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BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


OF 


OGLE  COUNTY, 


ILLINOIS. 


II^I^T^JSTTFe^^TTKIZ) 


A  /)(•()/>/('  t/ii7/   /ale   NO  pride  in  ilic   nohlc  acJiicvcniciits  of  remote  aiieestors   Tvill  never  aehicvc 
aiiyt/iii/i;  -cort/iv  to  In-  reiiieiiibereJ  -xitJi  priJe  l>y  remote  i^eiierat  ions ." — ]M  AfAUi.EV . 


CHICAGO; 

The  S.  J.  Ci.AKKt  Publishing  Company. 
1899, 

S/UiK  VALLEY  COLLEGE 

LRC        /  o  r,  t  Q 


"I^iofimphii  Ls  the  oiilv  true  hisforv."--l:mcrN^n. 


PRKFACB. 


l^^^^^fllE   irreatest    of    EntjHsh    liistoriaiis,    Macaui.av 


d  one  of  the  most 
Ijillliant  writers  of  the  present  century,  has  said  :  "  Tiie  history  of  a 
country  is  best  tolil  in  a  record  of  the  lives  of  its  people."  In  con- 
formity with  this  idea,  the  Biogkapiiical  Record  has  been  prepared. 
Insteail  of  tjoinij  to  musty  records,  and  takint,^  therefrom  dry  statistical 
matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our  corps  of  writers  have 
irone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their  enterprise 
and  industry,  broufrht  this  county  to  a  rank  -^econd  to  none  among 
tliose  comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.  Xo  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presenteil  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  learneil  men  anil  women,  with  an  inlluence  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  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and  records  how  that  success  has  usually 
crowned  their  efYorts.  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  jjerfoiming  a  deed  <if  mercy — "They  have  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  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  countrj^'s 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "  to  do  or  ilie,"  and  how  through  their  elTorts  the  I'nion  was 
restored  and  peace  once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  antl  of  every 
woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not  be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  a[ipreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  trom 
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  ilatter  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.  Xot  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some 
refused  to  give  the  information  necessary  to  coinpile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifierent. 
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  repe.ited  calls  were  made  at   their  residence  or  place  ol  business. 


May,  1S99. 


The  S.  J.  Clarke  Publishing  Co. 


HON.   R.    R.   HITT. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


HON.  ROBERT  R.  HITT,  who  has  so 
ably  represented  his  district  as  a  mem- 
ber of  congress,  since  1882,  is  without 
doubt  the  most  distinguished  of  the  citizens 
of  Ogle  county.  It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to 
briefly  write  the  record  of  such  a  man, 
especially  for  perusal  by  his  old  friends  and 
acquaintances,  many  of  whom  have  known 
him  from  early  childhood,  and  to  whom  his 
record  is  like  an  open  book.  For  him  they 
have  the  greatest  admiration,  and  to  them 
no  honors  bestowed  upon  him  could  be 
thought  undeserved.  He  belongs  to  them, 
and  while  they  know  him  he  also  knows 
them,  and  few  there  be  of  the  old  settlers 
of  Ogle  county  that  he  cannot  call  by  name. 
Robert  Roberts  Hitt  was  born  in  Urbana, 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  January  16,  1834, 
and  is  the  second  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  S. 
Hitt,  who  drove  across  the  country  from  his 
Ohio  home  in  1837  and  made  himself  and 
family  a  home  in  Ogle  county,  where  the 
remainder  of  his  life  was  spent.  He  located 
in  Maryland  colony,  so  called  because  of 
the  number  of  settlers  from  that  state  who 
had  migrated  to  northern  Illinois,  led  by 
Samuel  Merritt  Hitt,  an  elder  brother  of 
Rev.  Thomas,  and  a  man  of  remarkable 
mental  attainments  and  strong  personality. 
One  of  the  pioneers  of  Ogle  county,  he 
brought  with  him  from  Maryland  a  well- 
filled  purse  in  addition  to  a  fine  college 
education,  two  attributes  that  commanded 
the  deepest  respect  in  that  struggling  com- 


munity, where  ready  cash  in  particular  was 
all  too  scarce.  By  entry  and  purchase 
Squire  Hitt  secured  thousands  of  acres  of 
the  best  farming  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters,  who  hastened  westward  to  occupy 
the  choice  sites  thus  selected,  so  that  in  a 
short  time  the  "tribe  of  Hittites,"  as  an 
old  circuit-rider  jokingly  dubbed  the  colony, 
was  a  powerful  factor  in  that  new  country. 

Some  of  the  old  settlers  who  have  not 
forgotten  the  characteristics  of  the  Hitt 
tribe  say  the  family  was  noted  for  its  fine 
physical  appearance,  whose  six  feet  of  man- 
hood and  womanhood  did  full  credit  to  its 
Kentucky  origin.  Rev.  Thomas  Smith  Hitt, 
who  was  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky, 
at  the  close  of  the  last  century,  was  a  trifle 
over  si.x  feet  tall,  and,  like  his  father  before 
him,  was  a  pronounced  anti-slavery  man.  It 
was  this  predilection  which  led  old  Martin 
Hitt,  grandfather  of  the  present  congress- 
man, to  move  across  to  Ohio  in  i8i6,  where 
his  first  act  was  to  free  his  slaves.  Twenty- 
one  years  later  his  son  Thomas,  with  his 
young  family,  moved  to  Illinois,  attracted 
thither  by  the  glowing  accounts  of  the  coun- 
try as  reported  by  Squire  Hitt,  who  left 
Maryland  for  Illinois  in  1836,  one  year  in 
advance  of  his  relations. 

A  warm  adherent  of  the  Methodist 
church,  of  which  he  was  an  ordained  min- 
ister, as  was  also  his  father.  Rev.  Martin 
Hitt,  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Hitt  was  well  fitted 
by  education  and  temperament  to  promote 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


the  interests  of  Methodism  in  the  newly 
settled  country  to  which  he  had  migrated, 
and  when  the  name  of  Mt.  Morris,  in  honor 
of  the  Methodist  bishop,  was  given  to  the 
Maryland  colony,  Rev.  Thomas  Hitt  was 
one  of  the  first  to  suggest  the  founding  of  a 
seminary  by  the  conference.  Through  his 
efforts,  ably  seconded  by  his  brother.  Squire 
Hitt,  Rock  River  Seminary  was  called  into 
existence,  in  whose  historical  walls  many  of 
the  most  illustrious  sons  of  Illinois — men 
famous  in  the  forum  and  on  the  battlefield 
— received  their  education. 

Here  young  Robert  Hitt  early  went  to 
school,  and  here,  too,  contemporar}'  with 
him,  only  in  older  classes,  were  Senator 
Cullom,  Governor  Beveridge,  State  Senator 
Beveridge,  John  Rawlins,  secretary  of  war 
under  Grant;  judge  Cothran,  of  the  supreme 
court  of  Wisconsin;  Congressman  Magoon, 
and  many  other  students  who  later  rose  to 
eminence  in  their  respective  professions. 
Of  a  genial  disposition  and  remarkably  pro- 
ficient in  his  studies,  Robert  Hitt,  although 
much  younger  than  the  majority  of  the  lads 
with  whom  he  associated,  was  a  great  fav- 
orite with  all,  and  when  he  left  Mt.  Morris 
to  complete  his  education  at  Asbury  Uni- 
versity, in  Greencastlc,  Indiana,  no  one  in 
the  circle  was  missed  more  than  he. 

The  fact  that  he  outstripped  his  com- 
panions in  the  race  for  college  honors  and 
graduated  while  but  a  youth  attests  his  love 
for  knowledge  and  early  discipline  of  mind 
and  determined  application  to  which  he 
owes  his  success  in  life.  While  but  a  lad  he 
developed  a  fondness  for  phonography,  and 
giving  to  the  art  all  his  leisure  hours  became 
an  expert,  and  upon  the  completion  of  his 
education  went  forth  into  the  world  well 
equipped  to  enter  what  was  then  a  com- 
paratively new   field   of  usefulness,  and   to- 


day-he  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men 
in  the  public  life  of  America  of  this  gen- 
eration. 

