Whiteside county,
Illinois, married Eveline Sand, and they have
four children, Lydia, Leonard, Wesley and
Howard. (3) Ann Sarah is the wife of
Lewis Arnett, a farmer of Portland town-
ship, Whiteside county, and they have eight
children, Clara, Stacey, Roy, Ida, Aggie,
Winnie, Maude and Harley. (4) Rebecca

is the wife of Lavinus Heller, who was en-
gaged in farming in .Vtkinson township for
many years, but is now living a retired life
in Geneseo, and they have four children,
-Vlbert, Frank. Clara and Inez. (5) Sa-
lome is the wife of Julius Lemuel, who is
employed in a factory in Kewanee, and they
have four children, Frank, Grace, Edward
and Mary.

On the 6th of March, 1856, Mr. Roos
was united in marriage with Miss Eva Bar-
bara Knapper, a native of Germany, and to
them were born the following named chil-
dren : ( I ) William, a resident of Buffalo
county, Nebraska, married Sarah E. Lodge,
and they have four children, Edward M.,
Blanche, Jennie and Frank. He owns cu'i
operates a farm of four hundred and eighty
acres. (2) Louisa is the wife of Solomon J.
Heller, a farmer of Loraine township, whose
sketch appears on another page of this vol-
ume, and they have four children, Daniel,
Xettie, Ralph and Harold. (3) Christin.i
is the wife of John Butzer, a merchant and
grain dealer of Hillsdale. Rock Island coui.-
ty, Illinois, and their children are Ada, Clar-
ence, Glenn, Frank, Birdie, \'ernie, Gold'O
and Martin J. (4) David was shot and
killed by a tranii) while in the e.xercise of
his duty as city marshal of Tindall, Bon
Homme county. South Dakota, and left a
widow and three children, Harr}*, Clara M.
and David. (5) George F., a farmer of
Marshall, Minnesota, is married and has one
child, Cecil. (6) Wesley died in infancy. ( ~)
Samuel W'., a resident of Luverne, Minne-
sota, married Rachael Cripp. (8) Henri-
etta M. is the wife of Frank Grant Hum-
phreys, a farmer of Annawan township, tiiis
county, and they have four children, Cecil.
Fay,- Ada Verne and Eva M. (9) Lydia
^I. is the wife of Otis Hannah, a painter

286

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and paper hanger of Geneseo, and they have
three children, Lester O., Gladys and Jessie
M. (lo) Benjamin H., a barber of Gene-
seo, married Lilhe Drain, and has one child,
Cassie J. ( 1 1 ) Marcella E. B. is the wife
of W. M. Baker, of ^luscatine, Iowa, and
they have one child, Wilbur.

yiv. Roos is a prominent and influential
member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
-of Geneseo. to which he is a liberal contrib-
utor, and in which he has served both as
treasurer and deacon, filling the latter oflice
for over thirty years. He also officiated as
steward and exhorter for many years, and
has taken an active part in all church work.
His fellow citizens recognizing his worth and
ability, have called upon him to fill public
■offices of honor and trust, and he has most
capably served as school trustee and road
commissioner, serving three terms in the lat-
ter office. He has voted the Republican
ticket ever since the party was organized.

LEONARD SIEBEX.

Through many years of active labor,
mainly devoted to stock raising and agricul-
tural pursuits, Leonard Sieben acquired a
comfortable competence wliich now enables
him to lay aside all business cares in ease
and retirement at .his pleasant home in Gen-
eseo. A native of Germany, he was born on
the 15th of February, 1844, in Hesse Darm-
stadt, of which province his parents, Joseph
and Aboline Sieben, were also natives. In
1852 the family emigrated to the new
world, thirty-five days being spent on the
water. The mother was taken ill during the
long voyage, and died in Chicago at the age
of forty-five years, the family having re-
mained in that city during the winter of

1852-53. The following spring they moved
to Whiteside county, Illinois, where the
father worked at anything which he could
find to do in order to support his large fam-
ily of seven children, five sons and two
daughters. In 1857 he married again, his
second wife being a Miss Fisk. by whom he
had one child. He died in ^^'hiteside count}",
January i, 1859, at the age of forty-nine
years. In religious belief hte parents of our
subect were Catholics. Their children were
as follows :' Johii, a resident of Lorain
township, this county; Teresa, wife of
Henry H. Hammann, of Osco township ;
\'alentine, who was instantly killed by a
liorse in 1886, at the age of forty- four
years; Margaret, wife of George Arnett, of
Geneseo; Leonard, of this review; and
Henry and Jacob, both of Montana.

By the death of his father, Leonard Sie-
ben was thrown upon his own resources at
the tender age of thirteen years, and has since
made his own way in the world unaided. For
a short time he was employed by neighbor-
ing farmers, but in 1864 went west to that
part of Idaho which has since become Mon-
tana. In company with three others he
crosed the plains, and after traveling three
nionths and seven days landed in \'irginia
City, where he was first employed as team-
ster and continued to follow that occupation
until the spring of 1866, when he bought a
team and engaged in freighting between
Fort Benton and \'irginia City to Helena
and other towns in the interior, which were
then the sites of mining camps. To that
business he devoted his attention until the
spring of 1870, when he went to t'tah and
liought a herd of young cattle which he dro\e
to ]\Iontana to sell, being engaged in that en-
terprise for three years, at the end of which
time he located on a stock ranch in ]\Ieagher,

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

287

now Cascade county, Montana, and made
his home there until the fall of 1879. Sell-
ing;: liis interests in the west, he returned to
lllinnis, in January. 1880, and purchased a
farm on section ^8, Phenix township, Henry
county, where he successfully followed ag-
ricultural pursuits for several years, but is
now living a retired life in Geneseo. He
still owns a fine farm of three hundred and
thirty-one acres of rich and arable land in
Cornwall township, this county, which he
rents, and also has twenty and a half acres of
timber land in Phenix township. In addition
he also has two hundred and forty acres of
improved land in the same township which
v.as the old homestead.

On the 9th of April, 1878, r\Ir. Sicben
married Miss Sarah J. Hines, a native of Illi-
nois. Her father, Henry Hines, was born
in Germany, Februarj'- 19, 1819, l)ut was only
three years old when brought by his parents
to America, the voyage being made in a sail-
ing vessel and lasting many weeks. The
family landed in Baltimore, ^laryland, and
proceeded to \\'ayne county, Oliio, where
Mr. Hines grew to manhood and marrieil
Miss Susan Henney, a native of that county,
and a daughter of Peter and Christina
(Strayer) Henney, who were linlh Imrn in
Pennsylvania. Mr. Henney died in 1873, at
the age of eighty-three and a half years, his
wife in 1870 at the age of seventy- four. In
1850 Mr. and Mrs. Hines removed from the
Buckeye state to Illinois, and took up their
residence in Phenix township, this county,
where he followed farming throughout his
life, his death occurring March 18, 1870.
Religiously he was connected w ith the Evan-
gelical Association. His wile, who still
survives him, is an honored resident of Gene-
seo, and an active member of the United
Evangelical Church of that place. She is

now seventy-five years of age. To this
worthy couple were born the following chil-
dren : John H., a farmer of Kansas; Lucy
A., wife of George A\'. Rowe, a retired
farmer of Geneseo; Christina S., wife of
Aaron Rapp, of Geneseo; Mary E., wife of
Abner Offerley, of Edwards county, Kan-
sas; Sarah, wife of our subject; Hattie A.,
wife of John Goembel, of Geneseo; Peter
II., a resident of Geneva, Nebraska; and
I'^rederick A., a fanner of Phenix township.
Besides their own children Mr. and Mrs.
Hines reared Emma Weeks, now the wife of
Charles W. Young, of Geneseo.

Mr. and Mrs. Sieben are the parents of
five children, namely : Olive S. has success-
fully taught school for several terms in this
county, and is now a student at Oberlin Col-
lege, Oberlin, Ohio, where she will graduate
in 1903; Sylvia B. is also a student at Ober-
lin College and is giving special attention to
music, in which she takes great delight and in
which she is quite proficient; Ira L. is at-
tending the Geneseo high schcx>l ; Ward H.
is a pupil in the eighth grade of the public
schools of Geneseo; and RiUh E. is also at-
tending the public schools. Mr. and Mrs.
.Siel)en are prominent members of the Evan-
gelical Church of Geneseo, in which he has
served as steward and trustee fur some
years. Politically he is identified .with the
Kepublican party, and gi\es a liberal sup-
port to all enterprises which he believes cal-
culated to advance the moral and material
welfare of town and couiUv.

OLIVER \\". BROWN.

Since 1839 this gentleman has been an
honored resident of Henry county, and has
therefore witnessed almost its entire growth

288

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

and development. As an agriculturist he
materially aided in transforming the wild
land into highly cultivated fields, and in
other ways has advanced the interests of
the county. After a long and useful career
ht has now laid aside all business cares, and
is living a retired life in Wethersfield.

]Mr. Brown was born in the town of
North Coventry, Tolland county, Connecti-
cut, on the 20th of June, 1820, and is a son
of Selah Brown, whose birth occurred at
the same place December 11, 1783. His pa-
ternal grandfather was Josiah Brown, one of
the early settlers of Connecticut. There
Selah Brown grew to manhood, and mar-
ried Miss Betsy Dunham, who was born in
the same state in 1786, and was a daughter
of Stephen Dunham, a Revolutionary sol-
dier, who lived to the advanced age of nine-
ty-nine years, and died in North Coventry.
There the parents of our subject si>ent their
entire lives as farming people.

During his boyhood Oliver \\'. Brown
attended the common schools near his home
and remained under the parental roof un-
til eighteen years of age. On leaving home
in 1838 he came west with four families
from Connecticut, and after eight weeks
spent upon the road landed in McDonough
county, Illinois. In the fall of 1839 he came
to Henry county, where he worked by the
day and month for a year, receiving ten dol-
lars per month. In 1841 he purchased one
hundred acres of unbroken prairie land in
Kewanee township, and at once commenced
to improve the same and place it under cul-
tivation. Subsequently he purchased more
land and had a fine farm of two hundred'
acres, which he improved in an excellent
manner, receiving one year the second pre-
mium offered for the best farms in the
county. He continued to actively engage

in agricultural pursuits until 1875, when he
sold his place and liought a home in Wethers-
field. where he still resides. Being a natural
mechanic he has worked at the carpenter's
trade to some e.xtent during his residence
here, but is now living a retired life, having
laid aside all business cares. At one time
he owned a well improved farm of two hun-
dred and forty acres in Otter count}', Ne-
braska, but has since disposed of that.

In Henry county, September 6, 1846,
Avas celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brown
and Miss Elizabeth Maria Kent, a native of
Wyoming county. New York, and a daugh-
ter of Ebenezer Kent, who was born in Ver-
mont and when a young man removed to the
Empire state. The Kent family is of Eng-
lish origin and the first to come to America
was Richard Kent, who crossed the Atlantic
in 1634, and settled in Newbury, Massa-
chusetts. Ebenezer Kent was twice mar-
ried, his second wife being Polly Bolt, the
mother of Mrs. Brown. In 1844 he came
to Illinois, and after two years spent in
Bureau county, took up his residence in
Henry county. He lived to be over ninety-
one years of age. Of the ten children born
to Mr. and Mrs. Brown seven are still living,
namely : Clark K., who is married and lives
in Nebraska; George Oliver, who is also
married and resides in that state; Frank G.,
who is married and makes his home in Cali-
fornia; Eben S., also a resident of Califor-
nia; Milton H., who is married and lives
in Nebraska; Cyrus A., who is married and
lives in Kewanee; and Mary O., wife of
James Van Eman of Dwight, Illinois.
Those of the family now deceased were
Charles H., who died at the age of eighteen
months; Laura P., who died at the age of
thirteen months; and Emily M., the first
born, who married Stephen Hurd and died

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

289

in Kewanee, leaving two cliikiren : Elizabeth
A., now the wife of Alfred Watkinson, of
California, and Harry M. of Kewanee.

Originally ]Mr. Brown was a Democrat
in ix)litics. but in 1856 supported John C.
l-"reniont for the presitlency, and has since
affiliated with the Republican party, though
at local elections he often votes independent
of i)art\' lines. He has been a delegate to
the county conventions of his party, and has
served as constable, assessor, road commis-
sioner and school director, dischargnig his
various official duties in a commendable and
satisfactory manner. He is one of the few
remaining old settlers of the county, and is
|. to-day tile oldest \oter in W'ethersfiekl town-
ship. He was a pall-bearer at the first fu-
neral held there. He well remembers when
this section of the state was all wild and un-
[ improved, when wolves, deer and feathered
game were abundant, furnishing many a
meal for the early settlers, whose larder
would otherwise have been scant, as those
who had money were often unable to procure
c\en the necessities of life in the sparsely
>ettled country. As years have passed all
J this has been changed and although the wild
game has disappeared the residents of Henry
> nunty are now able to secure all the deli-
cacies which the markets ui the world
afford.

J. E. ST.\CV

j. !•".. .'^lac}-, the present alderman of the
Secund ward of Kewanee, and a manu-
facturer, wholesale and retail dealer of ci-
gars and tobacco, his place of business be-
ing at Xo. 222 Second street, was born in
Havana, Illinois, July 17, 1865, a son of
John and Ellen (Murphy) Stacy, both na-

tives of the Emerald Isle and members of
the Catholic Church. The father died in
1866. at the age of thirty-five years, leav-
ing two children. J. \\.. our subject; and
William E., a manufacturer of cigars at
Farmington, Illinois. For her second hus-
band the mother married James Ennis, by
whom she also had two children : Philip,
deceased: and Christopher, who is working
for our subject. Mrs. Ennis is still living
at the age of fifty-seven years, and is an
honored resident of Kewanee.

During his minority J. E. Stacy lived
on a farm, and as he was compelled to earn
his own livelihood his educational ad-
vantages were limited, though he attended
the country schools for a time. On start-
ing out in life for himself he engaged in
teaming in Canton, Illinois, and then learned
the cigar maker's trade, at which he worked
for others until the 23d of May, 1897,
when he formed a partnership with James
Finin, and embarked in the same line of
trade under the firm name of Stacy &
Finin. One year later this connection was
dissolved by Mr. Stacy purchasing his part-
ner's interest in the business, which he
has since carried on under the name of
James E. Stacy. He manufactures on an
a\erage about two hundred thousand ci-
gars per year, aiul was engaged in the
wholesale business only until November i,
1900, when he opened a retail department.
He has built up a goc^d trade in both
branches, and the products of his factory
being of a superior grade find a ready sale
on the market.

Mr. Stacy was married. May 27, 1896,
tc) Miss Maggie Killeen, a resident of \\ y-
oming, who was Ixjrn in Illinois, and is a
daughter of Patrick and Bridget Killeen,
natives of Ireland. Both our subject and

290

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his wife are members of the CathoHc
Church, and he is also comiected with the
CathoHc Order of Foresters and the Ancient
Order of Hibernians. He is also a mem-
ber of the L. D. of A. of Kewanee, and
holds a retiring card of the Cigarmakers
International Union of America. He was
president of the cigar union of Canton
during the strike of IVIarch, 1897, which
lasted two years, but resigned that posi-
tion on his removal to Kewanee. He has
ben a member of the trades council of
this city nearly two years and secretary of
the local cigar union about a year ; and
in connection with his special tradfe has
been an important factor in union circles
for the past four years. As a Democrat
he also takes an active part in politics, and
on that ticket was elected alderman in April,
1900, for a term of two years. For his
success in life ^Ir. Stacy deserves great
credit, as it is due entirely to his own un-
aided efforts. His first business transac-
tion was at the age of fifteen years, when
he trade an old carbine rifle, which was a
present to him, for some tin-type pictures
and seventy-five cents in money. He has
worked his way steadily upward until he
is now at the head of a good and constantly
increasing business. In his career he has
displayed that • energ}-, enterprise and de-
termination which marks the successful
business man.

WILLIA:^! OLIVER.

Since pioneer days William Oliver has
been a resident of this section of the state,
l.aving located in Stark county in 1838, and
since 1854 he has made his home in Henry
county. During his active business life he
followed the occupation of farming with

marked success, but is now living retired
in W'ethersfield, enjoying a handsome com-
petence which he has truly earned and richly
deserves.

'Sir. Oliver was born in Rossshire. Scot-
land, February 7, 1827, and is a son of
Thomas and Margaret (Fife) Oliver, both
natives of Roxburghshire, where their mar-
riage was celebrated. In 1837 the family
emigrated to the L'nited States, and the fol-
lowing year took up his residence in Stark
countv, Illinois, being among the first set-
tlers of what is now Elmira township.
There the father of our subject opened up
and improved a farm, which he made his
home until called to his final rest, having
survived his wife for some years.

There our subject grew to manhood,
and the education which he acquired in the
pioneer schools was supplemented by a
course at Knox College, Galesburg. He
remained at home until his marriage,
which occurred April 3, 1854, in Stark
county, Miss Elizabeth Trumbull becoming
his wife. She was born and reared in
Scotland, and was a daughter of \\^illiam
Trumbull, also a pioneer of Stark county.
By this union were born ten children. The
sons of the family were Thomas, who is
married and now operates the home farm;
William P., a resident of Adams county,
Iowa; Adam E., who was admitted to the
bar and engaged in the practice of law at
Kewanee until his death in 1894; George
and Andrew, who both died in 1891, after
reaching years of maturity; and John, a
graduate of the St. Louis Medical College,
and now a physician of Kewanee. The
daughters were Mary E., wife of Archie
Turner, of Adams county, Iowa; Anna,
who died in 1898; Nellie and Jane, both at
home.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

291

After his marriage Mr. Oliver located
on a farm in Wethersfield township, Henry
county, where he purchased two hundred
acres of wild land, which he broke and'
placed under cultivation. He added to his
landed possessions from time to time until
he had six hundred and forty acres, on which
he built a good residence and substantial
barns and outbuildings. He continued to
successfuly engage in farming until 1898,
when he rented his place and erected a
pleasant residence in Wethersfield, where
he has since lived retired! As a boy he
commenced work for ten cents per day;
his wages were subsequently increased to
twenty-five cents per day ; and he was finally
given ten dollars permonth ; but being in-
dustrious, ambitious and enterprising, he
steadily prospered as time advanced until
he is now one of the most substantial men
of the community, and his success has been
worthily achieved. By his ballot he sup-
ports the men and measures of the Repub-
lican party, but has never sought oflicial
honors for himself. For some years he
efficiently served as a member of the school
board and as school director in his district.
h.aving always taken a commendable inter-
est in educational affairs. He and his fam-
ily are earnest and consistent members of the
United Presbyterian Church of Elmira, and
are people of prominence in the community
where they reside.

JOHN H. MURPHY.

John H. Murphy, one of Kewanee's
well-to-do and highly respected citizens who
is now living a retired life, was born in

county Wexford, Ireland, March 7, 1832,
and is the only survivor in a family of seven
children, four sons and three daughters,
whose parents were Gregory and Mary
(O'Farrel) ]\Iurphy, lifelong residents of
the Emerald Isle, where the father died at
about the age of eighty years, the mother
at the age of fifty-five. The first of the
family to come to America was our sub-
ject's brother, James, who crossed the At-
lantic in 1846 and took up his residence
on a farm in Will county, Illinois, where he
lived for many years, dying when quite an
old man. ^^lichael came to this country in
1877 and settled in Chicago, where he
died at the age of sixty. The first of the
members of this family were Margaret,
who married Nicholas Holden and died in
Ireland; James; Patrick and Ellen, who
also died in Ireland ; John H. ; and Michael.

Our subject was reared and educated in
the land of his birth. It was in 1850J at
the age of eighteen years, that he emigrated
to the new world and located in Chicago,
where he was engaged in mercantile pur-
suits for a number of years. In 1882 he
came to Henry county and has since made
his home in Kewanee, where he worked
in the shops for a time, but for the past
ten years has lived a retired life. He owns
a pleasant home at No. 707 East Third
street, where he and his estimable wife ex-
pect to spend their declining years. They
are worthy members of the Cathqlic Church,
and are highly esteemed by a large circle
of friends and acquaintances.

On the 22nd of October, 1864, Mr.
Murphy married Miss Kate Smith, a native
of New York and a daughter of John and
Mary (Burns) Smith, who were born in
Ireland and were the parents of six children,
namely : Margaret, John, Mary, Kate, Will-

292

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

jam and Ann. Besides Mrs. Murphy only
Mary is now living. The children born to
our subject and his wife are James, a resi-
dent of Kewanee, who wedded Alary Coch-
ran and has one child, John ; John, who is
engaged in the mining business in South
Dakota; Ellen, at home; Alargaret, wife of
Frank Reynolds, of \\'ethersfield ; Frank,
v.ho is clerking in Kewanee ; Kate, wife of
Gould Hulburt. a railroad man of Wyom-
ing; and William A., at home.

HEXRY EKLUXD.

Sweden has furnished to the United
States many bright, enterprising young
men who have left the old world to enter
the business circles of this country with its
more progressive methods, livelier compe-
tition and advancement more quickly se-
cured. Among this number is Henry Ek-
lund, a prominent architect of Kewanee,
Illinois. He was born in Boros, province
of Westergotland, Sweden, May 2, 1868,
a son of Andrew and Sophia (Sund) Ek-
hind, natives of the same province. The
father is a well educated man, who served
for over twenty years as a non-commis-
sioned officer in the Swedisli army, and after
retiring from military ser\ice embarked in
the lumber and real estate business in Boros,
which he still carries on. He has ten chil-
dren, all living, namely: Alma, wife of
John Josephson, of Boros; Henry, our sub-
ject; Mary, wife of Jacob Johnson, of Ke-
wanee, Illinois; Hilda, wife of Rev. John
Miller, a minister of the Swedish ^Methodist
Episcopal Church at Bloomington, Illinois;
Elizabeth, wife of John Nordine, of Boros,
Sweden; Carl, who is married and is now

pastor of the Swedish ^Methodist Church at
Des Aloines, Iowa; Hilma, also of Des
Moines, Iowa ; Judith, Cornelia and Fritz,
who are living with their parents in Boros,
Sweden.

Henry Eklund began his education in the
public schools of his native town and later
attended a private school, where he studied
for a professorship. In 1887 he came to
the new world, sailing from Gottenborg; to
Hull, England, and from Liverpool to Xew
York. He remained in the latter city for
a short time and then came to Kewanee,
Illinois, where he took private lessons jn
drafting. Later he took a special course in
architecture at the University of Illinois,
and by studying hard completed the same
in one year, after which he returned to Ke-
wanee, and has since devoted his time and
energies to his profession, in which he has
met with marked success. In 1898 he de-
signed and supervised the construction of
the \\'ashington school building, which is
one of the finest in the state, and in 1900
he recei\ed the commission to plan and su-
perxise the construction of a large addition
to the Irving school, the Hallin Block of
Kewanee, a modern three-story building
with all the latest improvements; Thomas
]\IcClure"s residence on Prosjject street in
1895 ; one for Juhn AN'ilsey on Tremont
street; one for Asa Barney on Cliestnut
street; and one for X. Caverno on South
Tremont street, beside many other resi-
dences and buildings. Mr. Eklund also has
had considerable work throughout this.
Stark and Knox counties. He conscien-
tiously fulfills his part of every contract,
and, being a skilled architect, the buildings
erected by him are among the finest and liest
in this section of the state.

On the 2^th of October. 1899, was cele-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

293

brated the marriage of Mr. Eklund and Miss
Esther Xelson, of Chicago, a daughter of
Swan Xelson of that city. Slie has a
brotlier Arthur, who is still at iiome with
liis parents. ^Ir. Eklund is an active and
consistent meniher of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church ; has been a member of the
board of directors of the Young Men's
Christian Association at Kewanee for eight
years, and is now vice-president of the
same. Fraternally he is connected with the
Knights of Pythias and the ^loderiT Wood-
men of America, and is trustee of the former
liidge. Since coming to this country he has
affiliated with the Republican party, and has
taken an active and commendable interest
in public affairs, as every true American
citizen should. For three years he has been
a member of the public library board, and
he gives a cheerful support to all enterprises
which have for their object the betterment
of mankind.

THOMAS PORTER LIKEX.

One of the early settlers and prominent
citizens of Henry county, Mr. Liken is now
living a retired life in tiie city of Geneseo,
liis home being on S<-)Uth Mechanic street.
He was born near Pittsburg, Allegheny
county, Pennsylvania, Xovember 20. 1846,
and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Sands)
Liken. The father was a native of Ireland,
Avho came to Pennsylvania when nine years
old, living there until 1865, when he came to
Illinois and settled in Munson township,
Henry county, where he purchased a farm,
making it his home until called from this
life, in 1895, at the age at seventy-three
years. Throughout his active business ca-
reer he followed the occupation of farming.

His wife survived him alx)ut two years, dy-
ing on the old homestead in Munson town-
ship, at the age of seventy-two. Of their
nine children four are still living, Thomas
P. being the oldest of the family.

During his minority our subject assisted
his father in the labors of the farm, and re-
mained under the parental roof until his mar-
riage. He began his education at his birth-
place, and attended the i)ublic schools of
Geneseo after coming to this state. On the
j8th of December. 1870, in Munson town-
ship, he married Miss Rachel \'. Hill, who
was born in Augusta county. \'irginia, April
2-j, 1 85 1, a daughter of William T. and
Elizabeth (Lockhart) Hill. The birth of
lier father occurred in Rappahannock county,
the same state. April 10, 1821, and about
1855 he came to Henry county, Illinois, lo-
cating in Munson township, being engaged
in farming and stock raising on section 24
until his death, which occurred in 1890,
when he was well advanced in years. Hi»
wife had passed away a number of years pre-
viously. They had a family of fourteen chil-
dren, eleven of whom are still living, Mrs.
Liken being the sixth in order of birth. Mr.
Hill was a large land owner and one of the
most prosperous men of his community, as
well as one of its most highly respected
citizens.

Mr. and Mrs. Liken are the parents of
five children, all of whom were born in Mun-
son township. In order of birth they are as
follows : William E., Iwrn February 24,
1872, was educated at the Collegiate Insti-
tute of Geneseo, and now follows farming,
while he makes his home with his parents;
Maude E., born March 16, 1875, is the wife
of Joseph F. Combs, a farmer residing on
section 2}^, Osco township, this county, and
thev have one child, Herbert P. ; Clvde T.,

294

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born May 7, 1878, is now editor oi the Gen-
esee Daily and Weekly Arena, and is repre-
sented on another page of this volume ; Myr-
tle M., born June 14, 1880, was educated in
the schools of Geneseo and a young ladies'
seminary at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and is
now at home with her parents ; and Grace
M., born January 27, 1884, is attending the
Geneseo high school.

After his marriage ^Nlr. Liken emliarked
in farming for himself on a place adjoining
that owned by his father in Munson town-
ship. He purchased one hundred and eighty
acres of land on section 7, and to it he sub-
sequently added until he had a fine farm
comprising five hundred and fifty acres in
Munson township, besides a tract of two
hundred acres in Iowa. In this county he
engaged in general farming and stock rais-
ing quite extensively until 1895, when he
gave up active business and removed to Gen-
eseo, where he has since lived a retired life
at his pleasant home on South Mechanic
street, surrounded by the comforts Avhich
usually attend a well spent life of industry.
His beautiful residence is surnuinded by a
large and well-kept lawn, and is situated on
one of the principal residence streets of the
city.

While living" in !Munson townshii) Mr.
Liken served as school director for some
years, but has never cared for political hon-
ors. He is, however, a public spirited man,
and advocates all measures tending to ad-
vance or improve the community in which
he lives. Politically he is identified with the
Democratic party, and fraternally affiliates
with the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows. For many years he was an ekier in
the Presbyterian Church of Munson; has al-
ways been an active Christian worker, and
a liberal donator to the support of his church.

At present he is a member of the board of
trustees of the Geneseo Collegiate Institute,
and has for some years served as treasurer
of that organization. In his farming opera-
tions he has met with that success which
usually follows the industrious and enter-
prising man, and is now enabled to live in
ease and comfort upon the proceeds of his
former toil. He still retains his farms in
]\Iunson township, which are now occupied
by tenants. He has witnessed almost the
entire development of the county, and in its
upbuilding he has ever borne his part. His
life has been manly, his actions sincere, and
his example is well worthy of emulation.

CLYDE THOMAS LIKEN.

Clyde T. Liken, editor and proprietor of
the Geneseo Daily and Weekly Arena, is the
third child in order of birth in the family of
Thomas P. and Rachel V. (Hill) Liken, of
Geneseo, whose sketch appears elsewhere in
this volume. He was born on the old home-
stead in ^lunson township, ilay 7, i878_.
and at the age of fi\'e years commenced at-
tending the district school of that locality,
where he pursued hi.-; studies until sixteen.
In the fall of 1894 he entered the Geneseo
Collegiate Institute, where he was gradu-
ated after taking a three years' course. He
was a close and careful student, who did
good and conscientious work, and always-
stood well in his classes. He was president
of his class during his senior year, and was
chosen, as a representative of the institute,
to take part in several oratorical contests.
At present he is a member of the Alumni
Association of that school. In the fall of
1897 he entered the Xorth western Univer-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

295

sity at Evanston, where he continued his
studies until January i, 1898, when he en-
tered the freshman class at Knox College,
Galesburg. He was a student there two
years, taking the scientific course, and iden-
tified himself with the different phases of
college life, taking part in the literary
societies and the athletic sports.

Returning to his home in the fall of 1899,
Mr. Liken became a reporter on the Geneseo
Daily .\rcna, and a few months later pur-
chased a half interest in the paper, being a
partner of II. W. lUickle in the publication
of the same. In Alarch, 1900, he purchased
the interest of Air. Buckle, and has since
been sole proprietor. The Daily Arena is a
four-page, seven-column paper, independ-
ent in politics; while the Weekly, which is
published e\ery Thursday, supports the
Democratic party. The paper was estab-
lished in 1895 by the Henry County Pub-
lishing Company, and under the able and
efficient management of uur subject has be-
come one of the Icatling journals of the
county.

Air. Liken is a member of Stewart Lodge,
No. 9J, F. & A. AL, and also of the Presb)--
terian Church of Geneseo. He stands de-
servedly high in both church and social cir-
cles, and is one of the most popular young
men of the citv.

J. WILLIAM JOllXSOX.

This well-known citizen and successful
agriculturist of W'ethersfield, was born in
Kansas City, Kansas, January 4, 1858, and
is a son of J. W. Johnson, who was born in
Pennsylvania in 1816, and was educated at
Williams College, of which he was a grad-

uate. The paternal grandfather was Dr.
J. V. Johnson, who was born in Washington
county, New York, in 1786, and became a
prominent physician. The father of our
subject fitted himself for the legal profes-
sion, and at an early day located in Prince-
ton, Illinois, where he engaged in the prac-
tice of law for a time. While there he was
united in marriage with Mary Eliza Win-
ship, a daughter of Horace and Sarah Win-
ship, who settled in rrinccton in 1833.
Later Air. l<ihnson remo\cd to Wyandotte,
Kansas, now Kansas City, and there en-
gaged in the practice of his profession until
his death in 1859. His widow returned to
her ])eople in Princeton, Illinois, but later
married John Jacobs and resided al Morris,
Illinois, where she departed this life in 1865.

Being left an orphan at the age of seven
years, the subject of this sketch was early
thrown upon his own resources to battle with
the world. In 1869 he came to W'ethersfield
to make his home with Dr. and Mrs. Hurd,
by whom he was reared as their own son.
A sketch of this worthy couple will be found
elsewhere in this work. Air. Johnson was
provided with good school privileges, and
completed his education at the high .school
of Kewanee. He remained with the Doctor
and his wife until nineteen years of age,
when he commenced earning his own live-
lihood l)y working b_\- the month as a farm
hand in different parts of the slate, in 1885
he located permanently in W'elhersfield
townshij), this county, u])on a farm of ninety
acres, which he has operated in connection
with other land. He is a thorough and
skillful agriculturist, and in his labors is
meeting with excellent success.

At Princeton, Illinois, in 1891, was cel-
ebrated the marriage of Air. John.son and
Aliss Daisv AI. Garman, a native of that

296

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

place and a daugliter of Samuel Garman.
By this union were born two children. Caro-
line and Mary E. The latter died May i 1 ,
1899, at the age of one year. In his politi-
cal views Mr. Johnson is a stanch Repnl)-
lican. and cast his first presidential ballot
for James A. Garfield. He is public spir-
ited and progressive, and takes a deep and
commendable interest in public afl^airs.

REV. :M. F. FOLEY.

There is no ])osition held by man more
important than pastor of a church, nor is
there a position that has attached to it
greater importance or responsibility when
properly conceived and consciously dis-
charged. This is more essentially the case
with tlie clergymen of the Catholic faith,
for he is held more as an instructor and
guide, not onlv in religious matters, but in
moral and social conduct, by his congrega-
tion. There are few men bv character and
education better fitted to preside over a peo-
ple in all these relations than the reverend
gentleman whose name stands at the head
of this biography.

A nati\e of London, England. Father
Foley was born in Horse Ferry Road, West-
minster, November i, 1867, and is a son of
Martin and Catherine (O'Brien) Foley, the
former a native of County \\'aterford. Ire-
land, the latter of County Cork. His pa-
ternal grandfather was taken from his bed
one night and pressed into the English na-
vy. He jumi)ed overboard, but was recap-
tured and sentenced to forty-eight lashes.
He was ])ardoned from this, however, by
his landlord, but was n(.)t released from the

navy. The press gang also captured his eld-
est son. Father Foley's parents crossed the
ocean about the same time he came to Amer-
ica and located in Canada. Two years later
they removed to Spring Valley, Illinois,
where the father engaged in the shoe busi-
ness until his death. Subsecpiently the
mother remmecl with her family to Peoria,
where she is now living. Of their ten chil-
dren, five died in Ireland, the others being
M. F.. our subject; Thomas, of Peoria;
]\Iichael P., wdio lives with his mother: and
Katie, who died in Peoria.

In November. 1875. Father Foley went
to County Cork, Ireland, and entered the
Brothers school at Fermoy, a great military
town, where he remained ten years, half
of this time being spent at St. Colman's
College. Those were the days of the martial
and coercion laws, when citizens had to be
in at eight o'clock at night. Father Foley
belonged to a reading club, which the police
would raid to see if the members had any
firearms about them, and this proved very
trying to the independent spirit of the young
Irish l3oy. \Mule there he received a great
many prizes. \\'hen only sixteen years of
age he carried ofif an exhibition prize of
sixty pounds sterling, which amounts to
about three hundred dollars in our money.
This made him an eligible candidate for
subsequent examinations for any government
position, and he was offered a position as
military engineer. Coming to America the
loth of April, 1885, Father Foley entered
St, Michael's College at Chatham, New
Brunswick, where he remained until Septem-
ber 15. 1888. He was next a student at Le
Grande Seminary in ^lontreal, Canada, un-
til June 26, i8go. when he went to Balti-
more, ^Maryland, and took up higher the-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

299

ology at St. Mary's College, which is one
oi the oldest institutions in America.

On the 29th of January, 1892, Father
Foley left Baltimore for Milwaukee, and
there was ordained a priest on the 26th of
May, hy Bishop Messmer, of Green r>ay.
\\'isconsin. he being the only priest ordained
at that lime. He was first appointed assist-
ant pastor at Chebanse, Iroquois county. Illi-
nois, where he remained eleven months: wris
then at Odell two months; Keithsburg six
months : and Peoria three years. On the
27th I if June, 1896, he received the appoint-
ment as pastor of the Catholic Church at
Carthage, where he remained until Novem-
ber, T898, when he was appointed pastor of
St. Malachy's Church at (ieneseo. He has
already done a good work here, and has
made many friends among all denominations
as well as his own ])arishioners.

Father J. G. Alleman. a celebrated Ger-
man missionary, was tlie first priest to say
mass in this part of the state, his district
lying along the Mississippi river from St.
Louis to Rock Island and across the state
to Peoria, and he built the lirst Catholic
church at Rock Island, taking the material
from the Xauvoo Mormon temple which he
had purchased. He traveled all over the
country on horseback, and organized the first
jjarish in (ieneseo, saying the first mass in
James Warren's house. He was succeeded
l?y Father Mueller, of Chicago, who said
mass in the seminary building, and he in
turn was followed by Rev. John Dclan, who
succeeded Father .\lleman at Rock Island.
He also said mass in James Warren's bouse,
as did Father Murphy, who next had charge
■of the parish. Later Father McElherne said
mass in Perry's hall. He was succeeded by
Father Corbinian, a famous missionary from
Chicago, who said mass in Sniff's ball. .V

church was l)uilt in 1866, and was under the
charge of Fathers ?^Ieinrod, Shuitl)ert, Ma-
thias and Dionisius, all of Chicago. .Vt that
time the congregation numbered ninety-nine
families. The first resident [jriest was Rev.
Thomas J. Acklcy. who was succeeded by
]\c\'. F. W. .Smythe. an Englishman, who
had been con\erte<l to the Catholic faith.
He also had charge of the out missions at
llooppole, Atkinson. .Vnnawan, Sheftield,
Bradford and Kewanee, and during his pas-
torate here baptized six hundred and forty
peo])le. This luiglish priest on his coal-
black horse was a familiar sight in and
around (ieneseo. After seven vears of faith-
ful ser\ice he returned to England, where
his death occurred. He was fnlldwed liy
Re\-. Hugh 0'(jara McShane, who remained
until 1877, when the Chicago diocese was
divided, and the Geneseo parish became a
part of the Peoria diocese. Father McShane
is now the pastor of the Enunciation Church
at Paulina street and Wabansia a\cnue,
Chicago. The next pastor was I-'alher L.
J. Dunne, who remained se\en years, and
was then succeeded l)v heather l'"allihee, now
of Arlington, Illinois. In i88y Rev. Will-
iam O'Hara became pastor, and nine years
later was succeeded by Father Foley. When
our subject took charge here the church was
three thousand dollars in tlebt. hut this has
all been ])aid oft', and he has niaile ni;ui\- im-
l)rovements in the clnn-ch pniperty, includ-
ing steam beat and electric lights. The fur-
nace and heating apparatus was the gift
of J. H. O'Brien, a prominent grocer of
(ieneseo, and an elegant bath room has been
l>ut in the pastor's residence, it being the
gift of Cornelius Hayes. The (ieneseo con-
gregation consists of about four hundred
adults. Father I'oley also has charge of Co-
lona. where there is also a church: Cam-

300

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bridge. where he says mass in private houses;
Orion, Briar Bkiff, Carbon CHff and Cleve-
land.

GEORGE A. MORTOX.

George A. ^lorton, an energetic and en-
terprising farmer residing at Xo. 517 East
Prospect street, Kewanee. is a native of
Henry county, his birth liaving occurred in
Anawan township, August g, 1866. His pa-
rents, Daniel and Catherine (Potter) Mor-
ton, were natives of Oliio and Connecticut,
respectively, and early settlers of this coun-
t)% where the father took up a tract of gov-
ernment land and improved a farm. ' This
tract remained in his possession until his
death, but at that time he was living a retired
life in Kewanee. Prior to coming to Illi-
nois he owned and operated a farm in Mich-
igan, which he sold on his removal. He
and his wife made the journey to Henry
county in a wagon, and first settled in Ana-
wan tOAvnship, where she died. There he
owned one hundred and sixty acres of land,
and also had two hundred and sixteen acres
in Kewanee township, seventy acres in the
corporation of Kewanee, one hundred and
twenty acres in Wethersfield township, and
one hundred and twenty acres in Bureau
county. He was prominently identified with
the early development and upbuilding of
Henry county, and experienced many of the
hardships and difficulties of pioneer life.
On first locating here he sold all his grain
in sacks and his hogs dressed. In 1875 he
removed to Kewanee. which at that time was
a mere village. He owned considerable
property in the city and was quite well-to
do. He was a man of affairs, taking an
active interest in all enterprises for the bene-

fit of his community, and served as consta-
ble at an early day. While living in the east
he held membership in the United Brethren
Church. He was born May 15, 1815, and
died August 19, 1899. For his second wife
he married ]\Irs. Catherine (Potter) Buck-
ley, of Princeton, who had been a resident of
Bureau county for many )-ears, and is now
living with her son-in-law in Galva. She
was seventy years of age on the 31st of De-
cember, 1900. Mr. ilortou was the father
of five children by the first marriage. The
three by the second marriage were Helen,
who died at the age of four j-ears; Mrs.
Edna Taylor, who has two children, Addie
and Lloyd; and George A., our subject.