The  commencement  of  his  public  career 
is  contemporaneous  with  the  agitation  of  the 
question  of  the  perpetuation  or  over- 
throw of  the  institution  of  slavery  in 
the  United  States.  He  was  the  pio- 
neer newspaper  reporter  of  the  west  and 
through  the  instrumentality  of  his  skill,  tact, 
quick  intelligence  and  a  capacity  that  lay  in 
many  directions,  coupled  with  a  breadth  of 
mind  capable  of  comprehending  and  appre- 
ciating all  the  phases  of  that  humane  and 
magnificent  enterprise  in  which  his  great 
party  had  its  birth,  the  world  was  given  the 
merits  of  the  memorable  Lincoln  and  Doug- 
las debate  of  1858,  upon  which  the  glorious 
battle  of  liberty  was  fought  and  won. 

In  one  of  his  published  reminiscences, 
Albert  Woodcock,  an  old  citizen  of  the 
state,  speaks  of  the  debate  at  Freeport, 
and  the  part  taken  in  it  by  Mr.    Hitt: 

'•  A  stand  was  erected  in  the  field  adja- 
cent to  the  city.  Thousands  of  people 
gathered  about  the  platform.  The  speakers 
were  ready.  The  throng  was  impatient. 
The  tall  form  of  Lincoln  arose.  He  looked 
anxiously  over  the  crowd.  He  called  out: 
'Where's  Hitt?  Is  Hitt  present?'  Hitt, 
from  the  extreme  outskirts  of  the  living 
mass,  answered,  '  Here  I  am,  but  I  cannot 
get  to  the  platform.'  The  good-natured 
people  understood  the  situation.  They 
seized  the  slender  youth  and  passed  him 
over  their  heads  to  the  stand." 

The  story  became  current  that  Lincoln 
was  always  asking,  "  Where  is  Bob  Hitt'" 
And  "  r>ob "  found  himself  famous.  He 
happened  in  this  connection  to  do  an  im- 
portant historical  service.  All  civilized  peo- 
ple know  now  how   excellent  was  Lincoln's 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


command  of  language,  and  how  admirable 
his  Hterary  form.  He  was  a  master  of 
speech;  but  during  the  Lincoln-Douglas 
campaign  the  Douglas  party  assailed  him  as 
illiterate,  and  charged  that  Hitt  touched  up 
all  his  speeches  so  as  to  make  them  pre- 
sentable. This  Mr.  Hitt  always  denied, 
stating  that  frequentl\'  his  phonographic 
notes  were  written  out  by  an  assistant,  and 
he  did  not  see  the  transcription  from  his 
notes  until  it  was  printed. 

During  the  legislative  sessions  of  the  as- 
sembly of  Illinois,  in  1S5S,  '59  and  '60,  Mr. 
Hitt  was  the  official  reporter  employed  by 
the  state.  In  1S60,  when  the  trouble  arose 
in  the  department  of  the  Missouri,  under 
General  Fremont,  calling  for  immediate  ex- 
amination, Mr.  Lincoln  sent  the  Holt-Davis 
commission  to  St.  Louis,  and  Mr.  Hitt  was 
there  laboriously  engaged  for  many  months 
as  its  secretary  in  that  memorable  investi- 
gation. This  duty  called  for  the  exercise  of 
abilities  of  no  common  order,  and  the  work 
was  one  of  immediate  importance  and  his- 
torical value.  Its  voluminous  reports,  which 
detailed  the  disorders  of  the  unfortunate 
Fremont  rc-giiiic  in  Missouri,  led  to  man}' 
and  important  changes  and  improvements 
in  the  efficiency  of  that  department. 

Judge  Holt,  ex-secretary  of  war,  in  the 
account  of  their  labors,  which  he  submitted 
to  the  president,  paid  a  high  tribute  to  the 
value  of  Mr.  Hitt's  services.  The  severity 
of  the  labors  attendant  upon  this  dutj' 
brought  on  a  long  illness,  and  after  his  re- 
covery he  reported  in  person  to  Secretary 
Stanton,  who  requested  him  to  remain  at 
the  war  department  for  important  confiden- 
tial work  and  duties  in  the  department  of 
military  justice.  In  1863  he  was  engaged 
in  the  senate  of  the  United  States  as  secre- 
tary  of   a    committee    examining    into    the 


naval  expeditions  of  Burnside  and  Banks. 
In  1S65  he  accompanied  a  board  of  treaty 
commissioners  to  the  northwest,  ascending 
the  Missouri  river  a  distance  of  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  miles,  for  the  purpose  of 
negotiating  with  the  Indian  tribes  in  what 
was  then  a  wilderness,  which  he  described 
in  letters  to  the  Chicago  Tribune  as  the 
"abomination  of  desolation,"  a  lonely 
desert,  scourged  by  ferocious  savages.  It 
has  now  thousands  of  homesteads  scattered 
over  it  and  is  increasing  every  month  in 
population.  He  returned  home  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year.  Most  of  the  following 
year  he  passed  at  Washington  and  at  Ral- 
eigh, North  Carolina,  as  recorder  of  military 
courts,  spending  the  summer  months  at 
home. 

In  1867-S  he  \isited  Scotland,  Switzer- 
land, Greece,  Egypt,  and  Palestine,  spend- 
ing five  weeks  in  Jerusalem.  He  visited  the 
famous  plain  of  Marathon,  though  warned 
against  robbers,  and  told  he  certainly  would 
be  taken  by  bandits  and  [irobably  killed. 
He  dressed  in  a  wretched  old  suit  borrowed 
from  a  peasant,  mounted  the  worst  horse 
to  be  had,  and  took  a  Greek  history  and  a 
wallet  with  a  few  coppers.  He  had  hardly 
opened  his  book  on  the  ancient  battle-field 
when  robbers  came  sure  enough  and  seized 
him.  He  begged  for  food,  and  they  gave 
him  black  bread,  which  he  ate  with  avidity, 
though  it  was  a  horror,  and  gave  each  of 
them  a  copper.  That  was  too  much,  and 
they  let  him  go. 

In  1871  he  went  to  Santo  Domingo, 
with  the  three  commissioners — Senator  Ben 
Wade,  of  Ohio;  President  White,  of  Cor- 
nell University;  and  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Howe, 
the  Boston  philanthropist,  who  were  sent 
to  that  island  by  President  Grant  to  inquire 
into  its  resources  and  affairs,  with  a  view  to 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


its  annexation  to  tlie  United  States.  Mr. 
Hitt  prepared  their  report,  an  interesting 
and  valuable  work,  of  which  fifty  thousand 
copies  were  printed. 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year  and  in 
1872  he  was  busily  engaged  as  reporter  of 
the  noted  Kuklux  committee  of  the  two 
houses,  and  wrote  a  large  portion  of  their 
enormously  extensive  report,  in  thirteen 
volumes,  exhibiting  in  great  detail  the  po- 
litical condition  of  the  southern  states, 
nearly  every  one  of  which  he  visited  with 
the  committee.  For  some  time  after  this 
he  acted  as  private  secretary  of  Senator  O. 
P.  Morton,  who  was  one  of  the  great  lead- 
ers of  the  Republican  party. 