During his boyhood and \outh George
A. Morton pursued his studies in the public
schools of Kewanee, and early became fa-
miliar with agricultural pursuits, and now
owns one hundred and sixty acres of well
improved land in Xeponset township. Bu-
reau county, Illinois. He has made farming
and stock raising his life occupation, and is
meeting with excellent success. On the 8th
of August, 1888, he was united in marriage
with ^liss Emma Duff, a native of this city,
whose parents, James and Eliza Duff, came
to this country from Ireland. She was only
two years old when she lost her mother, but
her father survived for many years, dying
X'ovember i, 1897, at the age of seventy-
four. Their other children ■were Ada, wife
of Wesley Kimball, of Kansas; James, a resi-
dent of Lonetree, Iowa"; William, of Stock-
ton, California; and Lida, wife of ^^'rigllt
Smith, of St. Joseph, Michigan. Mr. and
Mrs. Morton have one child, Ethel, who is
the pride and joy of their home. They are
members of the Baptist Church, and Mr.
^lorton is also connected with the Improved
Order of Red Men. In his political \iews-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

30 f

lie is ail ardent Republican. He is a worthy
representative of one of tlie old and promi-
nent families of the county, and is a man
highly respected and esteemed by all who
know him.

LIBERTY STIMSOX.

Liberty Stimson, deceased, was one of
the honored pioneers of Henry county and
a leading representative of its farming and
stock raising interests. He was born in the
town of Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1804,
and came to Illinois in 1836, locating first
in Bureau county. In 1838 he entered three
eighty-acre tracts of land in Henry county,
and at the land office in Galena he received
the government patents, which are now in
possession of his widow. He located upon
his property in 1840, and later added to it,
but subsequently sold a portion of the estate,
though his widow still owns one hundred
and eighty-two and a half acres in Geneseo
township. The Geneseo colony was organ-
ized in Bergen, Geneseo county, New York,
in 1835, but did not locate here until a year
or two after his arrival. He was therefore
one of the first settlers of this part of the
county, and for many years was known to
almost every resident within its borders.
He bought stock in all parts of the county,
became quite an extensive farmer, and
bought and sold much land, though he al-
ways retained the tract on which he origin-
ally located and which is still in possession
of the family. His brother, Moses, also
owned a large tract of land in Geneseo
township, their homes being near each other.
The latter never married, and died before
our subject's death.

With the early development and improve-

ment of this section of the state ^Ir. Stim-
son was prominently identified for many
years, and was recognized as one of the
most useful and valued citizens of his com-
munity. He was an earnest and consistent
member of the Congregational Church, and
died in that faith, July 26, 1878, at the age
of seventy-two years and five months. Be-
coming widely and favorably known, he
made many friends, and his death was a loss
to the entire community.

On Christmas day, 1837, Mr. Stimson
married Miss Leah Clark, of Tiskilwa, Bu-
reau county, Illinois, who died December 17,
1863, and the two children born of this union
are also deceased. In 1844 Mr. Stimsoa
was again married, in Geneseo, his second
wife being Mrs. Remembrance Ogdeii, nee
Evans, who b}' her former marriage had
five children, namely: Elizabeth, widow of
John Taylor and a resident of Burns town-
ship, this county; Mrs. Emeline Dawson;
Samuel, who married Amanda Tibbs ; Thom-
as, who died at the age of eighteen years ;
and John, who married a Miss Graff.

On the 13th of February, 1867, at the
residence of the bride's brothers in Rock
Island, Mr. Stimson was united in marriage
with iliss Hannah E. Reynolds^ a native of
!Montpelier, \ ermont, and a daughter of E,
P. and Betsey (Stuart) Reynolds. Her fa-
ther was born in Kinderhook, New York,
and was a descendant in direct line from Sir
Joshua Reynolds, the famous painter of Eng-
land, while the mother was a native of Jef-
fries, New Hampshire, and traced her an-
cestry back to Mary. Queen of Scots. They
were married in Albany, New York, at the
beginning of the nineteenth century. Mr.
Reynolds followed contracting and building
for some years, and served as captain of a
company in the war of 18 12. He was a fine

302

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

looking man. being over six feet tall and of
commanding appearance. He took quite a
prominent part in public affairs, and was
tlnis identified with several counties of \'er-
mont. In early life he was a minister of the
Free \\'ill Baptist Church, but after his re-
moval to the Green ^Mountain state he united
with the ^Methodist Episcopal Church, there
being no church of the former denomination
in his community. He was ever active and
influential in religious work, and was a per-
sonal and valued friend of Bishop Elisha
Scott. He was accidentally killed at Shore-
ham, \'emiont, by a wagon load of Ijoxes
tipping over on him, when fifty-fi\e years of
age. His wife survived him five years and
died at the same age. She was a Congrega-
tionalist in religious belief, and was an earn-
est Christian worker.

Mrs. Stimson is the eighth in order of
birth of the ten children born to this worthy
couple, the others being as follows : Harmon
G., an attorney, married Louisa Thompson,
now deceased, and he died at the age of
eighty-one years. Xazro B., who died at
the age of seventy-nine, first married Sarah
Bennett and second Sai-ah Dillon. Mary A.,
a good Methodist, married Palmer Stearns,
now deceased, and she died at the age of
eighty. Elisha P.. who died at the age of
seventy-eight, married first Eliza Young
and second Mrs. Amanda Ogden. who is
still living. Betsey S. is the wife of B. H.
Kimball, of Rock Island, Illinois. Martha
^^'. is the widow of Thomas B. ^^'oods and
a resident of Woodstock, \*ermont. Lucy
H. married Hosea V. French, and died at
the age of sixty-eight years. Both she and
her husband were consistent members of the
Cniversalist Church. John R.. an Episco-
palian in religious belief, married Elizabeth
Bennett and died at the age of seventy-one,

in Los Angeles, California, where his widow
still resides. Record S., a member of the
Congregational Church, was married in San
Francisco. California, and died at Gold Hill.
Xevada, at the age of forty-one years.

Mrs. Stimson, who is familiarly known
by her many friends as Aunt Hannah, was
educated at ^Montpelier and Woodstock. \'er-
mont, and Lebanon, Xew Hampshire. She
then taught school for one year in the latter
state; two years in graded schools in Massa-
chusetts: three years in graded schools in
Xew York ; six months in a parish school in
Louisiana; and two jears and a half in a
select school at ^larshall, Harrison county,
Texas, on the Red river, near Shreveport.
She was at the last named place when the
Civil war broke out, and had much difficulty
in reaching her friends in the north. She
obtained a passport signed by the governors
of Texas and Louisiana, with which she
was able to travel as far as A'icksburg,
where their jurisdiction ended. Here thir-
teen lady teachers were recommended to the
tender mercies of General Kirby Smith, of
the Confederate army, who was a native of
X'ew York, but had married a southern lady.
They spent ten days at ^'icksburg during
the siege in the fall of 1862. stopping at the
American House, and saw General Grant's
forces kept at bay by shot and shell. The
leading Confederate generals at that place
were Bragg. Stonewall Jackson. \'an Doren.
Beauregard. Todd and Slaughter. Major
Watts was there for the exchange of pris-
oners. They were all very gentlemanly and
nice to the lady teachers, who were finally
taken to the giuiboat Monarch in closed car-
riages, as the people of the city were very
hostile to northerners. On this boat were
several hundred exchanged prisoners under
Captain La Salle, a Union officer. They

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

303

stopped at Lake Providence, on the Arkansas
side of the river, and four more teachers
came on board, under Captain Dubb, also a
Union officer. Between that place and Hele-
na a battle was fon.s^lit between the contend-
ing forces, which lastetl four hours. Xo
one on the Monarch was injured, though one
man wlio was ill died from fright and dis-
turbance. The battle was precipitated by a
man on Lieutenant I'ritchard's boat being
shot by a Confederate from the Mississippi
side. They finally reached Memphis in safe-
t)-. At Helena some gentlemen came on
boanl for the purpose of buying their Con-
federate monev. but they were not allowed
to sell. At Memphis, however. Mrs. Stim-
son disposed of what Confederate money she
had, receiving only thirty-seven and a Half
cents on the dollar. At Cairo, Illinois, the
company separated and ^Irs. Stimson came
l)ack to Rock Island, where she had been
mourned for lost many days, and was looked
upon as one risen from the dead. She then
taught in the graded schools of that city and
the schools of Hampton. Illinois, until her
marriage, in 1867. That siie was considered
an excellent instructor is evinced by the num-
ber of years she was retained in the same
school. She was progressive in her meth-
ods, was a great student, and had that love
for her profession without which there can
be no success. She is an active and promi-
nent member of Grace Evangelical Church
of Geneseo, being converted at the early age
of ten years under the ministry of IJishop
Scott, and she is highly respected and es-
teemed i^y all who know her on account of
her sterling worth. Previous to uniting with
the Grace Evangelical Church she was con-
nected for many years with the I'^piscopal
Church, being confirmed by liishoj) Hoj)kins,
of X'ermont. The mother of Mr. Stiiuson

was a first cousin of lienjamin Franklin, and
the family is one of the most prominent in
and around Boston.

JAMI;:S STEELE IIAMILTOX.

Among the early settlers and highly re-
spected citizens of Henr\- count}' was Mr.
Llamilton, of Geneseo, who was affection-
ately kntnvn by many as L^ncle Steele. He
was born in Westmoreland county, Penn-
sylvania, on the 1 2th of June, 181 2, and
lived at the place of his birth vintil coming
to Illinois. His father, Alexander Hamil-
ton, was a native of Ireland, and wiien a
young man came to this country, settling in
Westmoreland county, Pennsyhania, where
he married Miss Elizabeth Steele. There
he engaged in farming throughout his life,
and died November 18, 1845. His wife
had i)asse(l away November 10. 1834. They
were the parents of se\en children.

For a number of years our subject en-
gaged in farming in the county of his na-
tivity, and when but a xoung man came to
Henry county. Illinois. He puchased a farm
in Cornwall township, which he o|)erated
for several years, and then removed to lien-
ton county, Iowa, where he was also en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits for nine years.
At the end of that period he returned to this
county and took up iiis abode in the city of
Geneseo, where he li\ed a retired life until
h.is death, whicii occurred .March 15. 1889. at
the present home of his widow.

On the 5th of March. 1S40, in Cornwall
township. Henrv count)'. Mr. Hamilton was
united in marriage with Miss Mary K. 'i"ay-
lor. a daughter of Andrew and Polly
(Brown) Tayk)r. Her father was bom

304

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

January 17. 1789, in New Hampshire, where
lie grew to manhood. After his marriage
lie remnvetl to New York, where he engaged
in farming for some years, an<l then went to
Indiana, where he continued to follow that
jnirsuit until coming to Henry county, Illi-
nois. Locating in Cornwall township, he
bought a farm, which he operated until
■called from this life at an advanced age.
i\Irs. Hamilton's mother had died in New
York some years previous.

Seven chiklren were born to ^Ir. and
j\lrs. Hamilton, namely : { i ) Priscilla died
at the age of about live years. (2) John
T., who is engaged in the hardware busi-
ness in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, married Annie
Jones, and they have two children, James E.
and Faun. (3) Alexander died at the age
of one year. (4) \\'illiam W'., who is in
partnership with his brother John T., in the
hardware business at Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
married Josephine Allsop, and they have
three children, Louise, Jane S. and Joseph-
ine. (5) Porter H., who is also connected
with his brothers in business at Cedar Rap-
ids, but is now in California, married Car-
lota Sargent, and they have six children,
Alfred, Richard, Guy, Clifford, Porter and
Carlota. (6) Sarah is the wife of William
Orr, a retired farmer of Geneseo, and they
have three children, I\Iary E., Viella and
Roy.

By his ballot JNIr. Hamilton always sup-
ported the men and measures of the Deiiio-
'Cratic party, but never cared for the honors
■or emoluments of political office, though he
was a public spirited citizen and was an ad-
vocate of all that tended to improve or ad-
vance the interests of the community in
which he lived. He was a man of many
friends and no enemies, was a devoted hus-
l)and, a kind and indulgent father, and true

friend. He won the confidence of all by
whom he was surrounded. A man of pow-
erful ph3'sifjue, he was also a man of firm
mind and strong will power, and was un-
swerving in what he beliexxd to be right.
He had the courage of his convictions, and
was honored for his strict integrity and up-
right character.

THERON H. CHESLEY.

Theron H. Chesley, a prominent attor-
ney of Kewanee and president of the Star-
Courier Printing Company, was born in
Caledonia county, Vermont, October 22,
1857, a son of Albert and Lucretia (Smith)
Chesley. He traces his ancestry back to
two brothers who came to this country from
England in the early part of theseventeenth
century and settled in New Hampshire,
where they were given land grants. From
that state the paternal grandfather re-
moved to Vermont, and it was there that the
father of our subject was born in 1828.
Completing his education in the local schools
he engaged in farming and finally embarked
in business as a boot and shoe dealer at
Sheffield, \'ernioiit, and continued the same
until after the Ci\'il war broke out. In the
spring of 1862 he entered the army and re-
mained in the service until hostilities ceased.
He died in June, 1867. His widow made
her home with our subject in Illinois from
the spring of 1878 until her death in 1888.
Their children were Theron H., of this re-
\iew; and Ella, wife of Dr. T. B. Keene,
of Montezuma, Iowa. By a former mar-
riage the father had two sons, M. A., pub-
lisher of the Democrat at Chetopa, Kansas;
and Albert S., a grocer of Kewanee.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

305

The early education of our sul)ject was
acquired in tlie common schools of the
Green Mountain state, and there he served
an apprenticeship to the i)rinter"s trade, at
which he worked in different places in Ver-
mont, first at Lyndon. In 1877 he came to
this state and at once found employment
wiili the Kewanee Courier. He spent a
few months in Cambridge, and in 1878 be-
came local editor of the Kewanee Courier.
In the fall of 1879 he leased the paper in
connection with his brother, and they car-
ried it on together for six years. In 1882
Mr. Chesley purchased the whole stock and
continued its publication until 1S92, when
he formed a partnership with L. \\'. Chand-
ler, now of Independence, Iowa. In the
spring of 1896 our subject started a daily,
but in October of the same year sold out
to Delano & Plenderson, who continued its
publication for about eighteen months. Mr.
Chesley then bought back the Courier plant
and organized a company. In 1898 he con-
solidated the Star and Courier, and became
president of what is known as the Kewanee
Printing and Publishing Company, which
issues both a daily and weekly journal and
also does job printing of all kinds. He
started in business here on a small scale,
but his oiifice is now equipped with the most
modern improvements, including folding
and type-setting machines. He owns the
Iniilding occupied by him. it being a good
brick structure, which, with adjoining
buildings, occupy 64x100 feet on the cor-
ner of Main and Third streets, and also
has a pleasant residence in Kewanee be-
sides farm land in Nebraska. Mr. Ches-
ley took up the study of law in 1891, and
four years later entered the Kent College
of Law at Chicago, where he completed his

stutlies and was graduated in 1896. In the
spring of the following year he commenced
the practice of his profession in Kewanee,
and has alread}- met with fair success in that
enterprise.

In October. 1881, ^Ir. Chesley was
united in marriage with !Miss Minnie Whit-
ney, who was born in Hastings, Minnesota,
October 28, 1861, but was living with her
parents in Kewanee at that time. Her fa-
ther. Dr. C. N. ^\'hitney, founded the Ke-
wanee Courier in 1876, and at different
time has edited the Ouincy Whig and vari-
ous papers in the state. He is a well-edu-
cated man, who has been a Methodist
preacher and temperance lecturer, but is
now living retired at Kingston, Jamaica.
Mr. and Mrs. Chesley have four children,
namely: Merton W., born in 1882; Willis
[■'., in 1884; Ella, in 1887; and Theron H.,
jr., in 1893. All are now attending" school,
and the oldest son also aids his father in the
printing office.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Ches-
ley has been identified with the Republican
party, and has done all in his power to ad-
vance its interests and insure its success.
He served as postmaster of Kewanee under
President Harrison's administration, from
1891 to 1895. He is a typical business man
of the west — w^ide-awake and energetic —
and in his undertakings has been eminently
successful. Fraternally he is a member
of the blue lodge, chapter and council of
the Masonic fraternity at Kewanee, and also
belongs to the Modern W^oodmen of Amer-
ica, the Royal Circle and the Mystic Workers
of the World. Socially he is quite popular,
Ijeing genial and pleasant in manner, and
has the happy faculty of making friends
readily, and as easily retaining them. He

3o6

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

gives his support to the Congregational
Church, of which his wife is an earnest
member.

GEORGE ALLEN VAWTER, D. D. S.

Among the representative professional
and business men of Henry county, none
stand higher in the estimation of the general
public than the subject of this sketch, who
has been a prominent factor in business,
professional and political circles of the
county for more than twenty-one j-ears. He
is a native of the state, born in JNIacomb,
the county seat of McDonough county,
(January 4, 1858. His father, Allen T.
\'awter, was born in Cumberland county,
Kentucky, December 14, 1830 and came
with his parents to JNIcDonough count}-, Illi-
nois, in 1833. On a farm near Macomb, he
grew to manhood. He then moved to the
city of Macomb, in 1851, when he engaged
in the nursery business, being one of the
earliest nurserymen in central Illinois, in
which line of business he is still engaged,
having a record of forty-nine years of con-
tinual service in one line of business.

The first ancestor of the family settled
in Virginia, where the great-grandfather of
our subject. Russell Vawter, was born. He
always lived in his nati\e county, CuliJepper.
His son, Beverly Vawter, was born in Cul-
pepper county, \'irginia, September 22, 1782,
and when twenty-one years old he moved to
North Carolina where, on the 13th of Jan-
uary, 1807, he married Elizabeth Hutchins,
In 181 3 he moved with his family to Ken-
tucky, and from thence to JNIcDonough
county, Illinois, in 1833, becoming a pioneer
farmer in that county, where he died, April
21, 1845. He was a soldier in the war of

1812. On the 14th of March, 1854, Allen
T. \'awter was united in marriage with
^liss Florida Elizabeth Kellogg, a native
of Ohio, born June 9, 1836. Her father
was a native of New York, and in the Civil
war gave his life for his country. Of the
seven children born to Allen T. Vawter and
wife but three survive — Lemuel E., now of
Macomb, Illinois; Harry M., a dentist of
Knoxville, Iowa, and a director in one of
the leading banks of that city ; and our sub-
ject. The parents are both members of the
Alethodist Episcopal Church in Macomb,
the father having been for many years one
of its trustees.

In the public schools of Macomb, Illi-
nois, our subject received his education, be-
ing a graduate of the high school of that
city in the class of 1876. Soon after his
graduation lie commenced the study of
dentistry with Dr. H. H. \\'hissen, of
]\Iacomb. At that time there were but few-
dental schools in existence, and the differ-
ent states had no definite requirements for
the practice of dentistry. In after years
the Doctor, for his own gratification, took
a full course in dentistry in the dental de-
partment of the State University of Iowa,
graduating from that institution in JMarch,
1894. He located, however, in Cambridge,
in 1879, and there he has since continued to
reside in the practice of his profession. Few
dentists, even in the larger cities have had a
larger or more lucratice practice. In 1892
he built a model dental office of the cottage
type, suiTounded by a nice lawn, and com-
plete in every detail. It is equipped with a
mantle and fireplace, and is supplied with
hot and cold water, with fountain cuspidor.
Telephones and electric lights show evidence
of twentieth century progress. It has a
large plate glass window in the front and

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

307

anotlier one in tlie north which furnishes
the hglit with wliich to operate by, and with
the aid of a lady assistant his office is always
kept neat and tidy.

Dr. Vawter is a stalwart Republican,
and he has always been a hard worker for
his party. At present he is chairman of the
Republican central committee of Cambridge,
in which position he has shown good ex-
ecutive ability, doing much to advance the
interests of the party. He has served on
the town board as trustee, and also as presi-
dent of the board. \\'hile on the board he
was one of the committee that put in the
splendiil water works plant of Cambridge.
Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic
order, Knights of Pythias, Eastern Star, and
Si Psi Phi, the latter being a dental so-
ciety. In each of these organizations he has
taken an active part.

On the 14th of Xovember, 1883, Dr.
\'awter was united in marriage with JNIiss
Xellie I. Gould, daughter of L. Y. and
I Orlano Paddock (ilead) Gould, and they
reside in a good home in the south part of
the city, where their many friends always
receive a cordial welcome. They attend and
support the Methodist Episcopal Church, in
which they have taken much interest, though
not members. For a number of years the
Doctor has been president of the board of
trustees.

, Dr. ^'awter has been a successful busi-
ness man, and he is essentially a self-made
man. Inheriting no projierty, all that he
has gained has been acquired by his own
exertions and good management. He as-
sisted in organizing one of the banks in
Cambridge, and has also been interested in
the organization of others. He is now con-
nected with some large business enterprises,
among which is the Philippine Lumber and

Development Company, of which he is a
director. The company is composed of some
of the wealthiest and best business men in
the country. The Philippine islands con-
tain vast quantities of timber, of which there
are m^re than four hundred varieties hi
hardwood, at least fifty having a high com-
mercial value. The compan}^ with its ample
capital, propose acquiring and developing
the vast resources of the country, and, be-
ing the first to enter the field, will doubtless
reap bountifully. The Doctor is also a
stockholder in the Coliseum Company of
Chicago, the directors of which are nearly
identical with those of the Philippine Com-
pany. P>w men, with the limited means at
their disposal in commencing life have ac-
complished more than Dr. Vawter, and while
he has been prosperous, he is imaffected by
his gains, is easily approached, and enjoys
in a high degree the respect and confidence
of the people with whom he has so long been
associated.

ADA-M DUXLAP.

.\mong the honored citizens and retired
farmers of Geneseo none is more worthy of
notice in this volume than Adam Dunlap,
who is enjoying a well-earned rest at his
pleasant home on North State street. A na-
tive of Ohio, he was born in Wayne county
on the 18th of December, 1833, and is a son
of William and Nancy (Finley) Dunlap,
whose birthplace was the north of Ireland.
Coming to America in the early part of the
nineteenth century, the father located in
\\'ayne county, Ohio, where he became
owner of a good farm of three hundred
acres, on which he made his home through-
out the remainder of his life. He was born

3o8

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in 1798, and died February 23, 1852, hav-
ing only survived his wife nine days, her
deatli occurring on the 14th of the same
montli. Both were earnest and faithful mem-
bers of the Presbyterian Church, and were
most estimable people. Their children were
as fcillows: ]\Iargaret is now the witlow
of i\. J. P5urns, and a resident of San Fran-
cisco, California: Thomas, born in 1832,
died Septeml)er 15, 1885; Adam, our
subject, is next in order of birth; Elizabeth,
born Xo\-eml)er 23, 1836, died in 1838;
Mary E., born in 1838, married John
Schnebly, died in Lucas county, Iowa, in
1869; Alexander, born January 13, 1841, is
engaged in farming near Winterset, Iowa ;
Nancy J. was married and died in Califor-
nia, August 15, 1866, at the age of twenty-
three; James P., born April 18, 1845,
is a druggist and express agent in Califor-
nia; William, born October 9, 1847, died in
1857; Archibald F. is editor of the "Repor-
ter," a newspaper in West Salem, Ohio;
and Andrew J. is section boss on the Erie
railroad at that place.

The early life of Adam Dunlap was
passed upon his father's farm, and his ed-
ucation was obtained in the district schools
of the neighborhood. In 1852 he started
out to make his own way in the world, and
two years later came to Henry county, Illi-
nois, locating in Phenix township, where
he -worked on a farm until after the Civil
war broke out. In 1862 he responded to his
country's call for aid by enlisting in Com-
pany K, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry. His first engagement
was the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, and
the winter of 1862-3 was spent in that state.
The following spring the regiment went in
pursuit of Morgan, and was later at Camp
Nelson on the Cumberland river. Being ill

and unable to engage in active army service
Mr. Dunlap was transferred to the Veteran
Reserve Corps, and sent to Jeffersonville,
Indiana, and later to IMadison, Wisconsin,
where he remained until his term of enlist-
ment expired, being mustered out in 1865.

Returning to Illinois, he was married on
the lotli of August, that year, to Airs. Ala-
linda Merriman, who was born on the 26th
of May, 1 81 3, in New York state, and died
March 24, 1891. She was a consistent mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
was highly respected and esteemed by all who
knew her. There were no children by this
union but by her former marriage Mrs. Dun-
lap had six children, of whom mention is
made in the sketch of William Alerriman on
another page of this \olunie. Our subject
was again married December 5. 1895, his
second union being with Mrs. Caroline
Sieben, widow of \^alentine Seiben, of this
county. She was born November 19, 1839,
and died November 29, 1898. She held
membership with the United Evangelical
Churcli. On the 23d of October, 1900, Mr.
Dunlap married Mrs. Lavilla Schnaufer,
v.itlow of Jacob Schnaufer, and daughter
of Daniel and Mary Fatzinger, nati\es of
Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Dunlap was also
l)orn. By her first marriage she had two
children, George D., who is living with
our subject, and Frank J., now attending
Northwestern College, Napierville, Illinois.

Mr. Dunlap is a Methodist in religious
belief, and officially connected with the
church of that denomination at Geneseo.
Fraternally he is a member of Jenkins Post,
G. A. R., and politically is identified with
the Democratic party. For many years he
was one of the active and progressive far-
mers of Henry county, as well as one of its
most reliable and honored citizens, and now

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

309

in his declining 3-ears he is enjoying a well-
earned rest, free from the cares and respon-
sibilities of business life. Throughout the
■county he is widely and favorably known.

JOHN M. D.VVIS.

John M. Dayis, the well-known alderman
of the first ward of Kewanee, Illinois, was
born in Wales, on the 20th of June, 1865,
and the following year was brought to .\mer-
ica by his parents, Morgan and Joanna
Dayis, who first settled in Utah, but two
jears later remoyed to Joliet, Illinois.
Troughout his actiye business life the father
was employed as a roller in a rolling mill.
He died in 1885, at the age of seyenty-
seyen years, and his wife departed this life
in 1882, at the age of sixty-three. The\'
were formerly connected with the Latter Day
Saints, but later held membership in the
^Methodist Episcopal Church. To this wor-
thy couple were born fourteen children, of
whom our subject is the youngest. His
brothers and sisters who are still li\ing are
William, who has spent his entire life in
Wales; Dayid, a resident of Idaho: Morgan,
of Illinois; Jane, wife of William I'ickerel.
■of South Chicago, Illinois; May A., widow
of James Mathews; and Miriam, wife of
John Fellen, a coal miner of Kewanee, all
of whom are liying.

John M. Dayis was reared in Joliet, Illi-
nois, and receiyed his education in its pub-
lic schools. He began his business career
as a nail packer; then for oyer a year he was
engaged in the manufacture of nails in Chi-
cago as an employe ; later was employed in
the steel department of a rail mill and subse-
■quently learned the puddler"s trade, to whicli

he has since deyoted his energies. In 1884
lie came to Kewanee, and has since been em-
plnyed in the rolling mill at this place, as a
puddler.

Here Mr. Dayis was married, in 1886, to
Emily Jones, who was born in Kewanee
township, this county, a daughter of George
and Margaret Jones. She is one of a fam-
ily of thirteen children, of whom the fol-
lowing are Hying: William, a resident of Ke-
wanee, who married Martha Jenkins and has
fne children, John, Lizzie, Cassie, George
and James ; Jennie, who is the wife of Carr
Mittin, of Kewanee, and has two children,
George and Audrey; and Cassie, wife of
James IMercer, of Kewanee, by whom she has
three children, Jessie, Lola and Claude. Mary
J., another sister of Mrs. Dayis, wedded
Thomas Palmer, and died in 1893, at the age
of thirty-nine years, leaying four children,
Alargaret, Abram, Emma and May. To
Mr. and IMrs. Davis were born live children,
of whom the eldest, Dayid, died at the age
of twenty-one months. Those living are
Raymond, Opal, Harry and Mary A.
(ieorge Jones was born in Wales, January
I, 1830, and his wife, Margaret Birch, was
also born in Wales June 20, 1832, and was
there married and came to Pennsylvania
where they located about 1865. About
1867 they moved to Kewanee township
where he bought a farm and lived until re-
tiring to Kewanee in 1887. They are mem-
bers of the Latter Day Saints. He was ta.x
colector of the city one term.

By his ballot Mr. Davis su])ports the men
and measures of the Republican party, with
which his father and the other members of
the family also affiliated. He takes an active
interest in public affairs, and in April, 1900
was elected alderman of the first ward of Ke-
wanee, which office he is now most creditably

3IO

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and satisfactorily filling. He is now serving
as chairman of the hall committee, and is
also chairman of the committee on sewer:?
and nuisances. He belongs to the Royal
Circle and Kewanee Lodge, Xo. 3, of the
Amalgamated Association of the Iron, Steel
&: Tin Workers of which he is now treas-
urer. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Bap-
tist Cliurch.

JOSEPH H. RINK.

The motto "merit always commands its
reward" is well exemplified with the career
of the subject of this sketch, who after many
3'ears of active labor is now living a retired
life in Geneseo, surrounded bj- all the com-
forts and many of the luxuries of life which
have been gained through former toil. He
was born in Alsace, Germany, October 24,
1833, and was a lad of tliirteen years when
he came to the United States with his par-
ents, Joseph Herman and IMagdeline
(Smith) Rink. After spending a short time
in Buflfalo, Xew York, they came west and
settled on the Rock River bottom. It was
not long after this, however, that the. family
took up government land in Loraine town-
ship, this county, and transformed the wild
tract into a good farm. There the parents
both died at an advanced age, and were
buried in Eight Mile Grove cemetery, Lo-
raine township. In their family were six
children, five of whom are still living, Mr.
Rink being the only surviving son.

Joseph Rink continued to reside on the
old homestead in Loraine township until
1899, when he removed to Geneseo, and has
since lived a retired life. On first coming to
this county he took up forty acres of land,
to which he added from time to time as his

financial resources permitted until he owned
seven hundred and forty acres, which he
placed under a high state of cultivation and
improved with good buildings. Since his re-
moval to Geneseo he has erected a large and
modern cit}- residence on Palace street, where
he is now living in ease and quiet.

At Hooppole, Illinois, he was married,
]\Iarch II, 1857, to Miss Helen Egert, also a
native of Alsace, Germany, and one of a
family of six children, five of whom are
now living. She was fifteen years of age
on her emigration to the new world in com-
pany with her parents, George and Anastasia
(Yagley) Egert, who located at Hooppole.
There the father died at the age of sixty-
three, the mother at the age of seventy-nine.

Of the thirteen children bom to Mr. and
Mrs. Rink six are living, namely : ( i ) Frank
is a prosperous farmer of Loraine township,
this county, though a part of his farm is in
\\hiteside county. He married Kate Kirsh-
ner and they have four children, Ida, Law-
rence, Cletus and Etta. (_2) Lewis lives
on the old homestead in Loraine township.
(3) Joseph, a fanner of the same township,
married Xellie Collins, and they have two
children, Ruth and an infant. (4) Sarah
and (5) William are both with their par-
ents. (6) Mathias lives on the home farm.

Mr. Rink and his family are communi-
cants of the Roman Catholic Church, and
are people of prominence in the community
where they reside. Their new home, erected
in 1900, is one of the finest of Geneseo. Mr.
Rink was very poor when he started out in
life for himself. As his father was paralyzed
and unable to care for himself and family
thus the burden fell upon the shoulders of
the young man who, however, was equal to
the emergency, and well did he perform its
arduous duties. By industry, energ}' and

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

good management he worked his way stead-
ily upward until lie became one of the most
prosperous citizens of Loraine township,
having accumulated a handsome property.
Recently he has been afflicted with deafness,
now being unable to carry on a conversation
except in writing, but he bears patiently
his great affliction, and takes a deep interest
in all that is going on alxjut him, especially
in that pertaining to the welfare and happi-
ness of his family.

ERICK HANSON.

Erick Hanson, whose home is at 711
South Tremont street, Kewanee, Illinois,
was born near Stockholm, Sweden, on the
24th of January, 1844, and is a son of Hans
and Anna Anderson, who spent their entire
lives in that country. The father learned
the carpenter's trade in early life and ever
afterward followed contracting and building.
He died at the ripe. old age of eighty-three
years, and his wife's death occurred when
she was seventy-four years of age. In their
family were twelve children who reached
years of maturity, namely : Mary, John,
Anna, P^eter, Erick, Carrie, Sophia, Emma,
Letta. Axel, Hattie and August. Peter is
now deceased; Sophia is the wife of Mr.
Bergren of Michigan ; and the others are All
residents of Sweden with the exception of
our subject.

Erick Hanson was educated in the
schools of his native land, \\hen his
school days were over he learned the shoe-
maker's trade, which he followed until he
attained his majority, and then gave his at-
tention to carpenter work, being a natural
mechanic and skillful in the use of all kinds

of tools. In 1870 he crossed the Atlantic
to America and took up his residence in
Moline, Illinois, where he spent two years
and a half. He then removed to Genesee,
where he built a fine home and he followed
shoemaking until 1892, since which time he
has engaged in carpentering in connection
with otherwork. Since the fall of 1900 he
has made his home in Kewanee, and al-
though his residence here is of short duration
he has gained the confidence and respect of
all with whom he has come in contact either
in business or social life. He is the owner
of a nice home in this city, having sold his
Geneseo residence.

On the 13th of September, 1872, at
Geneseo, Mr. Hanson married Miss Chris-
tina L. M. Ericson, a native of Sweden, born
December i, 1849, ^^'^o came to America in
1871. Six years later her parents, Alex-
ander and Stinagreta (Swanson) Erickson,
also came to the United States, settling first
at Geneseo. The father died at the age of
eighty-two years, but the mother is still liv-
ing at the age of seventy-eight, an honored
and highly respected resident of Kewanee.
Mrs. Hanson is the oldest in a family of
four children, the others being Caroline,
who became the wife of Charles .Peterson
and died at the age of thirty-three years;
Peter, who died February i, 1898, at the
age od forty-two years; and A. G., a farmer
of Kewanee township.

Mr. and ^Irs. Hanson are the parents
of eight children, namel}' : Almina M., a
successful dressmaker of Kewanee, takes a
great interest in church work and has been
a teacher in the Sunday school for the past
ten years. Nellie D. was educated at the
Geneseo high school, and for seven years
has taught in the schools in Henry county,
in the meantime attending the teachers'

312

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

training scliool, known at the N. I. T. I.,
for five summers. Ellen E. is a photog-
rapher of Geneseo. Martin E. was graduated
from the Geneseo Collegiate Institute in
1900, and is now taking a post-gaduate
course. He took first prize in a declamatory
contest held at Geneseo May 25, 1900, re-
ceiving ten dollars in gold, and was president
of his class which numbered eighteen. Su-
san M. is clerking in Kewanee. Florence C.
and Paulus F. are both attending the public
schools. Otelius L. died January 5, 1896,
at the age of two years, tlu'ee months and
nineteen days. The family hold membership
in the Swedish Lutheran Church, and while
a resident of Geneseo Mr. Hanson served as
janitor of his church for four years, and
and also acted as librarian, having charge of
three hundred volumes published in both
English and Swedish. Both he and his wife
are also members of the Fraternal Tribune
of which he is now trustee and are held in
high regard by all who know them.

LEVI FRONK.

Among the honored pioneers and repre-
sentative citizens of Henry county was num-
bered Levi Fronk, now deceased. He was
born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, on
the 4th of December, 1815, a son of Henry
and Sarah Fronk. Dauphin county was
also the birth place of his father, who
throughout his active business life followed
the occupation of farming. About 1841 he
came to Henry county, Illinois, and settled
in Cornwall township, where he made his
home until called to his final rest, about
thirty years ago, at the age of eighty years.
His wife died two years previous at the age

of sixty. They were the parents of five
children of whom one is still living.

Levi Fronk grew to manhood m the
place of his birth, and there engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits until coming to this county
in 1838. He became the owner of a farm of
one hundred and sixty acres of rich land in
Cornwall township, which was all wild when
it came into his possession. He erected
thereon a log house in which the family
lived while he broke the virgin soil and im-
proved the place. He was a hard wi irking,
industrious man, and through his well di-
rected efforts accumulated a comfortable
competence. In connection with general
farming he engaged in stock raising to some
extent, .\bout 1885 he laid aside business
cares and remo\-ed to Geneseo, where he
spent his remaining days in ease and quiet
at his pleasant h(^me on East Pearl street.
There he died after two years' illness No-
vember 14, 1900, and was laid to rest iu
Liberty church^-ard.

Before leaving Penns}'l\ania ]\Ir. Fronk
married, January i, 1838, to !Miss Xancy
Shields, a native of Juniata county, that
state, where she resided until her marriage.
Her parents, Frank and ]\Iary ( Baricke-
man) Shields, were lite-long residents of
Penns}-l\'ania. ar.d the father was a farmer
by occupation. She is the only one of their
ten children now living. Unto ^Ir. and
Mrs. Fronk were born twelve children, as
follows: Henrietta, wife of John Murphy,
a retired farmer of Geneseo, by whom
she has three children. Flora, Xancy and
Emma; Sarah, wife of Sheldon H. Ayres,
a farmer of Olathe, Kansas; Rebecca, wife
of W'iliam Bellairs, of \'alley Junction,
Iowa; Cyrus, who died Xovember 29, 1883,
at the age of twenty-eight years; ]\Iatilda,
v.idow of George Armstrong, of Cornwall

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

313

township, tliis county, wlio died August 9,
1900, aged forty-seven years; Joseph L., a
resident of Grant City, Missouri ; Clemen-
tine, wife of Bryan Runiler, of Cambridge,
Illinois; Henry B., a resident of Kansas
Citj*; Margaret, wife of a yir. Rowe. of
Grass Valley, California; Tamson, wife of
Andrew Rush, of Chicago, by whom she has
due sun, Edward; Ellen, who died in in-
fancy; and Jolm, a resident of Hamilton,
i\Iissouri.

On coining to Henry county Mr. Fronk
f(.>und this region nearly all wild with \ery
few settlements; the houses were widely
scattered and deer and wolves were often
seen on the prairies, but during his residence
here this was all changed, the county became
thickly settled, and highly cultivated farms
and thriving cities and towys were to be
seen in every direction. In the work of
development and progress he ever bore his
part and was accounted one of the most use-
ful and valued citizens of his community.
By his ballot he supported the men and
measures of the Republican party, and as a
public-spirited citizen he advocated all
measures tending to improve or advance the
interests of the comnumity in which he
lived. He was an active and consistent
member of the Baptist Church, and was a
man who made many friends and no
enemies, being generous, honest, and upright
in all his tlealings.

WILLI. \M WILSOX STEVEXS.