In  1873  the  Rock  River  Seminary  had 
become  so  embarrassed  that  the  school 
stopped  and  the  creditors  sold  it  out.  Mr. 
Hitt,  not  forgetful  of  the  deep  interest  taken 
in  it  long  ago  by  his  father,  bought  it,  put  it 
in  repair,  and  it  was  started  again  with  a 
corps  of  excellent  teachers.  It  became 
again  a  good  school,  though  it  brought  no 
money  profit  to  repay  his  liberality.  After 
six  years  he  transferred  it  to  the  Brethren, 
or  Dunkards,  who  are  carrying  it  on  with 
continuous  efficiency. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1874,  Mr.  Hitt 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sallie  Rey- 
nolds, of  Lafayette,  Indiana,  of  whom  it 
has  been  beautifully  and  truly  said,  "Gifted 
and  highly  educated,  she  is  a  charming  and 
sweet-spirited  woman,  and  her  heart  is  in 
the  work  of  her  husband."  Immediately 
after  their  marriage,  they  sailed  for  Europe, 
and  while  on  their  wedding  tour,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1874,  Mr.  Hitt  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Grant  secretary  of  the  legation  at  Paris, 
in  which  position  he  was  continued  under 
President  Hayes.  During  their  official  resi- 
dence of  six  years  in  Paris  the  home  of  the 


secretary  of  the  legation  and  his  charming 
wife  was  the  center  of  a  distinguished  co- 
terie of  Americans  and  foreigners  who  were 
no  less  captivated  by  the  intellect,  courtli- 
ness and  tact  of  Secretary  Hitt  than  by  his 
wife's  brilliant  conversational  powers  and 
her  talents  as  a   most  entertaining  hostess. 

Two  sons  were  born  during  their  resi- 
dence abroad,  Robert  Reynolds  and  Will- 
iam Floyd. 

Returning  to  this  country,  in  1S80,  and 
while  at  his  home  in  Mount  Morris,  Mr. 
Hitt  one  day  received  an  urgent  telegram 
from  Mr.  Blaine,  secretary  of  state  under 
President  Garfield,  asking  him  to  come  to 
Washington  immediately.  Supposing  the 
secretary  wished  to  consult  him  regarding 
French  affairs,  the  late  secretary  of  lega- 
tion hastened  to  the  capital,  and  to  his  great 
surprise  was  there  asked  to  fill  the  post  of 
assistant  secretary  of  state.  After  a  brief 
consideration  Mr.  Hitt  accepted  the  honor, 
and  it  is  noteworthy  that  from  that  time 
until  the  hour  of  his  death  the  brilliant  sec- 
retary and  his  able  assistant  remained  on 
terms  of  intimate  relationship  with  each 
other.  When  Blaine  resigned  the  state 
portfolio  after  President  Garfield's  death, 
Mr.  Hitt  went  out  with  his  chief  the  same 
day.  President  Arthur  had  a  high  opinion 
of  Assistant  Secretary  Hitt,  and  would  glad- 
ly have  given  him  a  responsible  mission 
abroad,  but,  wisely  enough,  the  proffered 
honor  was  declined,  Mr.  Hitt  believing  he 
had  been  away  from  home  too  long  already. 

The  sudden  death  of  Congressman 
Hawk,  of  the  sixth  Illinois  district,  June  29, 
1882,  two  days  before  the  convention  to 
nominate  a  candidate,  upset  all  precon- 
ceived plans,  and  a  committee  asked  Mr. 
Hitt  if  it  might  present  his  name.  The  con- 
vention approved  the  choice  and   Mr.  Hitt 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


5 


was  nominated,  elected,  and  has  since  been 
continued  in  congress.  Writing  of  Mr. 
Hitt's  personality  in  a  recent  number  of 
Harper's  Weekly,  the  veteran  Washington 
correspondent,  Murat  Halstead,  after  com- 
menting on  Mr.  Hitt's  useful  career  in  con- 
gress, where  his  habits  of  industry  and  his 
information,  knowledge  of  men  and  nations, 
history  and  languages  and  the  varied  phases 
of  public  life  at  home  and  abroad  have 
given  him  high  distinction, continuing,  says: 

' '  His  congressional  work  has  been  chiefly 
done  in  the  committee  on  foreign  relations. 
He  is  a  positive  and  systematic  protectionist, 
was  an  early  advocate  of  removingthe  duty 
on  sugar  and  strongly  against  reducing  the 
ta.x  on  whisky.  He  has  attempted  to  regu- 
late the  jurisdiction  of  consuls,  as  he  well 
knew  their  deficiencies,  and  he  strongly 
urged,  when  he  had  little  company,  the 
observance  of  treaty  stipulations  with  the 
Chinese.  The  vigilance  and  experience  of 
Mr.  Hitt  on  the  committee  on  foreign  rela- 
tions have  been  of  general  and  marked 
value.  In  the  Cutting  case  he  saved  con- 
gress from  making  a  mistaken  menace 
against  Mexico.  On  the  Hawaiian  inter- 
vention he  delivered  a  speech  of  extraordi- 
nary energy  and  acumen  and  thoroughness. 
Perhaps  the  strongest  of  all  ,his  speeches 
was  on  '  Commercial  Union  with  Canada.' 
Mr.  Hitt  wears  well  and  is  a  satisfactory 
example  of  the  value  of  the  training  of  jour- 
nalism for  public  life." 

From  18S3  until  1S90  his  party  were  in 
minority  in  congress,  but  Mr.  Hitt  advanced 
in  grade,  step  by  step,  till  he  became  the  lead- 
ing member  of  the  Republican  minority  in  the 
committee  on  foreign  affairs  and  its  repre- 
sentative on  the  floor  of  the  house,  which 
gave  opportunity  for  important  services  to 
the  country.      For  example,  in   1888,  when 


a  measure  was  brought  in  by  the  adminis- 
tration authorizing  an  immediate  threaten- 
ing demand  upon  Mexico  for  the  instant 
liberation  of  Cutting,  which  the  committee 
on  the  previous  day  had  endorsed,  and  the 
whole  house  was  about  to  adopt,  Mr.  Hitt, 
having  in  tfie  interval  made  sure  of  the  real 
facts,  that  Cutting  was  not  held  oppressively 
and  that  the  Mexican  government  was  most 
anxious  to  do  anything  we  requested,  and 
that  the  inflamed  state  of  feeling  in  Mexico 
would  be  fanned  into  an  attack  upon  Mex- 
ico and  another  disagraceful  Mexican  war, 
if  such  a  resolution  were  passed,  in  a  short, 
clean  speech, reversed  opinion  in  the  house, 
defeated  the  resolution  and  prevented  infin- 
ite mischief,  or  war. 

He  was  an  advocate  of  wider  commerce 
with  our  neighbors  on  the  south  and  north. 
He  introduced  and  secured  the  unanimous 
adoption  by  the  house  in  March,  18 89,  of  a 
resolution  contemplating  complete  com- 
mercial union  with  Canada,  which,  once  in 
operation,  would  ultimately  result  in  peace- 
ful annexation.  His  speech  on  this  measure, 
Murat  Halstead  said,  "was  a  thorough  and 
logical  presentation  of  a  great,  far-reaching 
proposition. " 

In  the  previous  session,  in  September, 
1888,  when  President  Cleveland's  Canadian 
retaliation  message  came  suddenly  in,  right 
in  the  midst  of  the  presidential  campaign, 
he  exposed  the  mischievous  character  of 
this  electioneering  device  to  catch  Irish 
votes,  and  discussed  the  whole  question 
searchingly.  A  long  debate  ensued.  Hon. 
Bourke  Cockran  replied  to  the  argument, 
but  saying  of  his  opponent: 

"Mr.  Speaker:  The  distinguishing  ad- 
dress on  the  other  side,  the  one  that  has 
furnished  the  key-note  to  this  discussion, 
was  the  very  able  and  eloquent  speech  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


the  gentleman  from  Illinois  (Mr.  Hitt),  to 
whom,  and  to  whom  alone,  is  due  the  credit 
of  lifting  the  debate  to  a  high  plane  of  par- 
liamentary procedure.  But  I  regret  to  say 
that  while  the  speech  was  eloquent,  it  lacked 
those  elements  of  candor  and  fairness  that 
would  have  made  it  the  greatest  speech  of 
the  session." 

In  1887  and  afterwards  he  supported  the 
interstate  commerce  law,  taking  exception 
only  to  the  long-and-short-haul  clause  as  in- 
jurious to  his  constituents. 

In  1 890,  when  the  Republicans  came  into 
power  and  the  memorable  struggle  of  the 
Reed  congress  began,  he  was  at  last  made 
chairman  of  theconnniltec  on  foreign  affairs, 
and  has  since  held  that  position  whenever 
his  party  was  in  power,  and  when  they  were 
in  minority  leading  the  minority  on  ques- 
tions of  foreign  policy. 

He  has  been  an  active  member  of  con- 
gress on  all  current  legislation.  He  effi- 
ciently supported  the  oleomargarine  bill  to 
protect  genuine  butter  from  bogus  butter 
being  sold  under  the  same  name,  the  bill  to 
check  counterfeiting  lard  and  other  meat 
products,  and  to  promote  and  facilitate  their 
exportation  on  favorable  terms.  He  urged 
the  law  passed  to  foil  the  subtle  attack  on 
the  moral  sense  of  the  people  by  the  liquor 
interest  sheltering  itself  under  a  provision  of 
the  interstate  commerce  act  as  construed  by 
a  decision  of  the  supreme  court.  The  orig- 
inal package  law  abrogated  that  decision, 
and  left  the  state  free  to  regulate  the  sale 
of  li(|nors,  whether  imported  into  the  state 
in  original  packages  or  not.  lie  attacked 
the  Louisiana  lottery  swindle,  which  was 
usingthe  postal  system  uutilaljill  was  passed 
prohibiting  the  United  States  mails  from 
being  nuule  the  instrinneut  of  their  nefarious 
business. 


When  in  1890,  provision  was  to  be 
made  for  a  World's  fair  in  1893,  he  sup- 
ported the  claims  of  Chicago  as  the  best 
site;  and  he  and  Mr.  Springer  were  appoint- 
ed the  two  Illinois  members  of  the  special 
committee  to  which  the  subject  was  en- 
trusted. He  had  charge  of  the  bill  when 
it  came  before  the  house;  and  as  the  result 
of  long,  hard  labor,  Chicago  was  victorious. 
His  speech  in  advocacy  of  Chicago,  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1S90,  presented  the  claims  of  that 
city  in  the  strongest  light.  On  the  seventh 
vote,  Chicago  received  one  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  votes — exactly  a  majority. 

He  was  during  the  eighties  returned  in 
"off  years"  by  about  three  thousand  five 
iiundred  majority,  in  presidential  years  by 
about  six  thousand  five  hundred  majority, 
until  1S90,  when,  in  the  tempest  of  dissatis- 
faction after  the  passage  of  the  McKinley 
bill,  just  before  election,  he  was  well  nigh 
defeated,  receiving  only  five  hundred  and 
eleven  majority.  In  subsequent  elections, 
with  the  great  popularity  of  the  same  mea- 
sure after  it  had  been  in  operation,  the  old 
time  majorities  were  renewed.  After  the 
Wilson  tariff  bill  passed  in  1894,  his  ma- 
jority rose  to  twelve  thousand,  and  in  1896, 
with  increased  dissatisfaction  over  the  re- 
suhs  of  that  bill,  his  majority  was  nearly 
eighteen  thousand;  and  again  in  i  S98  it 
was  (_)ver  fifteen  thousand,  though  it  was  an 
' '  off  year." 

By  watching  and  urging  local  interests 
in  his  own  district,  Mr.  Hitt  obtained  an 
appropriation  of  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars fur  the  improvement  of  Galena  river, 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  a  public 
building  at  Rockford,  and  in  1S99,  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars  for  a  public  building  at 
Freeport. 

He  has  advocated  and  secured  the  pass- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


age  of  various  measures  to  promote  recipro- 
city and  increase  trade  with  tiie  other 
American  republics;  and  each  year  has 
watched  that  liberal  provision  be  made  for 
this  cause  and  for  the  Bureau  of  American 
Republics  in  the  consular  and  diplomatic 
appropriation  bill,  of  which  the  chairman  of 
foreign  affairs  has  charge  in  its  framing  and 
in  its  passage  through  the  house  and 
through  the  conference  committee  with  the 
senate. 

In  I  Sgo  he  brought  in  a  resolution  recog- 
nizing the  Republic  of  Brazil,  which  was 
soon  unanimously  passed.  His  conservative 
counsel  and  course  contributed  to  the 
prompt  and  peaceful  settlement  of  the 
difficulties  with  Chili  in  1S92. 

In  the  same  year,  when  a  proposition 
was  made  by  the  majority  to  reduce  our 
mission  to  Venezuela  in  grade,  he  seized 
the  opportunity,  in  opposing  it,  to  call  pub- 
lic attention  to  the  encroachment  of  Eng- 
land upon  that  feeble  republic,  in  violation 
of  our  Monroe  doctrine.  Wlien,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1895,  President  Cleveland  sent  in  his 
Venezuelan  message  demanding  a  just  set- 
tlement of  this  question  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  helpless  republic,  which  was 
being  gradually  swallowed,  Mr.  Hitt  im- 
mediately prepared  and  offered  a  bill  pro- 
viding for  a  commission  to  investigate  and 
report  the  true  divisional  line,  which  he 
urged  ui  such  a  patriotic  spirit  upon  all  par- 
ties that  it  was  at  once  unanimously  adopt- 
ed; by  thus  referring  the  question  to  a  calm 
tribunal,  the  public  alarm  was  quieted. 
The  unanimity  of  the  American  congress 
led  Lord  Salisbury  to  yield  to  investigation 
and  arbitration,  which  the  British  govern- 
ment had  twice  before  refused. 

Mr.  Hitt  has  labored  to  improve  the 
efficiency  of  our  consular  service.      He  de- 


livered an  address  on  the  subject  before  the 
Boston  Merchants'  Association  in  1893.  In 
a  speech  in  the  house  April  17,  1894,  he 
discussed  the  general  subject  and  merciless- 
ly exposed  the  recent  scandals  in  the  sale  of 
public  office  and  the  degradation  of  the  serv- 
ice. He  has  been  for  many  years  an  agent 
of  the  Smithsonian  institution.  In  1895  he 
was  appointed  by  Speaker  Crisp,  one  of 
the  delegates  to  the  expected  international 
monetary  conference. 

He  endeavored,  successfully,  in  1893  to 
secure  the  passage  of  a  bill  to  check  the 
abuses  and  violations  of  the  interstate  com- 
merce act  by  Canadian  railways.  He  moved 
an  amendment  to  the  Wilson  tariff  bill,  Jan- 
uary 20,  1894,  to  secure  reciprocity  with 
Canada  in  coal,  instead  of  granting  the  free 
admission  of  Canadian  coal  without  com- 
pensation. He  again  tried  to  amend  the 
Wilson  tariff  act,  January  29,  1895,  by 
striking  out  the  extra  duty  on  refined  sugar, 
which  was  there  solely  to  protect  the  sugar 
trust. 

Several  times  he  has  advocated  and 
urged  the  construction  of  a  cable  to  Ha- 
waii, in  1S90,  and  again  in  1895,  when 
he  discussed  the  matter  at  length  and  thor- 
oughly. 

In  1894  he  arraigned  in  a  strenuous 
speech  the  policy  of  President  Cleveland  in 
trying  to  overthrow  the  republican  govern- 
ment in  Hawaii  and  restore  the  ex-queen; 
and  in  189S  he  brought  in  the  measure  for 
the  annexation  of  the  Hawaiian  islands, 
which  passed  the  house  June  5.  Very  soon 
afterwards  he  was  appointed  by  the  Presi- 
dent one  of  the  commissioners  to  visit  the 
islands,  examine  the  government  and  re- 
commend necessary  legislation  to  congress. 
With  Senators  Cullom  and  Morgan, he  went 
to  the  islands,  and    when   congress  met  in- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


troduced  in  the  house  a  bill,  the  result  of 
their  labors,  to  organize  the  territory  of 
Hawaii. 

In  1896  when  the  struggle  in  Cuba 
seemed  to  be  regarded  by  President  Cleve- 
land with  indifference,  he  brought  in  and 
advocated  a  resolution  expressing  the  opin- 
ion of  the  house  that  a  state  of  war  ex- 
isted, the  parties  to  which  were  entitled  to 
belligerent  rights.  It  passed,  but  no  heed 
was  paid  to  it. 