William Wilson Stevens, deceased, was
one of the honored and highly esteemed
citizens of Kewanee. He was born in Pem-
broke, Xew York, August 13, 1822, his

parents being Ira and Elizabeth (\\'el)b)
Stevens, who came to Henry county, Illi-
nois, in 1850 and settled on a farm in W'eth-
ersfield township, which the father operated
until his death. His wife had died several
years previously, passing away in 1853.
They were members of the Congregational
Church, and were held in high regard by
all who knew them. Of their five children
William \\". w as the oldest ; Charlotte first
married a Mr. Harding and second a Mr.
Wood, and is now deceased ; Adelaide is the
wife of Rev. John Thompson, district super-
intendent of the Bible Society in Califor-
nia ; Isabel married Andrew Ziegler and
died in California; and Ira is a farmer of
Iowa.

In his native state William W. Stevens
was reared and educated, in early lite he
traveled extensively through the southern
states as salesman for a Xew York con-
cern, and made his home in St. Louis, Mis-
souri, for many years. From there he came
to Wethersfield, where he owned a large
farm and other propert}-. He was marrietl
Xovember 2, 1854, to ^liss Xancy M.
Loomis, a native of Connecticut and a daugh-
ter of Celah and Easther ( Howard ) Loomis
of that state, but who located in Wethers-
field township in 1850, where he lived a re-
tired life. The father was born April 25,
1785, and died February 8, 1872, while the
mother was born X'ovember 2, 1784, and
died December 14, 1870. Both were earnest
and consistent members of the Congrega-
tional Church, in which the father served as
deacon during the greater part of his life.
To them were born nine children, of whom
two died in infancy. The others were Mary
S., who wedded Joseph A. Talcott and botli
are now deceased; Harriet E., who mar-
ried Albert Kellugg and died in Wethers-

314

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

field, this county; William C, who married
Emeline Isbel and died in Henry county,
his widow being still a resident of Kewanee :
Lyman, who died in Michigan; Cynthia,
deceased wife of A. Chapin; Orin H., who
is represented on another page of this vol-
ume; and Nancy M., now Mrs. Stevens.
The five children born to our subject and
his wife were as follows : Elizabeth \\'.,
v.ife of William H. Lyman, who is a mem-
ber of the well-known firm of Lay & Ly-
man, merchants of Kewanee, and by whom
she has one son, W. H., Jr. ; Clark L., who
is engaged in the real estate and insurance
business in Kewanee; ^lar)- C, wife of C.
B. Piatt, of \ an Meter, Iowa, by whom she
has one child, Allen S. ; Helen L., and
William Howard, who was the second in
order of birth and died in 1859, at the age of
three years.

It was in 1854 that ^Ir. Stevens came to
Henry county, and throughout the remain-
der of his life made his home in AN'ethers-
field and Kewanee. He was here engaged
in the hardware business for a few years,
but practically lived retired, although
serving as one of the early directors of the
Union National Bank. He was a member
of the school board for nine years, and
also served on the town board for a time.
By his ballot he supported the men and
measures of the Republican party, and
was an active and consistent member of the
Congregational Church, to which his widow
also belongs. He died ^larch 23, 1900, at
the age of seventy-seven years, and his death
occasioned the deepest regret throughout
the community. He was a man of the high-
est respectability, and those who were most
intimately associated with him speak in un-
qualified terms of his sterling integrity, his
honor in business and his fidelitv to the

duties of public and private life. He was
faithful to his church, to his country and to
his friends, and in his home was a most ex-
emplary husband and father, ilrs. Stevens
is an estimable lady of many sterling quali-
ties, and has a large circle of friends in the
communitv.

L\MES BLAIR.

James Blair, deceased, was for thirty
years a prominent farmer of Kewanee town-
ship, owning and operating one hundred and
sixt}- acres of land on section 18, where his
widow now resides. He was born in Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, on the 5th of July, 1829. a
son of James and [Margaret (Hall Blair.
The father was born in Cadiz, Ohio, and
removed earn- to Peoria county, Illinois,
where his death occurred in 1850. The
mother was a native of County Armagh,
Ireland, and was seventeen years of age when
she came with her parents to the United
States. She died in this county about 1866.
Of her seven children only one is now liv-
ing, David, a resident of Silver Creek, Ne-
braska.

On reaching manhood James Blair was
married in La Salle count}", Illinois, Decem-
ber 26, 1854, to Miss Lucy E. Emerson,
who was born in Greenbriar county. West
\'irginia, ^Nlay 18, 1830. and is a daughter of
Benjamin and ^lary (Hinkley) Emerson,
born in ^Massachusetts and Ohio, respect-
ively. He came to Ohio, where he was mar-
ried, and soon after moved to \\'est Vir-
ginia, where he died December 28, 1859,
and his wife December 20, 1893. She was a
member of the ^lethodist Episcopal Church.
The children born to our subject and his
wife were as follows: {i) Amos, born June

UNIVtHii 1 1 Uf ILLINOI
URBANA

JAMES BLAIR.

MRS LYDIA E. BLAIR.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

319

6, 1856, married Evelyn Lorey, and lives on
the adjoining farm. (2) Augusta, born
January 16, 1858, is the wife of William
D. Oliver, a farmer of Burns township, and
they have three children, James C, Perry A.
and Harold C. (3) John L.. liorn in Ke-
wanee township August 31, 1859, married
Fannie Scott, and they liave two children,
Florence F. and Ellis S. (4) Benjamin V.,
born February 12, 1862, is a farmer of El-
inira township. Stark county, Illinois. He
wedded Mary H. Avery, and they have four
children, Orlando V., Alice A., Elsie I. and
Virgil. (5) ^lary Elma born December 30,
1863, is the wife of Robert Milburn, of
Burns township, Henry county, and to them
have been born three children, Lee, Edith
May and Cecil. (6) Sarah Ella, twin sis-
ter of Mary Elma, died in 1868, at the age of
four years and four months, having been ac-
cidentally burned, from the effects of which
she never recovered. (7) Lucy Ida, born
August 3, 1874, is the wife of Elmer H.
Ensminger, a farmer of Wethersfield town-
ship, and they have two children, Alta Jklay
and Hazel Fern.

In 1856, soon after his marriage, Mr.
Blair came to Henry county, and rented the
John Rathbon farm in Burns township for
three years. His first purchase of land con-
sisted of ten acres in Kewanee township, for
which he paid fifty dollars, and from which
he cut the timber. Later he bought twenty
acres for twenty dollars per acre, and sub-
sequently sold the tract to F. Gunther for
five hundred and seventy-five dollars. He
then purchased eighty acres of the home-
stead, to which he later added another eighty-
acre tract. He placed the land under culti-
vation and made many permanent improve-
ments thereon. Here he made his home until
called to his final rest, on the i =ith ni Julv.

1883. He was widely antl favorably known
throughout the county where the best years
of his life were passed, and he always com-
manded the confidence and respect of those
with whom he came in contact either in
business or social life. Mrs. Blair is a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church at
Ebenezer, Burns township, and, like her hus-
band, she is held in high regard by all who
know her.

SA^IUEL GOEMBEL.

The subect of this sketch is a leading
representative of the business interests of
Geneseo, Illinois, where he is extensively
engaged in buying and shipping grain, and
also deals in hard and soft coal. A native
of this state, he was born in Tazewell
county, March 12, 1850, his parents being
Jacob and Louisa (Luther) Goembel. The
father was born in Niederaula, Kreis
Herschfeld, Kurfeustenthun, Hessen, Ger-
many, on the 17th of May, 1824, and in
TS34 came to America with his i)arents, Se-
bastian and Anna (Schaeffer) Goembel.
After sixty-three days upon the water, the
family landed at New Orleans, June 9,
1834, whence they proceeded up the Miss-
issippi and Illinois rivers to Peoria, and
across the country to Tazewell county, Illi-
nois, where Sebastian Goembel bought a
farm and also secured a quarter section of
government land. His last days were spent
in Washington, that county, where he died
at about the age of seventy-si.x years. His
v.ife was over eighty-three years of age at
the time of her death. For many years they
held membership in the Evangelical Associa-
tion, and were highly resjiected by all who
knew thoni. Of their nine children onlv the

320

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

eldest daughter. Catherine, wife of John
Minch, of Washington, and Jacol:), father of
our subject, are now living.

Jacob Goembel was reared on the home
farm and educated in the German language,
having never attended English schools.
The family came directly to Peoria, Illinois.
They located five miles from that city, in
Tazewell county, where he assisted his
father and older brother in opening up a
farm. They marketed their grain in Chi-
cago, conveying it thither with a four-
horse team, such as is now seldom seen in
this part of the west. At the age of twenty-
one, he left the farm and A\-ent to Chicago,
where he worked as a teamster for ten dol-
lars per month. In 1846 he was married in
Lake county, Illinois, to Miss Louisa Lu-
ther, a native of New York, born January
28, 1826, and a daughter of John Jacob Lu-
ther, wild came to this country from Ger-
many about 1 82 1. She is one of a family
of ten children, three of whom are still liv-
ing. After his marriage Mr. Goembel
worked in a slaughter house in Peoria for a
year, and then purchased eighty acres of
land on Farm creek, Tazewell county, which
he sold in 185 1 on coming to Henry county.
Here he entered a tract of government land
on section 30, Yorktown township, and en-
gaged in its cultivation until 1863, when he
bqught another farm in the same locality,
and made his home there until his removal
to Geneseo in 1876. He is still the owner
of a valuable tract of ninety-one acres in
Yorktown township, but is now living a
retired life in Geneseo. His political sup-
port is given the Republican party, and he
filled the office of school trustee for many
years. He and his wife are prominent mem-
bers of the Evangelical Association, and he
is now a trustee of the church.

This worthy couple are the parents of
nine children, namely : W. SA-dney, a resi-
dent of Geneseo, married Laura Early anil
h.ad three children, Lowell (deceased, Ethel
and Leanora; Samuel, our subject, is next in
order of birth; Edward, a farmer of York-
town township, married Emma Rapp and
has three children, Ada, Harvey and Bessie ;
Peter, a farmer of Minnesota, married
Christina Rapp and has six children, Olive,
Arthur, Jesse, Perry, Edith and Vernon ;
Anna is the wife of Henry Glabe, a contrac-
tor of Tazewell countv: Lvdia is the wife of
Isaac Krimbill. of ^linnesota, and has five
children. Blanche, \'era, \\"innie, Clarence
and Archie; John E., an attorney of Rock-
ford, Illinois, married ^linnie Grosskopp;
A\'ilhelmina died at the age of seven years ;
and Catherine died at the age of eighteen
months.

Samuel Goeml)el attended the district
school until fourteen years of age, and then
assisted his father in the work of the home
farm until he attained his majority. After
leaving the parental roof he continued to
engage in agricultural pursuits until July
31. 1897, when he came to Geneseo and em-
barked in the grain and coal business, which
he is now so successfully carrying on. He
owns three hundred and twenty acres of
wel improved and highly cultivated land in
Yorktown and Loraine townships, this
townships, this county, besides his pleasant
residence and two lots in Geneseo, where he
resides. He also has a half interest in the
Arnold & Goembel elevator at this place.

On the 27th of March, 1872, Mr. Goem-
bel was united in marriage with Miss Re-
becca Zinser, of Washington, Tazewell
county, who was born in Clark county, this
state, a daughter of Solomon and Catherine
(Tobias) Zinser. Her father, who was.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

32f

1)orn ill 1818. died in 1884, while her mother
died in October, 1899, at tlie age of nearly
seventy-six years. In their family were
eleven children as follows : I'rank, married
Agnes Casebeer, of Pennsyhania, and is
now engaged in dairy fanning in Colorado;
]\Iary is the wife of .\clam Coker. a farmer
of Tazewell county, Illinois; Elizabeth is
the wife of John Ott. of Clear Lake. Iowa;
Caroline is the wife of Amos Smith, of
Plainfield. Illinois; Rebecca, wife of our
subject, is ne.xt in order of birth; George
married Priscilla Boyer, and is engaged in
the hardware business of Manhattan, Illi-
nois; Solomon married Lizzie Bloomershine
and follows farming in Tazewell county;
.Amelia is the wife of George Ferner. of
Washington, Illinois; Daniel married Sarah
Goesle and lives in Chicago; Sophia is the
widow of Edward Kale and a resident of
Washington, Illinois; and two died in in-
fancy.

Air. and Mrs. Goembel are the parents
of nine children: Harry S., who married
Ida Apples and has two children, Russell
and Harold; Franklin J., who married
Sarah Weiterholt and lives an a farm in
this county; Sylva Etta, wife of \\'illiam
Countryman, living on section 20, Yorktown
township; Lottie \lola, wife of Edwin
Countryman, a carpenter and contractor of
Hooppole,, by whom she has one child
Ruth; and Mabel B., Emory W'., Estella,
Roscoe G. and Cassie L., all at home.

Air. Goembel and wife hold membership
in Grace L'nited Evangelical Church, of
which he is a trustee, and he also belongs to
the Modern Woodmen of .\merica and the
Knights of the Globe. In political senti-
ment he is independent. For twelve years
he filled the office of justice of the peace
and was township clerk eight years. Of ex-

cellent business ability and broad re-
sources, he has attained a prominent place
among the substantial citizens of his juirt
of the county, and has won success by his
well-directed, energetic cfi'orts. his pros-
perity being well deserved.

A. C. T.WLOR.

Among Henry county's native sons is
tliis well-known business man of Kewanee,
whose birth occurred in Wethedsfield town-
ship on the -'3(1 of May. 1853. His father.
John Taylor, was a native of Pennsylvania,
of which state the grandfather, David Tay-
lor, was a life-long resident, his occupation
being that of farming. In the latter's family
were five children, namely: David; Enoch,
a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsyhania;
John, father of our subject; Ellen, wife of
Garrett Brown, of Kewanee, Illinois; and
Mary, wiilow of E. T. Bevan, who was a
farmer of ^^■ethersf^eld township, thi.s
county. John Taylor received his education
in the common schools of his native state,
and in early life learned the trade of broom
making. In 1850 he came to Plenry county,
Illinois, and took up his residence in ^^'etll-
ersfield township, where he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of land, the only
improvement thereon being a small house.
He broke his land with oxen and placed it
under cultivation. .\s his financial re-
sources increased he added t-o his landed
possessions from time to time until he had
six hundred and sixty acres, of which five
liundred and sixty acres were in Henr\-
county, while one hundred and sixty acres of
this amount were in Galva township and the
remainder in \\'ethersfield township. He

322

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married Deborah Barrett, whose parents
died during her childhood, and by this union
four children were born, namely: Alary
Ellen, wife of Benjamin Clyde, of Alilburn,
Dallas county, Iowa, by whom she had one
child, Raymond; A. C, our subject; Frank;
and Tames C, who married Cora Potter and
lives on the old home place. The father
died June 4, 1898, at the age of sixty-nine,
but the mother is still living, and continues
to reside on the old homestead with her
son, James G. She is a native of New York.

During his boyhood A. C. Taylor ac-
quired a fair knowledge of the common
English branches of learning in the schools
of W'ethersfield township, and when old
enough to be of any assistance commenced
work on the home farm, remaining under
the parental roof until he attained his ma-
jority. He then rented land of his father in
the same township, and while operating it
he boarded at home for two years.

]\Ir. Ta}-lor was married, February 18,
1879, the lady of his choice being ]iliss
!Mary A. Clyde, who was Ixirn in Henr}-
county, but was living in Aurora, Kane
county, at the time of their marriage. Her
parents, Frederick and Sarah (Barber)
Clyde, were natives of England and Ohio,
respectively. For many years the father
was engaged in mercantile business in Pitts-
burg, Pennsylvania, and on lea\ing that
place came to Henry county, Illinois, where
he followed fanning for a number of years,
but his last days were spent in Aurora,
Vvhere his death occurred. His widow still
makes her home in that city. iNIr. antl Airs.
Taylor have two children : Earl, born
April 24, 1888, and Irene, born February
21, 1890. Both are attending school in
Kewanee.

For about four vears Air. Taylor con-

tinued to rent his father's land, and then
purchased eighty acres of Jerry Bickford,
and later one hundred and sixty acres of his
father, making two hundred and forty
acres on sections 8 and 17, Wethersfield
township, which he still owns. Besides this
property he also has eighty acres of land in
Murray county, Minnesota. He continued
to actively engage in farming until 1897,
when he removed to Kewanee, and is now
erecting a beautiful residence with all
modern conveniences on Chestnut street.
Since 1S93 Air. Taylor has been connected
with the Minneapolis Thresher Company as
a traveling salesman, and is now engaged in
business in Kewanee as a dealer in threshers,
shellers and iron bridges. He is a wide-
awake, energetic business man, whose sound
judgment and capable management have
brought to him a well merited success. In
h.is political affiliations he is a Republican,
but he has never cared for office, preferring
to give his undivided attention to his busi-
ness interests. His wife holds membership
in the Congregational Church.

WASHINGTON DUNBAR.

There is probably no man in Wethers-
held township wider or more favorably
known than \\'ashington Dunbar, who has
been identified with its agricultural inter-
ests for almost half a century and is recog-'
nized as one of the important factors in its
progress and development. He was born
in Breckinridge county, Kentucky, Septem-
ber 21, .1822, his parents being \\'illiam
and Alary (Prayter) Dunbar, natives of
Pennsyhania and Kentucky, respectively.
In 1833 they came to La Fayette, Stark
countv, Illinois, and settled at Fraker's

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

323

Gn)\e. when there were only three families
ill that locality. The family endured all the
h.ardships and privations incident to pioneer
life. As it was a long distance to mill they
often ground their meal in an old hand
mill. In those early days the father, who
was a hatter by trade, would catch the
beavers and manufacture the fur into hats,
which he would then strap on his back and
start out to sell to the settlers. He also
cleared and improved a farm of one hun-
dred acres in Stark county, where he made
his home for some years, though his last
days were spent in California. In his fam-
ily were thirteen children, and those still
living besides our subject are Robert R., a
lawyer of Argentine, Kansas; Mrs. Jane
Driscoll, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; and Mrs.
Missouri Lee, of Twin Springs, Kansas.

Washington Dunbar's early educational
advantages were meager as there were but
few schools in this section of the state when
the family located here. In 1852 he came to
Henry county, and purchased forty acres of
land on section 31, W'etherstield township,
to which he added from time to time as his
financial resources merited until he now has
three hundred and twenty acres of valuable
land, which he has placed under a high state
of cultivation. In past years he has prob-
ably cleared and improved more land in
Henry county than any other of its citizens,
but is now living a retired life while his
sons operate the farm. He has been emi-
nently successful, having by hard work and
tireless energy accumulated a handsome
property.

On the 24th of December, 1846, ilr.
Dunbar was united in marriage with Miss
Anna Lee, who was born in Warren county.
New York, June 10, 1825, and was the
third in order of birth in a familv of twelve

children, whose parents were Josephus and
Elizabeth (Bennett) Lee, also natives of
New York state. This family removed to
Stark county, Illinois, about 1844. Mrs.
Dunbar died on the i.st of April, 1S97. at
De Funiak Springs, near Pensacola, Flor-
ida, whither she had gone in company with
her husband with the hope of recovering
her health, which had been bad for a num-
ber of years. Her remains were interred in
La Fayette cemetery, Stark county, Illinois.
Religiously she was a memljer of the Uni-
versalist Church. By this union ]Mr. Dun-
bar had nine children, namelj^: Oscar; Or-
ville, deceased; Orson; Alburtus, who mar-
ried Nellie, daughter of Louis Clark, of
Sheffield; .'\delia, wife of De Witt ^^'inney.
of Knox ccjunty, Illinois; Burwell, deceased;
Charles, who married Viola White, of La
Fayette; Effie L., wife of Bradford Eynder
of Sark county, Illinois; and Harry, who
married Bessie Newell, of Galva.

Mr. Dunbar was again married, June 7,
1900, his second union being with Miss
Anna Cardiff, a native of Pennsylvania, and
a daughter of William V. antl Catherine
(Sipes) Cardiff, both of whom died and
were buried in Galva. this ounty. She is one
of a family of thirteen children, se\'en of
whom are still living. Mr. Dunbar is a
man of sterling character, whose word is
considered as good as his bond, and is high-
ly respected and esteemed by all who know
him. In politics he is a strong Republican
and for many years he efficiently served as
school director.

WILLIAM DONALDSON.

Among the honored and highly esteemed
citizens of W^ethersfield is numbered William
Donaldson, who was horn in county Lon-

324

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

donderry, Ireland. February -, 1827, and
tliere grew to manliood. receiving but lim-
ited educational advantages. He is there-
fore a self-educated as well as a self-made
man. \\'ith the hope of bettering his condi-
tion in the new world, he took ship at Bel-
fast, in 184S, and on the Charles of Balti-
more, a sailing vessel, crossed the broad
Atlantic, being six weeks and three days
upon the water. In a fog on the banks of
Xew Foundland the ship on which he sailed
ran into another vessel, but was only slightly
damaged and reached New York in safety
in May of that year. Mr. Donaldson pro-
ceeded at once to Philadelphia, and there
^vent to Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he
joined a cousin who was foreman on rail-
road construction. After working there
for a little while he went to Cincinanti,
Ohio, \\here other cousins were living, antl
where he engaged in d raying for some
time. On coming west in 1855, he first lo-
cated near Elmira, Stark county, Illinois.
\vhere he rented land and engaged in farm-
ing for six years.

Wliile a resident of Cincinnati, Mr. Don-
aldson was married, December 0, 1852, to
Miss Eliza Blackwood, who was born and
reared in County Tyrone, Ireland, where
her father, Robert Blackwood, spent his
entire life. They have seven children liv-
ing, namely: Robert, who is married and
lives in Kewanee; George, who is married
and is employed as boss in the Kewanee
tube works; Tillie, one of the teachers of
Wethersfield; Lizzie, wife of Xorman
Oliver, of Kewanee; Emma, a teacher in the
Kewanee schools; William, a carriage trim-
mer in Chicago; and Clara, wife of Fred
Shepherd, of Peoria. They also lost two
-children : Thomas, wlio died at the age of

four years; and Maggie, who married
Robert N. Martin and removed to Ne-
braska, but died at the home of her father
in 1888, leaving five children, two of whom,
William and Alfred N., reside with their
grandparents. The others are Harry, Ella
and Elsie.

Mr. Donaldson's first purchase of land
consisted of one hundred and twenty acres
of timber in Kewanee township, Henry
county, which he bought on coming to this
county in 1861. This he cleared, fenced
and placed under cultivation, but after re-
siding thereon for about six years he sold
the place and purchased eighty acres of
prairie land in Burns township, to which
he subsecjuently added until he has a tract
of one hundred and sixty acres. He made
many excellent improvements upon the
place, and continued its cultivation until his
removal to Wethersfield in 1886. Here ha
purchased a residence which he has since
remodeled, and now has a very pleasant and
attractive home. To his diligence, persever-
ance and industry may be attributed his suc-
cess in life for he came to the new world
empty handed, and has had to make his own
way in the world unaided.

Originally Mr. Donaldson was an old
line Whig and cast 'his first presidential vote
for Zachary Taylor, but since the formation
of the Republican party in 1856, he has been
a supporter of its principles, and has sup-
ported all of its presidential nominees. He
was once elected justice of the peace but re-
fused to qualify, preferring to give his un-
divided attention to his business interests.
He has, however, served as school director
and given his children good educations, fully
realizing the ad\antages of such a training.
He and his wife were reared in the Presbv-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

325

tcrian Church and still adhere to that faith,
while his daughters hold membership in the
Congregational Church. The family is
Avidely known and highly respected.

E. X. PETERSOX.

Xumhered among the prominent and
successful young faniers of Andover town-
ship is E. X'. Peterson, who resides on sec-
tion 34, where he was born February 3,
1875. His father, C. P. Peterson, was a
native of Sweden and was single on his
emigration to America. Coming to Henry
county. Illinois, he located in Andover
township, and was one of its honored early
settlers. It was in 1849 that he bought the
land on which our subject now resides, it
being at that time all wild prairie, which he
at once began to break and improve. He
was married in Andover township, in 1854.
to Miss W'ilhelmina Bloomberg, who was
also born in Sweden, and the\' became the
parents of four children, of whom our sub-
ject is the youngest, the others being Mrs.
Clara Almeda Lofgren, a resident of Knox
county, Illinois; C. A., who is married and
lives in Clover township, Henry cnunty:
and Frank William, of Knox county. The
mother died in 1875, during the infancy of
our subject, but the father long survived
her, passing away in Andover township
July 4, 1897, honored and respected by all
who knew him. He was one of the promi-
nent Republicans of his community and
took quite an active part in political affairs.
E. N. Peterson was educated in the pub-
lic schools of Andover township and reared
upon the old homestead which he now owns
and occupies. It is a good farm of one hun-

dred and sixty acres, being well improved
and under a high state of cultivation. In 1900
ht built a fine barn, fifty-two by fifty-six feet,
with a capacity of forty tons of hay, and
has made an addition to his house, so that
it is now one of the best residences in the
locality. He carries on general farming and
stock raising, and in his labors is meeting
with excellent success.

On the 3d of June, 1897, in Andover
township, Mr. Peterson was united in mar-
riage with Miss Matilda V. Hultgreen, a na-
tive of that township and a daughter of An-
drew V. and Christina Hultgreen, pioneers
of Andover. Mr. Peterson gives his polit-
ical support to the Republican party and its
l)rinciples, and is a member of the Lutheran
Church at Andover.

GEORGE \\'ESTOX.

George \\'eston, deceased, was for thirty
years one of the leading farmers and honor-
ed citizens of Kewanee township, his home
being on section 16. He was born on the
28th of January, 1827, in Morgan county,
Ohio, and was a son of Jeremiah and Ma-
tilda (Anderson) Weston, the former a na-
tive of Xew Hampshire, the latter of Mary-
land. In the Buckeye state he was reared
to manhood and was educated in its public
schools. Coming west in 1850 he first lo-
cated in Iowa, but after spending a short
time in that state he removed to this county,
antl took up iiis residence on section 16, Ke-
wanee township, where he followed farming
throughout the remainder of his life. Here
he steadily prospered, and at the time of his
death owned about three hundred acres of
valuable farmine land.

326

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

On the 23d of October, 1863, Mr. \\'es-
ton was united in marriage with ^Nlrs. Helen
(Stark) Stephenson, widow of Henry
Stephenson, who was born in Xew York and
died in Michigan in 1856, leaving two chil-
dren : lona, wife of J. W. Adams, of Kan-
sas City, Kansas, and Isett, wife of Henry
Spurlock, of Kansas City, Kansas. Mrs.
\\'eston is a nati\e of Pennsylvania and a
daughter of Stutely and Eliza Ann (Steven-
son) Stark, natives of ^Massachusetts and
Xew York, respectiveh*. Her paternal grand-
father was born in A'erniont and his wife in
Xew Hampshire. In 1833 her family re-
moved to ^ledina county, Ohio, where they
made their home until coming to Illinois
in 1864, when they took up their residence
in Bureau county. Three years later they
removed to Galesburg. where Mr. Stark
lived retired until his death in 1869. By
occupation he was a farmer. Subsequently
his widow went to Kansas, and died in
Perry, that state, in 18S9. They reared a
family of eight children. Unto ilr. and
!Mrs. \\'eston were born five children, name-
ly Ina, wife of Warren Lester, who now
lives on ilrs. \\'eston's farm; May, a den-
tist of Kansas City, Missouri; Stutely, a
farmer of Kewanee township; Tillie, wife
of U. G. Pyle, of the same township ; and
Lee, at home with his mother. Mrs. ^^'eston
has a fine farm of three hundred and eighty
acres, and from it derives a good income.
She is a faithful member of the Congrega-
tional Church of Kewanee, and is highly re-
spected and esteemed by all who know her.

Fraternally Mr. Weston was an active
member of the Grange. He always took a
deep and commendable interest in educa-
tional affairs, and efRcientl)' served as school
director in his district from the time of its
organization until his death, which occurred

August II, 1886. He was recognized as
one of the valued and useful citizens of his
community, and his death was mourned by
a large circle of friends and acquaintances
who esteemed him highly for his sterling
worth.

SIMEOX HELLER.

Simeon Heller, deceased, was for many
years one of the leading citizens of Loraine
township, owning and operating a fine farm
of two hundred acres on section 5. He was
born ^larch 21, 1821, in Luzerne countv,
Pennsylvania, of which state his parents,
David and Catherine Heller, were life-long
residents. By occupation the father was a
farmer.

During his boyhood and youth our sub-
ject attended school only three months, the
remainder of the time being devoted to the
work of the home farm. On leaving the
parental roof at the age of twenty-one, he
came b)' w-ay of the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers to Illinois, where his brother Da\id
was living, and worked for him for a time.
At the age of twentythree he was united in
marriage with Miss Maud Arnett, a native
of Alsace-Loraine, France, who came with
her parents to this county and settled in
Whiteside county, Illinois, in the early '30s.

After his marriage !Mr. Heller pre-
empted a tract of government land in Lo-
raine township, to the improvement and cul-
tivation of which he devoted his energies
until the discovery of gold in California,
v.hen he crossed the plains with his wife's
brothers, George, Jacob and \\'illiam Ar-
nett. The trip was made with an ox team
and consumed six months. While engaged
in mining he received news of his wife's

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

327

deatli, but being penniless he was unable to
return home at that time. The news was
sucli a shock to him that tor several months
he was hardly conscious of where he was.
He remained on the Pacific coast for twehe
years, and met with good success before re-
turning home. On again reaching this state
he located upon the land which he had pre-
empted in Henry county, and throughout
the remainder of his life engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits. He died on the 30th of June,
1 88", honored and respected by all who
knew him, and his remains were interred in
Loraine cemetery. In his political views he
was a Republican, and religiously he was a
consistent member of the jNIethodist Epis-
copal Church, to which his wife also be-
longed.

Mr. Heller's first wife died in the early
■fifties, leaving one child, Susan, now the
wife of Peter Lininger, of Boone, Iowa. He
was again married February 15, 1864, his
second union being with Miss Mary Pobanz,
a native of Prussia, Germany, where her
l^arents, David and Mary Pobanz, were also
born. In 1863 the family came to America
and located in Osco township, Henry
county, Illinois, where the father engaged in
farming for five years, but spent the remain-
der of his life in Dodge county, Nebraska.
He had three children: John, deceased;
^lar}-, now Mrs. Heller; and a daughter,
who died in infancy. By his second mar-
riage Mr. Heller had twelve children, name-
ly : Lewis D., who first married Josephine
Egert and second Annie W'ahlheim and
lives in Loraine township; Emma K., a
trained nurse now in St. Paul's hospital,
Butte, Montana, and a member of the East-
ern Star at Prophetstown, Illinois; Joseph
S., wlio is mentioned below: William D.,
a barl^er of Twin Bridge, Montana, who

married Clara Polinger, and is a member
of the blue lodge and Eastern Star chapter
of the Masonic fraternity at Erie, Illinois;
Levi A., a farmer of Dudge omnty, Ne-
braska, who married Rose Kopisk_\' and is a
member of the Modern Woodmen of .\mer-
ica; Annie M., wife of Clarence Bollen, of
Taylor county, Iowa; Phebe and Alice R.,
both at home; Louisa Matilda, who died at
the age of three years; Elsie, who died at the
age of four months; Perry O., at home; and
Leonard, who died at the age of one year
and nine months.

Joseph S. Heller, son of our subject,
was born December i, 1867, and was edu-
cated in the home school and the North-
western Normal at Geneseo. He assisted
in the labors of the farm until 1893, when he
went to Twin Bridge, Montana, where he
was on a ranch for a time, and from there
went to Minnesota and Iowa. On his re-
turn to this county in the spring of 1894, he
took charge of the home place and has since
successfully managed the same, being a
man of good business ability and sound
judgment. Politically he is identifietl with
the Republican party, and fraternally is a
member of Bollen Lodge, No. 412, F. & A.
M., of Spring Hill, in which he has served
as junior warden.

SAMUEL RUSSELL.

Samuel Russell, who is practically living
a retired life in the city of Kewanee, Illinois,
was born in Wilmington, Clinton county,
Ohio, on the 6th of October, 1834, but was
only seven years old when he removed to
Delaware county, Indiana, with his parents,
John and Susanna (Wickersham) Russell,

328

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the former also a native of the Buckeye
state, and the latter of Virginia, although
she was only three years old when she be-
came a resident of Ohio. Our subject's pa-
ternal grandfather, James Russell, was born
in Ireland, and was a lad of thirteen years
Avhen he came with his parents to the United
States, the family being among the early set-
tlers of Ohio, where he grew to manhood
and spent the greater part of his life. His
death occurred in Delaware county, Indiana.
In his family were eleven children, of whom
nine reached years of maturity.

John Russell, the eldest of this family
and the father of our subject, received but a
limited education, learning to read, write
and cipher after he attained his. majority.
He was only able to attend school a short
time during the winter and then had to wade
through the snow three miles to the school
Jaouse. His early life was devoted to agricul-
tural pursuits, and at the age of nineteen
j'ears he learned the plasterer's and brick
mason's trades, at which he worked for
about twenty years. In 1841 he removed to
Delaware county, IndiSna, where he pur-
chased eighty acres of land, and was en-
gaged in farming throughout the remainder
^of his life. Politically he was first a Whig
and an abolitionist and later a Republican,
and religiously was a member of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, in which he served as
class leader and steward for a number of
years. He died in 1857 at about the age of
fifty-two years, and his wife,, who long sur-
vived him, passed away in 1881. She had
made her home in Henry county, Illinois,
from 1859. They were the parents of four
i^hildren, namely: James, who died at the
age of four years; Samuel, our subject;
jNIiriam, wife of Jeremiah Bickford, a re-
tired citizen of Kewanee : and Caroline, wife

of James Stafford, a retired citizen of Al-
bany, Delaware county, Indiana.

When tlie family located in Delaware
county, Indiana, that region was very wild,
and on starting his children to scliool tlie-
father blazed the trees through the heavy
forest that they might find their way home.
There was scarceh- a frame house in the
county, outside of iluncie. the county seat,
where there were a few. The dwellings were
nearly all built of logs, with one door and
one window, with large fire place built of
rough stone and mud, the chimnies being of
split sticks and mud. Xails were not known,
with the exception of a few made by the
blacksmith. A\'ooden pins were used in-
stead of nails, an auger or a gimlet being
used to make the hole, in which the wooden
pin was inserted and driven in solidly. The
school houses were also built of logs, with
seats made of small logs split in two parts,
wooden pins being inserted on the round side
for legs, thus giving a flat surface on which
to sit. There was neither back or cushion
to the seats. The roofs of the houses were
made of split boards about two and a half
or three feet lonp- called clapboards, which
were laid on timbers called ribs, and held
there by poles laid on them, one pole being
used to a tier of clapboards. The floors
were made of puncheons, that is slabs split
out of large timber from three to four inches
thick, while a board placed on pins formed
a desk on which the scholars practiced
writing about ten or fifteen minutes a day,
that being all the teacher thought necessary
to devote to that accomplishment. Amid
such primitive surroundings, young Russell
acquired liis education, walking a mile antl
a quarter to school each morning and re-
turning home at night. He was onlv per-
mitted to attend in the winter, and never

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

329

longer than thirty-five days in one year. At
I the age of eighteen his education was com-
i pleted, so far as liis school life was cdu-
l cerned. and he then dexnted his entire time
to work. He remained at home until his re-
moval to Illinois in 1859. with the exception
■of a few months spent in Minnesnta and
Illinois.

On the 31st of March, i85t>. Mr. Rus-
sell married Miss ^Matilda Zehner, who was
born in Wayne county. Indiana, and is the
third in order of birth in a famil}" nf nine
children, whose parents were Benjamin and
Hester Zehner, natives of Pennsylvania, and
early settlers of Wayne county, Indiana.
, from which they later removed to Delaware
county, the same state. Of the six children
born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell, Francis died
at the age of two years, Cora at the age of
three, and Mary at the age of fourteen. John
B., a graduate of Wheaton College and now
superintendent of the public schools of
Wheaton, Illinois, married Isabel Gunn, and
they have two children, Edna L.. and Ever-
ett C. Frank H. is a physician, now cm-^
nected with the Presbyterian hos])ital ni
t'hicago. He is also a graduate of Wheatnn
College, Rush ^ledical College and the
Theological Seminary of the CDUgregational
(."hurch of Chicago. Eva M. is a graduate
of the Kewanee high schof)l, and is now
taking the literary course at the Chicago
University.

In 1859 Mr. Russell and his family came
to Henry county, Illinois, and located on a
farm of one hundred and sixty acres which
he had purchased in 1856 in Clover town-
ship, at that time all wild and unimproved.
He erected there(in a house, fourteen by
twenty feet, in which he lived while break-
ing his land and placing it under cultivation.
On disiX)sing of that property in 1865 he

bought a partially improved farm of one
hundred and sixty acres in Wethcrsfield
township, where he made his home until his
removal to Kewanee on the first of January.
1 89 1. During his youth he learned the brick
mason's and plasterer's trades with his
father, but has not followed that occupation
for forty years. While engaged in farming
he gave considerable attention to the raising
and feeding of stock, generally keeping
about one hundred hogs and twenty head of
cattle. He still oversees the management of
his farm, though he has retired from active
labor. He is an active member and steward
of the Free Methodist Church. Politically
he is a Prohibitionist.

LEWIS URICK.

The subject of this sketch is a worthy
representative of the agricultural interests
of Loraine township, his home being on sec-
tion 9, and is also prominently identified
w ith public affairs. He was born November
5. i860, on the farm where he still resides,
his parents being Rudolph and Mary
( Shafer) L^rick, the former a nati\e of
Switzerland, the latter of Germany. In his
natix'e land the father learned the mason's
trade which he followed for many years. At
the age of twenty-one he crossed the board
Atlantic and located in Pennsylvania, where
he was thus employed for fi\e years. On
coming west he settled at what is kncnvn as
lOutch Bottom, Portland township, White-
side county, Illinois, in 1844, and took up
government land, which he operated for a
few years. He then purchased a farm in
Loraine township. Henry county, on which
he located, and became (piite a large land

330

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

owner, tliough lie divided his property among
his children prior to his death. He died
April lo, 1899, at the age of ninety years
and nine months, and his remains were in-
terred in Loraine cemetery. He retained his
mental faculties until the last, but for fif-
teen years was blind, owing to some mortar
getting in his eyes while working at his
trade. He continued to follow that occu-
pation in connection with farming for many
years, and in all his undertakings was em-
inently successful. He affiliated with the
Republican party from its organization, and
was an earnest member of the Evangelical
Church.

Rudolph Urick was twice married, his
first union being with Catherine Rapp, b}'
whom he had six children, four still living,
namely: Catherine, wife of Samuel Arnett,
of Geneseo; Isaac, a resident of Portland
township, \\'hiteside county; Jacob, a ranch-
man of Colorado; and Louisa, wife of Jo-
seph Kopp, a farmer of Andubon, Iowa.
The mother of these children died in 1856,
and the father subsequently wedded Mary
Shafer. To them were born two sons:
David, who married Matilda R. Huntington
and is engaged in farming in Portland
township, \Miiteside county ; ' and Lewis,
our subject. The mother is still living at
the age of seventy-seven years and lives on
the old homestead with her son Lewis.

In early life our subject attended the dis-
trict school near liis home and remained un-
der the parental roof. Prior to his marriage
he took charge of the farm, and has since
successfully engaged in general farming
and stock raising. He also feeds cattle and
hogs for market. He has some fine stock
upon his farm, his specialty being Aberdeen
Angus cattle. He is now the owner of three
hundred and twentv acres of land in one

body, two hundred acres of which he re-
ceived from his father, and since then has
added one hundred and twenty, and is one
of the most prosperous citizens of his com-
munity.