President  McKinley  desired  to  appoint 
Mr.  Hitt  minister  to  Spain  when  the  gravest 
questions  were  pending,  but  he  did  not  ac- 
cept. 

In  the  spring  of  1898,  when,  with  the 
the  change  of  administration,  there  was  ex- 
pectation of  change  in  events,  and  great  im- 
patience for  some  immediate  action  by  the 
house,  he  made  a  speech  or  statement 
which,  by  its  conservative  tone  and  assur- 
ances, did  much  to  satisfy  opinion  and  pre- 
vent hasty  action  upon  a  resolution  which 
the  senate  had  passed,  recognizing  the 
Cuban  republic,  and  which  would  have 
brought  embarrassing  complications  in  the 
war. 

In  1895  Mr.  Hitt  suffered  a  long  and 
severe  illness,  from  which  he  did  not  re- 
cover full  health  for  nearly  two  years.  In 
January,  1897,  when  the  election  of  United 
States  senator  was  impending,  Mr.  Hitt  was 
supported  in  an  animated  and  agreeable 
contest  by  the  members  of  the  legislature 
from  his  part  of  the  state,  but  was  not 
elected.  He  is  a  member  of  the  fifty- 
sixth  congress,  which  meets  December  4, 
I S99. 

In  his  own  district  Mr.  Hitt  is  very  popu- 
lar. There  is  an  entire  absence  of  the  dic- 
tator in  his  (political  composition.  He  never 
meddles  with  the  local   campaigns,  has  no 


desire  to  "boss"  any  town  or  county  con- 
vention and  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  no 
"  machine"  prevails  in  his  district.  In  Ogle 
county,  for  example,  there  are  often  five  or 
six  different  candidates  running  for  the  same 
office,  and  the  people  usually  have  the  voice 
and  vote  to  say  which  is  their  choice.  In 
all  his  campaigns  his  personality  counts 
much.  He  is  the  same  "Bob"  Hitt  to-day 
that  he  was  a  score  of  years  ago,  with  a 
kindly  word  for  all  his  constituents,  and 
ready  to  give  his  advice  and  the  benefit  of 
his  experience  to  Republican  or  Democrat 
alike. 

On  the  platform  he  maintains  the  fair 
ground  of  debate,  never  makes  the  Demo- 
crats angry  by  innuendos  or  vituperation, 
but  tries  to  score  his  points  by  a  clear,  in- 
cisive presentation  of  his  case  that  is  well 
calculated  to  carry  conviction  to  the  hearts 
and  minds  of  his  hearers.  Animated  in  tone, 
he  assumes  a  conversational  style  of  address, 
and  is  never  dull.  He  pronounces  distinctly, 
leaves  no  doubt  about  the  meaning  he  in- 
tends to  convey,  and  has  a  vocabulary  that 
is  large  and  particularly  well  chosen.  He 
has  a  most  retentive  memory,  and  it  is  said 
of  him  that  he  knows  the  personal  history 
of  every  family  living  in  his  district,  most 
of  the  voters  of  which  he  can  call  by  their 
given  names. 

It  is  an  entertainment  in  itself  to  watch 
Mr.  Hitt  on  the  platform  just  prior  to  a 
political  gathering  or  an  old  settlers'  meet- 
ing where  he  is  to  deliver  an  address.  Easy 
and  natural  in  manner,  he  is  at  once  the 
master  of  ceremonies  as  well  as  the  distin- 
guished guest. 

"Now,  Uncle  Daniel,"  he  will  say, 
"you  can't  see  anything  over  there;  just 
step  forward  and  take  this  seat,"  at  the  same 
time  placing   a   chair  in  a  convenient  spot 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


where  the  old  gentleman  addressed  may 
best  see  and  hear  everything:;.  In  this  way 
Mr.  Hitt  gets  close  to  the  people,  chats  with 
them  about  their  personal  affairs  and  drop- 
ping politics  folds  his  hands  and  discusses 
those  simple,  every-day  occurrences  that, 
after  all,  are  nearest  the  heart.  The  Dunk- 
ards,  of  which  denomination  there  is  a 
strong  following  in  his  district,  and  who, 
allied  to  no  particular  party,  vote  according 
to  the  dictates  of  conscience,  have  an  abid- 
ing respect  for  Mr.  Hitt,  whom  they  greatly 
admire  for  his  squareness  and  high  purpose. 
That  they  stand  by  him  in  every  election  is 
proof  "strong  as  holy  writ  "  of  the  sterling 
character  of  the  man  whom  the  sixth  dis- 
trict delights  to  honor. 

As  already  intimated,  Mr.  Hitt  is  a  mod- 
est man  and  is  rarely  heard  on  the  platform 
outside  his  district.  He  has  repeatedly 
been  invited  to  deliver  addresses  in  Chicago 
and  elsewhere  before  social  and  semi- 
political  bodies,  but  has  invariably  asked  to 
be  excused,  although,  it  is  safe  to  say, 
fewer  public  speakers  are  better  qualified 
by  nature  to  interest  an  audience  than  he. 
An  omnivorous  reader,  his  entire  house  at 
Mount  Morris  might  be  termed  a  library, 
for  every  room  teems  with  "man's  best 
gift  to  man."  Notwithstanding  his  strong 
practical  sense,  there  is  a  fine  undercurrent 
of  sentiment  in  his  composition  which  soft- 
ens and  at  the  same  time  elevates  the  man. 
The  death  of  his  beloved  mother  on  his  re- 
turn from  Paris  in  iS8o  was  a  severe  blow 
to  one  who  fairly  idolized  the  woman  who 
bore  him,  and  to  whom  for  years  he  had 
carried  every  confidence  and  with  whom  he 
had  discussed  every  move  of  his  life.  His 
father  having  died  many  years  before,  the 
bond    between    the    mother    and    son    was 

more  strongly  cemented,    although   for  the 
1 


memory  of  his  father  Mr.  Hitt  has  the  most 
tender  regard.  It  is  his  wish  that  his  two 
sons  may  forever  keep  intact  the  homestead 
farm  which  their  grandfather  received  from 
the  government  in  1837,  and  which,  curious 
to  relate,  is  the  only  landed  property  held 
by  the  Hitts  in  Ogle  county,  where  once 
their  forefathers  were  possessed  of  thou- 
sands of  acres. 

Mr.  Hitt  is  just  as  popular  in  Washing- 
ton as  he  is  at  home,  and  some  of  the  best 
and  brainiest  people  of  the  country  are 
proud  to  claim  his  friendship,  as  he  is  theirs. 
The  late  James  G.  Blaine,  William  Walter 
Phelps  and  James  Russell  Lowell  were 
among  his  warmest  friends,  and  between 
him  and  big  brainy  Tom  Reed,  of  Maine, 
there  is  a  deep  and  long-standing  attach- 
ment. Mrs.  Hitt  is  justly  regarded  as  one 
of  the  best  entertainers  at  Washington,  and 
during  the  season  their  beautiful  home  is 
in  a  constant  state  of  receptivity.  Viva- 
cious, beautiful,  full  of  tact  and  gracious- 
ness,  she  is  an  ideal  wife  of  a  public  man, 
and  both  in  his  official  and  home  life  the 
able  congressman  is  rarely  blessed  in  this 
respect.  Murat  Halstead,  in  an  interesting 
article  in  Harper's  Weekly,  says:  "Mr. 
Hitt's  knowledge  of  Europe  enhances  his 
estimation  of  America.  He  has  known  two 
generations  of  our  foremost  men  of  affairs, 
from  Lincoln  and  Douglas  to  Blaine,  Har- 
rison and  Cleveland;  and  in  the  rare  scope 
of  his  recollections  and  the  invaluable  edu- 
cation of  his  personal  services  he  has  re- 
tained and  refined,  and  holds  with  unaf- 
fected dignity,  the  simple  modesty  of  his 
laborious  early  manhood;  and  there  is  no 
more  attractive  household  than  in  the  hap- 
py, hospitable  homes  his  wife  and  sons 
grace  and  enliven  at  Mt.  Morris  and  in 
Washington." 


lO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


PETER  B.  WRAGG,  whose  farm  lies  in 
sections  5  and  6,  Grand  Detour  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  Ogle  county,  born  De- 
cember 22,  1S52,  and  is  the  son  of  Peter 
and  Nancy  Jane  (Thompson)  Wragg,  the 
former  a  native  of  England,  born  October 
4,  1 8 14,  and  the  latter  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  born  April  23,  1S25.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
children:  William  H.,  born  February  13, 
1846;  Sarah,  October  3,  1847,  and  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  William  Hoffman;  Ann  E., 
January  17,  1850;  Mary  I.,  August  10, 
1S51;  Peter  B.,  December  22,  1852;  Dan- 
iel S.,  April  iS,  1854;  Edward  F.,  June  3, 
1857,  and  who  died  April  6,  i860;  John 
M.,  April  7,  1861;  and  Martha  E.,  wife  of 
John  Nett2,  April  11,   18G3. 