On the 5th of February, 1889, Mr. Urick
married ^liss Hattie M. Sieben, a native
of this county, and a daughter of John
Sieben, whose sketch appears elsewhere in
this work. The children born of this union
were Clarence, who died at the age of three
3-ears; Perry and Ira. Religiously the par-
ents are members of the Evangelical Church,
of which ]\Ir. Urick is a trustee. In his po-
litical affiliations he is a Republican, and
has been a delegate to various county con-
ventions. He is now serving his tenth year
as township clerk, and has filled the office
of school director a number of years. In
the spring of 1900 he was census enumer-
ator for Loraine and Phenix townships, and
devoted eighteen days to the work of that
office. He is quite prominent in local pol-
itics and in church work, and is one of the
most highly esteemed citizens of his com-
munity.

AMBROSE MATHEWS.

Among the honored veterans of the
Civil war and representative citizens of this
county, who are now living a retired life
in W'ethersfield is Ambrose ^lathews, who
smce 1845 has been a resident of Henry
county. He was born in Seneca Falls.
Seneca county. New York, on the 20th of
December, 1830, and on the paternal side
is of Scotch ancestry, his grandfather, Henry
Mathews, being a native of Scotland and a
pioneer farmer of Seneca county. New York.
There the father, A. W. Mathews, was born

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

33»

and reared, and on reaching; nianliood mar-
ried Miss Margaret Conner, a native of tlie
same state and of Irish extraction. From
liis native county lie removed to Geauga
count\% Ohio, where he engaged in farm-
ing for about sixteen years and also owned
and operated a saw and grist mill. lie
traded his farm in that county for a share
in the property of the W^ethersfield colony in
Henry county, Illinois, receiving one hun-
dred and sixty acres of prairie land, twenty
acres of timber land, and a village lot of
two and a half acres. By team he removed
to this county, arriving here July 31, 1845.
He purchased a house and lot in \\'ethers-
field, where he made his home while his older
sons improved the farm. Here he died in.
1884, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-
three years. His first wife, who was the
mother of our subject, had passed away
some years previously, and he married again,
his second wife surviving him. He served
as a drummer in the war of 1812.

During his boyhood and youth Ambrose
Mathews attended the common schools, com-
pleting his education in this Cdunly. Ik-
was seventeen years of «ge when he came
to Illinois with his father, but after spend-
ing two years here he returned to Chardon,
Geauge county, Ohio, where he learned the
shoemaker's trade with a brother, remain-
ing there two years. On his return to this
county he worked at his trade in \\'ethers-
field with his brother, who carried on a shop
there for some years.

Our subject was thus employctl until
after the Civil war broke out, when he en-
listed July 17, 1862, in Company A, One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Vol-
unteer Infantry, which was assigned to the
Army of the Tennessee under command of
■Generals Grant and Sherman. He was first

under fire at Thompson Hill, ^Mississippi,
and later participated in the battles of Port
Gibson and Bakers Creek. He was in a hun-
ning fight at Jackson Crossroads, and in
the battle of Champion Hills, which was
one of the most important engagements of
the war. He was also in the battle of Black
River Bridge and for forty-seven days par-
ticipated in the siege of \^icksburg. being
a member of General Logan's brigade, which
was the first to enter the city after its sur-
render. He has a picture of Generals Grant
and Pemberton taken after the surrender and
mounted in a case made from the famous
I'emberton Oak, under which the surrender
was made. Later Mr. Mathews was on
guard and provost dul_\' in that city for some
time, and then mrirclieil with his command
througli Louisiana to Monroe, which jilace
they captured, after which they returned to
Vicksburg, remaining there on provost duty
until the following spring, in the meantime
going on several scouting expeditions to
Jackson. They then went to Mobile, and
took part in the siege of Spanish b'ort,
which lasted three weeks. They dug under
the walls, and entered the fort at two o'clock
ir. the morning much to the surjjrise of the
rebels. Mr. Mathews' command then
marched to Montgomery, Alabama, which
the rebels evacuated after rolling cotton in
the streets and setting fire to it. In August
they were ordered north to Chicago, where
Mr. Mathews was honorably discharged
August 9, 1865, and then returned to his
home in ^Vethersfield. He entered the serv-
ice as cori)oral, and was ser\ing" as com-
missary sergeant when mustered out. He
was never seriously wounded, but at Bakers
Creek a ball passed through his clothing
and cut his shoulder, and at Vicksburg an-
other ball i)ierced his clothing and grazed

332

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the flesli, finally lodging in his cartridge
belt. He kept the latter ball for several
)^ears as a sort of memento of his army
life.

For two years after the war Mr.
Llathews worked at his trade in Kewanee,
and then followed farming in Kewanee,
Burns and Wethersfield townships for sev-
eral years. Subsequently he worked at the
carpenter's trade and at various occupa-
tions in the village of Wethersfield, but for
some years has lived a retired life, enjoy-
ing a well earned rest.

On the 1st of January, 1852, in Henry
county, Mr. Mathews was united in marriage
with Miss Maria Cline, who was born in
Dutchess county, New York, but came here
in 1845 during her girlhood with her
brother. Her father, Abraham Cline, had
died in the Empire state. ]\Irs. Mathews
passed away August 4, 1S90, and was laid
to rest in the \\'ethersfield cemetery. By
that union were born five children who are
still living, namely : Cordelia, wife of
James Wiley, of Wethersfield, by whom she
has four children, May, Lillian, Laura and
Frank G. ; Edward, a mechanical engineer
in the tube works at Kewanee; Rosa, wife of
George E. Dustin, of Wethersfield, by whom
she has four children, Emory, Clara, George
and Blanche; ^lelva, who is now her fa-
ther's housekeeper; and John L., who is
married and works in the shops of Kewanee.
Jane Ann, the oldest of the famil}-, died in
early childhood.

Politically j\Ir. Mathews is a stalwart
Republican, and has supported every presi-
dential candidate of that party since casting
his first vote for John C. Fremont in 1856.
He has been honored with several local of-
fices; was elected constable and township
collector on the organization of Wethersfield

township, and served in that capacity three
years ; has also filled the office of road com-
missioner; was assessor of Wethersfield
township for the long period of twenty
years; and has frequently served as a dele-
gate to the county conventions of his party.
He and his daughter are members of the
Congregational Church, and he is also con-
nected with the Grand Army post, of Ke-
wanee, in which he has filled all the chairs
and is now past commander. He has al-
ways been found true to every trust reposed
ir. him, whether public or private, and has
been found a loyal and patriotic citizen in
days of peace as well as in time of war.

X. C. GILBERT.

N. C. Gilbert is one of Geneseo's highly
respected citizens, whose useful and well-
spent life has not only gained for him the
confidence of his fellow men, but has also
secured for him a comfortable competence
which enables him to lay aside all business
cares and spend his declining days in ease
and retirement. He was born in Ontario
county. New York, February 10, 1834, and
is a son of Horace and Ann E. (Carpenter)
Gilbert, the former a native of Connecticut,,
the latter of Herkimer county, New York.
His maternal grandparents were Nathaniel
and Betsey (Green) Carpenter. Through-
out his active business life the father fol-
lowed the occupation of farming in Ontario
county, New York, where he owned about
three hundred acres of land. For man}
years he served as deacon in the Congrega-
tional Church, to which he belonged, while
his wife was a devout and active member
of the Baptist Church. He died in 1862,.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

33J

at the age of sixty years. Slie long sur-
vived him, dying in 1897, when within seven
days of the eiglity-seventh anniversary of
her hirth. Their children were as follows :
?\Iary, deceased wife of J. R. Hopkins; N.
C, the subject of this review; E. Curtis, a
farmer of this county, who was born in
1S36 and died in 1889; H. C, formerly a
farmer and nmv a hanker of Lima. New
York; Elon II., who dicil at the age of
twelve years; and Elizabeth G., wife of Gil-
bert \\". Peck, of Canandaigua, Xew York.

N. C. Gilbert was reared on his father's
farm and educated in the public schools of
the neighborhood. When his school days
were over he took up the occupation of farm-
ing, which he has made his life work. Com-
ing to Henry county, Illinois, in 1856, he
purchased a farm in Geneseo township w here
he resided four years and then removed to
Munson township, where he purchased a
farm of eighty acres, to which he has added
and now owns four hundred acres in that
township, and successfully operated it until
1893, since which time he has rented his
land and lived a retired life. His farm has
been occupied by his son, H. Mark, or his
son-in-law, D. S. Brown, since 1893. He
was a charter member of both the Farmers
National Bank and the First National Bank,
of Geneseo, and was a stockholder and di-
rector of the former up to January i, 1901.
He is also a charter member and president
of the Geneseo, Edford & Munson Mutual
Fire Insurance Company, and has ever been
identified with those enterprises calculated
to advance the interests of his town and
county.

On the 9th of August, i860, ]\Ir. Gilbert
was united in marriage with Miss Francelia
Amsden, a native of Rochester, Vermont,
and a daughter of R. P. and Lora Ann

(Buck) Amsden, who were also born in the
Green Mountain state. The father died at
the age of eighty-four years, but the mother
is still living at the age of eighty-five. In
religious belief they were Baptists. They
came west in 1854, and settled on a farm
in Geneseo township, this county, where they
reared their family of children, namely :
Lucien C, now a farmer of Missouri; Fran-
celia, wife of our subject; \'iola, wife of
Aaron Wilson, of Menlo. Iowa; Darwin R..
a farmer of Scranton, Iowa; John L., also
a resident of that state; Lorenzo S., a resi-
dent of Los Angeles, California; Myra. w1k>
married W. E. Tipton, and died at the age
of thirty- four years; and Minnie, wife of
J. A. Phillips, an attorney of Dunlap, Iowa.
Three children have been born to our sub-
ject and his wife: }ilay, at home: H. Alark,
a farmer of North Yakima, Washington,
who is married and has four children,
Curtiss, Lois, Elon and Margaret: and Lora,
v.ife of D. S. Brown, a farmer of Munsun
township, this county, by whom she has one
child, Ethel, who died at the age of seven
years.

In early life INlr. Gilbert was a stanch.
Republican, but since 189 J has been a sup-
porter of the Populist party. While living
on his farm he served as treasurer of Mun-
son township for thirteen years, resigning
that position on his removal to Geneseo in.
1893. He was also supervisor of the town-
ship for over ten consecutive years, and has-
always taken an active and commendable
interest in public affairs, doing all in his
power to advance the general welfare. He
was president of the Henry County Fair As-
sociation for nine consecutive years. He
possesses great energy, good judgment and
indefatigable industry and these elements
have brought to him a well-deserved pros-

334

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

perity, which now enables him to put aside
active labor and enjoy tlie competence which
former toil grained for him.

WILLIAM R. GOODRICH.

No state in the Union can boast of a
more heroic band of pioneers than Illinois.
Their privations, hardships and earnest la-
bors have resulted in establishing one of
the foremost commonwealths of America,
and its wonderful advancement has been
largely secured through the sturdy and in-
telligent manhood of descendants of Puri-
tans with their moral, intellectual and phj-s-
ical stamina; but their work is nearly com-
plete, and all too soon the last of those sturdy
pioneers will have passed away; but their
memory will ever remain green among those
who loved them and appreciated their ef-
forts.

The oldest settler of Henry county now
residing within its limits is William R.
Goodrich, of Kewanee, who was born in
the town of Hilo, on the island of Hawaii.
Februarj' 20, 1832. His parents, Joseph
and ilartha (Barnes) Goodrich, were both
natives of Wethersfield, Connecticut, and
of English descent. The father was reared
in the Congregational faith and educated
at Yale L^niversity. After his gradua-
tion he learned the trade of ship car-
penter, which he followed for a time, and
then studied for the ministry. After being
ordained he was sent as a missionary to
Hawaii in 1822, being the second to locate
there, and the first sent there by the Congre-
gational Church. He did an excellent work-
in preaching to the natives all over the isl-
and and made many converts, his church

afterward becoming the largest in the
world, with a membership of five thousand.
After spending fourteen years there, he re-
turned to America in the spring of 1836,
and joined his family in Wethersfield, Con-
necticut, where he had left them. In the fall
of that year, in company with Xorman But-
ler and John F. Willard, he came to Henry
county, Illinois, by wagon, and settled in
what is now Kewanee township, where he
took up one hundred and sixty acres of
prairie land and one hundred and twenty
acres of timber land, purchasing the same
when it came into market. He erected a log
cabin, twenty-two by thirty feet, upon his
place, but it was only partially roofed that
winter, though it was the home of the three
men until spring. They endured many hard-
ships, and their food consisted of only a quar-
ter of a beef, two pounds of butter and some
cracked corn. In the spring of 1837 Mr.
Goodrich returned to Connecticut for his
family, and by way of the Erie canal and
Great Lakes, proceeded at once to Chicago,
which was then a small village, one of its
principal features being the block house.
There he purchased a team of Indian ponies
and drove across the country to Henry coun-
ty. Immediately after his arrival he com-
menced to improve and cultivate his land,
making it his home throughout the remain-
der of his life. He died in 1832, in his fifty-
eighth year, and his first wife died in 1840. at
the age of fortv years, being the first person
interred in the burying ground at Wethers-
field. For his second wife he married Rachel
Curtis. His children were all by the first
union and were as follows : Lelah, who died
at the age of six months: Xancy, wife of
Dr. William H. Day. of Kewanee; Jane L..
widow of E. E. Slocum and a resident of
Lodi, Illinois: Joseph, a retired citizen of

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

335

Ravenswood. Illinois; William R., our sub-
ject; Charles B., who died at the age of for-
ty-six years; and Martha, who died at the
age of forty.

William R. Goodrich began his educa-
tion in Wethersfield, in a log building which
was used as a school house and church, and
the knowledge he acquired in the school room
has been greatly supplemented by reading
and observation in subsequent years. As
soon as he was old enough to be of any as-
sistance he commenced aiding in the work
of the farm and give his father the benefit
of his labors until twenty-two years of age.
when he began work at the carpenter's trade.
^vhich he had learned with his father. In
1855, he built for H. G. Little and Nelson
Lay the first school house erected in Ke-
Avanee, it being a one-story structure, four-
teen by twenty-four feet, and considered
very fine at that time. He followed that
trade for four years, and in 1857, erected a
building and started the first bakery in Ke-
wanee. After conducting it as such for three
3-ears, he turned it into an eating house,
which he carried on in connection with work
at the gunsmith's trade. In 1886 he sold out
and has since lived retired.

On the 22d of November, 1857, Mr.
Goodrich married Miss Harriet M. Slocum,
a native of New York and a daugliter of L.
O. Slocum, who was also born in that state,
and removed to Kewanee in 1856, making
liis home here until 1880, when he went to
Adair county, Iowa. By trade he was a
shoemaker. ^Ir. and Mrs. Goodrich are the
parents of five children : William B., a paint-
er, of Chicago, who married Ella Rinebeck,
and has one child, Lena May; Roland S.. a
resident of southern Oregon, who marrierl
Ideila Berry; Frederick G., a foundryman, of
RfU'k Island, who married Jennie llenrv. and

has three daughters, Hattie. Minnie and
Grace; Charles E., a carpenter by trade, who
is now working in the rolling mills of Ke-
wanee; and L. J., who married Xellie Will-
iams and is engaged in the practice of oste-
opathy at Flint, Michigan.

Since the organization of the Repul)lican
party, Mr. Goodrich has been one of its
stanch supporters. He is a member of the
Independent Order of Mutual .Vid. and both
he and his wife hold membership in the
Z^Iethodist Episcopal Church, of which he
was trustee for six years. In 1893 they went
to Oregon and spent seventeen months on the
Pacific coast for the benefit of his health.
^Ir. Goodrich can relate many interesting
incidents of pioneer life, when this country
was all wild and unimproved. On one occa-
sion he was within ten rods of a herd of deer
that must have numbered at least six hun-
dred.

GEORGE T. FREES.

This well-known and prominent citizen of
Ed ford township, who owns and operates a
good farm of one hundred and thirty acres on
sections 21 and 16, was born in the neighbor-
ing county of Rock Island on the 22d of
]ilarch, 1859, and is a son of Henry and
Catherine (Mantler) Frels. The father was
a native of Germany, and was nineteen years
of age when he came to the United States.
For five years he followed the life of a sailor
on the ocean, and the same length of time
was spent on the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers. At the end of that period he came to
Illinois, and took up his residence in Rock
Island county, where he purchased one hun-
dred and eighty acres of government land at
llic regular i)rice of one dollar and a (|unrter

336

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

per acre. He also became owner of two Inm-
clred acres of land in Edford townsliip, Hen-
r}- county, but continued to make his In >me in
the former county throughout life, dying
there in 1880, at the age of sixty-one years.
His wife passed away in 1861. Of the eight
children born to them, two died in infancy,
the others being Margaret, wife of Mark
Hauberg, a farmer of Rock Island county;
j\Iary, deceased wife of Adam Garnent. a
farmer of Henry county ; Henry and \\'ill-
iam, both farmers of Rock Island county:
George T., our subject; and Henrietta, wife
of Fred Schmoll, a farmer of Osco township,
Henr}- county.

During his minorit\\ George T. Frels
remained at home and gave his father the
benefit of his labors. He attended the com-
mon schools and completed his education at
the business college of Clinton, Iowa. On
leaving home at the age of twenty-two he set-
tled on his present farm in Edford township,
and to its cultivation and improvement has
since devoted his energies. As a general
farmer and stock raiser he has met with good
success, and is to-day one of the well-to-do
citizens of his communit}'.

At Barstow, Rock Island county, Air.
Frels was married Xo\-emher 16, 1882, to
jMiss Xettie Golden, who was horn June 29,
1865. a daughter of Benjamin and Addie
(Franklin) Golden, agriculturists of that
county. The father was horn in Peekskill,
Westchester county, Xew York, !ilarch 26,
i8.|4, and came to Illinois in 1853. He was
four years in the Union army during the
Civil war, enlisting first in May, 1861, in the
Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and
in December, 1861, in the Fifty-first Illinois
"\"olunteer Infantry, in which regiment he
served until October, 1865, when he was flis-
charged. His regiment formed part of the

Fourth Corps, Army of the Cumberland. He
was wounded on the 27th of June, 1864, at
the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, in Georgia.
He was married September 14, 1864, to Miss
Addie Franklin. He now resides in Mc-
Cune, Crawford county. Kansas, engaged
in fanning. His wife was born in Hampton
township, Rock Island county. Illinois.
March 3. 1843. her parents beng Joel Grout
and Betsy F. (Edwards) Franklin. Her
mother died about ten years ago at the age
of sevent3-six years, and her father contin-
ued to reside on the farm in Hampton town-
ship, Rock Island county, where he located
on coming west in pioneer days, until his
death, December io,i900,at the age of ninety
years. He was a native of \'ermont, and was
ninet}- years of age on the 24th of October.
1900. ]\Irs. Frels is the oldest in a family of
seven children, the others being May, de-
ceased wife of ^\'arren Sykes, a farmer of
Hampton township. Rock Island county;
Luther, a farmer of Kansas: .Vrthur: Flora,
wife of Sherman Scott, a farmer of Mc-
Cune, Kansas; Xellie, wife of Claude Willis,
a barber, of AlcCune ; and Frederick, who
died at the age of one year.

To Air. and Mrs. Frejs were born the
following named children: Genevra Pearl,
born in Rock Island county, September 19,
1883, and Addie Alay, lx)rn in Edford town-
ship, Henry county, Alay 12, 1885, are both
at home; George Royal, born December 21,
1886, died at the age of four years and five
days; Rilla Blanche, born June 10, 1892, died
at the age of sixteen months; Benjamin Ar-
thur, born October 2, 1895, Goldie Irene,
born August 13, 1897, and Mildred, born
April 16, 1899, complete the family.

Mr. Frels is one of the leading and influ-
ential men of his community and has held
public office almost continuously during

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

337

liis residence in this county, at present serv-
ing as commissioner and scliool director. At
different times he has filled the position of
assessor, collector and road commissioner,
discharging his duties in a commendable and
satisfactory manner. He attends the Ger-
man Lutheran Church, and is highly es-
teemed bv all who know him.

DAXIEL McC.\RTHV.

Daniel McCarthy, deceased, was for for-
ty-five }-ears one of the trusted and faithful
emjiloyes of the Rock Island Railroad Com-
pany, and for over a quarter of a century
V. as an honored resident of Geneseo, Illinois.
He was born in 1835, in county Kerry. Ire-
land, where his parents, Timothy and Mary
(OBrien) McCarthy, spent their entire lives.
The other members of the family were Mary,
who wedded ^\'illiam O'Xeal. and lived for a
time in Bureau and Rock Island counties, Illi-
nois, and died in Rock Island January
31, 1900; Xora, who married Edward Swee-
ney, and both died in Montreal, Canada ; Jo-
hannah, who married a Mr. Hogan, and died
in Boston, Massachusetts, in February, 1898.
Her husband died in Boston, also. Cather-
ine, who died in Ireland unmarried, and
^lichael, who went to St. Louis, Missouri,
and has not been heard of in thirty years.

On his emigration to America, in 1846,
Daniel McCarthy located at Ottawa, Illinois,
and soon afterward entered the service of the
Rock Island Railroad Company. On the
18th of November, 1855, he led to the mar-
riage altar Miss Mary Maher, who was also
Lorn in county Kerry, Ireland, .\ugust 15,
1 83 1, and is a daughter ot Jeremiah and
Catherine (Ford) Maher, life-long residents

of that country. Mrs. McCarthy is the fourth
in order of birth in a family of five children,
the others being Patrick, who married yiar-
garet Errit, and lived in Ottawa, Illinois, but
after her death and his second marriage, he
removed to Tiskilwa, Bureau county, this
state; Daniel H., who died in Texas: Bar-
tlioloniew, who married Margaret Wolf, and
resides in LaSalle county, Illinois, and John.
who wedded Mary Bartell, and died in Min-
nesota, in June, 1897.

Unto Mr. and Airs. McCarthy were born
seven children, namely : Mary, now the wife
of Edward Shields. of Hanct)ck county, Iowa;
Catherine, wife of John O'Brien, a grocer of
Geneseo, by whom she has two children, Ger-
trude and Florence; Daniel, who died in in-
fanc}- ; Xannie, who died at the age of eight-
een years; Xellie. who married John Carney,
of Rock Island, and died March 13, 1897,
leaving two children, Mary, who now lives
with Mrs. [McCarthy, and Maud, who lives
with her aunt, Mrs. Shields; Lizzie, wife of
James Kidne\', sui)erintendent of the water
works of the R(->ck Island railroad at Daven-
port, by whom she had four children, Ed-
ward, deceased, Mary, Daniel and Catherine;
and Agnes, a teacher in the public schools of
Henry county.

From Ottawa Mr. McCarthy removed
to Bureau county, and in 1867 came to Gen-
eseo, where he continued to make his home
until his death, which occurred August 27.
1894. As previously stated, he was in the
employ of the Rock Island Railroad Com-
pany for forty-five years, and had the entire
confidence of ihe railroad officials, as well
as the respect of his fellow citizens. He read
a great deal and was well i)Osted on the af-
fairs of the country. By his ballot he sup-
ported the men and measures of the Demo-
cratic party. He was a devout member of

338

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the Catholic Church, to whicli his wife mid
family also I>eloiig, and ftn- nine }eai"s during-
his residence in Tiskihva, Bureau county, the
priest made his home with him. He contrih-
uted most liberally to the support of his
church and gave generously to all charities.
As a man he was public spirited and progres-
sive and his word was considered as good as
his bond.

^^•ILLIA:M a. xe\'ille.

This well-known real-estate dealer, con-
tractor and builder of Kewanee. with office
over the First National Bank, is a true type
of western progress and enterprise, and the
city owes not a little of its property to his en-
ergetic eftorts. His diligence, prudent bus-
iness methods and reliable sagacity have all
combined to make him one of the ablest busi-
ness men of the community, and he has
achieved an enviable success.

A native of Henry county. 3ilr. Xe\ille
was born February 3, 1855. and is a son of
Patrick Xe\ille, who was liorn in Ireland,
and died in early life. The father came ti.i
America when (juite young, and belie\-ing
this county to be a desirable locality, he en-
tered a tract of government land, the south-
west quarter of section 24, Burns townshii),
which is still in possession of the family.
His house, built of lumber hauled from Chi-
cago with ox teams, is still standing, and
was occupied until 1883. At the time of its
erection, it was surrounded by saplings which
have grown into large and beautiful trees.
Thoughout life the father followed agricul-
tural pursuits. He was married in Henry
county, about 1840, to Miss Jane Pounds,
who was born in Pennsylvania, IMarch 12,
1812, and later lived in Canton, Stark coun-

ty, Ohio, and being left an orphan at an early
age \vas bound out according to the custom
of that time. She long survived her husband,
dying on the 14th of February, 1896, when
nearly eighty-four years of age. During her
girlhood in Ohio she united with the Chris-
tian Church, of which she was a devout and
active member throughout life. Her chil-
dren, were Thomas P., now a resident of Stu-
art, Iowa; Mary A., who died in infancy;
James L., a resident of Belleville, Kansas,
who was a soldier of the Civil war and was
taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, enduring
all the hardships of southern prison life;
P. H., who lives on a farm adjoining the old
homestead; and ^^'illiam A., our subject.
Mrs. Neville came to Illinios in 1840, first
stopping in Fulton, but soon after coming to
Henry county, and at the time of her death
she was one of the- earliest pioneers left.

The boyhood and youth of William A.
Neville were passed in much the usual man-
ner of farmer boys of his day, attending the
district schools, wdiere he conned his lessons
on slab seats. Having become thoroughly
familiar with agricultural pursuits he en-
gaged in farming for several years in Iowa
after his school days were over, and then
turned his attention to the carpenter's trade.
He has since engaged in contracting and
building. It has been his plan to> erect
houses, wliich he would then sell, thus deal-
ing extensively in real estate, as he has built
hundreds of houses in Kewanee. In this
way he has done much to impove the city.
Indeed, few persons have done more to ad-
vance its interests than 'Mr. Neville. He has
also erected several large brick buildings,
his first being Hotel Main. In design and
structure his own residence is one of the
most beautiful in the city. In 1895 he laid
out a tract of six acres, known as Neville's

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

339

addition to the city of Kewanee, on wliicli
lie has built and sold many houses. He has
jjaid out large sums for help in his work.
On the 14th of February, 1878, Mr.
Neville was united in marriage with Miss
Cynthia \\'est, who was born in Ohio, and in
1863, when a child of six years came to Illi-
nois with her parents, Michael and Pliebe
(Mettler) West, also natives of the Buck-
eye state. By this union have been born four
children, namely: Russell T., who is now a
traveling salesman for a firm engaged in
photographic work; Frank R., Ralph L. and
Edna H., all at home. Mrs. Neville is a
member of the IMethodist Episcopal Church,
and socially she and her husband are \ery
popular with a wide circle of friends and ac-
quaintances. In politics he is a Prohi-
bitionist.

GEORGE R. \\\ ARNOLD.

George Richard W. .Arnold, a member of
the well-known firm of Arnold & Goembel,
dealers in grain and coal, is one of the im-
portant factors in the business circles of
Geneseo. He was born on the 21st of May,
1857, in Cook county, Illinois, and is a son
of J. George and Salome (Windling) Ar-
nold, both natives of Alsace, now a province
of Germany. In early life the mother came
to America with her parents, Philip and
Mary Windling, and at the age of thirteen
years the father crossed the Atlantic in com-
pany with his mother and five children, his
father having died in Germany at the age
of thirty-five years. It was in 1844 that the
Arnold family reached, this country and took
up their residence in Cook county, Illinois.
They improved a farm in Northfield town-
ship, where the grandmother of our subject

spent her remaining da3's, dying there at the
age of fifty-five years. She was an earnest
member of the Evangelical .Association, and
her husband held membership in the Luther-
an Church in Germany.

Our subject is the oldest in a family of
five children, the others being Lavina Sarah,
vvife of Samuel Rapp, a farmer of White-
side county, Illinois ; Ashton and Henrietta,
who both died in infancy; and Flora, at home
with her mother, who is an honored resident
of Geneseo, and is now in her seventieth year.
It was in 1883 that the family came to Henry
county, and took up their residence on a
farm on section 17, Geneseo township, just
outside the corporate limits of the city of
that name.

During his boyhood George R. W. Ar-
nold acquired a good practical education in
the common schools of his native county,
and also gained an excellent knowledge of
agricultural pursuits. He came with the
family to this county in 1883, and success-
fully operated the home farm in Geneseo
township, which consists of ninety-five acres
of very valuable and well improved land.
He continued his farming operations until
1895, when he embarked in his present
business at Geneseo, as a partner of Aaron
Rapp, under the firm name of Rapp & Ar-
nold. That connection continued two years,
and he has since engaged in business with
Samuel Goembel under the style of .Vrnold
& Goembel. There are only two elevators
in Geneseo, and this firm receives a liberal
share of the patronage.

Mr. Arnold was married, April 29, 1897,
to Miss Lorena I-. Offerle, and to them has
been born a daughter, Onida Lois, the joy
and pride of the home. She was named
after the ship "Onida," in which Mr. Ar-
nold's father came to America. Mrs. Arnold

340

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter
of John and Catherine Offerle. the former
a native of Alsace, Germany, the latter of
the Keystone state. They are still living at
the ages of seventj'-one and sixty-five years,
respectively, and are highly respected citizens
of Geneseo. Religiously they are members
of the Evangelical Association. Their chil-
dren are Josie, wife of John Minch, of Hoop-
pole; Henry, who married McKinley

and follows farming in Kansas; Anna, wife
of Philip Somers, a farmer of Hooppole;
Cora, deceased; Lorena L., wife of our sub-
ject; Alfred, who married Lou W'ildermuth
and is a farmer of this county; and Aaron,
a resident of Enid, Oklahoma.

Politically ^Ir. Arnold is identified with
the Republican party, and socially affiliates
■with the Modern Woodmen of America and
the Knights of the Globe. Both he and his
wife are members of the Evangelical Asso-
ciation, and he has served as steward of the
church and superintendent of the Sunday-
school for several years. By untiring in-
dustry and sound business judgment he has
v.on merited success in all his undertakings,
and is in all respects worthy the high regard
in which he is held by his fellow men.

XELS M. ROXSTRUM.

. For a quarter of a century tliis gentleman
has been identified with the business interests
oi Kewanee as a painter and contractor, and
having become one of its leading citizens he
is now serving as alderman of the fifth ward.
He comes from across the sea. his birth hav-
ing occurred April 14. 1851, in the southern
part of Sweden, where his parents, Muns
and Hannah (Paulson) Gunnason, spent
their entire lives. His father, who was a
manufacturer of ale, died at the age of sev-

enty-three years, but the mother is still living
and is about eighty years of age. Thej,
were the parents of eight children, of whom
one daughter died in infancy, the others
being Johanna, now a widow and a resident
of Sweden; Nels M., our subject; Mary,
Augusta and Annie, also residents of Swe-
den; Elsie, wife of Joseph Schronover, of
Kewanee; and Xellie, wife of Xels Ander-
son of the same city.

On completing his education in the pub-
lic schools of Sweden Mr. Ronstrum en-
gaged in clerking in a general store there
for three years. In 1869, at the age of sev-
enteen years, he decided to try his fortune
in America, where he believed better oppor-
tunities were afforded ambitious young men
than in the countries of the old world. He
sailed from Guttenberg to Hull, England,
and at Glasgow, Scotland, took passage on a
vessel bound for Xew York. On arriving
in that city he proceeded at once to Knox-
ville, Knox count)', Illinois, where he had
relatives living. For about six months he
clerked in a dry-goods store at that place,
and then spent two years in Iowa and X'e-
braska, following painting and railroading
most of the time.

On his return to Illinois Mr. Ronstrum
spent a short time in Galesburg, and then
came to Kewanee, where he has since made
his home. After working on a farm for a
few months he obtained a situation in the
grocery store of L. W. Lewis, with whom
he remained about a )'ear, and for the same
length of time was in the employ of C. A.
Shulton, a dry-goods merchant of Kewanee.
Since his marriage, in 1876, he has engaged
in the painting business, and as a contractor
receives a liberal patronage.

On the 26th of November, 1876, Mr.
Ronstrum married Miss Julia Kleiner, who

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

341

was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, but
was only two years old wben brought to
tliis county by her i)arents, George and
Monroe Kleiner, the family locating in Ker
wanee when it was a small village. Through-
out life her father followed the mason's
trade. Mrs. Ronstrum is the oldest of his
children, the others being Clara, now the
widow of M. L. Frank and a resident of
Chicago; Ella, wife of Dr. S. J. Sharp, of
Kewanee; and Johanna, who died at the age
of eighteen years. Unto our subject and his
wife have also been born four children,
namely : Carrie, now the wife of G. W. I'age.
of Kewanee ; George, who is with his father
in the painting business and resides at home :
Mayme, who is also at home and a com-
positor in the office of the Star-Courier; and
Emmet, attending the Kewanee schools.

Formerly Mr. Ronstrum was an Odd
Fellow, but at present is not connected with
that order. He is, however, a member of
the Royal Circle and Cyprus Camp, Xo. 84.
M. W. .\. Since casting his first presidential
ballot for James A. Garfield, he has affiliated
with the Republican party, and in the spring
of 1900 was the first Republican alderman
ever elected in the fifth ward, receiving a
majority of thirty-six. This fact plainly
indicates his personal popularity and the con-
fidence and trust reposed in him by his fel-
low citizens. He is now serving as chair-
man of the park an(l cemetery committees,
and is also a member of the committees on
finance and streets.

ROBERT F. STEELE.

Robert F. Steele, deceased, was for tliirty
years identified with the business and po-
litical affairs of Geneseo, and during all that

time enjoyeil the respect of his fellow towns-
men by reason of his strict integrity and
true manliness. His devotion to the city's
welfare made him a valued factor in public
life, and in his death (ieneseo was deprived
of one of her best citizens.

Mr. Steele was born in Xew Hampshire,
January 10, 1831, of Scotch-Irish ancestry,
his parents being Robert and Betsey Steele,
also natives of the old Granite state, where
the father followed farming for many years.
He came west in 1856 and spent his last
days in Geneseo, Illinois, where.his death oc-
curred in 1887. In New Hampshire he had
served as deacon in the Presbyterian Church
for many years, and during his residence
here held the same office in the Congrega-
tional Church. His wife, who was also an
active member of the same church, died in
1876, at the age of eighty- four years. In
their family were four children : Robert F.,
of this review ; Mary, who wedded Elihu
Bryant, and both are now deceased ; Eliza-
beth, a resident of Arizona, who lirst mar-
ried John Milton Taylor, and after his death
John Van Suyl; and Samuel, who died in
Geneseo many years ago.

Amid New England scenes Robert F-
Steele grew to manhood, and he was mar-
ried in Methuen, Massachusetts, April 21,
1857, to Miss Anna E. Hardy, who was
born in Antrim, New Hampshire, of which
town her husband was also a native. Her
parents were Silas and .\bigail (_ Farley)
Hardy, both of English extraction, and the
former a son of Sarah Spofford, who be-
longed to a very noted family in American
history and a relative oi Si)offord, the
librarian at Washington, D. C. His father,
David Hardy, fought for American inde-
pendence, and thus Mrs. Steele is a daugh-
ter of the Revolution. Her father, who

342

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was by occupation a farmer, died in
Antrim, New Hampshire, in 1855. Her
mother, ]^Irs. Abigail Hardy, was born
Jmie I, 1800, and died in February, 18S7.
Mrs. Steele is the younger in a family of
two children. Her sister, Sarah Abigail,
is the wife of Dr. A. J. French, of Lawrence,
Massachusetts. They have no children liv-
ing. To our subject and his wife was born
a daughter, Abbie, now the wife of Colonel
H. V. Fisher, who is represented on anotiier
page of this volume.

Soon after his marriage, in 1857, Mr.
Steele came to Geneseo, Illinois, and em-
barked in the shoe business under the firm
name of Bryant & Steele, which connection
was continued until i860, when he sold cut.
In August, 1862, he entered the L'nii)n army
as a private of Company I, One Hundred
and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but
was later made commissary sergeant. He
went with his regiment to Kentucky and re-
mained in the service until hostilities ceased.
The exposure of his army life brought on
disease, the effects of which probably caused
his early death. After his return home he
was engaged in the insurance business as a
member of the firm of Hosford & Steele until
about two years prior to his death, when he
commenced handling real estate.

Mr. Steele died September 6, 1887, at the
age of fifty-six years, honored and respected
by all who knew him. He was an active
member of the Congregational Church and
was serving as deacon at the time of his
death. His political support was given first to
the Whig and later the Republican parties,
and in his social relations was a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
the Grand Army of the Republic. He was
quite prominent and influential in public
affairs, serving as chairman of the board of

supervisors for some years, and also effi-
ciently filled the office of justice of the peace
for many years. In 1867 he was appointed
postmaster of Geneseo, and while filling that
office he also served as city clerk. He was
mayor three terms, and such was his popu-
larity as chief executive that he might have
held the office indefinitely had he not re-
fused to accept the honor longer. He was
also a member of the board of education
several terms, and director in the Farmers
Xational Bank, and his various official duties
were discharged with promptness and fidelity
worthy of the highest commendation. No
man in the community stood higher socially
and those who knew him best speak in un-
qualified terms of his sterling integrity, his
lionor in business, and his fidelity to all the
duties of public and private life. At his
death of Mayor J. H. Mitchell, of Geneseo,
issued the following ordinance : "As an e\i-
dence of our esteem for ^Ir. Steele and our
deep regret at his weath, and as a mark of
respect, I hereby request merchants, bankers
and other places of business to close from
ten o'clock a. m. until noon on Thursday,
September 8, 1887."

JOHN P. BRADY.

Among the prominent young business
men of Kewanee is John P. Brady, a whole-
sale and retail liquor dealer, who was born
in that cit}' on the 27th of February, 1868.
and is a son of Thomas and Rosanna
(Trainer) Brady, who are represented on
another page of this volume. For many
years the father carried on the business now
conducted by his son, and was also inter-
ested in the ice business.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

343

John P. Brady was reared and educated
in Kewanee and since attaining to man's
estate has been prominently identified with
its business interests. His place is one of the
finest of the kind in the city, everything about
it being first-class, while the goods handled
are the best that money can buy. He makes
a specialty of fine bottled goods and high
grade cigars, in which department he has
the largest and finest line in Kewanee. A
finely equipped billiard hall occupies the
second floor of the building, where all lovers
of the game can while away an hour in a
most pleasant manner. Mr. Brady also con-
ducts a regular bottling works, manufactur-
ing soda water and all kinds of soft drinks,
which he supplies to the trade. Buying his
goods directly from the manufacturers, he
receives the benefit of cash discounts, and
is thus able to give a better article for the
same amount of money than those who buy
on credit. His house is conducted in a quiet
and orderly manner, and as a consequence
his trade is both large and far-reaching.
Mr. Brady is a genial, accommodating gen-
tleman, and treats his patrons in a manner
which makes them feel like calling again.
He manages his business ujwn strictly busi-
ness principles autl has scored a signal suc-
cess in the prosecution of the same. Mr.
Brady has also leased what is known as
Crystal Lake, which he has converted into an
ideal resort, with boating, bathing and
shooting the chutes. This he now rents for
picnic purposes. There is also a base-ball
ground attached. He has been manager of
the base-ball team of Kewanee, which is one
of the best amateur organizations of the
kind in the state, and which has at times de-
feated the professionals.

In September, 1894, ^Ir. Brady was
united in marriage with Miss Marv Martin,

a daughter of P. K. Martin, who was born
in Ireland. For two terms Mr. Brady was
secretary of the township Republican central
committee, and took an active part in the
campaign of 1900 for McKinley, Roose-
velt and Yates. He is well liked by a large
circle of friends and acquaintances, and en-
joys the respect of tlie entire community.

GEORGE \^■. ROWE.

George W. Rowe, of Geneseo, is now Ii\'-
ing a retired life in the enjoyment of a rest
which he has truly earned and richly de-
serves by reason of his industrious efiforts
of former years. Accomplishment and prog-
ress ever imply labor, energ}' and diligence,
and it was those qualities that enabled our
subject to rise from the ranks of the many
and stand among the successful few.

A native of New York, Mr. Rowe was
born in the town of Bath, Steuben county.
May 20, 1825, and is a son of John Smith
and Rachel (Sherrer) Rowe, who were also
born in the Empire state, and made their
home there until their removal to Illinois
in 1835, when they took up their residence
in \\'hiteside comity. The father secured a
tract of government land and built a log
house, into which the family moved the next
fall. There he engaged in general farming
and stock raising until his death when fifty-
two years of age. In political sentiment he
was a Republican. His wife died a few
years after locating in Whiteside county.
They were the parents of eight children,
namely : Delanson, who was killed in a tor-
nado at the home place in Whiteside county
when twenty-one years of age; George W.,
our subject; Lovina, widow of La Fayette

344

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

Crandall, of Erie township, Whiteside
county; Elvira, who married Jackson War-
ner and died at the age of forty years; Eliza
Ann, deceased wife of Henry Kempster. a
farmer of Portland, \\'hiteside county;
INIary Jane, wife of James Calkens, a farmer
of Hillsdale, Rock Island count)'; William,
who was killed at the same time as his
brother Delanson, when about twelve years
old ; and Robert E., who entered the Civil
war as a member of Company K, One Hvui-
dred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infan-
try, and was killed in the battle of Chicka-
mauga at the age of nineteen.

George W. Rowe attended school at the
place of his birth and also in Whiteside
county, Illinois, and supplemented the
knowledge there acquired by home study.
He remained under the parental roof until he
married at the age of twenty-four years to
Miss Julianna Kempster, of Portland,
Whiteside county, and then mo\ed to a farm
on section i8, Phenix township, Henry
county, where he had purchased one hun-
dred and sixty acres of wild land. He soon
placed the farm under a high state of culti-
vation, and erected thereon a good set of
buildings. There his wife died in August,
1889, and her remains were interred in the
Sharon churchyard of Portland township,
Whiteside county. There were four chil-
dren by this union, all born in Henry county
with exception of Ann Eliza, the eldest, who
died at the age of three years and nine
months. (2) Viola M. married John J.
Guild, a farmer of Portland township,
Whiteside county, and died at the age of
forty years, leaving three sons, Edward,
Frank and Elias. (3^ Edith is the wife of
J. B. Walker, a farmer of the same town-
ship, and they have two cliildren, Edna and

Charles. (4) Arthur H. died at the age of
three years and nine months.

After the death of his wife. Mr. Rowe
rented his farm and lived with his children
for a time. Later he married Mrs. Lucy
Urick, of Portland. Whiteside county, a
daughter of Henry and Susanna (Henney)
Hines. The father was born in Germany,
but was only six months old when brought
to this country by his parents. His mother
died shortly after landing in America. The
family located on a farm in \\'ayne county,
Ohio, where Mr. Hines grew to manhood.
On coming west he took up his residence at
Pink Prairie, Phenix township, Henry
county, where he followed agricultural pur-
suits until called to his final rest in 1869, at
the age of fifty-three years. His widow is
still living at the age of seventy-five years,
and now makes her home in Geneseo. In
their family were eight children, as follows :
( I ) John, a farmer of Brown county, Kan-
sas, married Amanda Hershman and has
four children; (2) Luc)', wife of our sub-
ject, is next in order of birth. (3) Chris-
tina is the wife of Aaron Rapp, a prosper-
ous citizen and retired farmer of Geneseo,
and they have five children: Alice, wife ot
John Bollen, of Geneseo; Flora and Cora,
twins; Emma; Roy, who died at the age of
seventeen years; and Stella. {4) Mary is
the wife of Abner Oflferle, a farmer of Of-
ferle, Kansas, which place was named in
honor of his father, and they have two chil-
dren. (5) Sarah is the wife of Leonard
Seiben, whose sketch appears on another
page of this volume. (6) Hattie is the wife
of John Goembel, a retired farmer of Gen-
eseo. (7) Peter, pastor of the Congrega-
tional Church, of Kearnej', Nebraska. (8)
Adam, a farmer of Phenix township, this

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

345

■county, married Sadie Bollen, daughter of
John Bollen, of Geneseo, and they have two
children, Floyd and Gertrude. JNIrs. Rowe
was born in Wayne county. Ohio, and first
married Andrew Urick, a life-long residen;
of Whiteside county, Illinois, and a farmer
by occupation. He became quite well-to-do
and died April 4, 1895, at the age of fifty-
one years. During the Civil war he served
nine months in Compan)' G, One Hundred
and Fifty-six Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
To Mr. and Mrs. Urick were born six chil-
dren: (i )ilary is the wife of Charles
Smith, oi Searstown, Rock Island county,
who is employed in the plow factory at that
])]ace, and they have three children. Effie.
Lester and Haruld. ( j) Henry, a farmer of
Portland township, Whiteside count}', mar-
ried Myrtle Kempster and they have one
child, Jessie. (3) Albert resides on the home
farm in Portland township, Whiteside
county. (4) Julia and (5) Earl live with
their nuither in Geneseo. (6) Frank died in
infancy.

In his farming operations Mr. Rowe met
with most excellent success and acquired
over seven hundred acres of valuable land
in Phenix township, this county, most of
which he has divided among his children,
though he still retains the homestead farm.
He always devoted considerable attention to
the raising of stock, and found that branch
of his business quite profitable. He is now
living retired at a pleasant home on North
Aldrich street, Geneseo. In his political
affiliations he is a Republican. He has
seen almost the entire development of this
section of the state, having located in W'hite-
i side county when the timber was inhabited
"by Indians, while wolves, deer and wild game
was plentiful. When he took up his resi-
dence in Henry county most of the land was

wild and unimpro\ed, and he built the first
house on what is called the Rock river bot-
tom in Phenix township. In the Avork of
advancement and progress he has ever born
his part. He is now one of the highly re-
spected citizens of Geneseo, and his long
residence in this section of the state and the
active part he has taken in its development
well entitle him to representation in the
liistory of his adopted county.

CARL KIRCHNER.

Carl Kirchner, a well-known retired far-
mer of Geneseo, is a man whose successful
struggle with adverse circurpstances shows
what can be accomplished by industry and
economy, especially if a sensible wife sec-
onds his efforts to secure a home and com-
petence. Coming to the new world empty-
handed they were obliged to make their way
without any of the aids which are usually
considered essential to success.

Mr. Kirchner was born in Prussia, Ger-
many, January 28, 1830, and is a son of
John and Elizabeth (Foughrodt) Kirchner,
also natives of that country. At the death
of his parents he was the only representa-
tive of the family living. He was reared
and educated in the land of his birth, and
there he was married, January 14, 1852, to
Miss Margaret Moak, who was born in Ger-
many, December 31, 1831. In 1855 they
bade good-bye to the fatherland and came
to America as passengers on the "Bremen,"
which sailed from Bremen, Germany, and
at length dropped anchor in the harbor of
New Orleans. From the Crescent City they
came up the Mississippi river to Davenport,
Iowa, where Mr. Kirchner had an uncle
living.

346

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The young couple both found work on
the bluff near Rock Island, he receiving
eight dollars per month and board for his
services. ]\Irs. Kirchner often did a man'a
work in the fields, stacking hay, planting
corn or hauling grain. In this way she
earned thirty-seven and a half cents per day.
Her uncle paid two hundred dollars for ten
acres of land, which he gave the young
couple, and by their combined efforts they
were able to add to it from time to time
until they now own three hundred and
forty acres of well improved and valuable
land in Hanna township, this county. They
continued to reside upon the farm until
1896, when they removed to Geneseo, where
they bought a lot and built a large and
handsome home. Here they are now living
retired from active labor and are enjoying
a well-earned rest.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirchner are the parents
of five children, namely : ( i ) Lizzie is now
the wife of William Oberly, of Hooppole,
this county, and they have nine children,
Francis, Charles, Henry, Lawrence, Anna,
William, May, Clarence and Josie. (2)
Catherine is the wife of Frank Rink, who is
engaged in farming near Geneseo, and they
have four childen, Ida, Lawrence, Henrietta
and Clayton. (3) Henry, residing at Scran-
ton, near Des Moines, Iowa, married Edith
Russar and they have one child, Flossie. (4)
George, a farmer living near Geneseo, Illi-
nois, wedded ]\Iary Steiger, and they have
one child. Hazel. 5) Lena is the wife of
Joseph Friend, of Davenport, Iowa.

Religiously Mr. Kirchner and his family
hold membership in the Catholic Church,
and politically he is identified with the Dem-
ocratic party. For the success they have
achieved in life he and his wife deserve
great credit, it being due entirely to their

untiring industry, good management and
indomitable perseverance. They are widely
and favorably known and have many friend*
throughout the county.

CHARLES A. KELLOGG.

Among the thrifty and well-to-do agri-
culturists of Henry county is Charles A.
Kellogg, who owns and operates a good
farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sec-
tion 9, W'ethersfield township, two miles
south of Kewanee. A native of Michigan,
he was born in St. Joseph county, April 14,
1848, and is a son of A. B. Kellogg and
grandson of Hosmer Kellogg. The birth
of the father occurred October 22, 1799, in
Massachusetts, where he grew to manhood
and married. His first wife died in that
state in 1843. The following year he re-
nioved to \Miite Pigeon, St. Joseph county,
^Michigan, where he engaged in merchan-
dising with his brothers for several years.
During his residence there he wedded Mrs.
Harriet Stanley, iicc Loomis, a native of
Connecticut. In 1850 they came to Henry
county, Illinois, and took up their residence
in Wethersfield, where Mr. Kellogg worked
at the carpenter's and joiner's trade, and also
conducted a cooper shop and dealt in agri-
cultural implements. During the last feu-
years of his life he lived with our subject
upon the farm, where he died July 23, 1887,
at the age of eighty-eight years. His sec-
ond, wife survived him, and passed away
March 5, 1891, the remains of both being-
interred in Wethersfield cemetery. By their
union were born three sons and one daugh-
ter, namely : Henry L., who died in March,
1894; Charles A., of this review; George

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

347

C, a business man of Tiskilwa, Bureau
county, Illinois; and Cynthia IM., wife of
E. J. Ray, a farmer of Wethersfield town-
ship.

Being only two years old when brought
by his parents to this county, his boyhood
and youth were passed in \\'ethersfield, and
he was educated in the schools of that place
and Kewanee. On starting out in life for
himself he worked by the month as a farm
hand, and then engaged in farming upon
rented land. In Bureau county, Illinois, he
was married February 20, 1868, to Miss
Kate S. Weeks, who was born on the Hud-
son river, near Newburg, Orange county,
Xew York, of which county her parents,
George C. and Susan A. (Brewster) Weeks,
were also natives. In the spring of 1856 her
lather brought the family to Illinois, and
after spending four years in' Galesburg,
took up his residence upon a farm in Bureau
county, where he engaged in agricultural
pursuits for some years. His last days,
however, were spent in retirement from ac-
tive labor in Tiskilwa, where he departed
this life in the spring of 1874. Since his
death jMrs. Weeks has resided with her chil-
dren, and now makes her home with our
subject and his wife. Mrs. Kellogg was
reared in Galesburg and Bureau county, and
by her marriage has become the mother of
ten children : George A., who is married
and holds a responsible business position in
Atlanta, Georgia, and he has three children,
Albert Frederick, Florence C, and George
A. ; Frederick B. ; Susan E., wife of J. G.
Hoffman, a merchant of Kewanee, by whom
she has one son, J. Brewster; Edwin L.,
v\-ho holds a responsible position in the Ke-
wanee bank; and Harry C, Ellen K., Charles
F., Matilda W. and C. Herbert, all at home.
Matilda is now attendins: the hi^h school of

Kewanee, and Herbert is pursuing his
studies in the AVethersfield school.

Mr. and I\Irs. Kellogg began their do-
mestic life on a farm in Bureau county,
where they made their home for a few
years, and in addition to his farming opera-
tions he was engaged in business there for
two or three years, and als<:> operated a corn
sheller for some time. In January, 1875, he
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
land on section 9, Wethersfield township,
Henry county, where he has since made his
home. He has made many permanent im-
provements upon the place, and has suc-
cessfully engaged in general farming and
stock raising, his specialty being short horn
cattle.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Kel-
logg has always affiliated with the Republi-
can party and cast his first presidential vote
for General U. S. Grant, in 1872. He has
been a delegate to a number of county con-
ventions of his party, and has taken quite an
active part in pubhc affairs, serving as a
member of the school board some years; as
assessor about eight years; and justice of the
peace of Wethersfield for four years. In
whatever position he has been called upon
to fill he has proved a faithful and efficient
officer. He and his family attend the Con-
gregational Church of Kewanee, and are
highly respected and esteemed by all who
know them.

THOMAS BRADY.

Thomas Brady, deceased, was for many
years a well-known business man of Ke-
wanee as a wholesale and retail dealer in
liquor and cigars. He was born in county
Cavan, Ireland, May 3, 1845. and was a

348

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

son of Patrick and Catherine Brady, who
spent their entire lives in that country. In
their family were eight children but Patrick
is now the only survivor.

It was in 1862 that our subject emigrated
to America and took up' his residence in Chi-
cago, where he commenced work for the
Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy Railroad
Compan}'. In their employ he came to Ke-
wanee, and remained with them for seven
years, at the end of which time the shops
were removed to Mendota. He then em-
barked in the saloon business and later en-
gaged in the manufacture of all sorts of
carbonated beverages and soft drinks, and
conducted one of the most popular saloons
of the city. He has paid as high as thirteen
hundred dollars for freight at one time on
a shipment of ice and he did a very large
and profitable business for some years.

Mr. Brad}'^ was married in Kewanee,
February 3, 1866, to Miss Rosanna Trainer,
a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, and a
daughter of James and Hilary Trainer. The
father, who was a farmer by occupation,
was born in the same county, October 18,
1818, and died in that country in 1866,
while the mother was born in 1819, and
died in 1870. They were married in 1840
and w^ere the parents of nine children :
Owen, John, Kate, Mary, James, Mar}-,
Patrick, Katie and Rosanna. Mrs. Brady
is the youngest and only one of the family
now- living. She was eighteen 3-ears of age
when in 1866 she and her sister, Mary, came
to America, landing in Xew York. They
came direct to Kewanee, where their brother
John was living, and where Mrs. Brady has
since made her home.

Unto our subject and his wife ^vere born
eleven children as follows: Katie A., a noted
singer and a graduate of the Chicago Cen-

tral ^lusical College, is now the wife of
Oliver P. Hamilton, of Nashville, North
Carolina, and they have one child, ilary:
John P., a prominent business man of Ke-
wanee, is represented on another page ot
this volume; Thomas is a resident of Butte,
^Montana; James died at the age of twenty
m.onths; Frank married Bertha Connell and
resides in Kewanee ; ^lamie, living at home,
is also an excellent singer and a pupil of her
older sister; Rosa died at the age of eleven
months; Martha is now in Asheville, North
Carolina; Willie plays on the piccolo, flute
and piano, and is now- pursuing his musical
studies at St. Bede College, Peru, Illinois;
Joe is atending school in Kankakee, Illinois ;
and Alorris is a student in the Kewanee
schools. The family are all communicants
of the Catholic Church, and ^Irs. Brady is
also a member of the Ladies' Aid Society.

^Ir. Brady died May 13, 1895. He was
a man of affairs and was represented in all
enterprises which he believed would prove
of benefit to the city and community in
which he lived. He was a stockholder in
the Henr}' Count}- Fair Association, and was
one of the most progressive and public-
spirited citizens of this section of the city.
In his death the community therefore lost a
most useful and valued member of societv.

THOMAS TAYLOR.

Among the bra\e men who went to the
defense of their country during the dark
days of the Rebellion was the gentleman
whose name introduces this sketch, now' re-
siding on \\'est ^lain street, Geneseo, Illi-
nois. He was born in Albany, New York,
ilay 18, 1846, and from that city came to

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

349

Illinois at the age of eight years with hif»
parents, Thomas and Jane (Westbury) Tay-
lor, locating in Chicago. The father was a
native of Bainbryshire England, and was
twenty years of age on his emigration to the
United States. For some years he was en-
gaged in business as a carriage manufac-
turer at Albany, and in 1853 moved to Chi-
cago, where he followed the same occupa-
tion for about five years. In 1858 he ac-
cepted the position of overseer and master
mechanic of the convict prison in Little
Rock, Arkansas, where he died of yellow
fever the following year, leaving a widow
and five children. Two children died pre-
vious to his death. The mother long sur-
viveil her husband, dying at her home in
Chicago, April 2, 1894, at the age of sixty-
nine years. She was born in Greenbush,
New York, of English parentage.

Thomas Taylor, our subject, is the
oldest of the family of seven children, the
others being: Sarah, born in Albany, is the
wife of Albert Pfangle, of Aurora, Illinois;
Elisha, born in Albany, is engaged in the
tinsmith business in Geneseo, Illinois; Har-
riet died at the age of thirteen years; George,
born in Chicago, is a carpenter and con-
tractor of that city; Mary J., born in
Aurora, died in infancy; and Mrs. Harriet
Smith, died at the age of twenty-two years,
leaving one child, Xellie. now deceased.

Our subject was principally educated
at Aurora, Illinois, where he attended Clark
Seminary, and after the Civil war he w as
also a student at the Soldiers' State College,
in Fulton, Illinois. On the ist of January,
1863, he enlisted at Aurora, in Company B,
Fifty-eighth Illinois N'olunteer Infantry for
three years nr during the war. and was
mustered into the United States service at
Springtield, lUintiis, as a private, under

command of Captain David J. Lynch and
Coloaiel William F. Lynch. The regiment
was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third
Division, Sixteenth Corps, Army of the
Tennessee, and was in the folowing engage-
ments : Nashville, Pleasant Hill, Fort De
Russey, Meridian, luka, Jackson, Canton
and Yellow Bayou. .\t luka 'My. Taylor
was wounded by a niinie ball splitting his
chin; at Mayfield, Kentucky, he was also
slightly wounded in the right foot; while at
Yellow Bayou he was verv seriously wound-
ed, May 18, i8()4, Iiy the explosion of a
shell, breaking his collar bone and fractur-
ing his shoulder blade. This necessitated
the amputation of his left arm at the
shoulder. For eight months Air. Taylor
was confined at Jefferson Barracks hospital,
St. Louis, Missouri, at the end of which
time he was transferred to Keokuk, Iowa,
where he remained until August 25, 1864,
when he was hunorahly discharged. He
was in the ser\ice one \ear before his en-
listment, acting indei)endently. as he was
under age.

After his dischar^'e nuv gallant young
soldier returned to Aurora for a short time
and entered the Soldiers' College at Fulton,
where he pursued a four 3'ears' course and
was graduated. For the following five years
he was employed as clerk for the Dirmiond
Jo Steamer Company, and then came to
Geneseo, in 1874, where he has since made
his home. He attended a course of lectures
at the Chicago School of Psychology, and
was graduated at that institution May i,
1900. Religiously he is a member of the
Unitarian Church of Geneseo, and frater-
nally is connected with the Modern Wood-
men Camp, No. 40, and the Home Forum.
As one of the honored veterans of the Civil
war, and a highly esteemed citizen of Henry

3SO

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

county, he is certainly deserving of promi-
nent mention in this volume.

Mr. Taylor was married in Geneseo. in
1885, to Miss Augusta Priebe, who was born
in Germany, and was eight years old when
she came to the new world with her parents,
^^"illiam and Rosine (Welke) Priebe, locat-
ing in Geneseo. Both in his native land and
for some years after coming to America, ]Mr.
Priebe followed the carpenter's trade, but
later purchased a farm in Geneseo township,
this county, just outside the corporation,
and turned his attention to agricultural pur-
suits. There he and his wife still reside.
The)' are the parents of eleven children, of
whom the following are still living : William
F., born in Germany, married Matilda Sim-
ater, and resides in Minonk, Woodford
county, Illinois. He is extensively engaged
in the poultry business, having alx)ut two
dozen branch houses throughout the United
States and also an ofifice in England, to
which he ships large guantities of poultry.
]\Irs. Taylor is the second in order of birth
in this family. Herman married Lizzie
W^arren and is engaged in the poultry busi-
ness in Bradford, Stark county, Illinois.
Pauline, born in Germany, is the wife of
Frederick Glawe, who is engaged in the
same business in Guthrie Center, Iowa. ^lin-
nie, born in Geneseo, is now teaching in the
public schools of that place. Louis is en-
gaged in farming on the home place in
Geneseo township. ^latilda is also at home.
Henry has charge of his brother's branch
house at Peoria, Illinois. Those of the chil-
dren now deceased are Emil, who died in
Chicago at the age of twenty-three years;
Hannah, who died in Geneseo, at the age of
twenty-nine; and Otilla, who died in Ger-
many, in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor
have two children : May, born in Geneseo,

May 21, 1886, and Thomas, Jr., born in the
same place August 5, 1889. Both are now
attending the local schools. !Mrs. Taylor is
also a Unitarian in religious belief and is a
member of the Eastern Star Chapter of the
^Masonic fraternity and the ^^'oman's Re-
lief Corps of the Grand Army of the Re-
public. The family is one of prominence
in Geneseo.

HARRY A. REHERD.

The subject of this review is one of the
younger members of the Henry county bar,
but his prominence is by no means measured
by his years; on the contrary he has already
won a reputation which many an older
practitioner might well envy. One must
work to attain greatness in any walk of life,
but in this profession, probably more than in
any other, success depends upon individual
efforts.

Mr. Reherd is a native of Henry county,
born on his father's farm southeast of Gene-
seo, July 18, 1 87 1, his parents being Jacob
Keller Reherd and Lucy Louise (Ware)
Reherd, who are presented on another page
uf this volume. The boyhood of our subject
was passed amid rural scenes. He received
his earh- education in the country schools
where he was given the credit of being a
diligent and faithful student. Later he at-
tended the Geneseo Collegiate Institute,
graduating therefrom in the year of 1890,
being president of his class. He has twice
held the position of president of the Alumni
Association of that institution and was one
of the speakers at the corner-stone-laying
at Atkinson hall, one of its school buildings.

He was for several years an efficient and
popular teacher in the public schools in the

11. A KKHEKl).

I !R1?ARY

UNIVFRSi.i UF ILLINOIS
llRBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

333

county, reading law during vacation, in the
office of Judge George E. Waite, of
Geneseo.

In September, 1895, he became a student
in the law department of the State Univer-
sity of Iowa, at Iowa City, where, during
his year's work, he was recognized as an
able student and forcible debater. A year
later he entered the office of the prominent
law firm of Benjamin & jNIorrissey, of
Bloomington, Illinois, and attended the ses-
sions of the Bloomington Law School. On
February 24, 1897, he was admitted, with
high honors, to practice law by the supreme
court of Illinois, and soon after entered
the law office in Geneseo, of Judge George
E. Waite, master in chancery of Henry
county, where he practiced for nearly two
years, when he opened an office for himself
in Geneseo.

Personally Mr. Reherd is a very pleasant
man to meet and impresses those who come
in contact with him with his energy and
sincerity.

iVlways diligent and painstaking in his
legal work, he has built up a strong law
practice which is rapidly increasing. He is
possessed of a strong personality, and ease
of manner, a good personal appearance, and
splendid self control — qualities so desirable
in a successful trial lawyer.

Air. Reherd has taken a somewhat ac-
tive part in campaign work, and has more
than a local reputation as a public speaker.
In the fall of 1900 he was the Democratic
nominee for state's attorney for Henry
county. During the campaign he proved
himself to be the possessor of a ix»werful,
well-modulated voice, a good command of
language, and to have the ability and energy
to deliver an eloquent, argumentative
speech. Although he failed of election, yet

his campaign was a remarkable one. His
\ote was the largest ever received by a Dem-
ocrat for that county office. The majority
of the opposition, was reduced liy o\er a
thousand votes.

Mr. Reherd is especially interested in the
educational affairs of the county. He is a
man of even temperament and intensity of
purpose and has been a consistent mem-
ber of the First Presbyterian Church of
Geneseo since November, 1889. He has
always taken an active interest in public
afifairs and supports all enterprises which he
believes will prove of public benefit. He is
one of the energetic capable young men of
the county who lives not for himself alone
l)ut to also use his ability and his inlUience
for the benefit of the community in which
he resides, and the county and state of which
he is a citizen.

JACOB KELLER REHERD.

Among the practical, progressive and
highly esteemed farmers of Geneseo town-
ship, Ilenry county, is numbered Jacob
Keller Reherd, who was born in Harrison-
burg, Rockingham county, Virginia. Sei>-
tember 9, 1834, and is of the good old
Pennsylvania Dutch stock.

His father, William Reherd. was born in
York county, Pennsylvania, in 1792. He
was a man of great energy, industry and
thrift and highly esteemed by those who best
knew him. At the time of his death he was
ninety-two years okl. William Reherd in
l-.is young manhood went to Harrisonburg,
Rockingham county, Virginia, and en-
gaged in business and in farming. He mar-
ried Anna Keller, who was born in Harri-
sonburg in 1802 and died in 1867. Hers

354

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was a life of great usefulness and unselfish
devotion to their large family of children,
seven of whom are still living, one having
died in infancy and one at middle age.

The boyhood of Jacob Keller Reherd
■was spent in the Shenandoah valley in \'ir-
ginia, he receiving his education in the pub-
he and private schools of Harrisonburg.
In 1856 he came to Henry county, Illinois,
locating on the farm on sections 26 and 27,
Geneseo township, where he now resides.
At that time the land was all wild and un-
improved, but he soon broke the land,
fenced it, and erected good and substantial
buildings thereon, making a pleasant home
for himself and familj'.

On January 10, 1S65, at Geneseo, ilr.
Reherd married L.i\cy Louise \\'are, one of
the four children of Joel and Lucy (Cros-
sett) Ware.

Joel \\'are was born in Swanzey, Che-
shire county, Xew Hampshire, June 23,
1809, of Scotch ancestry, being a direct de-
scendant of Robert Bruce, of Scotland. In
i860, he came to Illinois where he taught in
the public schools of the county for many
years, also engaging in farming. He died
at Geneseo in April, 1897, at the age of
eighty-eight years. Up to the time of his
death he was very active both in body and
mind and was a constant student of public
events, being for his age an exceptional
man in this respect.

Lucy (Crossett). Ware was born at
Prescott, ^Massachusetts, December 16,
181 3, and is still living in Geneseo, at the
age of eighty-seven, while her mother li\ed
at Amherst, Massachusetts, to the ripe old
age of one hundred and two years. On her
centennial birthday her photograph was
taken, showing her to be well preserved and
her hair to be still black as a raven's wing.

Lucy Louise (Ware) Reherd was boni
at Wellsville, Allegany county, Xew York,
}ilarch 2, 1844. She is a woman of in-
telligence and education; the possessor of
quiet, friendly, helpful ways; a woman
whose "children rise up and call her
blessed."

Both ilr. and Mrs. Reherd are members
of the First Presbyterian Church of Gene-
seo, and were among the ones who founded
the church in 1868. They are the parents of
five children, all grown to manhood and
womanhood : ^^'illiam Robert, who was, un-
til recently, connected with the Geneseo
Arena as editor; Herbert Ware, who mar-
ried Louise il. ilcClure, of Mediapolis.
Iowa. He was pastor at ililan, Illinois, for
four years, and is now pastor of Bethany
Presbyterian Church of Detroit, Michigan;
Harry Arthur, a prominent attorne}" of
Geneseo, who is represented on another
page of this volume; ;Mar\- Louise, a student
at the State University of Iowa ; and Fanny
Fern, a student of music at Rock Island,
Illinois; all of whom are capable, indus-
trious young people.

Mr. Reherd is a conservative man of
good judgment and of broad intelligence.
A- man unselfishlj^ devoted to his family and
who has ever taken an active interest in
public affairs, especially educational and
political. Since attaining his majority he
has been a stanch supporter of the Democ-
rac)" and is one of the most influential rep-
resentatives of the party in his community.
For eight years he represented his town-
ship, which is strongly Republican, as as-
sistant supervisor, being for that length of
time an invincible opponent to the Republi-
can nominees for that office.

;Mr. Reherd represented his school dis-
trict as director for eighteen years, was a.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

355-

member of the Geneseo to\vnshi|) library
board for several terms, was one of the pro-
moters of the Geneseo Collegiate Institute,
and a member of the board 'of directors of
that institution for over ten years. He is
one of the men who has helped to make the
county what it is to-day. one of the richest
agricultural districts in the state, and has
taken an active interest in all that tends to
its improvement and the advancement of its
people.

JEFFERSON W. TAYLOR.

This well-known retired agriculturist c^f
Geneseo, is an honored representative of one
of the earhest families of this state, and is
a true type of the energetic, hardy men who
have actively assisted in developing and im-
proving this beautiful and fertile agricul-
tural country. In fact Mr. Taylor is a na-
tive of Illinois, his birth occurring near
New Haven, \\'hite county, on the 22nd of
February, 1818, before the state was ad-
mitted to the L'nion. His parents were Eph-
raim Merritt and Ebbie (Hayes) Taylor.
The father was born on the Roanoke river in
Rollin county, Virginia, and when about
sixteen years of age moved with his parents
to North Carolina, and later to the Blue
Ridge mountains in Tennessee, where our
subject's grandfather, Richard Taylor, died.
The father, Ephraim Taylor, then took care
'>f his mother, and together they came to
Illinois in 1812, locating in White county,
where he died in 1845, at the age of fifty-
seven years. He followed the accupation
of farming throughout life, and both he
and his wife were earnest and consistent
members of the Baptist Church. She also
died in \\'hite countv about a vear before his

death occurred. Their family numbered
seven children, of whom our subject is the
eldest. (2) Ihulson R., a retired farmer
and carpenter, of Geneseo, wedded Mary .\.
Porter, and has six children, William H.,
George H., Frederick L., I\Iary Ida, John J.,
and Daniel A. (3) Sarah is the widow of
Rodney Linnell, a farmer, anel resides in
Geneseo with her daughter. Mrs. Cann. She
has two children: Lucy, wife of Thomas
Cann, a meat merchant of Geneseo; and
Mary, wife of James Searls, a farmer of
Hanna township, this cnunty. (4) Alsadie
married Irson Olinger and both are now
deceased; (5) Eliza married Ephraim JNIer-
ritt Stokes and they are also deceased. (6)
Bradley H. died at the age of forty years.
(7) William died in childhood.

Being the oldest son, Jefferson W. Tay-
lor was obliged to work on the farm during
1-iis boyhood and vouth. and was unable to at-
tend school until twenty-two years of age.
He remained with his parents in White
county until twenty-five, when he and his
cousin came up the ^lississippi river on a
steamboat to Davenport, Iowa, and after
passing the winter with his cousin at that
place, he came to Henry county, Illinois,
and bought a farm in what is now Hanna
township. He also purchased the ferry,
which crossed the ri\er at Cleveland, known
as the Cleveland ferr\-, which he operated
about seven years. He then sold the ferry
and gave his entire attention to farming for
a time, but later embarked in the dry goods
business at Colona Station, where he built
a store and dwelling house. Not meeting
with success in that enterprise, he soon re-
turned to farming in Hanna towns!iip.
where he had previously purchased five hun-
dred acres of wild land, though he after-
ward sold two hundred acres of that amount.

;56

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

After operating: his farm for alx)ut eleven
years he sold the place, taking a note and
mortgage on a firm in Whiteside county.
After living upon the latter place for five
or six years, he disposed of it and came
to Geneseo, where he has since led a retired
life, enjoying a well-earned rest. He has a
comfortable home on South State street.
v>hich is the abode of hospitality and good
cheer.

In 1845 ^^r. Taylor married Miss Alfred
Linnell, a daughter of Rufus and Lucy
(^lelvin) Linnell. Her father was born on
an island between the United States and
Canada, known as Linnell's Island, which
was settled bv his father, a native of France.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were born six
children, as follows: (i) Ephriam Mer-
ritt, named for his grandfather, is now en-
gaged in the insurance business at Chariton,
Lucas county, Iowa. He was in the regidar
army for five years, taking part in Indian
warfare, and lost his health in the service.
For his second wife he married Eva Lewis,
of Wayne county, Iowa, and they have
seven children, Jeflferson W., Florence. Jen-
nie. Elmer, Maude, Lewis and Blaine. (2)
Mary married first Elijah Gove, a farmer,
and carpenter of Hanna township, by whom
she had two children, Clinton D. and one
who died in infancy; and for her second
husband she married \\"ilbur Hobson, a
prominent farmer of Lucas county, Iowa,
by whom she had one child. Ernest. ( 3 )
George ^^'., station agent on the Chicago,
Burlington & Ouincy railroad at Burling-
ton, Iowa, wedded ^lary Deem and had two
sons, Frank and Edwin. (4) Rilla is the
wife of George Bills, a farmer of Edford
township, this county, and they have two
children, Archer and Roy. (5) Lisse is the
^vife of George Detrick. a laundrvman of

Dixon, Lee county, Illinois. (6) The
youngest died in infancy unnamed.

Mr. Taylor cast his first presidential
vote for ^^'illianl Henrj- Harrison, in 1840,
and continued a supporter of the ^^ hig party
until the organization of the Republican
party when joined its ranks and has con-
tinued to fight under its banner. He has
held several township offices of honor and
trust, and has always faithfully performed
any duty devolving upon him whether pub-
lic or private. For many years he was a
member of the Masonic fraternity, and in
early life was connected with the Methodist
Church, but is now a Presbyterian. During
the long years of his residence in Henry
coiuity, Mr. Taylor has become widely
known, and his many excellent traits of
character have gained for him the high re-
gard of many friends.

HORACE J. COMBS.

Horace J. Combs, an active and enter-
prising farmer whose farm of ninety-five
acres is pleasantly located on section 10,
Wethersfield township, within two miles of
Kewanee, was born in Marshall county, Illi-
nois, November 29, 1856, and is a son of
Warner Combs, who was born in \\"est \'ir-
ginia, in January, 1825. The paternal
grandfather, Jacob Combs, was one of the
early settlers of \\'est \'irginia, and later
became one of the pioneers of Wjandot
county, Ohio. There the father grew to
manhood and married Miss Elizabeth
^^'ood, a native of \\'yandot county, and a
daughter of Francis Wood, also one of its
pioneer settlers. In 1852, Warner Combs
came to Illinois and located in Marshall
countv, where he transformed a tract of

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

357

wild land into a good farm. His last days
were spent in retirement from active labor
at Sparland. where he died in 1896. His
first wife, who was the mother of our sub-
ject, passed away in 1870, and he was again
married.

By the first union there were five ciiil-
dren, namely: Sarepta, who is now her
brother's housekeeper; Horace J., of this
review; Mrs. Emma Duncan, a widow, who
also resides with her brother; Electa, wife
of George Joseph, of Peoria; and Sherman
who successfully engaged in teaching school
for five years, and is now with his brother
on the farm. By his second marriage the
father had two children : Harry, a resident
of Kewanee, and \'iola, wile of James Stin-
son, of Hamlin, Indiana.

On the old homestead in Marshall
county Horace J. Combs passed the days of
his boyhood and youth, and early became
familiar with all the duties which fall to the
lot of the agriculturalist. On leaving the
parental roof he engaged in farming upon
rented land in that county for four years,
and then purchased a farm there, consist-
ing of one hundred and sixty acres, which
he cultivated for several years. Selling that
place in 1892 he purchased his present farm
on section 10, Wethersfield township, Henry
county, upon which he located the following
year and which he has since successfully
operated. He has remodeled the buildings
and made other improvements upon tiie
place. In connection with his general farm
ing he carries on stock raising, and in that
branch of his business he has also prospered.

In his political views Mr. Combs is inde-
pendent and supports the men whom he be-
lieves best qualified for office regardless of
party lines. He has never aspired to office
but takes a deep and commendable interest

in public affairs. He and his sister Serepta
hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Kewanee, while the other mem-
bers of the family are either Baptists or
Presbyterians in religious belief. Miss
Combs is an active church worker and is
now president of the Home Missionary So-
ciety of Kewanee. The family is one of
prominence in the community where they re-
side and its members are held in high regard
by all who know them.

JOHN WENKE.

Among the old and honored residents of
Geneseo is John \\'enke, who was for many
years actively engaged in farming, but is
now living a retired life in Geneseo. A na-
tive of Germany, he was born in Oldenburg
on the 14th of December, 1S20, and is a son
of Frederick and Anna (Myer) Wenke,
who passed their entire lives in that coun-
try. There our subject grew to manhood,
and was married in Germany March 19,
1852, to Miss Helena Oltmanns, a daughter
of John and Anna (^Koelke) Oltmanns,
who also made their home in Cierniany
throughout life.

In 1850 Mr. W'enke crossed the briny
deep, and on landing in New Orleans pro-
ceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis,
whence he came to Hampton, Illinois. The
folowing year he returned to his native land
and was married and in April, 1852, came
back to America with his wife. When he
returned to Ham.pton he purchased a farm
and for thirty-nine years he was success-
fully engaged in farming in Rock Island
county. He purchased two hundred acres
of unbroken prairie and timber land, for

358

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

which he paid seven dollars per acre, and
.after clearing the same he placed it under a
high state of cultivation, converting the
wild tract into a most desirable farm. This
place he sold in 1890 for fifty-six dollars
per acre, and then removed to Geneseo,
where he has since lived a retired life, enjoy-
ing the fruits of former toil.

Mr. and Mrs. Wenke have a family of
five children living, namely: Johannah, wife
of Rev. C. Seuel, living near IMilwaukee,
\\'isconsin; Eliza, wife of Frederick Ras-
tede, a merchant of Geneseo; John, who
married Lena Oltmanns and lives on a farm
near Geneseo; Fred, who married Tillie
Herges, and resides on the old homestead in
Hampton, Illinois; and Henry, a merchant,
who married Emma Salto and makes his
home in Geneseo. Two children died in in-
fancy; Helen and one unnamed.

Mr. Wenke and his family hold mem
bership in the German Lutheran Church,
and in politics he is identified with the Dem-
ocratic party. Wherever known he is held
in high regard, and well merits the confi-
dence and respect which he receives, for his
life has been an upright, honorable and use-
ful one.

^\ ILLIAM D. HOHMAXX, AI. D.