Peter  Wragg  was  the  son  of  Peter  F. 
and  Hannah  (Smith)  Wragg,  also  natives  of 
England.  Being  put  out  to  service  on  a 
farm,  at  which  he  was  displeased,  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  he  ran  away,  and  joined  his 
brother,  Thomas,  who  came  to  America  a 
short  time  previously.  The  two  brothers 
engaged  at  work  in  a  saw  and  planing  mill 
in  Troy  for  about  six  years,  and  then  deter- 
mined to  come  west,  having  heard  of  the 
great  opportunities  afforded  the  poor  man 
in  what  was  known  as  the  Prairie  state.  On 
coming  to  Ogle  county,  Peter  Wragg  found 
employment  in  a  sawmill  at  Grand  Detour, 
wlicre  he  remained  two  years,  saving  his 
earnings  and  investing  the  same  in  govern- 
ment land.  He  later  engaged  in  breaking 
prairie  and  freighting  to  and  from  Chicago, 
to  Peoria  and  the  Galena  lead  mines.  He 
was  married  June  17,  1845,  to  Miss  Nancy 
JaneTliompson.daughterof  James  and  Judith 
(b'unck)  Thompson,  and  soon  after  located 
on  a  farm  on  section  32,  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship, which  was  his  home   for  about   eight- 


een months,  when  he  moved  to  the  farm  in 
Grand  Detour  township  now  owned  by  our 
subject.  Commencing  life  in  this  country 
with  a  capital  of  two  shillings,  which  he  had 
on  landing,  by  his  industry  and  good  man- 
agement, assisted  by  his  faithful  wife,  he 
succeeded  in  accumulating  much  property, 
having  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  January, 
1892,  some  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  good 
land,  besides  his  personal  property.  Polit- 
ically he  was  a  Democrat.  While  he  could 
neither  read  nor  write,  he  was  a  man  of  great 
natural  ability,  and  a  good  business  man. 

Peter  B.  Wragg  was  reared  on  the  old 
home  farm  on  which  he  still  resides.  He 
was  earl}'  learned  to  know  the  meaning  of 
hard  work,  and  when  quite  young  was  ex- 
pected to  do  his  full  share  of  farm  labor. 
He  never  shirked  his  duty  and  toiled  early 
and  late,  assisting  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
farm.  On  the  12th  ot  January,  1875,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret 
Ellen  Nettz,  who  was  born  March  8,  1856, 
in  Pine  Creek  township,  and  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Ruann  (Drenner)  Netts,  both  of 
whom  were  nati\es  of  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  and  who  came  to  Ogle  county  in 
1855.  The  former  was  born  May  24,  1813, 
and  the  latter  September  2j,  1819.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  four  of 
whom  died  in  infancy  or  early  childhood. 
The  living  are:  Mary  E. ,  born  December 
28,  1836;  Joseph  H.,  December  19,  1840; 
Amanda  Caroline,  September  17,  1847; 
Jacob  F. ,  January  iS,  1854;  Margaret  Ellen, 
March  8,  1S56;  Lyida  A.,  Februarys,  185S; 
Alice  Amelia,  July  14,  1S62,  and  Clara, 
March  30,  1850.  By  trade  Jacob  Nettz 
was  a  blacksmith,  but  on  coming  to  Ogle 
county  he  followed  farming  in  connection 
with  his  trade.  He  died  November  iS, 
1898.      To    Mr.    and  Mrs.  Wragg  one  child 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


1 1 


has  been  born,  Lura  May,  born  July  3, 
1885,  and  who  is  now  attending  the  district 
school. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  made  his 
home  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides 
with  the  exception  of  three  years.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm  he  has 
been  raising  red  and  black  polled  Angus 
cattle,  Morgan  and  Norman  horses,  and 
Poland-China  hogs.  He  is  meeting  with 
success  in  his  chosen  calling  and  has  the 
confidence  of  the  community  in  which  he 
resides.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
for  nine  years  has  served  as  school  director. 
Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church. 


MICHAEL  MILLER,  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  the  village  of  Haldane, 
was  for  years  numbered  among  the  active 
farmers  and  business  men  of  Ogle  county. 
He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  Hessen 
Darmstadt,  February  10,  1831,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Amelia  Carlotte  Miller,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same  country. 
In  early  life  the  father  engaged  in  farming, 
and  in  later  life  was  in  the  hotel  business. 
He  died  in  his  native  land  in  1840.  His 
wife  survived  him  about  ten  years.  Our 
subject  is  the  youngest  of  their  family  of 
thirteen  children  who  grew  to  mature  years. 
He  and  his  brother  Nicholas,  now  residing 
in  Adair  county,  Missouri,  are  the  only  sur- 
vivors. 

Michael  Miller  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  land  and  received  a  good  education 
in  the  German  and  French  languages.  His 
knowledge  of  English  was  acquired  after 
his  removal  to  this  countr}'.  In  his  youth 
he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  at  which 
he  became  quite  proficient  before  his  emi- 


gration to  the  United  States.  His  native 
land  afforded  little  inducements  to  the  poor 
man  to  acquire  either  wealth  or  position, 
and  so  he  determined  to  come  to  a  country 
where  an  equal  chance  was  given  to  all 
alike.  Accordingly  he  set  sail  for  New  York, 
by  way  of  Rotterdam  and  London.  His 
vessel  was  a  slow  sailing  one  and  he  was 
thirt3'-five  days  on  the  Atlantic  ocean,  a  voy- 
age which  can  now  be  made  in  six  days. 
\\'hile  on  the  voyage  they  encountered  but 
one  severe  storm. 

Mr.  Miller  arrived  in  New  York  the  week 
before  Christmas  in  1853,  and  at  once  set 
out  for  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  went  to  work  at  his  trade,  and  continued 
there  nearly  two  years.  He  then  came  to 
Illinois  and  located  at  Freeport.  The  first 
Sunday  at  that  place  he  saw  what  to  him 
was  a  strange  sight,  a  wagon  loaded  with 
people  coming  into  church,  the  wagon  be- 
ing drawn  b)'  oxen.  For  about  one  year  he 
remained  at  Freeport,  working  at  his  trade, 
and  then  moved  to  Mt.  Morris,  where  he 
continued  at  his  trade  for  a  year  and  a  half. 
He  then  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
married  at  Chambersburg,  August  16,  1857, 
to  Miss  Margaret  Florig,  a  native  of  Hes- 
sen Darmstadt,  Germany,  but  reared  in 
Baden.  Her  father,  Leonholt  Morig,  also 
a  native  of  Germany,  was  a  miller  and  baker 
by  trade.  In  1S52  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 
Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  there 
spent  the  remainderof  his  life.  Mrs.  Miller 
is  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  three  only  survive,  the  others  being 
Mrs.  Catherine  Bowers  and  Mrs.  Eva  Burket, 
both  residing  in  Chambersburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

After  marriage.  Miller  returned  with  his 
liride  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Polo,  where 