Dr. Hohmann is engaged in the practice
of medicine and surgery in Kewanee, Illi-
nois, and has that love for and devotion to
his profession which has brought to him
success and won him a place among the
ablest representatives of the medical frater-
nity in Henry county. He was bom in Cas-
sel, Germany, September 18, 1867, a son of
William M. and Sophia (Volkmar) Hoh-
mann, who spent their entire lives in that

country. They were representatives of very
old and highly respected families, the Doc-
tor's maternal ancestors being manufac-
turing and mercantile people. His paternal
grandfather, John Hohmann, served in the
German army during the Napoleonic wars,
and during the latter part of his military
career was superintendent of the military
prison at Cassel, Germany. He died in that
country in 1868. William M. Hohmann,
the doctor's father, was a machinist by
trade, and followed that vocation through-
out life, mostly in the employ of the govern-
ment. During the Franco-Prussian war he
had charge of the round house of the gov-
ernment at Fulda, Germany, where he died
in 1872, at the age of thirty-eight years.
His wife long survived him, dying at Cas-
sel, August 9, 1894. They were parents of
six children, four of whom are still living,
namely: J. H., a traveling man living in
New York city; Louis, who is connected
with the \\'hitlock Printing Press Alanu-
facturing Company, with headquarters at
Derby, Connecticut; William D., our sub-
ject; and ]\Iarie, a resident of Kansas City.
Dr. Hohmann received a good education
at Hersfeld, Germany, and had an excel-
lent knowledge of the English language
prior to his emigration to .Vmerica which
materially assisted him in making his way
rapidly in his adopted home. At the age of
sixteen he crossed the Atlantic alone and
took up his residence in Baltimore, Mary-
land, where he secured a jjosition in a drug
store, working there uninterruptedly from
1883 until 1887. In September, 1885, he
entered the Maryland College of Pharmacy,
at the same time continuing his connection
with the drug store. After graduating
from that institution in 1887 he matricu-
lated at the Baltimore Medical College in

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

359

the fall of tliat year, and recci\e(l the de-
gree of M. D. on the 15th of April. 1890,
having spent tlie last eight months in the
jMaryland (ieneral Hospital as resident
student. He then engaged in the practice
of medicine in Baltimore until the fall of
1 89 1, when he came to Kewanee and opened
an ofifice. As a general practitioner he has
secured a liberal patronage, but he also
makes a specialty of skin diseases, in which
he took a post graduate course in Berlin at-
tending the clinics of the Imperial Charities
and other noted hospitals, his time mostly
being spent in hard work. He is a member
of Kewanee"s Physician's Club, of which he
has held office of secretary.

On tile "th of June, 1899. Dr. Hohmann
was united in marriage with ]\liss Anna
Frederickson, of Kewanee. In his social
relations the doctor is a member of the blue
lodge, chapter and comniantlery nf the Ma
sonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and
the Modern \\'oodmen of .America. In 1895
he returned to his native land, and spent five
months delightfully in visiting Germany,
France and many places of nute in Europe.
He possesses the broad culture which only
travel can bring, and is one of the most pop-
ular and prominent citizens of Kewanee.

ISAAC M. FLEET.

As an agriculturist this gentleman was
for many years actively identified with the
development and improvement of Henry
county, and now after a useful and well-
spent life is living retired in Geneseo. .\
native of New York, he was born in Suffolk
county on the 28tli of Oct. ibcr. 1815. and
is a son of Gilbert and Keziah (Jarvis)
Fleet. The father was born in Huntington,
Long Island, and engaged in farming at

his birthplace throughout his active busi-
ness life, dying there at the age of fifty-si.K
years. His widow long survived him and
lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years.
In their family were four children, all born
on Long Island, our subject being the oldest
<.>i the number and now the only survivoi.

The boyhood and youth of our subject
were passed under the parental roof, and
he engaged in farming uix)n the old home-
stead for some years. At the age of about
twenty-eight he became interested in the
coasting trade from New York harbor, and
followed that business for seven years, at
the end of which tune he sold liis vessel
and resumed farming upon the home place,
where he continued to reside for several
years.

In 1843 ^^r. Fleet was married at Hunt-
ington, Long Island, to Mrs. Susan Stratton,
widow of Ustick V. Stratton and a daugh-
ter of Eliphalet and Phoebe (Ketchem) Oak-
ley. Her father, who was a soldier of the
war of 181 2, spent his entire life in Suffolk
county, Long Island, New York. For a
few years he followed farming, then operat-
ed both a flouring and woolen mill on Long
Island, and for a great many years led the
life of a sailor, running a coasting vessel
from New York harbor. He finally built
another flouring mill at Islip, Long Island,
which he operated during the remainder of
his life. He died at his home in Babylon,
about 1867, at the age of eighty-one years,
and his wife passed away in 1858, at the
age of seventy-seven. Of their seven chil-
dren Mrs. Fleet is the fifth in order of birth
and the only one now living.

Seven children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Fleet, but Isaac M. and one unnamed
died in infancy. The following still sur-
\!\e : Gilbert, traveling salesman for the

36o

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Wilson Buggy Company of Moline. Illinois,
and a resident of that place, married Eliza
Barton and has one son, Fred E. Eliphalei
C, superintendent of a fruit farm in Ari-
zona, married Ada Sneider, and has four
children, James S., Ray B., Helen Josephine
and Lawrence. Frances Elizabeth and Clara
Augusta are both at home with their par-
ents. Mortimer, superintendent of the farm
at the state insane asylum at Hampton, Rock
Island county, Illinois, married !Miss Helen
Richmond. The children of Mr. and Mrs.
Fleet were all born in Xew York state ex-
cept Mortimer, the 3'oungest, who was born
in Henry county, Illinois.

Selling his interests in the east in 1857,
Mr. Fleet came to Henry county, Illinois,
and purchased a quarter-section of wild
land in Munson township, which he at once
began to improve. He erected thereon a
large and substantial farm house, barns and
other buildings, and placed the entire farm
imder a high state of cultivation. He con-
tinued to operate his land until 1897, when
he removed to the city of Geneseo and pur-
chased his present comfortable home on
West IMain street, where he is now living
a retired life, enjoying the fruits of his early
industry and surrounded by the comforts
which he has so truly earned and richly de-
serves. The Republican party finds in him
a stanch supporter of its principles, and al-
though he has never sought or held office,
he is public spirited and an advocate of all
measures that tend to improve or benefit the
community in which he resides.

JOHN H. RULE.

Numbered among the well-to-do farm-
ers and highly esteemed citizens of Weth-
ersfield township is John H. Rule, who

owns and operates a well-improved and
\aluable farm of one hundred and six-
ty acres on sectinn jt,. A native of Illi-
nois, he was born in Elmira township.
Stark count}'. June 4. 1856. and is a son
of John and Jone (Hume) Rule, who
were born, reared and married in Scot
land and emigrated to America in 1852.
They sailed from Liverpool, England, and
landed in New York. After spending about
six months in the Empire state they came
to Illinois, and took up their residence in
Stark county, where at first the father op-
erated a rented farm. Subsequently he pur-
chased one hundred and sixty acres of land
in Bureau county, which he broke and placed
under cultivation, and later added to it an
adjoining tract of eighty acres. About 1879
he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty
acres in Wethersfield township, Henry coun-
ty, where our subject now resides, it being
all under cultivation at that time. There he
continued to successfully engage in general
farming and stock raising throughout the
remainder of his life. He was a stanch sup-
porter of the Republican party and its prin-
ciples, and was highly respected and es
teemed by all who knew him. He died in
1890, at the age of seventy-seven years, and
his wife passed away in 1892, at the age of
seventy-two, the remains of both being in-
terred at Almira, Illinois. The}- were the
parents of eleven children, namely : Alex-
ander, Jane, Mary, Charlotte, James. WilN
iam, Robert, John, Catherine. Walter and
Thomas.

John H. Rule was reared upon his fa-
ther's farm, which he aided in operating
as soon as old enough to be of any assistance,
and thus acquired a good practical knowl-
edge of agricultural pursuits. His literary
education was obtained in the country schools

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

361

of the neiglib(M"lioo(l. Fchruarv 6. 1871). lie
was united in marriage with Miss Anna
Longmate. a tlaughter nt Tnnnard and
Susan (Brown) Longniate. By this union
lie has liad five children, namely: lilsie J.,
Bertha L., Robert V.. hilin 1".. and Frank
A., all living. Mrs. Rule died March ,^0.
1890. and for his second wife Mr. Rule
married Emma Richardson, a daughter of
Joseph and Mary ( Xatress ) Richardson, and
to them has been born one child, Mary E.
Lillian, whose birth occurred January 30,
1896.

Mr. Rule owned and operated the old
homestead imtil a short time ago, which
is a well impro\-ed farm of one hundred
and si.xty acres on section 2^. Wethersfiekl
township, and in connection with its culti-.
ration he successfully engaged in stock-
raising. For eighteen years he owned and
operated a steam thresher, doing a profitable
business with it. He had on his farm a new
and handsome residence, liuilt in modern
style of architecture, and supi)lied with all
the conveniences and accessories of a city
home. He owns four hundred and eighty
acres in South Dakota. In his political
affiliations Mr. Rule is a Republican, and
he takes a deep and commendable interest
in all enterprises which he believes will prove
of public benefit.

b'.RKK b.RlCKSOX.

This well-known expressnian of Ke-
wanee. Illinois, was lx)rn on the ^8tli of Sep-
tember. 1845. in Bolnas, Sweden, of which
])lace his parents, Erick and Betsy (Johnson)
Erickson, were also natives. There the fa-
ther followed farming througimut his acti\e

business life, dying there at the age of sev-
enty-eight \-ears. His wife also died in
IJolnas at the age of seventy-four. Their
children were h'rick. of this review : Jonas,
who died at the age of twenty-fi\e years;
Olaf, who is engaged in the shoe business
in Sw eden ; Betsy, who died at the age of
four years: ami Peter, who died in Kewanee
at the age of thirty-two.

Mr. lu"ickson is indebted to the public
schools of his native land for his educa-
tional privileges. He assisted his father in
the operation of the home farm until four-
teen years of age and then worked as a
farm hand in Sweden until his emigration
to this country in 1868. He sailed from
Guttenberg, and after fourteen dass spent
upon the water landed in Xcw 'S'ork City,
whence he proceeded at once to Altdniia,
Knox county, Illinois. After four days
spent at that place he went to Peoria, and
was engaged in railroad work between that
city and Bushnell for about a month. Fie
then returned to .Mtoona. where he was
emiiloyed as a farm hand for f(.)ur months,
and at the end nf that time came to Ke-
wanee. Mere he fmind employment in the
coal mine of (i. L. Piatt, about a mile east
of tiiwn. where he remained tw^o years, and
then worked on the farm oi C. C. Blisli, in
W'ethersfield townsliip,for the same length of
time. ])uring the following year and a half
lie was with Crawford & Gerhart, of Kewa-
nee, and remained with his successor, .\. F.
Bigelow, for twenty-three years. Mr. lu-ick-
son was with Ma_\-bew Brothers a year and a
half, and in 1900 bought the exi)ress line
of J. R. Keggl\. which he is now carrying
on with good success, doing a general ex-
jiress business.

On the _'5th of October. 187^), Mr.
Erickton married .Miss Carrie Johnson, who

362

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was also born in Bolnas, Sweden, a daugh-
ter of John and Engburg (Peterson) John-
son, natives of the same place. The mother
died in Sweden at the age of thirt3'-nine
years, but the father is still living in that
country at the age of seventy-five. By oc-
cupation he is a laborer. The children born
to Mr. and Mrs. Erickson are Adolphie. who
lives at home and is engaged in the millin-
ery business; Ernest, who is assisting his fa-
ther in business ; and Morris, who is attend-
ing school. The family are members of the
Swedish Lutheran Church, and are highly
respected and esteemed by all who know
them. In politics Mr. Erickson is a Repub-
lican, and faithfully served his fellow citi-
zens as tax collector in 1900.

JAMES WARREX

James Warren, deceased, was for many
years one of the highly esteemed citizens ot
Geneseo, Illinois. His early home was on
the other side of the Atlantic, for he was
born in county Clare, Ireland, in 1814, and
was one of a family of thirteen children,
v.hose parents never left the Emerald Isle
and have long since been dead. His brother,
Andrew, came to America and settled in
Lima, Ohio.

Our subject spent the first thirfeen years
fo his life in his native land, and then re-
solved to try his fortune in America. After
his emigration to the new world he lived
for seven years in the east, and then came
to Henry county, Illinois, locating here long
before the Rock Island railroad was built.
His was the' first house built in Geneseo,
and he witnessed almost the entire develop-
ment of this region, in the work of which he
bore an important part. In early manhood

he engaged in farming, but spent the last
forty j-ears of his life in Geneseo.

On the 3d of October, 1887. Mr. War-
ren was united in marriage with Miss
Bridget Murray, also a native of county
Clare. Ireland, and a daughter of Andrew
and Mary (Sullivan) Murray, who were
lifelong residents of that country. The
mother died on Christmas day, 1898, but
the father is still living. Their children were
Kate, a resident of Ireland; Bridget, widow
of our subject; Maggie, who is employed
at the Geneseo House in Geneseo, Illinois;
Anna, wife of Burford Howell, a barber of
Geneseo; and two daughters, now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. \\'arren had two children,
namely: James, who was born September 3,
1887, and is now living with his mother
while attending school in Geneseo ; and
Mary, who died in infancy.

In religious belief ^Ir. Warren was a
Catholic, and in politics was a Democrat.
He died March 17, 1899, honored and re-
spected by all who knew him. As one of
the pioneer and representative citizens of
Geneseo, he is certainly deserving of prom-
inent mention in this volume.

DAVID L. PURVIAXCE.

This well-known and highly respected
citizen of Geneseo, was born near Paris,
Preble county, Ohio, on the 4th of October,
1833, and is a son of Levi and Sophia
(Woods) Purviance. His paternal grandfa-
ther was David Purviance, one of the found-
ers of the Christian Church in Kentucky,
being engaged in preaching in that state and
Ohio for many years. His death occurred
in Ohio. The father was a native of Tennes-
see and was a voung man when he moved to

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

363

the Buckeye state. He, too, became a niiiii,ster
•of the Christian Church, and followed that
sacred calling in Ohio for almost half a
century. In 1856 he came to Henry county,
Illinois, and for a time engaged in farming
in Osco township, t)ut returned to Ohio,
where he died at the age of eighty-two years.
His wife passed away in the same state.
They were the parents of five children, of
whom our subject is the youngest and only
survivor; one died in infancy; Andrew made
his home in Henry county for fifteen years,
but spent his last days in Nebraska; Mary
died at the age of twenty-one years; Sophia
•died at the age of six.

David L. Purviance received his educa-
tion in the schools of Ohio, and after reach--
ing man"s estate he was engaged in general
merchandising at Xew Paris for some years.
Subsequently he was engaged in the dry-
goods business with his brother Andrew at
Indianapolis, Indiana, for a short time, and
then returned to Ohio. Disposing of his
interests there the same 3'ear, he came to
Illinois, in 1855, ^"^ located near what is
now Morristown, Osco township, Henry
•county, where he followed farming for about
seven years. He was next engaged in the
grocery business at Morristown and in the
fall of 1871 removed to Osco, where he also
conducted a grocery store, and served as
postmaster of the village for eighteen years
under the administrations of Presidents
■Grant, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur. Closing
out his store in 1890, he came to Geneseo,
where he has resided ever since. He has not
engaged in any active business for himself,
and is at present employed in the wall pa-
per store of Mr. Johnson on South Main
street.

On the 2nd of June, 1853, Mr. Pur\i-
ance married ^liss Hainiah M. ^lurton, a

daughter of Thomas and Eleanor (Schenck)
Morton, both natives of Ohio. Mrs. Pur-
viance died November 2, 1875. leaving nine
children, namely: Charles \V., a merchant
of Wyoming, Illinois; Thomas L., who is
employed in the freight office of the Monon
railroad at Chicago; Frank M., general
agent for the American Stock Food Com-
pany at Jacksonville, Illinois; Annie M.,
wife of Albert Ankney, of Peoria; William
G., station agent at Abingdon, Illinois;
Xellie E., wife of Henry Bestor, a farmer
of Osco township, this county; Kate, wife
of D. O. Hinman, a farmer of Osco town-
ship; Walter, an employe of Swift & Com-
pany, packers, of Chicago; and Hannah L.,
a resident of Geneseo. Those of the family
now deceased were Ella J., who died at the
age of sixteen months; George J., who died
at the age of two months; and Winfield S.,
v.ho died at the age of one year. ]Mr. Pur-
viance was again married, July 31, 1890,
his second union being with Mrs. Harriet
Edwards, widow of Herbert R. Edwards,
whose sketch appears on another page of
this volume together with a more extended
mention of herself and family, yh. and
Mrs. Purviance have a pleasant home on
South Oakwood a\enue, Geneseo, where
they are surrounded in- a large circle of
friends and acquaintances, who esteem tliem
highly for their sterling worth. During his
residence in Osco township Mr. Purviance
v,as a member and constant attendant of the
Christian Church.

JAMES C.WAXAGH.

The subject of this review is the owner
of a well-imi)roved and highly-cultivated
farm of one hundred and si.xty acres pleas-

364

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

antly located on section 23. W'ethersfield
township, within six miles of Kewanee. He
^vas born on an adjoining place, August 3>,
1844, and throughout life has been identi-
fied with the interests of this county, and
has done mucli to ad\-ance its welfare, es-
pecially along agricultural lines.

Patrick Cavanagh, the father of our
subject, was a native of county West Meath,
Ireland, where he was reared upon a farm,
and when a young man came to the United
States, locating first in Xew York, where
he learned the stone mason's trade, which
he followed for some years. There he mar-
ried Bridget Hunt, also of Irish birth, and in
1840 they came to Illinois. After spending
two years at Almira, Stark county, they
removed to Henry county, Mr. Cavanagh
having previously purchased a small tract
of land in Wethersfield township. It was
a piece of unbroken prairie, on which he
erected a log cabin, in which the family lived
for a few years while he fenced the land and
placed it under cultivation. He added to
his original purchase until he had three
hundred and twenty acres in the home place,
and also owned property elsewhere, becom-
ing one of the substantial farmers of his
communit}-. Here he died August 2"]. 1884,
and his wife passed away August 17, 1886,
both being laid to rest in St. Marx's cem-
etery on the Cavanagh farm. They were
the parents of six children, two sons and
four daughters, all of whom reached years
of maturity.

On the home farm James Cavanagh
grew to manhood, and was educated in the
Saxon school. On the 20th of February,
1872, he led to the marriage altar ^liss
Bridget Joyce, who was reared and educated
in Kewanee, of which place her father,
^Matthew Joyce, was an early settler. For

two years after his marriage he lived upon
a part of the old homestead, and then lo-
cated on the farm where he now resides.
He has erected thereon a commodious and
pleasant residence, good barns and other
outbuildings, and now has one of the most
desirable farms of its size in the community.
As a farmer and stock raiser he has gained
a well-merited success, and is to-day one
of the well-to-do citizens of W'ethersfield
township.

Mr. and Mrs. Cavanagh are the parents
of five children, namely : John P. and AlJjert
M., both of whom now hold business posi-
tions in Kewanee, although the latter was
formerly a school teacher: and James M.,
Leroy D. and Lottie Ann. all at home. The
family are communicants of the Catholic
Church of Kewanee. and are people of the
highest respectability. In early life Mr.
Cavanagh supix)rted the Democratic party,
but is now a Republican in politics, but
at local elections votes for man and not for
party. He is public spirited and progressive
and gives his aid to all enterprises for the
public good.

\villia:\i OURS.

-Among the honored residents and repre-
sentative citizens of W'ethersfield township
none are more deserving of mention in this
volume than William Ours, who has been
successfully engaged in farming and stock
raising on section 29 for manv years. He
was born near Clarksburg, \'irginia, on the
26th of April, 1822, and is one of a family
of three children, whose parents were Jacob
and Xancy (Kushlipp) Ours.

Our subject remained in his native state
until he attained his majority and then re-
moved to Indiana, where he spent the fol-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

365

. Inwing eighteen years. Tlierejie was united
in marriage December j. 1^49. with Miss
Eliza (.icHulale. horn Oct.iher 15, iSjf), a
ilaugiiter uf J<icl D. and i'diza Cioinhdc. Uy
this unidU were horn six children, namely:
Emma: William, who married Tillie Berge;
Samantha, wife of John Lindstrom; Charles,
who niarrieil Iila Metier: I-diza, wife of
Dudley Craig: and Mary, wife of Frederick
I'a-walk.

On lca\ ing Indiana -Mr. Ours came to
1 lcnr\- Count \', Illinois, and after renting a
farm in W'etherstield township for one year
he purchased one hundred ami sixty aci'cs
Of partiall_\' hroken laud on section 29, the
same township, which he lias since placed un-
der a high state of cultivation and improved
with good buildings. In connection with his
farming operations he is engaged in stock
raising, making a specialty of sheep ami
hogs. Although he is now nearly eight)'
\e;irs of age he is still remarkably acti\e and
iii.iius his meul;d faculties unimpaired. He
' i^t his tirst ])resi(lential vote for (ieuera!
Ilai'risou. a Whig camlid;ite. an<l is now a
■-t.inch supporter of the Uepiiblican party and
ii^ principles. llis ha^ been an upright,
honorable and useful life, and he lias gained
the confidence and high regarti of those with
whom he has come in contact either in
business or social circles.

JOIIX CROX.VU.

For manv years this gentleman has been
acti\el_\' itlentirted with the business and ag-
ricultural interests of llem-y county, but
is now li\'ing a retired life in Kewauee, hav
ing acquired a comfortable competence,
v.hicli enables him to la\' aside all business

cares. His early home was on the other
side of the .\tlautic, for he was l)orn in
Hessen. Germany, February 4, iS_^o. and is
a son of Peter and Elizabeth ( Tripp )Cronau,
lifelong residents of that country, where the
father followed farming as a means of live-
lihood. He died at the age of forty-eight
years, and his wife i)assed away at the age
of forty- four. In their family were five
children, namely : John, still a resident of
(lermany : John, our subject ( there being tw^o
bv the name of Jobu ) : Henry and l-'liza-
betli. who both died in Ciermany : ;uid .\uuie.
who continues to make her home there.

Our subject receixed his education in
the public schools of his native town and in
carlv life he learned die shoemaker's trade,
which he continued to follow until coming
to this coimtry in 1S54. He sailed from
Bremen and landed in .\'ew York after a
good voyage of si.x weeks, during which
time he was never seasick and thoroughly en-
joved the trip. For about four mouths ha
worked at his trade for a Mr. Coleman in
Xew York City, and then proceeded to Chi-
cago, which at that time was quite small.
He remained there for eight months and then
came to Kewanee, arriving tliere on the tirst
of May, 1855, just one year after lauding
on the shores of this country. After wdrk-
ir.g for Enoch Mathews for a time, he start-
ed a shoe shop of his own. which he car-
ried on successfully until iS'').^ giving em-
ployment to sex'cral men. He then turned
his attention to agricultural inirsuits. having
purchased sixty acres of wild prairie land
ill Kewanee township, which he placed un-
der cultivation, and to which he added until
he had one hundred and ninety acres. In
i88<S he returned to Kewanee and has since
lived a retired life, though he still owns
eighty acres, including his lirst purchase.

366

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He was engaged in general farming, and met
with well-deserved success in his labors.

September 29, 1857, Air. Cronau was
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth
Wagner, also a native of Hessen. Ger-
many. Her father, John \\'agner, came to
this country in 1869, and made his home
in Sheffield, Illinois, until his death. Four
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cronau,
namely: Henry, a teamster of Kewanee,
who married Minnie Minks and has five
children : Elizabeth, wife of Robert Pyle, of
Kewanee township, by whom she has six
children ; Caroline, wife of Henry Minks,
of Kewanee, by whom she has two children,
Bert and Harry; and Emma, wife of Will-
iam Minks, of Kewanee, by whom she has
three children. Mrs. Cronau died January
25, 1888, and was laid to rest in the Ger-
man church cemetery in Kewanee township.
Our subject now makes his home with his
daughter Caroline. He is a member of the
German Lutheran Church, and is a stanch
supporter of the Republican party, having
voted for all its presidential candidates since
Fremont. He has served as school director
six years, and has also filled the office of road
commissioner in a most creditable and satis-
factory manner.

JOHN H. FULPER.

Among the representative farmers of
Wethersfield townsliip is John H. Fulper,
residing on section 25. He was born in
Hunterdon county, New Jersey, January 9,
1848, and on the paternal side is of Ger-
man descent, his ancestors being numbered
among the early Quakers who settled in
Pennsylvania. His grandfather, John Ful-
per, was a native of that state, and his fa-

ther, Charles T. Fulper, was born there in
1820, and when a young man went to NeAV
Jersey, locating in Hunterdon county, where
he worked at his trade as a wheelwright.
There he married Aliss Sarah Hoppock, a
native of Xew Jersey, and a daughter of
John Hoppock, who owned and operated the
old Hoppock homestead in Hunterdon coun-
ty. The great-grandfather was John Hop-
pock. who came from Germany before the
Revolutionary war. He had one son, Peter,
in that war, ^vho was wounded in the hand.
The great-grandfather was a large land
owner in New Jersey. In 1851 Mr. Fulper
and his father-in-law came to Illinois and
took up their residence in Henry county.
The same fall the latter purchased a large
amount of land in \\'ethersfield township,
and at length became owner of thirteen hun-
dren acres all in one body, around which he
built a fence. He broke and improved thid
place. Charles T. Fulper also purchased a
tract of land, which he improved, and latei'
bought more land, making a good farm of
one hundred and sixty acres. There he died
in 1884. His widow still survives him, a
liale and hearty old lady of seventy-three
years, and makes her home with a daughter.
They were the parents of nine children, twa
sons and seven daughters. The brother of
our subject is W. T. S. Fulper, of Evanston,
Illinois.

During his boyhood and youth John H.
Fulper assisted his father in the operation of
the home farm, where he remained until
grown, and then commenced farming for
himself upon rented land. While thus em-
ployed he saved nine hinidred dollars and
invested his capital in forty acres of land
on which he now resides. Subsequently he
added to it an adjoining fortj^-acre tract;
making a good farm of eighty acres, on

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

367

wiiicli he has built a neat and substantial
residence and good barns and outlniiklings,
surrounding these with fruit and shade trees,
which add much to the beauty of the place.
Jn Wetherstield township, February J4,
1 878, was celebrated the marriage of Mr.
Fulpcr anti Miss Minta Claybaugh. Her
father, X. H. Claybaugh. was born in Ohio,
Decemlier 3. 1822. and in 1830 came to Illi-
nois with his father. Nicholas Claybaugh,
who was a native either of Pennsylvania
or Ohio, and a son of Frederick Claybaugh,
who was born in the former state in 1763.
The Claybaugh family is of German extrac-
tion and Mrs. Fulper's ancestors were among
the first settlers of Pennsylvania. On com-
ing to this state the family located in Schuy-
ler county, where they improved a farm.
There X. H. Claybaugh grew to manhood
and married Rhotla Marr, a native of Ten-
nessee, and a daughter of Rev. J. B. Marr,
who was born in South Carolina. His fa-
ther was a soldier of the Revolutionary war.
Rev. J. B. Marr came to this state in pion
neer days and was one of the first school
teachers of Schuyler county, where he also
engaged in farming. About 1873 Mrs.
Fulper's father removed to Wethersfield
township, Henry county, but spent his last
years with his son, C. B. Claybaugh, in Stark
county, where his death occurred. The chil-
dren born to our subject and his wife are
Mabel. Lena, \'irgil, Edna, Dean and John
IL, Jr. They also have an adopted son,
Cliarlcs l-'ulper, whom they took when a
small child, and who has been reared and
educated by them. He is now working at
his trade as an interior decorator and paper
hanger.

Originally Mr. Fulper was a Rei)ul)li-
can in politics and cast his first presitlential
vote for General U. S. Grant in 1872. He

continued to support that party until after
the election of James A. Garfield, since which
time he has been identified with the Prohi-
bitionists, being a strong temperance man.
He served three years as road commissioner,
hut has never cared for political honors.
He is one of the official members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Saxon, with
which his wife is also connected, and she has
served as organist for over twelve years.
They take an active part in all church work
and their lives have ever been in harmony
with their professions.

PETER HYER.

Among the prominent foreign-b< irn citi-
zens who have aided so materially in the de-
\elopment and upbuilding of Henry county
is Peter Hyer, a well-known farmer and
stock raiser residing on section 24. Weth-
ersfield township. A native of Sweden, he
was born in Skone. on the 27th of April,
1852, and is a son of Pers and Bengta
(Trulson) Hyer, who spent their entire lives
in that country. In their family were four
children, two sons and two daughters, all
of whom are still living, with the excep-
tion of one son.

\\'ith the hope of bettering his financial
condition in the new world, ^Ir. Hyer sailed
from Guttenberg, in April, 1886, on the
steamer Victoria of the Allen line, and, the
weather being pleasant and favorable for
such a voyage, he landed in Quebec, Canada,
fifteen days later. He came immediately to
the United States, and a week after reach-
ing America he arrived in Galesburg, Illi-
nois. He si)ent about two years at work-
in various parts of this section of the state,
and then located in Kewanee, where for a

368

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

time he worked at the painters trade, wliicli
lie liad learned in Sweden. , Suhsec|uently
he engaged in farming upon rented land for
about live years, and then bought one hun-
dred acres of improved land, to which he
added in i88g a tract of seventy acres, mak-
ing a fine farm of one hundred and seventy
acres, which he has since successfully op-
erated. About eight years ago he erected
a good residence, and has also built good
barns, while everything about the place be-
tokens the thrift and enterprise of the owner.
In addition to the cultivation of his land
he is extensively engaged in farming and
stock raising, his specialties being Durham
cattle. Shrojjshire sheep and Xorman horses.
and to this branch of his business he givef.
considerable attention.

On the 24th of October. 1877, Mr. Hyer
was united in marriage with Miss Eliza J-
Rule, a daughter of Alexander and Beatrice
(Oliver) Rule, both natives of Scotland and
earl}- settlers of Wethersfield township, this
county, where they located in 1848. The
mi_)ther crossed the Atlantic from Green-
nock to Illinois in about three months, while
the father sailed from Liverpool to Boston.
On reaching Henry countv, Illinois, he took
up a government claim in Wethersfield town-
ship, which he improved and placed under
cultivation. His first house was 12x14
feet. Ill later vears a more commodious
and substantial residence was erected, but
it was subsequently destroxed b\' fire. Mr.
Rule was one of the honored pioneers and
one of the most highly respected citizens of
his community. He died at the age of sev-
enty-nine years, his wife at the age of sev-
enty, and both were laid to rest at Elniira,
Illinois. They were faithful members of the
L'liited Presbyterian Church, and in politics
Mr. Rule was a Republican.

Mr. and Mrs. Hyer have a family of five
children, whose names and dates of birth
are as folloSvs : Anna Beatrice, August 3.
1878: George Alexander, February 28.
t88o: Xellie Jean. April 10. 1883; John
Walter. June 26, 1886: and Robert Leslie.
December 7, 1891. The parents are both
earnest and consistent members of the
L'nited Presbyterian Church, and enjoy the
good will and confidence of the entire com-
munity in which they live. By his ballot
Mr. Hyer supports the men and measures
of the Republican party. He owes his pres-
ent prosperity to hard labor and close at-
tention to business. In 1882 he made a visit
to his i>arents in Sweden, crossing the ocean
on the steamer Algeria, in November. After
three delightful months spent in his native
land, he took passage on the steamer Bothnia
for the return voyage. On the Xorth Sea the
\essel encountered one of the worst storms
known for years, and it retjuired six days'
to cross that body of water, which is usually
accomplished in twenty-four hours, from
Copenhagen to Hull.

OTIS W. HOIT.

The subject of this rex'icw. who now
owns and occupies a valuable farm of four
I'.undred acres on section 24. Edfonl town-
ship, has throughout life been actively iden-
tified with the agricultural interests of Hen-
1"}' county, and is a worthy representative
of one of its oldest and most highly respect-
ed families. On the paternal side his great-
grandfather, John Hoit, was a Revolution-
ary soldier, ami just after his return from
the war moved from his early home in Hop-
kinton to Canaan, that state.

Levi \\'. Hoit, the father of our sub-

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OTIS W. HOIT.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

371

ject, was 1)orn in Canaan, Xoveniher 15,
1827, a son of Bartlett and Prudence (Wil-
son) Hoit. Bartlett Hoit was a native of
the same place and tliere spent the greater
part of liis life. In 1854 he came to Illi-
nois and located i>n the farm in lulford
tcwnsiiip, Henry cnunty. whore 1 nn- suhject
now resides, inakin,^' it his hdUic until his
death, which occurred Xcxemhcr 3, !8()4.
In his family were imly two children and
one died in infanc}'.

Reared in his native state, l,evi W.
Hoit was educated at Canaan and Meritlen,
New Hampshire, taking an academic course,
and with liis father he learned the carpen-
ter's and millwright's trades. .\l the age (if
twenty-one he went to Louisiana with his
father, working there fur two ur three
years, lie came to this county with his
parents in 1854, and assisted ir, hreaking
and improxing the hume farm, consisting
of twci hundred ;uul forty acres, on which
not a furrow had been tiuMied or an im-
pro\cment made when the family located
therenn. Throughout life he successfull}'
followed general farming and stock raising,
and converted his place into one of the most
liighly ciUtivated tracts and desirable farm.-,
in the coimty. Jn 1881 he remo\ed to
Geneseo and purchased a city home on the
corner of West Main anil lienrv streets,
but continueil to look after his farming anil
stock raising interests. For some years he
was a director of the First National Bank
of that city. He was killed in a cyclone on
the 1st of May, 1892, while returning home
from the bank. Mr. Hoit was an exceeding-
ly active man, was pre-eminently public-
spirited and progressi\e, and took a deep
interest in all that tended to the develop-
ment and improvement of tlie conniiunity
in which he lived. In his political \icws

he was a Republican, and for many years
served as supervisor n\ lulford townshi]),
besides filling sexeral minor offices. In
early life he was a Bajnist, bin later attend-
ed the Congregational Church, and gave
liberally to all denominations. He was a
man of sterling worth and strict integrity,
and wherever known was held in high re-
gard. On the J2Ui\ of May. 185(1. at (ien-
eseo. he was united in marriage with Miss
Sarah 1'". Im-cucIi. a native of Coventry,
Connecticut, and a daughter of Oliver B.
and Jane K. ( h'rench ) h^rench. I ler father
was also born in that state, where he con-
tinued to make his home until i84('), when
he removed to Branch county. Michigan,
and was engaged in farming there uiUil com-
ing to Henry county, Illinois, in 1853. For
some years he followed the same occupa-
tion in Geneseo township, but was living
a retired life in the city of Geneseo at the
time of his death, which occurred October
_'5, 1890, when he was about seventy-nine
\ears of age. His wife had passed away
January 18, 1879, at the age of sixty-three.
Of their four children two died in infancy,
the others being Mrs. iloit and l^lla J., wife
of Allen B. Cady, of (ieneseo.

Otis W. Hoit, whose name introduces
this sketch, is the only child of Levi W.
and Sarah \'.. { ImcucIi ) Hoit. lie was born
on the home farm in Ivlfonl tow nshii). May
J4, 1857, and was educated in the common
schools of Geneseo and the State I'niversi-
ty at Champaign, where he pursueil the
agricultural course and was graduateil in
1879. Returning to his home he has since
successfully engaged in general farming and
stock raising, making a specialty of polled
.\ngus cattle — a Ijreed from southern Scot-
land.

At Champaign, Mr. Hoit was married,

372

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in 1879, to !Miss [Maggie E. Stewart, a
daughter of John P. Stewart, a retired far-
mer of Champaign county. The only child
born of this union died in infancj- unnamed,
and Mrs. Hoit departed this life May 19,
1885, being laid to rest in Oakwood cem-
etery, Geneseo. Our subject was again
married, in Edford township, October 11,
1888, his second union being with Miss
Henrietta P. ^l. Schroeder, a daughter of
Henry and \\ilhelmina (^W'eigandJ Schroe-
der. For many years her father has been
one of the prominent farmers of Edford
township. ;Mr. and [Mrs. Hoit ha\e one
child, Maurice E., born June 2;^, 1893.

Religiously [Mr. Hoit is a Congregation-
alist, and i)olitically is an ardent supporter
of the Republican party. He has held a
nimiber of minor offices in his township,
and for the past seven years has ser\-ed as
supervisor, with credit to himself and to
the entire satisfaction of his constituents.
He takes an active interest in promoting the
welfare of his county, aiding all enterprises
tending to benefit the public, and enjoys in
a high degree the confidence and esteem of
his fellow men.

PATRICK O'DAY.

Among the old and honored residents of
Geneseo we take pleasure in mentioning the
name of Patrick ODay, who was for many
years prominently identified with the busi-
ness interests of this locality, but is now liv-
ing a retired life. He was born eight miles
from the city of Limerick, county Clare,
Ireland, and is a son of Patrick and Biddie
(O'Connor) ODay, who spent their entire
lives in that countrv. He had six half

brothers and sisters, John, Donald, Thomas,
Bridget, Catherine and Xora, all of whon>
came to America and died in this country.

During his boyhood and j'outh our sub-
ject had no educational advantages, but he
has always made the best use of his oppor-
tunities and is a well informed man. At
the age of twentj-three he crossed the At-
lantic on a sailing vessel named the
"Breeze," which dropped anchor in the har-
bor of Quebec, Canada, after seven weeks
and three days upon the water. He spent
two days in Montreal and then went tcr
Waterloo, where he worked on the farm ot
a Mr. Foster until fall when he returned to
[Montreal. By boat he proceeded to St.
John's, and then went to \'ermont, and on
to Boston, where he met [Michael Crosby,
who had driven into the city with a load of
wood. He returned home with him and
worked on his farm for a time. The fol-
lowing spring he returned to his native land
with a man taking a load of horses to Eng-
land, and remained in Ireland four years.

At the end of that time [Mr. O'Day
again came to the new world, bringing with
him his brother, Donald O'Day. On land-
ing in Xew York they proceeded at once tc
Fetlock Falls, and from there went to
Goshen, Connecticut, where both found em-
plo}'ment at farm labor. Our subject's
duties were principally in connection with
the manufacture of cheese. About 1855 he
came to Henry count)', Illinois, and pur-
chased eighty acres of land from John [Mc-
Coy, for which he paid one thousand dol-
lars, and upon which he lived for fifteen
years. On disposing of this farm he bought
seventeen acres of land now within the
city limits of Geneseo, and there he has since
made his home.

Being a man of sound judgment, keen

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

37J

discernment and g-ood Inisiness al)ility. Mr.
O'Dav made considerable money during the
Civil war by taking advantage of the rise
in prices. He bought three thousand bushels
of corn for six cents per bushel, and after-
ward sold it for one dollar and ten cent.s
per bushel, investing the proceeds in a farm
of one hundred and sixty acres near Cam-
bridge. Half of this he subsequently sold
at a great profit. He put up two large ricks
of hay when it was practically worth noth-
ing, and before the close of the war he
shipped the same to St. Louis, where he re-
ceived fifty-five dollars per ton. He also
got a good price for his straw, fifty dollars
per ton. Hogs were then worth twelve dol- .
lars per hundred, live weight, and he dis-
iwsed of a herd of one hundred and fifty,
for which he received twenty-six hundred
dollars, selling the same to two men from
Chicago, who were packing pork to ship to
the West Indies.

Mr. O'Day has been twice married.
His first wife having died, he married, in
February, 1871, Miss Isabella McXally, who
was born in Port Lanone, county Derry,
Ireland, a daughter of Hugh and Isabella
(^ Carney; McXally, the former a native of
county Antrim, the latter of county London-
derry. Of their eight children only Mrs.
O'Day and Catherine came to the United
States, the latter being Mrs. Peter Heninan,
of Dwight, Illinois. The others died in Ire-
land.

The Republican party has always found
in Mr. O'Day a stanch supporter of its prin-
ciples, and he cast his last presidential vote
fur \\'iniam McKinley. Both he and his
wife are devuut members of the Catholic
Church, and are highly respected and es-
teemed by all who know them. Although
nearly ninety-five years of age, Mr. O'Day

still possesses an excellent memory and is
able to sing a number of old Irish Ijallads
with a voice that denotes the fact that in his
prime he must have been a splendid singer.
His life is a living illustration of what ability,
energy and force of character can accom-
plish, and to such men the west owes its
prosperity, its rapid progress and its ad-
vancement.

TOHX REDUS.