12 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


he  worked  at  his  trade  about  nine  months, 
and  March  12,  1858,  removed  to  Haldane, 
where  he  built  a  shop  and  began  working  at 
his  trade,  at  which  he  continued  to  work 
for  thirty-five  years.  For  many  years  he 
had  the  only  shop  in  the  place,  and  in  con- 
nection had  a  wagon  repair  shop.  In  i86r 
he  built  a  residence  and  located  on  the  lots 
where  he  now  resides.  He  also  bought  a 
a  tract  of  sixty-two  acres  near  the  village, 
which  later  his  sons  began  to  cultivate.  He 
also  bought  eight  acres  adjoining  the  village 
which  he  had  platted  as  an  addition  to  the 
village.  He  still  owns  the  farm,  which  lies 
about  one  mile  west  of  the  village,  and 
which  is  a  well  improved  place. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  all  of  whom  have  reached  ma- 
turity. Benjamin  F.,  a  farmer,  is  married, 
and  resides  in  Wright  county,  Iowa.  Anna 
is  the  wife  of  Frank  Forney,  a  farmer  of 
Ogle  county.  John  resides  in  Logan,  Mon- 
tana, where  he  is  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness. Kate  married  Lewis  Carman,  a 
farmer  of  Wright  county,  Iowa,  where  they 
now  live.  Emma  is  the  wife  of  A.  Hedwick, 
of  Haldane.  Mary  now  makes  her  home 
in  Polo.  William,  Ida  and  Charles  yet  re- 
side at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Republican, 
and  during  the  war  was  the  only  Republican 
and  stanch  supporter  of  the  administration 
in  Haldane.  He  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  i860,  and  has 
never  missed  casting  his  vote  for  the  nomi- 
nee of  the  Republican  party  for  president 
from  that  time  to  the  present.  The  only 
official  position  that  he  has  ever  held  was 
that  of  school  director,  an  office  that  he 
held  for  nine  years.  He  and  his  wife  are 
meml)ers  of  the  Evangelical  church  and  as- 
sisted in  the  organization  of  the  chufch  and 


in  the  erection  of  the  church  building.  He 
was  for  years  one  of  the  official  board  of 
the  church,  and  also  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school. 

Mr.  Miller  has  been  a  resident  of  Ogle 
county  for  more  than  forty-three  years,  and 
one  of  the  two  of  the  original  settlers  of  Hal- 
dane that  are  now  left.  He  is  well  known,  and 
by  whom  known  is  held  in  the  highest  re- 
spect. He  has  been  an  industrious  man, 
and  all  that  he  possesses  has  been  secured 
by  hard  work,  his  good  wife  rendering  that 
assistance  which  the  true  wife  always  gives. 


GEORGE  UREXLER,  a  retired  farmer 
living  in  the  village  of  Creston,  came 
to  Ogle  county  in  1869,  and  in  the  thirty 
years  of  his  residence  here  has  become  a 
well-known  citizen,  one  in  whom  the  com- 
munity has  implicit  confidence.  He  was 
born  in  Wildenberg,  Bavaria,  Germany, 
April  5,  1S34,  and  is  the  son  of  Nicholas 
and  Catherine  (Himler)  Dre.xler,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Germany,  where 
their  entire  lives  were  spent.  .  The  father, 
who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died  in 
1864,  his  wife  surviving  him  many  years, 
dying  in  1887. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  in 
his  native  country  until  he  was  in  his 
eighteenth  year.  He  received  a  good  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Bavaria,  and  in  tlie 
meantime  assisted  his  father  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  farm.  Friends  of  his  youth  had 
already  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and 
the  desire  came  into  his  heart  to  also  go  to 
that  favored  land,  where  even  the  lowliest 
had  the  opportunity  of  making  a  name  and 
acquiring  wealth.  With  his  sister,  Anna,  he 
set  sail  for  the  new  world  in  a  slow  sailing 
vessel,  and  after  a  long  and  tedious  voyage 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


13 


of  twenty-eight  days  they  landed  in  New 
York  in  March,  1852.  They  located  at 
Palatine,  New  York,  where  his  sister  later 
married  Henry  Wagner.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wagner,  who  yet  remain  in  Palatine,  where 
he  owns  a  valuable  and  well  improved  farm, 
have  a  family  of  five  living  children,  one  of 
whom  is  married. 

On  his  arrival  in  Palatine,  Mr.  Dre.xler 
hired  to  a  farmer  for  the  sum  of  forty  dol- 
lars per  year  and  a  pair  of  boots.  After  some 
seven  months  had  passed,  he  was  convinced 
that  the  farmer  was  about  to  beat  him  out 
of  the  forty  dollars  promised.  He  settled 
with  him,  however,  for  twenty-eight  dollars 
for  the  seven  months  and  quit  his  service. 
The  next  year  he  worked  for  sixty  dollars 
per  year,  and  continued  to  be  thus  employed 
at  a  slight  advance  until  the  beginning  of 
the  war,  receiving  thirteen  dollars  per  month 
in  i860.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he  returned  to 
his  native  land  and  there  remained  until 
1866,  assisting  his  parents  on  the  home 
farm.  Returning  to  Palatine,  New  York, 
he  went  to  work  on  a  farm  for  twenty-five 
dollars  per  month,  and  continued  there  un- 
til 1869. 

Mr.  Drexler  was  married  in  Schenec- 
tady, New  York,  December  8,  1868,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Bauder,  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Palatine,  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of 
Christopher  and  Lana  (Nellis)  Bauder,  early 
settlers  of  the  Mohawk  valley,  of  German 
parentage.  Mrs.  Bauder  died  in  1854,  but 
he  lived  until  1898,  and  died  at  the  ripe  old 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  They  had  a 
family  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  yet 
living,  as  follows:  Simon  P.,  of  Amster- 
dam, New  York;  Rufus,  of  Palatine,  New 
York;  Ervin,  of  Sterling,  Illinois;  Henry,  of 
Malta,  Illinois;  George,  of  Montgomery 
county,   New   York;   Eliza  C. ,  wife   of  our 


subject;  Ella,  wife  of  Josiah  Nestle,  of  Pal- 
atine, New  York;  Mrs.  Amanda  Miller,  of 
Palatine,  New  York;  Lana,  wife  of  Jeremiah 
Van  Wie,  of  Palatine,  New   York. 

In  March,  1869,  Mr.  Dre.xler  came  with 
his  bride  to  Ogle  county,  where  for  one  year 
he  worked  by  the  month.  In  January, 
1870,  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  partially 
improved  land  in  Lynnville  township,  and 
commenced  life  in  earnest.  Industrious  as 
the  day  was  long,  and  with  a  wife  who  was 
likewise  industrious,  one  who  believed  the 
interests  of  her  husband  was  that  of  her 
own,  he  went  to  work  with  a  determination 
to  more  than  make  an  ordinary  living.  In 
1S75  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining his  farm,  erected  a  new  barn,  and 
made  many  other  improvements.  In  1888 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
giving  him  a  half-section  of  good  land,  all  of 
which  was  well  improved. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drexler  have  two  children 
living.  Libbie  J.  is  now  the  wife  of  David 
Deily,  whose  parents  reside  in  the  same 
township,  and  they  have  one  child.  Alia 
Blanche.  The}'  reside  in  the  township  of 
Malta,  DeKalb  count)-,  Illinois.  Ervin  mar- 
ried Mary  Kempson,  in  1896,  and  is  now 
successfully  carrying  on  the  home  farm. 
His  wife's  parents  reside  in  Creston. 

Mr.  Drexler  came  to  Ogle  county  with 
little  else  than  a  stout  heart  and  willing 
hands.  He  had  always  before  worked  for 
wages,  and  of  course  could  not  lay  by  very 
much  of  this  world's  goods.  He  knew  how 
to  work  and  was  a  practical  farmer.  Day 
in  and  day  out  he  toiled  on  and  the  result  is 
shown  by  his  fine  (arm  and  large  quantity 
of  personal  property.  He  had  no  special 
fad  in  farming,  but  in  addition  to  the  crops 
annually  raised  on  the  farm,  he  was  also  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising,  feeding  a  large  num- 


14 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


ber  of  head  of  cattle  and  hogs  for  the  gen- 
eral markets.  He  was  successful  in  all  that 
he  did,  and  his  success  has  come  from  in- 
dustry, economy,  wise  management,  assist- 
ed in  part  by  his  good  wife. 