After many years of active labor as an
agriculturist this gentleman is now living
a retired hfe in Geneseo. He was born in
Holstein, Germany, on the 17th of Novem-
ber, 1837, and was seventeen years of age
when he came to the United States. His
parents, John and Johanna (Luren) Redus,
spent their entire lives in Germany, where
the father followed the blacksmith's trade,
and also conducted a country inn near Olden-
burg. He died at the age of seventy-two
vears, having survived the mother of our
subject some years. John is the oldest of
their three children. Henry entered the
cavalry service of his native land, and al-
though he took part in no war he died while
on garrison duty in the city of Schleswig.
when about twenty-three years of age. Eliza
is now the wife of a Mr. "Wolff and has
charge of the inn which her father con-
ducted during his life time. She was Iwrn
after our subject came to the United States-
and he has never seen her.

It was in 1854 that Mr. Redus crossed
the ocean and took up his residence in Dav-
enport, Iowa, where he worked for nearly
a year. In April, 1855, he came to Geneseo.
Illinois, and was employed in the city and
surrounding countrv until the Civil war

374

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lnoke out. Feeling- that his adopted country
needed his services he enHsted in Septem-
lier. 1861. for tiiree years, or during the
war. as a member of Company E. Forty-
third Tlhnois X'olunteer Infantry. He par-
ticipateel in tlie Ixittles.of Fort Henry, Fort
Donelson. Shiloh. Corinth and \'icksburg,
and also many skirmislies. He was dis-
charged from the Veteran Reserve Corps in
tlie city of Wasliington, Septeml)er 23,
18(14. and returned to his liome in Geneseo.
He resided there until the spring of 1867,
when he rented a farm and turned his atten-
tion to its operati<in. Later he purchased
land on section 2. Munson township, and t"
tliis eighty-acre tract he subsequently added
until he now has a fine farm of two hun-
dred acres, a part of which is on section 3.
He continued to actively engage in general
farming and stock raising until i8c;5, when
he returned to Geneseo and has since lived
a retired life at his present home on South
State street.

On the jjnd of January. 1 8(^)8. in iMun-
son township. Mr. Redus married Miss
INIaranda C. Goleanor. a native of Lebanon.
Indiana, and a daughter of David and Jane
(^ Smith) Goleanor. who dietl in Boone coun-
tv. that state, of which locality the father
was a prominent farmer. Of their eight
children four are still li\ing. Sexen chil-
dren blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs.
Redus, all born in ^lunsmi township, with
the exception of the two eldest, whose births
occurred in Geneseo township. They arci
as follows: Hattie. born .\o\-ember 13.
1868, is the wife of Edward Kla\-ohn. who
wons and operates one hundred and sixty
acres of land in Cornwall township, this
* county, and they have four children, Elmer,
1 lenry, Lewis and Re Roy. Annie L., born
January 19. 1870. is the wife of Fred Peter-

son, a farmer living on section 36, Geneseo
township, and they have one child, Florence
R. ]\Ialvina F.. born October 11, 1871. died
in Munson township, March i. 1890. Henry
\\'.. born April 28. 1873. married ^linnie
Saupe and lives on the home farm in Mun-
son township. Ernest D.. liorn June 21,
1875. aids in the work of the farm during
the summer season, and lives with his par-
ents in Geneseo during the winter months.
Cora, born January 5, 1879. died January
21, 1881. Elva L., born August 24. 1883,
is at home.

In politics Mr. Redus is independent;
and has ne\er taken a \ery active part in
public affairs, although he served as school
trustee and director for many years. He
i.- a supporter of the F'resbyterian Church,
of which his wife is a member, and he holds
membership in E. V. Jenkins Post, Xo. 452,
G. A. R. During his long residence in this
county he has made a host of warm friends,
and is highly respected and esteemed by all
who know him.

THOMAS WALKER.

Among the leading farmers and highly
respected citizens of Kewanee township is
Thomas \\'alker. whose home is on section
TQ. He was born near Hull. Yorkshire.
England, on the loth of December. 1833,
and is a son of Harison and Sarah ( Moore )
Walker, who spent their entire lives in that
country, the father being engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits. He was born July 23. 18 10.
and died July 16, 1883. while his wife was
born May 8, 1808, and died June 10, 1898.
In their family were seven children, all of
whom remained in England with exception
of our subject. Two are now deceased

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

375

John, who was born Xovember ii. 1842,
and died unmarried : and Edward, wlio was
born April 13. 1847, ^nd died at the age of
sixteen years. The others are Frank, who
was born August 26. 1837, and is unmar-
ried ; Phcebe. who was born Septeml^r 7,
1840, and is the wife of Henry Foster, of
Yorksliire. England ; William, wlio was born
April 2, 1845, a'lJ 's married; and Harriet,
who was born June 26, 1835, is now Mrs.
Z^IcBride. of Hull, England.

Thomas Walker grew to manhood in his
native land, but had no educational advan-
tages. With the hope of bettering his con-
dition in the new world, he crossed the At-
lantic, landing in Xew York on the iith
of January, 1854. It had taken him seven
years to save enough money to pay his pas-
sage. When he set foot on American soil
he hail but two dollars in his pocket, and by
tlie next morning only forty-seven cents re-
mained. Realizing the need of finding em-
ployment immediately, he set out on foot
for Xew Jersey. Meeting an old farmer on
the road, he told him his circumstances, and
was given two weeks board by that gentle-
man, who then hired him for ten dollars
per month. There he cradled grain, mowed
grass for the stock, and plowed corn with
a one-horse shovel plow. After eight months
devoted to such labor in Xew Jersey. Mr.
\\'alker came to Kewanee, Illinois, in Octo-
ber, 1854. at which time the village con-
tained only two general stores, the.se being
owned by the firms of Morse & Willard
and Tenney & Brother. Most of the sur-
rounding country was unbroken i)rairie,
and the Pratt form extended to the site of
the present Congregational church of Ke-
wanee. As there was no warehouse in the
place the grain for shipment was piled along
the side of the railroad track. Mr. Walker

at once became identified witii the agricul-
tural interests of the county, and in a few
years purchased eighty acres of land on sec-
tion 19, Kewanee township, paying for the
same seventeen hundred dollars. His wife
also owned eighty acres, making a good
farm of one iiundred and sixty acres, upon
which he still lives. He also has another
farm t)f one hundred and eighty-nine acres,
on which his son William now resides. He
makes a specialty of stock raising and feeds
most of the grain raised upon his place to
his stock.

January 20. 1856, Mr. Walker was mar-
rieil on his present farm to Mrs. Delia .\.
Folsom, a native of Xew York, who came
to Henry county in 1840 with her parents,
Samuel and Emma Lester Folsom. She was
one of a family of six children, of whom one
died in infancy. The others, Sylvester, Syl-
\ illian, William. Champley and Charles, are
al now deceased except Charles, who li\es
in Mineral. Bureau county. Illinois. Mrs.
Walker, who was an earnest and consistent
member of the Christian Church, died at
Kewanee, on the 31st of December. 1895.
leaving seven children, namely : ( i ) Will-
iam, born Xovember 13, 1856, a farmer,
living si.x miles north of Kewanee. married
Alice Bates and they have one child. Ray-
mond. (2) Henry, born October 24. 1858,
an engineer of Xew Mexico, married Emma
Hill, and they had two children. Carl, de-
ceased, and Jessie. (3) Matilda, born Jan-
uary 20, 1861. is the wife of A. P. Engles.
a resident of Rock Island, who is a fireman
on the Rock Island railroad running from
that city to \'alley Junction, and they have
one child, Mabel. (4) Sarah, born May
18, 1863, is the wife of John Archer, a
farmer of Burns township, this county, and
they have one child, Grace. (5) George.

!76

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born December 15, 1865. \vho is engaged
in the transfer business in Kewanee, mar-
ried Celia Carrins, and the}' have two chil-
dren, Orville and Hazel. (6) Myrtie, born
January 5, 1868, is the wife of William
Leonard, a fireman un the Rock Island
railroad and resident of Rock Island ; they
have one child. Paul. (7) Richard, born
October 15, 1870, who operates the home
farm, was maried in Burns township, Jan-
uary 18, 1894, to Lizzie Carwin. Air.
\\'alker is a member of the Christian
Church, and is highly respected and es-
teemed by all who know him. Looking
l.iackward through the vista of the past
we see a friendless young man who came
tf> the new world in search of home and for-
tune, and at present we see his ambitious
dreams realized, for he is in possession of a
handsome property. For the success that he
has achieved in life he deserves great credit
for it is due to his untiring labors, perse-
A-erance and good management.

THOMAS T. HAXXOX.

For many years Thomas T. Hannon was
actively identified with the agricultural in-
terests of this county, and having acquired
a handsome competence he is now able to
lay aside all business cares and spend the
sunset of his life in ease and retirement from
active labor at his pleasant home in Gene-
seo. Like many of our best citizens, he
comes from across tlie sea, his birth having
occurred in county Kerry, Ireland, Decem-
ber 24, 1823. His parents, Thomas and
Hannah (Ouilter) Hannon, were also na-
tives of the Emerald Isle. In the famih-
v.ere four sons and four daughters, all of

whom are now deceased with exception of
our subject. His brothers and sisters who
came to America were Mathew, who mar-
ried IMary Callahan, and made his home iia
CJeneseo, Illinois, and is now dead. Han-
nah, wife of Thomas Callahan, of Terre
IrTaute, Indiana; and Catherine, wife of
Timothy Carroll, of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Mr. Hannon grew to manhood in his na-
tive land, and in 1850 came to the United
States on a sailing vessel, which was five
weeks and three days in making the pas-
sage from Cork to New York. He first
located at Elizabethtown, Xew Jersey, where
he worked on a farm for four weeks,
and then went to Buffalo, X'ew York, where
he remained a short time while in the em-
ploy of the X'ew York & Erie Railroad
Company. In the fall of 1850 he went to
Strasburg, Ohio, near Cleveland, where he
worked for the railroad three years, and
subsequently made his home at Terre
Haute, Indiana, for four years.

Later Mr. Hannon conducted a store at
St. Marys, Indiana, and while there he was
married, July 2, 1853, to ]\Iiss Hannah Cro-
nin, also a native of county Kerry, Ireland,
who came to this country in 1850, sailing
from Cork and landing at Boston. Her
father, John Cronin, died in Ireland, but her
mother, who bore the maiden name of Ella
Scanlin, came to America and settled in In-
diana. She was accompanied by her chil-
dren, consisting of five sons and three
daughters, all of whom are now deceased
with the exception of Mrs. Hannon and
John, who married }tlary McCarthy and
lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Han-
non are as follows: (i) Thomas F., born
in Lacon, Illinois, December 19, 1856, mar-
ried Anna Collins and resides in Rock Isl-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

377

and. They liave two daugliters, Regina and
Blanche. (2) Mar}^ born in Peru, Illinois,
September 26, 1858, lives with her ])arents.
(3) Ellen, born September 27, i860, is the
wife of John Hughe.s, of North English,
■ Iowa. (4) Kate, born October 27, 1S62, is
the wife of Robert Summit, of Xorth Eng-
lish, Iowa, and they have fnur children,
Frank, Cirace, Thomas and .Mary. (5)
Mathew, lx)rn October 23. 1864, married
Catherine Boyle and resides on a farm in
Geneseo township, this county. They have
one child, Evaline. (6) Patrick, horn July
16, 1870, married Anna Weimer, and is en-
gaged in farming in the same tiuvnship.
They have one child, Adley. 1 7) William,
born .\pril 23, 1872, married Delia Weimer
and is a resident of Geneseo. They ha\e
one child, Raymond. (8) Lucy, horn
March i, 1874, is the wife of James Law-
ery, a farmer of Geneseo township. (9)
Edward, born December 24, 1875, married
Susie Oil and is engaged in farming in Gen-
eseo township.

On coming to Illinois, Mr. Hannon
spent two years in Peru, and then remo\ed
to Bureau county, where he was engagetl in
the grocery business for a time. Having
saved some money he purchased forty acres
of land in Geneseo township, Henry county,
to which he subsequently added tracts of one
hundred, twenty and eighty acres. This
was either raw prairie or swamp land when
it came into his possession, antl he kept a
skiff, in which he rowed over parts of his
farm shooting wild ducks. After tiling and
draining his place, he put it under excellent
cultivation, and iiad one of the best im-
proved farms in the locality. He continued
to actively engage in farming until 1896,
when he sold the place to his sons and re-
moved to Geneseo, where he bought a lot

and built a good residence. Here he is now
enjoying a well-earned rest. He is a man
of affluence and has provided for each mem-
ber of his family in a substantial manner.

In his political views I\Ir. Hannon is a
stanch Democrat, but has cared nothing
for public office, having served only as
school director. He and his family are de-
vout Catholics. While he has not sought
nor desired prominence in public life, he is
a man the weight of whose counsels has been
felt throughout his community, and he is
pre-eminently public-spirited, taking an ac-
ti\c interest in all that tends toward the ad-
vancement of his town anil county. His
faithful labors have won for him the ease
and comfort which should always follow
a well-spent and useful life. He is e.xceed-
ingly generous and is ever ready to relieve
the poor or distressed.

PHILIP SIIAXER.

The subject of this re\iew is one of the
oldest and most honored citizens of Henry
county, his home being on section zj, Weth-
ersfield township. Years of quiet useful-,
ness and a life in which the old fashioned
\-irtues of sobriety, industry and integrity
are exemplified have a simple beauty that
no words can portray. Youth has its
charms, but an honorable and honored old
age, t(j which the lenghtening years luu-e
added dignity and sweetness, has a brighter
radiance, as if some ray from the life beyond
already rested upon it.

Mr. Shaner was born in L\-coming coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, -Vpril 14, 18 14, and is a
son of Jacob Shaner, a native of Germany,
who came to America with his parents
when a young man of nineteen years and
settled in Pennsylvania, where he spent

378

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the remainder nt his life. He was married
near Philadelpliia. and reared his family
upon a farm.

On leaving the old homestead at the age
of seventeen vears. Philip Shaner went to
Cattaraugus county, Xew York, where he
worked upon a farm for a few years, anil
while there he was married January i8.
1S35. the lad\' of his choice being Miss Me-
Hnda Jackson, who was born near W'ilkea
Barre, Luzerne county. Pennsyhania. Jan-
uary 2. 1 81 8, a ilaughter of Cyrus and
Zeraviah (Winters) Jackson, but was reared
in Cattaraugus county, Xew York, whither
her parents removed when she was ([uite
young.

For a year or so after his marriage Mr.
Shaner engaged in farming upon rented
land in that county, and in 1838 came west by
team, the journey occupying about a month.
He located in what is now Stark county,
Illinois, where he engaged in farming for
about eight years, and in 1846 came to Henry
county and purchased eight)' acres of land
in Wethersheld township, on which was
erected a small frame house and stable. To
the further improvement and culti\ation of
his place he at once turned his attention, and
in his pioneer home experienced all the
hardships and privations of frontier life.
Prosperity at length crowned his well-di-
rected efTorts and he added to his original
purchase until he now has three hundred
and twenty acres of land in one body. He
has erected thereon two sets of good build-
ings, has planted shade and fruit trees, and
to-day has a \ery valuable anil wel-im-
proved farm. In his labors he has always
been aided and encouraged by his estimable
wife, and to their combined efiforts is due his
success, for he started out in life for him-
self without capital.

Mr. and Mrs. Shaner have lived to-
gether as man and wife for the long period
of sixty-six years, being the oldest married
couple in the county. They are the parents
of ten children, all of whom reached adult
age. namely : Mary became the wife of .\lex-
ander Johnson and died, leaving five chil-
dren: Sarah Jane married Draper Hitch-
cock and died, leaving one son : John is mar-
ried and lives in Nebraska; Charles is mar-
ried and carries on a part of the home farm ;
William is a resident of Kewanee; Eliza is
the wife of John Peterson, of W'ethersfield
township; Oliver is a farmer of the same
township: Washington is also a farmer of
this county : Electa is the wife of George
Paterson. of Wyoming. Stark county. Illi-
nois; and Albert is a farmer of Henry
county.

In 1840 Mr. Shaner voted for "Tippe-
canoe and Tyler, too." and continued to sup-
port the W big party until the organization
of the Republican party, when he joined its
ranks and has since been an earnest advocate
of its principles. He and his wife are con-
sistent and faithful members of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church and receive and
merit the liigh regard of the entire comnui-
nity in which they live. Although both have
passed the eightieth milestone on life's jour-
ney, they are still hale and hearty, and now
in the evening of life are surrounded l)y a
large circle of friends and acquaintances
who have for them unljounded respect.

ISAAC THORP.

The well-known farmer, residing on sec-
tion 7, Kewanee township. Henry county,
Illinois, is a native of Ohio, his birth having

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

379

occurred in Belpre townsliii), W'asliingtou
county, February i6, 183^. His father,
Moses Thorp, was born in Bedford, i'enn-
syivania, in 181 7, and came west in 1848
by steamlioat to Peoria, his destination being
Burns, IlHnois. By trade he was a cooper
but devoted the greater part of his hfe to
fanning, and on his arrival in tiiis county
settled on a farm in Burns township. Tlie
country at that time was nearly all wild
prairie and wild game was very plentiful,
prairie chickens even roosting upon trees
near the house. They endured all the hard-
ships and privations incident to pioneer life,
and in the development of the county they
bore an important part. The father died in
1880, and his wife passed away in 1870.
She bore the maiden name of Sarah Clark,
and was born in Ohio in 181 5.

In the family of this worthy couple were
eleven children, namely : ( i ) Hannah, now
a resident of Altoona, Jllinuis, has been three
times married, her first husband being Elias
Thrasker, the second Thomas Weeks and
the third a Mr. Foster. Her children are
Jane, Mira, Julia, Emma, Evelyn, Ada,
Rose and Elias. (J) Jonas, deceased,
served through the Civil war as a member
of the Si.xty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infan^
try. He married first Sarah Wybrough, by
whom she had three children, Emma, Will-
iam, and Elsie, and for his second wife mar-
ried Elliza Mort, now* a resident of Kewa-
nee, by whom she had the following chil-
dren, John, Edward, Cora, Sarah, Ger-
trude, Charles, Lewis, Maggie and Maud.
(3) Samuel, who was also a member of the
Sixty-fifth Illinois regiment, and is now a
resident of Burns township, this count)',
married Jane Mooney, and has one child,
Lillie. (4) Isaac, our subject, is next in or-
der of birth. (5) Sarah Ann is the widow

of Edwin Vincent and resides at Stromburg,
Nebraska, with her family, consisting of five
children, Albert, John, Frank. Hetlie and
Lottie. (6) Tact lb a re>i(lent ni llurns
township, this county, married Sarah Clark
and they have two children, Eugene and
Flora. (7) Mary died at the home of her
father, in Burns township. (8) Arthur,
deceased, married Loretta Folsoni, now a
resident of (Colorado, and they had three
children, Ernest, Ira and Asa. (9) Lydia
married Joseph Mooney, and they died,
leaving luur children, Sarah, Alice, Pearl
and Alva, now residents of Munson town-
ship. Henry county. (10) Frank, a resi-
dent of Decatur county, Iowa, married
Sarah \Vhitehouse and they have three chil-
dren, William, Cynthia and Thomas. (11)
Hettie is the wife of Robert Garland, of
Decatur count}-, Iowa, and they have si.x
children. Bertha, Elizabeth, Ethel, Pearl,

Harrison and .

Isaac Thorp was a lad of twelve years
on the removal of the family to Henry-
county, and amidst pioneer scenes he grew
to manhood. He remembers when the town
of \\'ethersfield had but one store, that o£
McClure & Penny, and the early settlers did
most of their trading at Peoria, while most
of the lumber was hauled by ox teams from
Chicago, it requiring one week to make the
trip. His father first rented a farm of Pat-
rick Neville, in Burns township, on which
a log house had been built, but later pur-
chased forty acres of land at the govern-
ment price of one dollar and a ijuartcr per
acre, but so rapidly did land rise in value
that the second year it was worth eight dol-
lars per acre, and is today worth eighty dol-
lars. Mr. Thorp entered the service of his
country during the dark days of the Rebel-
lion, and served for seven months in the

38o

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Illinois Infantry. In 1879 he purchased
forty acres of land in Kewanee township,
for which he paid fifteen hundred dollars,
and to its improvement and cultivation he
has since devoted his energies. As time
has passed he has prospered in his labors,
and has added to his landed possessions
from time to time until he now has one hun-
dred acres. He is a supporter of the Re-
publican party, but has never cared for po-
litical honors, preferring to give his entire
attention to his business interests.

On the 27th of February, 1861, in Burns
township, was celebrated the marriage of
Mr. Thorp and Miss Eliza Adams, a daugh-
ter of Charles and Mary Ann (Sims)
Adams. The father, who was a native of
Xew Jersey and a farmer by occupation,
came to Kewanee with. his family in 185::.
Of his twelve children, Rhoda, Jano. Maiy
Ji.., John, Martin, Caroline, Samuel and
Harriet, are all now deceased. John desert-
ed the Rebel army and joined the Union
iorces during the Civil war; Martin was a
jnember of the Missouri Volunteer Cavalry;
and Samuel of the One Hundred and Twen-
ty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Those
of the family now living are as follows : ( i )
James, a resident of Weiser, Idaho, mar-
ried Ellen Clark, and they have six children,
Elias, Charles, James, Madison, Ida and
Xora. {2) Eliza, wife of our subject, is the
next of the family. (3) Lucy is the wife of
Alonzo Collins, of Geneseo, Illinois, and
their children are Alfreta, Carrie, Lee,
Wealthy, Annetta, Edith, Clyde, Addie.
;Mary, Kate, Harry, Grover and John. (4)
Louisa married first William Kiser, of Ke
wanee, by whom she had two children, Sam-
uel and Clara, and for her second husband
married John Wolf, by whom she had four
children, Robert, Bertha. Xellie and Minnie.

(5) Joseph, a resident of Bureau county.

lilinois, was also a member of the One Hun
dred and Twenty-fourth Illinois regiment
cUiring the Civil war. He married Wait-
still \\'ilsey (known as Dot), and they have
six children, Roxey, William. Frank, Hat-
tie, Agnes and Grover.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thorp have been
born nine children : ( i ) ^lary, born June
24, 1862, is the wife of Oran De Witt, who
lives near Arispee, Iowa, and they have two
children, ^Myrle and Oma. Samuel, born
January 11, 1864, is a carpenter of Kewa-
nee. He married Lena Whetzig, and they
have two children, Mabel and Lloyd. (3)
John, born December 4, 1865, is represented
on another page of this volume. (4)
Stella, born April 6, 1868, has been three
times married, her first husband being Grant
\\'illiamson, the second Charles Kern, and
the third Robert Wolf, a resident of Burns
township. Her son Clifford resides with
our subject. (5) Carrie, born June 14, 1871,
is the wife of William Carter, of Lahonta,
Colorado, and they have three children,
Etha, Emmet and Helen. (6) Xellie. born
July 13, 1874, is the wife of Charles Buftat,
of Kewanee, and they have one child, Hazel.
(7) Xorman, born July 9, 1877, married
Emma Whetzig and lives in Kewanee. (8)
Xora, born February 16, 1880, died May
10, 1880, and was buried in Burns township.
(9) Jessie, born July 9, 1881, resides in
Kewanee.

JOHX THORP.

John Thorp is one of the energetic and
progressive farmers of Kewanee township,
V. here he is now successfully engaged in the
operation of one hundred and sixty acres of

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

381

land, wliich he has placed under a high state
•of cultivation. His entire life lias heen spent
in Henry county and he is indebted to its
district schools for his educational privi-
leges. He was lx)rn in Burns township, De-
ceml)er 4, 1865, a son of Isaac and Eliza
(Adams) Thorp, whose sketch rqipears
elsewhere in this work.

May II. 1890. Mr. Tiinri) was united in
Jiiarriage with Miss Hattie Williamson, of
Kewanee. Her father. Chester William
son, was horn and reared in \ew ^"ork state
and there married Miss Electa Jane Rogers.
They came to Illinois at an early date and
took up their residence in a log cabin on a
farm in Bureau county. Mrs. Williamson
is still a resident of that comity, but her hus-
band died there in April. i89(;. Their fam-
ily numbered ten children, namely: Lafay-
ette, who died leaving a family living in
Oregon; Seymour, a resident of Iowa, who
married Melissa Hackett, and has four chil-
dren, Gertrude, Roy, Blanch and an infant;
Sarah, a resident of Iowa and widow of
Samuel Keppler, by whom she four ciiil-
dren, Josie, ^ilaud, Tillie and Cecil ; Par-
don, deceased, who resided in Oregon, but
was buried in Kewanee; Lousetta, wife of
Frank Lewis, of Kickaixxi, Peori.i count}-.
Illinois, by whom she has fi\e children. Mav,
Ira, Elmer, Fred and Eddie: (iilbert, a resi-
dent of Bureau county, Illinois, who mar
ried Augusta Knight and has five children.
Nellie, Myrtle, Knight, May and Ray;
Grant, deceased, who married Stella Thorp,
now a resident of Burns township, by whom
he had one child, Clifford ; Chester, who
died unmarried in Bureau county, in July.
1900; Hattie, wife of our subject, and Effie,
who died unmarried in Bureau county in
May, 1900.

To Mr. and Mrs. Thorp were born four

children, Blanch, Ruby. Roy and Xora, but
Roy and Nora are now deceased. Mr. Thorp
casts his ballot with the Republican party
and has efficienth' served as school director
in his district. Socially he is a member of
the Modern W^oodmen of America, and is
one of the most highly esteemed citizens of
bis community.

GEORGE W. FERGUSON.

Success is determined 1)\- one's abilitv
to recognize opportunity, and to pursue this
with a resolute and unflagging energy. It
results from continued labor, and the man
who thus accomplishes his purpose usually
becomes an important factor in the business
circles of the community with which he
is connected. Through such means Mr.
I'erguson has attained a leading place
among the substantial citizens of Western
township, his home being on section 11. He
was born near Quincy, Adams county, Illi-
nois, June 18, 1847, :"id is the son of Rob-
ert G. and Nancy (^WilsonJ Ferguson, the
former a native of Ohio, born near Steuben-
\ille, Jefferson county, the latter part of
December, 18 15, and the latter at Chelsea,
hve miles from Boston, Massachusetts, De-
cember 13, 1825.

When a young man Robert G. Ferguson
left his native state and came to Illinois,
becoming one of the pioneers of Adams
county. He there married Nancy Wilson, '
daughter of Benjamin and ilary (Webster)
Wilson, pioneers of Adams county, locating
there in 1836, when their daughter was but
eleven years of age. For some years after
their marriage, Mr. Ferguson engaged in
farming in Adams county, but in 1850 he
made an overland trip to California, and

382

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

after working in the mines of that state
for about ten months he returned to Illi-
nois by way of the Isthmus of Panama and
New Orleans. After his return he followed
farming in Adams county until 1863, when
he removed to Henry county and purchased
a farm of two hundred and forty acres on
section 1 1 , Western township, where our
subject now resides. This place he improved
and operated until called to his final rest,
October 10, 1869, at the age of fifty-three
3'ears. His widow survives him and makes
her home with our subject. He was a mem-
ber of the Free Will Baptist Church. In
politics he was first a Whig and later a Re-
publican. As road commissioner he as-
sisted in laying out the roads in an early
day.

In the public schools of Adams county,
and in Prairie Academy, at Orion, George
W. Ferguson was educated, and after the
death of his father he took charge of the
farm and business, and has since added to
the original farm until he now has four
hundred acres, which he has converted into
one of the best improved places of the town-
ship. He has erected a large and pleasant
residence, two barns and other outbuildings,
has set out fruit and shade trees, and has
a most attractive country home. Besides
his valuable property he owns another well-
improved farm of two hundred and forty-
seven acres on section 4, Western township.
He has always given considerable attention
to the raising and feeding of stock for mar-
ket, and annually ships from six to eight
carloads of cattle and hogs. As a farmer
and stock raiser he has been eminently suc-
cessful, but has not confined his attention
alone to these industries. On the re-or-
ganization of the Farmers Bank of Orion
he became a stockholder and was elected

president of what is now one of the most
substantial financial institutions in the coun-
ty and not a little of its success is due tO'
his business ability and sound judgment, as
he is one of the ablest financiers of his com-
munity. He was one of the charter mem-
bers of the Osco, \\'estern and Rural
I\Iutual Insurance Company, and at its or-
ganization was elected one of its directors
and treasurer of the same. He has not
missed a meeting of the board since its
organization, and it is not too much to say-
that much of its success is due to him. In
1897 he was one of the promoters of the
Western Telephone Company, which has-
an instrument in nearly every home in
Western township.

In Osco township, Henry county. Mr.
Ferguson was married, January 20. 187J,
to Miss Inez E. Hitchcock, a native of
Fulton county, Illinois, and a daughter of
Walker L. Hitchcock, who came to this
state at an early day and finally located in
Henry county. By this union were born six
children as follows : Grace, wife of 'SI. I-.
Love, a farmer living near Orion ; Roy T.,
who assists in the operation of one of his
father's farms; Helen M.. now a student at
Knox College, Galesburg; Harry, who is
attending the high school in that city ; and
PTarriet and Alice, both at home.

Politically Mr. Ferguson has been iden-
tified with the Republican party since cast-
ing his first presidential vote for General
U. S. Grant, and has ever taken an active
interest in political affairs, though he has
never sought office. For some years,
however, he efificiently served on the school
board, and has always been a friend of
education. With the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Orion he and his wife hold mem-
bership, and in social circles of tiie com-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

383

munity tliey occupy an enviable position.
His strict integrity and honoral)le dealing
in business commend bim to tbe confidence
of all; his pleasant manner wins him
friends and he is one of the popular and
lionored citizens of the section of the
•county.

P. H. NEVILLE.

The subject of this sketch is one of the
most prosperous farmers and stock raisers
of Burns township, as well as one of its
most popular and influential citizens. He
was Ijorn near his present home, Xovem-
l)er II. 1848, his j)arents being Patrick and
Jane (Pounds) Xeville. the former a na-
tive of Ireland, tbe latter of Pennsyl\-ania.
In 1833, when about twenty-two years of
age, the father emigrated to the new world
and spent some time in Baltimore, Mary-
land, and from that state removed to Illinois
prior to 1835. In early life be was vari-
ously employed, hut afterwards be turned
his attention to agricultural pursuits. He
jnirchased one iiundred and sixty acres of
government land on the southwest quarter
of section 24, Burns township, Henry coun-
ty, and to its cultivation and improvement
■devoted the remainder of his life. He owned
one hundred and seventy acres of land at
the time of his death, which occurred in
April, 1849. He was one of tlie earliest
settlers of this county, and was a man hon-
ored and esteemed by all who knew him.
His wife long survived bim and died at tbe
home of our subject. February 14, 1897.
Their children were T. P., a resident of
Stewart Iowa; J. L., of Republic county,
Kansas; P. H.. of this review; and W. A.,
of Kewanee. Illinois.

Our subject attended the public schools
if this county and grew to manhood uix)n the
home farm. On reaching maturity he
took charge of the family affairs and cared
for his mother until her death. Through-
out his active business life be has followed
farming and stock raising extensively,
and now feeds about one hundred and fifty
head of cattle and alxnit five hundred hogs
per year. He ships his own stock to the
city markets. In business affairs he is
energetic and progressive, and has met with
most excellent success. He is now the
owner of seven hundred and ten acres of
valuable farming land, whicb is under a
high state of cultivation and improved
with good buildings. He has been one of
the directors and stockholders of tbe Ke-
wanee National Bank since its organiza-
tion.

On the 31st of August, 1886, Mr. Ne-
ville was united in marriage with Miss
Frances Ann Tossell, a native of Devon-
shire, England, and a daughter of Thomas
and Grace (Berry) Tossell. Her father is
still a resident of that country, but her
mother is now deceased. Of the four chil-
dren lx)rn to Mr. and Mrs. Neville, the eld-
est, George Henry, is deceased. Those
living are Nora Edna, born November 26,
1889; Florence E., May 16, 1891; and
Olive Myrtle, March 8, 1896.

Fraternally Mr. Neville is a member of
tbe Knights of Pythias, and politically is a
stanch supporter of the Republican party.
For over twenty years he has served as
school director in his district ; filled tiie of-
fice of assessor two years; and is at present
supervisor of his township, to which re-
sponsible position he was elected in 1899.
He is connected with the Kewanee District
Agricultural Fair .'\ssociation. and takes

384

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

considerable interest in the agricultural ex-
liibits of the county. He was one of the
organizers of the fair and has for the past
two years been director and has every year
had some official position. He is puljlic-
spirited and progressive, and gives a cheer-
ful support to all enterprises calculated to
advance the interests of his community along
any line.

DAVID M. MARTIN.

Throughout iiis business career this
gentleman has been identified with the ag-
ricultural interests of Henry Cdunty, and
is now successfully engaged in general
farming and stock raising on section 5, Ke-
wanee township. He was born in Phila-
delphia, Pennsylvania, on the i8th of Feb-
ruary, 1862, and was only a few weeks old
when brought to this country by his par-
ents, Joseph and Mary Ann Martin, natives
of Ireland, mIio emigrated to America in
1856, landing in Philadelphia. On the
Emerald Isle the father had followed carpet
weaving and continued to carry on that
business during his residence in Phila-
delphia, but in this county he engaged in
farming. Plis death occurred in Cornwall
township on the 7th of July, 1892, but his
wife is still living and continues to reside
there. They were the parents of nine chil-
dren, namely: (i) Robert died in Annawan
township, in January, 1869. (2) Eliza is
the wife of A. S. Cosner, a farmer of Corn-
wall township, and they have one child,
Sarah, now the wife of Mart Farnum.
(3) John, a resident of Burns township,
married Luella Potter and they have two
children, Marion and Elsie. (4) Joseph,
who is engaged in the stock business in Ke-

wanee, married Hulda Dunmyer, and they
had two children. Clair and Carl, deceased.
(5) David M., our subject, is next in order
of birth. (6) Samuel, a farmer and stock
raiser of Annawan township, married Alice
Wright, and they have five children, Leah,
Wilbur, Ehncr and Roy. and an infant son.
(7) George, who is engaged in the cream-
ery business in this county, married Ella
Girkin. and they have two children, Arthur
and Earl. (8) Mary Jane died in Burns
township in 1862.

The father of t)ur subject was one of a.
family of seven children, tiie others being
as follows: (2) John was married in Ireland
to Elizabeth McKrell and on coming to
this country settled on a farm in Burns
township, Henry county, Illinois. He died
in October. 1899. lea\ing five children,
Hugh, Robert, John. William J. and Sarah
J. (3) Hugh, a retired farmer of Kewanee,
married Jane Graham and has five children,.
Henry, Anna, Robert, Da\id and Mary.
(4) Robert, a retired farmer of Cliarles
City, Fhiyd county, Iowa, married Belle
Anderson, and they have eight children,
George, Anna, Hugh, Albert, Jennie, David,
William and Samuel. (5) Samuel, a
farmer, who died in 1898, married Kate-
Walker, now a resident of Eldora, Iowa,
and they had five children, Wallace, Harry,
William, Charles and Effie. (6) William,
unmarried, was a soldier of the Civil war
and died in the ser\-ice at Cairo, Illinois.
(7) Mary Ann wedded Hugh Hawthorn,
of Wethersfield, and died in Galesburg, Illi-
nois, in 1877, leaving six children. Eliza-
beth, Robert, Martin FI., David, Anna and
James.

Mr. ?^Iartin, wlmse name introduces this
review, was reared upon a farm and ac-
quired his early education in the district

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

385

scliools, l)ut in 1876 went to Iowa, wliere lie
completed his studies, returning home in
1882. He then commenced farming in
Iiurns township, hut a year later removed
to Ciirnwall township. He suhsequently
spent another year in Burns township, and
at the end of that time returned to Corn-
wall township, where he made his home for
thirteen years. Since then he has been a
resident of Kewanee township. In 1894 he
purchased a good farm of one hundred and
si.xty acres in Cornwall township, which
lit still owns. In connection with general
farming he is still engaged in raising stock
for market, and as he thoroughly imder-
stands his chosen calling he is meeting witli
marked success in his undertakings.

On the 23d of February, 1888, in Burns
township. Mr. Martin married Miss Sarah
C. Anderson. Her father, David Anderson,
was born in Ireland, in 1818, and came to
America with his parents, locating on a farm
in Ohio. There he married Sarah Hen-
derson, and shortly afterward remo\-ed to
Wisconsin, but after a year spent in that
state he came to Henry county, Illinois, and
made his home on a farm in Burns town-
ship throughout the remainder of his life,
dying there May 18, 1895. His widow is
still residing ujjon that place. In their fam-
ily were seven children, namely : ( 1 ) ^laggie
is the wife of Samuel Warner, of Burns
township, and they have four children, Burt,
Lartie, Margaret and Lowell. (2) George,
a farmer of Burns township, married Esther
Corkrell, of Kewanee, and they have two
children, David and Lolla. ( t,) Mamie
died in 1867. (4) Sarah C.. wife of our
subject, is next in order of l)irth. (5)
Ollie Belle is the wife of Ernest Couve, a
farmer of Burns township. ( 6 ) Mary is the
wife of \\'illiam Rol)Son. a farmer and stuck

raiser of Burns township, and they have one
child, Wilbur. (7) Albert lives on the home
farm with his mother.

Since casting his first presidential vote
for Grover Cleveland, Mr. Martin has affil-
iated with the Democratic party, but has
never sought nt)r desired public office,
though as a pul)lic-spirited and progressive
citizen he takes a deep and commendable
interest in public affairs and gives his sup-
port to all enterprises for the good of the
community. Airs. Martin is a member of
the Presbyterian Church.

DANIEL SELXER.

Among the practical and progressive ag-
riculturists of Edford township is this gen-
tleman, who resides on section 36. He was
born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on the
2ist of May, 1842, and is a son of John and
^Margaret (Yothers) Seiner, both of whom
were Dunkards. The father, who was a
native of Germany, came to the L'nited
States at an early date and settled in Bucks
county, Pennsyhania, where he engaged in
farming throughout the remainder of his
life. He died in 1856, at the age of fifty-
tv,'o years, honored and respected by all who
knew him. J lis wife, who was born in
Pennsylvania, of German parentage, sur-
\-i\ed him ior some years, dying in Bucks
county in 1882, at the ripe old age of
enty-eiglit. This worthy couple were the
jjarents of seven children, namely: Alary
Ann, deceased wife of Richard Corson, a
carpenter of Bucks county; Elizabeth, wife
of Isaac Wolfe, a farmer of the same coun-
ty : Hiram, a farmer of Bucks county, who
died at the age of about fifty years; Bar-

386

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

iwra, wife of James Flack, a carpenter and
contractor of Bucks county; Wilhelmina,
wife of Henderson Van Pelt, a farmer of
Maryland; Daniel, our subject; and 'Cath-
erine, widow of Alfred Boileau, a merchant
of Southampton, Pennsylvania.

During his boyhood and youth Daniel
Seiner attended the public schools of Bucks
county, Pennsylvania, and remained at the
place of his birth until 1865. In the mean-
time the Civil war broke out, and he enlisted
in July, 1864, in Company D, Thirty-first
Pennsylvania Volunteer State ^lilitia, and
was honorabh- discharged at Philadelphia,
in July of that year. Returning home, he
remained on the farm until the following
spring, and then came west, locating in
Geneseo township, Henry county, Illinois,
where he engaged in farming upon rented
land for eleven years. His first purchase
consisted of eighty acres of land on section
31, that township, where he made his home
for nine years, and then operated a rented
farm of eighty acres for the same length
of time. In 1894 he bought eighty acres of
land on section 36, Edford township, and
to its development and cultivation has since
devoted his energies with marked success.
He has made all the improvements oi: the
place, and its neat and thrifty appearance
plainly indicates his careful supervision.

At Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Mr. Seiner
was married September 19, 1864, the lady
of his choice being Miss Annie ^I. Brown,
also a native of the Keystone state, and a
daughter of George and Maria (Closson)
Brown. The father, who was a retired
farmer, died in Bucks county, Pennsylvania.
To ^Ir. and Mrs. Seiner were born three
children, namely: Jennie, born in Osco
township, this county, is now the wife of
Frank L. Butler, who is engaged in the

creamery and poultry business in Geneseo.
Kate married William Frank, of Geneseo,
a son of Jacob Frank, and is now a farmer
of Alabama, and she died leaving one child,
Leonard Ray, who resides with our subject.
Arthur Bertram, born in Geneseo township,
is now twenty-four years of age and assists
his father in the operation of the home farm.

JAMES S. HADSALL.

Burns township has no more honored
or highly esteemed citizen than James S.
Hadsall, whose home is on section 34. He
was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania,
September 26, 1822. His ancestry were
of English descent and among the very
earliest settlers of the Wyoming valley,
owning a large tract of land at the mouth
of Sutton's creek, four miles up the Susc|ue-
hanna river from the head of the \\'yoming
valley. There his great-grandfather, to-
gether with his negro servant, was killed by
the Indians while hoeing corn, in 177.6, the
da\' before the Wyoming massacre. His
brothers, Stephen and John Hadsall, were
serving in the Colonial army and were then
located at Wyoming, where they were cap-
tured by the Indians, but their lives were
saved by reprie\'e. To Stephen was al-
l()tted the task of carrying a keg of paint
to Connecticut, it being used to paint the
reprieved prisoners every morning.

Edward Hadsall, the grandfather of our
subject, removed from Connecticut to the
\\'yoming valley prior to the massacre, but
fortunately was away when that terrible
crime was committed, having gone to Xew
England for some cattle. Subsequently he
returned and made his home on the original

J. S. HADSALL.

UNIVERSlit OF ILLiNOiS
URBANA

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

389

Hadsall farm at the iiioutli nf Suttmi's
creek until 1803, when he sold his jJrDperty
there an<l with other members of the family
removeil to ]\rartiiisville, Oliio, jitst across
the ri\er from W'heeliiii;'. where lie spent
the remainder of his life. He was twice
married and reared a lar^e family. By his
lirst union he had three sons: James, Ed-
ward and lienjamin. Tiie latter came west
a! an early day and built the tirst tavern in
Rock Island, Illinois, at which place he later
erecteil a large hotel. By profession he was
a physician. After his wife's death he went
to Calil\)rnia and there died.

James Hadsall, our subject's father, was
born in E.xeter township, Pennsylvania,
^ larch _'0, 1787, and spent his early life in
the Wyoming valley, ^\'hen his father re-
mo\-ed to Ohio, he remained in Pennsyl-
vania, being engaged in farming in Luzerne
county. On the 4th of February, 1810, he
niarried ]\liss Elizabeth Smith, who w-as
born in Connecticut, December 29, I795>
and died in 1885. His death occurred the
same year. All of their fourteen children
w ere born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania.
The tW'O eldest died in infancy. Edward,
born January 26, 1813, married Jane Dia-
mond, of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania,
and in 1856 removed to Michigan, where
he now resides.

In the county of his nativity James S.
Hadsall grew to manhood, and after com-
pleting bis education in the local schools he
learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol-
lowed until i8y6. In 1852 he first canie
to Henry county, Illinois, and entered the
Miuthwest quarter of section 34, Burns
township, but spent the following four
years in Pennsylvania, locating permanently
here in 1856. In connection with farming
he has engaged in contracting and building,

and has also operated a coal bank located on
the southern part of his farm. He first dis-
covered coal and opened up his first bank in
1857, since which time he has worked the
mines, and at times has employed as many
as twenty men. He has done a large amount
of building in liurns and adjoining town-
ships, as well as in .\el)raska and L.nva, and
has built many bridges in this and other
It.icalities. This w as bis principal occupation
during the summer months, during which
time he emjjloyed from four to eight men.
He has thoroughly improved the home farm,
and also owned a farm in Saunders county,
Xebraska, that he later gave to his daughter.

Mr. Hadsall was married January 13,
1848, in New Trov, now Wyoming, Penn-
sylvania, to Miss Malinda Brace, wdiose
parents, William rmd Anna (Munson)
Brace, were natives of New York state.
l-"ive children were born to this imion : ]Me-
dora, who died in infancy; Anna E., wife of
Edgar Kimerling, of Xebraska; Henry,
who was born September 2t„ 1855, and was
killed by falling from a Iniilding December
3, 1882; one who died in infancy; and
Smith, a farmer of Burns township, wdio
was born September 12, i860, and married
Julia Zeigler, of Kewanee.

During the Civil war ^Ir. Hadsall en-
listed in the spring of 1864, in the One
Hundred and Thirty-fourth Illinois Volun-
teer Infantry, being mustered into the
United States service at Chicago. He was
honorably discharged in the fall of the same
year and is now a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic. He is also connected
with the ^Masonic fraternity. • He cast his
first presidential vote for Henry Clay and
supported the \\'big party until the organiza-
tion of the Republican party, with which
he has since been identified. Since coming

39°

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Henry ccmiity he l.as taken an active and
prominent part in public affairs, and has
been honored with several local offices, hav-
ing served as school trustee and director
and commissioner of highways. In i860
he was first elected justice of the peace,
which position he creditably filled for six-
teen years and then declined to longer
serve. He was appointed postmaster of
Hawley, June 16, 1879. and filled the office
for the long period of twenty-two 3'ears to
the entire satisfaction of all concerned. .

AUGUST WALTERS.

Residing on section 2, Burns township,
is one of the representative German- Ameri-
can citizens of Henry count}-. He was born
in Prussia, Germany, on the 2d of October,
1824, his parents being Martin and Hannah
(\\'ithaus) Walters, also natives of Prussia,
where they spent their entire li\es. In their
family were five children. Our subject had
one brother who came to America but after-
ward returned to the fatherland, and a sister
who became a resident of Michigan, where
her death occurred.

During his boyhood Air. \\'alters at-
tended the public schools of his native land,
and continued to live in the land of his birth
until after reaching man's estate. There
he was married March 31, 1850, to Miss Au-
gusta \\'olgost. who was also born in Prus-
sia, July 16, 1825. In 1857 *^'^^3' came to the
United States, taking passage at Bremen on
the Augusta, which after a pleasant voyage
of six weeks dropped anchor in the harbor of
New York. By way of Chicago Mr. \\'al-
ters came direct to Kewanee, Illinois, where
he was employed at general labor for a

time. In 1861 he made his first purchase of
land, but the tract was unbroken and covered
with brush; four year later he added to it
forty acres of timber land. He cleared and
placed under cultivation the entire tract witlj
exception of five acres, and in 1869 traded
it for eightv acres of improved land on sec-
tion 3, Burns township, to which he subse-
quently added another eight}' acres on sec-
tion 2. He still owns the latter tract and to
its cultivation and further improvement is
now devoting his time and attention. He is
also engaged in stock raising.

]\Ir. and ]\Irs. Walters became the par-
ents of six children : August F., born in
Germany, Feliruary 20, 1851, married Hel-
ena Spengel and is engaged in farming; two
others, both of whom were born in Ger-
many, died in infancy; Amelia, born in Ke-
wanee, Illinois, November 18. 1858, is the
wife of W. F. Berg, a native of Germany,
and a farmer of Burns township, living
with our subject; they have three children.
Carl, Hulda and ^^'illian■l; Carl, born Oc-
tober 2, i860, died from the eff'ects of a
sunstroke and was buried in Cosner ceme-
tery ; and Lizzie died in Kewanee and was
buried at \\'ethersfield.

Politically Mr. ^^'alters is identified with
the Republican party, and for two years he
capably filled the cfiice of pathmaster in his
township. Religiously he and his wife are
Ijoth members of the Gerinan Lutheran
Church, and are highly respected and es-
teemed 1.1V all who kn<nv them.

:\IRS. JULI.V E. DUNHAM.

One of the well-known and highlv es-
teemed ladies of Geneseo, Illinois, is Mrs.
Julia E. Dunham, who was born in Char-
don. Ohio, December 8, iS^;, and is a

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

39'

I'uUighter of Erastus and Xaiicy ( DiinniDck)
Foot, botli natives of Stafifonl. Connecti-
cut, tlie former born July ^5, 1794. the lat-
ter August 15. 1801. Her maternal grand-
father. Amzi Dimmock, was chajjlain of a
regiment in Washington's army dtning the
Revolutionary war, and returned to his home
bare-footed and penniless when hostilities
ceased. Mrs. Dunham's parents were mar-
ried at their birth place. June 10. iSji. and
eight children blessed their union, namely:
Eliza X. married James Current, and died
on Christmas day. 1870, in I'ainesville.
Ohio. Her liusband died in Cle\eland. that
P state. His son Warren is now chief clerk
in the United States railway jwstal service.
Sophronia M. married Daniel Warner, and
died in Osco township, while here on a visit,
October 20, 1888, having survived her hus-
band some years. Francis E. married Har-
riet Eldridge and lives in Munson. Ohio.
Martha J. married Harding Stoughton and
died in Osco, this county, in 1892, while
her husband died in 1890. Wealthy C. is
the wife of John Folder, of Rock Creek,
Ohio. Cyrus S. married Catherine Potter,
now a resident of ^lenlow, Iowa, and he
was killed by a cannon ball at the battle of
Knoxville, Tennessee, November 18, 1863.
Julia E. died at the age of sixteen years.
Julia E. (second) completes the family.

Reared in Chardon, Ohio, Mrs. Dun-
ham acquired her education in its public
schools. On the i8th of August, 1863, she
gave her hand in marriage to Addison A.
Dunham, who was a native of Union City,
Erie county, Pennsylvania, who was born
February 5, 1844, a son of George and Cath-
erine (Wilson) Dunham, natives of the
Buckeye state. He was one of a family of
eight children, the others being Sidney, a
resident of Union Citv. PennsvKania;

Adolphus. who died at the age of eighteen
years ; Charles, an oil merchant of Sisters-
ville. Ohio; Samuel, a resident of the same-
place; Henry, of Warren, Pennsylvania;
\\'illiam, who died at the age of five years;
and Lilly, wife of Frank Zinn, Sistersville,
Ohio.

During the Civil war Mr. Dunham en-
listed at L^nion City, Erie county, Pennsyl-
A'ania. in Company L. Twelfth IV-nnsyhanin
C'avalry, and was discharged at Piiiladel-
pbia, June 20, 1862, on account of disabil-
itv. He never recovered from the effects of
h.is military service, and died February 24,,
1 87 1, at the age of twenty-seven years, from
illness contracted shortly after his enlist-
ment. He was engaged in the Hour and
feed business in Union City. He was rive-
feet, seven and a half inches in heigiit. and
of dark complexion, gray eyes and dark hair,
and as a man was highly respected and es-
teemed by all who knew him.

In 1871, after her husband's death, Mrs.
Dunham same to Henry county, Illinois, and
located on a farm in Osco township, where,
she made her home until 1890. Since then
she has resided in (ieneseo. In the man-
agement of her affairs she has displayed
excellent business and executi\e ability, ruid
those won-ianly qualities which have en-
deared her to all. She is a member of Col-
onel Galligan Circle of the Grand Army of
the Republic, and is an active and faithful
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and Aid Societ}'.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dunham were born
three children, namely : (, i ) William, born
November 11, 1864, died January 22. 1896.
(2) Warren, born September 26, 1866, is
a farmer of Geneseo township, and a mem-
ber of Eutopia Lodge, No 312. K. P.. of
Geneseo. He was married laiuiarv 2, 1N94-

392

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to iliss Lotta Lewis, who was born Feb-
ruary 12. 1873, ^"t' is the only child of
Aliram and !Mary (Reese) Lewis, natives of
01ii(i and Illinois, respectively. By this
union tliere are two children : Blanch, born
February i. 1895. and \\'illiam. bom Oc-
tober 6, 1899. (3) Nettie, the youngest
child of our subject, was lx>rn November 7.
1870, and died ^lay 15. 1871.

ELIJAH STOREY.

The stock raising interests of Henr\'
county find in Mr. Storey a worthy repre-
sentative. He has owned some of the most
noted animals in this section of the state,
and in his chosen line of occupation has been
eminently successful. He was born in Ke-
wanee on the 29th of October, 1851, and
belongs to one of the honored pioneer fam-
ilies of the county. His father, janus Sto-
rey, was born in Oneida county. New York.
jMarch 18, 1828, and attended the common
schools of that locality. At the age of twelve
years he removed to Canada with his par-
ents, Elijah and Louise (^Vheeler) Storey,
also natives of Oneida county, New York.
While in Canada the father of our subject
worked for a man who was in the emplo}- of
the English government as Indian agent and
trader, and remained with him until se\en-
teen years of age. Two years later he came
with his parents to Illinois, reaching Ke-
v.-anee on the 23d of July. 1S47. Here his
father died in 1850, and his mother passed
away soon afterwards. Her parents were
natives of Dutchess county. New York, and
spent their lives in that state. The paternal
greatgrandparents of our subject were also
born in this country.

On coming to Henry county, Jarius
Storey entered forty acres of land on sec-

tion 4, Kewanee township, and later entered
two other forty-acre tracts. At that time
there was not a single building on the present
site of Kewanee, it being covered with tall
prairie grass. A few Indians were still en-
camped here, and deer and other wild game
was plentiful. About four times a year i[r.
Storey would go either to Peru or La Salle,
on the Illinois river, to obtain provisions,
these being the nearest market places at that
time. In those early days he cut all his grain
with a cradle and threshed it with a flail.
Throughout life he has successfully engaged
in farming and is still living on the land
which he entered from the government. He
was married in Kewanee, in 1850, to ^Miss
Nancy Dingman, who was born in Canada,
and came to this county with her parents in
1849. They were also natives of that coun-
try and had eleven children, of whom Mrs.
Storey was seventh in order of birth. The
others were as follows : ( i ) Mary, wedded
James Bradford, a blacksmith of Annawan,
who during the Civil war enlisted in the
One Hundred and T went}'- fourth Illinois
Regiment, but was confined in the hospital
at Indianapolis during the most of his ser-
vice. He and his wife died, leaving three
children, Lucy, Lovina and Josephus. (2)
David, a farmer by occupation, married
Mary Showers, of Kewanee, and moved to
Kansas, where both died, leaving a family.
(3) William married a Miss Hodge, and
they died, leaving four children who arc
residents of Dayton, Iowa. (4) Joseph
married Jane Rockey and lived in Kewanee
when the Civil war broke out. In 1864 he
enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-
fourth Illinois Infantry, and was wounded
during Morgan's raid. After the war he
removed to Kansas, where he followed
farming until his death. He left three chil-

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

393

dren. (.5) Jennette married George Min-
ord and they died, leaving- nine children,
who reside in Iowa. (6) Margaret wedded
George Mesker, and at their deaths they left
four children, IMerritt, Hattie, Elizabeth
and George, residents of Kewanee. (7)
Nancy was the mother of our subject. (8)
Eliza married James McXeal and they died,
leaving two children, \\'illiam and John, of
Alba township. (9) James and his wife
died in Iowa leaving no family. (10) Law-
rence was married in Abingdon, lllino'S,
and at his death left a family. He was a
contractor and was killed in the erection of
a building, (ii) Frank enlisted in 1861
in Company I, Twenty-seventh Illinois In-
fantry, was wounded in the battles of Look-
out Mountain and Chattanooga, and was
mustered out in 1865. He first married Hat-
tie Aikens and, second, Ella Kelsey, and with
liis family now resides in Iowa. !Mrs. Xancy
Storey, who was a consistent member of the
Baptist Church, died December 30, 1865,
and was buried on the ist of January, 1866.
Elijah, our subject, was the oldest of her
seven children. David L., born in 1853,
died at the age of eleven years; Josephus
died at the age of four months; and three
died in infancy. Jane, born in 1861, is the
wife of Geoge Ditto, of Keithsburg, Iowa,
and they have tiiree children living, Dora,
Jarius and Laura Pearl, and one deceased,
Ray. The father was again married April
25, 1867, his second union being with Eliz-
abeth Swyhart, whose parents were na-
tives of Ohio. By this union two children
were born, but the older died at the age of
two months. Tessa, born October 4, 1872,
is with her parents. Since casting his first
presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, he
has been identified with the Republican
party, and has served as overseer of high-

ways and school director for a number of
years, but has never sought office. He is
one of the honored and highly respected
citizens of his conniuniity.

Since attaining man's estate Elijah
Storey, of this review, has engaged in farm-
ing and stock raising and now successfully
operates eighty-five acres of land, but he
gives especial attention to the other branch
of his business and is to-day one of the mosr
extensive stock raisers of Illinois. The first
colt he raised won first premium at Cam-
bridge in 1876 and afterward won pre-
miums wherever shown for the four years.
He owned the French draft horse, Sultan,
who was also shown at four county fairs
and won first and sweepstakes at each exhi-
bition, and won first prize for two succes-
sive years at the Illinois state fair. He was
then sold to a party in Iowa. His next
horse, Arimus, a Percheron, won twenty-
four first prizes in Henr}- county, and also
won prizes at the state fairs. He now owns
a French coach stallion, L'rbin, which won
first premium and a gold medal in his class
at the World's fair in 1893. ^Ir. Storey
owned the celebrated horse, \'oltaire, also a
prize winner, being considered the best
horse in his class in the state. He is now
engaged in breeding Percheron, Clydesdale
and French coach horses, and also registered
cattle and hogs. He thoroughly under-
stands his business, and the success that
has crowned his well-directed efforts is cer-
tainly justly merited.

On the 27th of February. 1872, Mr.
Storey was united in marriage with Miss
Lavina ^IcClennan, who was born in Ken-
dall county, Illinois, September 2^, 1852. a
daughter of David and Resinda I, Call j Mc-
Clennan. Her father was born in Xiagara
county, Xew York, September 5. 1820. antl

394

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

■came to Henry county, Illinois, in 1855. lo-
cating first in Annawan, and later removing
to Alba township. He died December 9,
1898. His wife, who was born in Canada,
November _'_>, 1820. died December 29.
i860. They were married August 29. 1844.
and became the parents of four children,
namely : George, the eldest, died in infancy.
John married Retta Blake and lived for a
time in Alba to\vnshi|j. and then removed
to Iowa, where she dietl. Of their four
children, two are now deceased. For his
second wife he married ]\Irs. Sabina Ben-
son, and they now live in Ruthven, Palo
Alto county, Iowa. Lavina is the wife of
our subject. Ella married George Andrews.
^vho died November 9, 1899, and she has
since married Chris Jorgensen, of Pipestone,
Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs. Storey were
born five children, namely: Nellie, born
September 19, 1874, died October 5, 1875;
Jarius L., born July 12, 1876, Clarence L.,
born October 7, 1882, are all at home, with
exception of Ida, who stays with her grand-
parents much of the time, being a great fa-
vorite with them. Politically ]Mr. Storey is
a stanch supporter of the Republican party,
.and religiously is an active and prominent
m-ember of the United Brethren Church, and
is now serving as trustee and steward of
the parsonage and church.

JONAS WESTERLUND.

A brilliant example of a self-made
American citizen and a grand exemplifica-
tion of the progress that an ambitious for-
eigner can make in this country of unbound-
ed opportunities, is shown in the case of

Jonas Westerlund. who is now living a re-
tired life in Orion. Success in any walk of
life is an indication of earnest endeavor and
persevering effort — characteristics that he
possesses in an eminent degree.

Mr. Westerlund was born in Hasela,
North Hilsingland, Gafleburgsland, Swe-
den, March 31, 1830, and is a son of Eric
Abraham and Elizabeth (Johnson) Wester-
lund. botli of whom were natives of Swe-
den, the father horn in 1801. In 1850, the
family sailed for the new world, and after
spending a year or two in Andover, the
father purchased eighty acres of land in
Lynn township, which he improved and
where he spent the remainder of his life,
dying in 1867. He was one of the early
members of the Swedish Lutheran Churcli
in Andover, uniting with it on his arri\al in
the county.

Our subject grew to manhood on a farm
in liis native land, and there attended school
but his educational advantages were very
limited, and his knowledge of English has
been acquired through his own unaided ef-
forts since coming to this country. In 1850.
with the other members of his father's fam-
ily, he took passage on the Oden, a sailing
vessel, which was eleven weeks and three
days in crossing the ocean. The}- exper-
ienced some very severe storms, during
which the masts, railings and nearly every-
thing on deck was washed overboard. The
captain, who was an old sailor, said that he
had never seen as rough a sea or as bad
a storm, and Mr. Westerlund says that he
would not have returned to his native land
ii\ such a storm for all Sweden. His mother
and one sister died during the voyage and
were buried at sea. On reaching New York
the remainder of the family proceeded at
once to Illinois bv wav of the Hudson river

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

395

to Albany; hy railroail to Buffalo; by the
Great Lakes to Chicago; by canal to Peru,
Illinois; and by team to Andover. Our
subject, however, walked from Peru to his
new home in this county, arriving here the
middle of November, 1850. On the way
his father's brother, Andrew W'esterlund.
was killed while crossing the bridge at
Princeton. Illinois.

For a year Jonas Wcsterlund worked
as a farm hand in this county, and in the fall
of 185 1, went to Minensota, where he was
employed in the pineries, sawmills and on
the river for five years, during which period
he visited the family in Henry county thre>.'
or four time. He ran numerous rafts of
logs and lumber down the river to St. Louis
during which time he would call at home.
In 1854 he made his first purchase of land,
consisting of eighty acres of wild prairie
on section 2, Lynn township, which he hired
broken and which he leased until his return
to the county in 1856, when he took up his
residence thereon and turned his attention
to farming. Prospering in this undertak-
ing he was able to add to his property fmm
time to time until he now owns four hun-
dred and forty acres of ricli and arable land.
upon which he has erected a large frame
house, good barns and other outbuildings.
set out one of the early orchards, and ma(L*
many other improvements which add great-
ly to the value and attractive appearance of
the place. Since 1895, however, he has
rented his farm and has lived a retired life
in Orion, where he owns a good residence
and where, surrounded b'- all the comforts
of life, he is enjoying a well-earned rest.

While in Minnesota, Mir. Westerlund
was married, in 1856, to Miss Ellen Nelson,
who was born in Skona, Snoarp Brobyso-
ken, Gynehard, Christiansladt, Sweden.

December 23, 1835, and daughter of Nels
Olsen and his wife, Manuel E. Peterson,
who died in Sweden. With two brothers
she came to Minnesota in 1853, locating in
Stillwater, which was her home until her
marriage. By this union were born five
children, who are still li\ing: Lizzie, wife
of John W. Anderson, of Dayton, Iowa;
Neils Hennings, a farmer ; John Edwartl, a
farmer of Lynn township; Joseph E., a
practicing physician of Cambridge; and
Luther, who operates his father's farm. Two
sons died; Charles died shortly after his
marriage; and Nathan died at the age of
twenty years.

When the family first located in Henry
county, labor was cheap, and a man could
earn but twenty-five to fifty cents a day,
and that usually had to be taken in "store
pay," the party receiving an order on a
store for the amount. On one occasion, the
family needing some groceries, Mr. Wes-
terlund started for Rock Island, the near-
est trading point, with twenty bushels of com
on the ear, which he sold for nine cents a
bushel. He had to pay twenty cents toll
across Rock river, and a storm coming up
he had to remain all night in Rock Island.
When he i)aid for his meals and lodgings he
liad but twenty-five cents left, and that he
spent for tobacco. Returning home, he
again loaded his wagon with corn, and this
time met with better success, as he sold it
promptly and was enabled to return home
the same night with the much needed
groceries.

Politically Mr. Westerlund was origi-
nally a Whig and cast his first presidential
vote for Millard Fillmore in 1856, in Min-
nesota, but four years later he supported
.Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, and
has since been a stanch Republican, but

396

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

never an office seeker. However, he has
taken an active interest in educational af-
fairs and was a member of the school board
for several years, during- which time he did
much to secure better schools and compe-
tent teachers. He has also served as com-
missioner of highways, and in the discharge
of his public duties has displayed the same
fidelity that has ever marked his private life.
He and his wife are active and earnest
members of the Evangelical Swedish Lu-
theran Church, ha\ing been reared in that
faith, and are among the most highly re-
spected and esteemed citizens of their com-
munity. His remarkable success in life, is
due to his own energy and capable man-
agement, and his career has ever been such
as to win for him the confidence and high
regard of those witli whom he has been
brought in contact.

JULIUS CHARLET.

This prominent and influential agricul-
turist residing on section lo, Burns town-
ship, Henry county, Illinois, was born on the
25th of July, 1839, in Klein Ziethen, a
small \illage of Germany, not far from Ber-
lin, and is a son of Abraham and Dorothy
Charlet, also natives of that country, where
the father died in 1848. In 1856 the mother
came to America, bringing the family with
her. She had six children, fom- sons and
two daughters, namely : John, now de-
ceased; August, who is represented on an-
other page of this \olume; Dorothy, de-
ceased; Julius, our subject; William, de-
ceased; and Louisa, widow of Oscar Fischer
and a resident of Burns township, whose
sketch also appears in this work.

Julius Charlet was sixteen years of age
when he came with the family to this coun-
try and became a resilient of Henry county,
Illinois, where he was employed at general
labor until after the Civil war broke out.
Feeling that his adopted country needed his
services he enlisted at Kewanee in 1862, in
Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-
fourth Illinois Vohuiteer Infantry, under
Captain M. B. Potter. The regiment was
organized at Springfield, Illinois, and saw
considerable active service. Mr. Charlet
participated in the battles of Port Gib-
son, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills,
Brownsville, Chunkey Station, Benton,
Jackson Cross Roads and the siege of Span-
ish Fort. He was wounded at the battle of
Vicksburg, and after three years of faithful
service on southern battlefields he was hon-
orably discharged and returned to Kewanee.

In 1866 Mr. Charlet married Miss Au-
gusta Couve, a native of Prussia, Germany,
and a daughter of David and Mary (Ouart )
Couve, who were also born in that country
and came to the United States in 1855, lo-
cating in Wethersfield, this county. She'
was one of a family of five children. Of the
eight children born to ^Mr. and Mrs. Char-
let, five are still living, namely: William;
Edward, who married Louisa Lehman;
Lena, wife of Gustaft' Gutchlag; Bernard;
and Leonora.

After his marriage ^Ir. Charlet was en-
gaged in farming near Kewanee until 1871,
and then purchased eighty acres of his
present farm on section 10, Burns township,
the boundaries of which he has since ex-
tended until they now enclose one hundred
and thirty-five acres of well improved land.
Flaving mastered the carpenter's trade he
has done considerable work along that line
in connection with farmiup-.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

397

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Charlet arc
members of the Christian Science Church ;
socially he is an honored member of Kewa-
nee Post G. A. R. His political support is
given the men and measures of the Republi-
can part}-, and he has taken (|uite an active
and prominent part in local politics. For
four years he acceptably served as supervisor
of his township, and has filled the office of
school director for fifteen years in a capable
and satisfactorv manner.

WILLIS F. EVANS.

Among" Henr}- county's native sons none
have been more prominently identified with
her agricultural interests than Willis V.
E\ans, who was born I\Iay jo, 18O5, on the
old homestead on section jo, Pheni.K town-
ship, where he now resides, liis parents be-
ing Thomas and Christnia (liorshmanji
Evans. His father was also a native of this
county, his birth having occurred in Phenix
township on the 14th of October, iS4_'.
During his minority he remained upon the
farm where he was born, and then purchased
the place now occupied by our subject. His
first purchase consisted of ninety-six acres,
on which he built a large and substantial
farm hou.se and other buildings. He placed
his land under a high state of cultivation and
continued to successfully engage in agricul-
tural pursuits until his death, which occurred
on the home farm November 22, 1891, after
a long illness. He always engaged in gen-
eral farming and stock raising and took
great pride in making his place one of the
model farms of the couiity. In his political
views he was a Republican, and for three
years he capably filled the office of highway

commissioner, but never cared for political
preferment. In early life he was a supporter
of the Methodist Church, but afterward at-
tended the United Evangelical Church, and
always led an upright, honorable Christia:?,
life. His wife died on the _'7th of Septem-
ber, 1886. They were married in (ieneseo
and became the parents of four children,
of whom Willis F., is the oldest, the others
being Alta M., now a resident of Kansas;
Charles, who died at the age of fourteen
years; and Thomas M., who is employed in
a cannery at Washington.

Willis F. Evans spent the days of his
boyhood and youth upon the home farm and
under his father's able direction actjuired an
excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits,
which now numbers him among the most
thorough and skilled farmers of his commu-
nity. In the winter of i8yo, he was mar-
ried in Phenix township to Miss Cora E.
Siebcn, a daughter of Valentine and Caro-
line (Butzer) Sieben. The father was boru
in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, October
14, 1839, a son of Joseph and Aboline Sie-
ben, and came with his family to the United
States in 1852. The parents located in
Whiteside county. Illinois, but he came to
Henry county, where he obtained work as
a farm hand, being thus employed until his
marriage July 10, i860. Later he engaged
in breaking prairie and threshing, he and
his brother-in-law, Jacob Butzer, buying a
threshing machine together in 1862. The
following year he purchased two hundred
acres of land on section 3, Phenix township,
where he continued to make his home until
(*allcd from this life in 1886. His wife
sur\i\ed him for a number of years and at
the time of her death, which occurred in
1898, was living in Geneseo. She was a
native of this county, anil a daughter of

398

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

George Frederick Butzer, one of its pioneer
settlers. The children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Sieben were George, who died at the age of
eight years ; Fred ; Annie ; Ella ; Cora E. :
Frank; and two wlio died in infancy. Mr.
and ^Irs. Evans have one child, Glenn L.,
born on the old homestead, September 15.
1894.

As a Repnblican 'Sh. Evans takes quite
an active and prominent part in local poli-
tics, and has held die office of collector two
years; assessor of Phenix township for five
years; and at present is a school trustee.
which position he has filled most creditably
for six years. Religiously he is a member
of Ebenezer United Evangelical Church.

AUGUST F. SPIEGEL.

Germany has furnished to America
many of her most enterprising and thrifty
citizens, who in this land of the free have
gained for themselves and family a com-
fortable competence. Among those who
have settled in Henry county, and are to-day
numbered among her best citizens is Au-
gust F. Spiegel, who is successfully engaged
in farming on section 21, Burns township.

He was born in German}', July 19, 1837,
a son of Frederick and Foeder Spiegel, who
remained in Prussia until 1861, when they
emigrated to the new w-orld and took up
their residence in Kewanee township, Henry
county, Illinois. Here the father followed
farming, though in his native land he had
worked at the miller's trade. He died Feb-
ruary 2, 1889, and his wife departed this
life in 1880, the remains of both being in-
terred in the Kewanee cemetery. In their
family w'ere eight children who came to this

country, our subject and his brother, Fred-
erick, being the first to cross the Atlantic.

August Spiegel grew to manhood in his
native land, and received a good practical
education in the German language. In
1857, at the age of twenty years he and his
brother took passage on a sailing vessel at
Hamburg, and after a stormy voyage of
five weeks and three days landed in Xew
York. He came at once to Kewanee. Illi-
nois, where he worked as a farm hand for a
time. In 1865 he bought sixty acres of land
in Neponset township. Bureau county, Illi-
nois, to which he subsequently added sixty
acres. On disposing of that property in
18S3 "he purchased a half section of land in
Burns township, Henry county, but has
since sold eighty acres of this. The remain-
der he has placed under a high state of cul-
tivation and supplied with all the conven-
iences and accessories of the model farm of
the present day.

On the 19th of June, 1862, [Mr. Spiegel
was united in marriage with iliss Carrie
Custer, also a native of Germany, who
came to America in 1856 with her parents,
\\'illiam and Caroline (Nuebert) Custer,
landing in New York. The family located
ill Kewanee, Illinois, where the father
worked at the mason's trade for about five
years, and then purchased property in Ke-
wanee township and turned his attention
to agricultural pursuits. He prospered in
his labors and accumulated a valuable prop-
erty. He died in 1897, at the age of eighty-
six years, and his wife passed away in 1876,
at the age of seventy-six, their remains be-
ing interred in Kewanee township. Of
their eight children four are still living.
]\Irs. Spiegel began her education in the
schools of Prussia, and after the emigra-
tion of the familv to America she attended

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

399

school liere to some extent. By her mar-
riage she has become the mother of twelve
<:hildren, but only five are now living.
Louisa died at the age of nineteen years
and was buried in Kewanee. The surviv-
ing members of the family are as follows :
Edward, born in 1863, luarried Emma
Lehman, and is engaged in fruit farming
near Milan, Illinois: Mary is the wife of
Henry Kempin, of Kewanee; Clara is the
wife of Peter Verstrette, who is employed
in the shops at Kewanee; and Carl and
Theodore assist their father in the opera-
tion of the Jiome farm.

By his ballot Mr. Spiegel sui)p«)rts the
juen and measures of the Republican party,
and for two years he efficiently filled the
office of school director. He is a member of
the German Lutheran Churcii, and is a man
highly respected and esteenied l)_v all wlm
Jinow him on account of his sterling worth.
His wife is also a member of the German
Lutheran Church. 'Sir. Spiegel has a fine
home, furnace heated, and a barn 40x60
ftet. with large cribs and outlniildings.
In addition to general farming he raises
considerable stock.

H. J. STEWART. M. D.

Although but a recent ac(|uisition to
the goodly array of enterprising professional
ir)en of Kewanee this well-known physician
and surgeon is already building up an ex-
cellent practice, his specialties being the dis-
eases of the eye. ear, nose and throat. He
was born in Warren county, Illinois, March
21, 1868, a son of David B. and Sarah E.
(Pilkington) Stewart, natives of Pennsyl-
•\ania and early settlers of this state. Tiie

fatlier, who is a farmer by occupation, is
still living in Warren county, at the age of
seventy-six years, while his wife is sixty-
three j'ears of age. For many years lie
served as justice of the peace in Spring
Grove, that township. On account of a
cancer the Doctor recently assisted in re-
moving his father's left ear with the hope
of stopping that terrible disease. In the
family were nine children, of whom five
sons and three daughters are still living.

Dr. Stewart was reared on a farm and
began his education in the country schools.
Later he attended the high school at Alexis,
Illinois, and the Northwestern University
at Chicago, graduating from the medical
department of that institution in 1893. He
devoted several months to hospital work,
and in 1899 took a post-graduate course on
tlie diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat,
thus becoming well fitted for the profession
which he has chosen as a life work. On the
1st of June, 1893, soon after his graduation,
lie opened an ofifice in Viola, Mercer county,
Illinois, where he was engaged in practice
until coming to Kewanee, March i, 1900.
With seven years' experience he comes to
this place w-ell qualified, and his skill and
ability have already won for him a good
patronage. He is very progressive and
keeps well posted on the latest discoveries
made in the science of medicine and sur-
gery. As a citizen he is enterprising and
public spirited and is such a man as gives
character to a community.

In 1894 Dr. Stewart married Miss Ade-
laide H. Frazier, a native of Viola. Her
father H. B. Frazier, was one of the leading
merchants of that place, where he died July
II, 1898, at the age of sixty-three years,
and was succeeded in business by his sons,
John, Fred and Edwin. There are also

400

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

three daughters in the family. Adelaide
H., wife of our subject; Xannie, wife of
M. R. McKinnon ; and Sarah, wife of Dr.
McClannahan. of ^^iola. The mother of
these children is still an honored resident
of that place.

Dr. and Mrs. Stewart have two chil-
dren, Florence Verl and Louise Ruth. The
parents both hold membership in the Presby-
terian Church, and the Doctor is also a
member of the Masonic fraternity, the Galva
District iledical Association, the State
Medical Association, and the Kewanee
Medical Society, being secretary of the last
named. In \\'arren county he served as
school trustee for a time; was also president
of the village board of Viola for six )-ears;
trustee and chairman of the village council;
and township school trustee three years.
He was elected to these positions on the
Democratic ticket, but at present is not an
advocate of the issues of modern Democ-
racy

JOSEPH JOHXSTOX.

There passed away at his home in Galva
township, February ii, 1899, Joseph
Johnston, who was one of the most highly
esteemed men of that locality. He was lx)rn
in Ayrshire, Scotland, Xovember 14, 1831,
a son of Isaac and Margaret (McGill)
Johnston, who spent their entire lives in
that country, the father being engaged in
farming. Our subject \\as the second in
order of birth in their family of ten chil-
dren, of whom three sons and three daugh-
ters are still living. The daughters and one
son still reside in Scotland, while two sons
make their home in this country, these be-
ing John, who lives in Iowa; and William,
who lives north of Oneida, Illinois.

During his boyhood Joseph Johnston re-
ceived only a limited education in the schools
of his native land, but by reading and ob-
servation in subsequent years became a well
informed man. He always transacted his
own business affairs and by the successful
management of the same became one of the
most prosperous citizens of his community.
On coming to America in 1856 he tirst lo-
cated near \'ictoria, Illinois, where he
worked as a farm hand for a !Mr. Sansberry
until going to the gold fields of Colorado,
in 1862. There he engaged in prospecting
and teaming, three times crossing the plains
\\ ith merchandise to Den\-er. He met with
success while in the west, and on his return
to Illinois was able to purchase eighty acres
of land south of Xekoma, in Henrj- county,
to the impro\ement and cultivation of
which he at once turned his attention.
Later he purchased an improved farm of
three hundred and twenty acres, part in
Ontario and part in Walnut Grove town-
ships, where he made his home until 1881,
when he removed to a farm of one hundred
seventy-two and a half acres west of Galva,
though he still retained his former place.
He also purchased one hundred and seven-
teen acres of land adjoining Galva, a part
of which has since been subdivided into
town lots. In his farming operations he
met with most excellent success, becoming
the owner of about six hundred and ten
acres of valuable land, two hundred and
ninety acres of which was in this county,
the remaining half section being in Knox
county. He gave special attention to the
raising of stock, both horses and cattle, and
found this branch of his business quite profit-
able.

Mr. Johnston was twice married, his
first wife being Janet Anderson, by whom

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

401

lie had five children, all living, namely:
jNIary, John, Isaac, Henry and Maggie, and
all, with the exception of John who resides
in Knox county, living in Henry county.
After the death of the mother, Mr. Johnston
was again married, in March, 1877, his
second union being with Miss Margaret
JNIeikle, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland,
in 1845, ^'''d came to the new world in
1873, locating in Henry county, Illinois.
Her parents both died in the old country,
never coming to the United States. To
them were born three children : Elizabeth,
now the wife of Lloyd Jones, of Galva
township, by whom she had one child, Ber-
iiice; William, who lives with his lirother on
the farm; and Janet, at home witli her
mother.

The Republican ])arty always found in
Mr. Johnston a stanch supporter of its prin-.
ciples, but he would never accept or hold
public office, preferring to gi\e his undi-
vided attention to his business interests.
He always enjoyed good health up to within
a few months of his death and continued to
actively engage in the work of the farm
until the last. For a number of years he
was connected with the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, and was an earnest and
■consistent member of the Presbyterian
Church. Xo man in his community was
more respected of more fully enjoyed the
-confidence of his fellow citizens, and none
€ver better deserved such respect and con-
fidence, for his was an honorable and up-
right life, consistent with his professions in
every respect.

ORIX FI. LOOM IS.

For many years this gentleman was one
of the leading business men of Kewanee,
but in January, 1900. he sold out, and is

now practically living a retired life in that
city, where he is so well and favorably
known. He was born in Coventry, Connec-
ticut, June 17, 1822, and is one of a family
of eight children, three sons and five daugh-
ters, whose parents were Selah and Esther
(Ho