Politically  Mr.  Drexler  is  a  Republican, 
his  first  presidential  ballot  having  been  cast 
for  General  Grant.  From  that  time  to  the 
present  he  has  voted  the  party  ticket,  but 
has  never  wanted  or  cared  for  public  office. 
However  he  was  elected,  finally  qualified, 
and  served  as  road  commissioner.  Inter- 
ested in  the  cause  of  education,  he  served 
for  fifteen  years  on  the  school  board.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Drexler  have  on  several  occasions 
visited  the  liome  of  her  parents  in  New 
York  state.  They  were  reared  in  the  Luth- 
eran faith,  and  while  now  they  are  mem- 
bers of  no  church,  they  attend  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Creston. 


"\  X  HLLLXM  BIRD,  deceased,  was  a  rep- 
V  V  resentative  of  the  sturdy  English 
race  that  have  done  so  much  in  the  civiliza- 
tion of  the  world,  and  whose  influence  will 
be  felt  in  all  time  to  come.  He  was  born 
in  the  parish  of  Ciiawleigh,  Devonshire, 
England,  February  ii,  1806,  and  in  his  na- 
tive land  grew  to  manhood.  In  his  youth 
he  learned  the  trade  of  wool  comber,  which 
he  followed  in  Devonshire.  After  his  re- 
moval to  the  United  States  he  learned  the 
trade  of  harnessmaker,  which  he  followed 
for  a  number  of  years.  His  educational  ad- 
vantages were  not  of  the  best,  but  by  read- 
ing and  observation  he  became  a  well  in- 
formed man. 

Tile  covmtries  of  Europe,  with  their 
pride  of  aristocracy,  give  but  little  opportun- 
ity to  the  poor  man  to  advance  in  life,  and 
for    that    reason  many  are    compelled    to 


sunder  home  ties  and  emigrate  to  a  land 
where  all  are  equal  in  the  eyes  of  the  law, 
and  all  have  the  opportunity  to  seek  and 
secure  a  higher  position  in  life.  Because  of 
this  fact  William  Bird  left  his  native  land 
in  1834,  and  after  a  long  and  tedious  voy- 
age in  the  slow  sailing  vessels  of  that  time 
finally  landed  in  this  country  and  located  in 
Ohio,  which  was  his  home  for  twenty-three 
years  and  where  he  made  a  fairly  good 
start  in  life.  Still  farther  west  the  oppor- 
tunities were  even  greater,  and  in  1S57  he 
came  with  his  family  to  Ogle  county  and 
located  in  Lynnville  township,  which  con- 
tinued to  be  his  home  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Bird  was  married  in  Norwalk,  Ohio, 
in  I  S3  5,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ford,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Devonshire,  England.  Her  father. 
Rev.  James  Ford,  was  born  near  Cornwall, 
Devonshire,  England,  in  1787.  He  was  a 
well  educated  man,  and  was  a  distinguished 
minister  of  the  Non-Conformists,  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Webber,  of  his  native  shire,  and 
to  them  were  born  eight  children,  five 
daughters  and  three  sons — Elizabeth,  Ann, 
Mary,  Susanna,  Betsy,  James,  John  W. 
and  George.  They  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1833,  and  also  located  in  Ohio, 
where  the  father  died  shortly  after  their  ar- 
rival. The  mother  survived  him  many 
years,  dying  in  1866. 

To  William  Bin!  and  wife  six  chiliiren 
were  born,  five  sons  and  one  daughter. 
James  I'',  married  Jeannette  Payne,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Nellie.  They  re- 
side in  Rochelle,  where  he  is  in  the  produce 
business.  John  W.  was  twice  married, 
first  to  Martha  Nashold,  who  died,  and  he 
later  married  Martha  Reasoner,  by  whom 
he  has  two  children,  F.  Ernest  and  Clara 
E.  They  reside  in  Iowa,  where  he  has  at- 
tained  considerable   prominence  as  a  stock 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


15 


raiser  and  a  politician,  having  served  two 
terms  in  tiie  legislature  of  that  state.  W. 
Reed  died  of  an  accident  in  a  runaway,  De- 
cember 26,  1896,  at  the  age  of  fifty-si.x 
years.  Clara  E.  married  John  A.  McCrea, 
now  of  Creston,  and  they  have  two  daugh- 
ters, Ella  B.  and  Florence.  (See  sketch 
elsewhere  in  this  work.)  George  E.  mar- 
ried Margaret  Starrett,  of  Jasper  county, 
Iowa,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mary  L. 
They  reside  in  Rockford,  Iowa,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  the  farm  implement  business. 
Frank  F.  is  managing  the  home  farm  for  his 
mother.  He  received  a  good  education  in 
the  schools  of  Rochelle,  and  later  attended 
one  year  in  the  normal  school  at  Valpa- 
raiso, Indiana.  He  has  taught  several 
terms  in  the  public  schools  of  Ogle  county, 
and  has  given  good  satisfaction  as  a  teacher. 
William  Bird  departed  this  life  Febru- 
ary 23,  1875.  He  was  a  belie\cr  in  the 
Christian  religion,  and  died  in  the  full 
assurance  of  faith  in  a  glorious  resurrection. 
Mrs.  Bird,  who  still  survi\'es  him,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
is  a  firm  believer  in  the  religion  of  Christ. 
She  is  well  known  in  the  township  in  which 
she  has  made  her  home  for  more  than  forty- 
two  years,  and  where\er  known  she  is 
greatly  esteemed. 


HOMER  W.  MULNIX,  who  resides  on 
section  30,  Buffalo  township,  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  the  younger  gener- 
ation of  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Ogle 
county.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county,  and 
was  born  in  Eagle  Point  township,  Septem- 
ber 2,  1S58.  His  father,  John  Mulnix,  was 
born  in  Delaware  county.  New  York,  in 
1897,  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  He 
was  twice  married,  first  in   his  native  coun- 


ty, and  with  his  wife  and  family  came  to 
Illinois  in  1S50,  locating  in  Lee  county, 
where  his  first  wife  died,  leaving  a  family  of 
six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. He  later  married  Mrs.  Lydia  San- 
ford,  //('('  Sweet,  also  a  native  of  Delaware 
county,  New  York.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  and  his  second  marriage  he  re- 
moN'cd  to  Eagle  Point  township,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a 
successful  farmer  and  acquired  a  comfortable 
competence.  His  death  occurred  in  Febru- 
ary, 1 89 1.  His  wife  survived  him,  and 
passed  away  in  1897.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  three  children:  Louisa,  who  died  a 
young  lady;  Homer  W.,  our  subject,  and 
Corydon,  a  farmer  of  Ogle  county. 

Homer  W.  Mulnix  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  home  school  and  in  the 
Polo  high  school.  He  continued  on  the 
home  farm,  and  assisted  his  father  in  the 
management  of  the  farm  until  the  latter's 
death.  He  was  married  in  Cedar  county, 
Iowa,  March  18,  18S5, to  Miss  Nellie  E.Will- 
iams, a  native  of  Ohio,  who  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  and  daugh- 
ter of  James  Williams, a  well  known  citizen  of 
that  county.  After  his  marriage  he  rented 
one  season  and  then  moved  to  his  place  of 
residence,  having  succeeded  to  sixty  acres 
of  his  father's  estate.  He  later  bought  an 
adjoining  eighty  acres,  giving  him  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  in  the  home  farm. 
Subsequently  he  bought  another  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-six  acres  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  and  is  now  cultivating  both 
farms.  For  some  years  he  made  a  specialty 
raising,  buying  and  selling  horses,  but  of 
late  he  has  turned  his  attention  more  espe- 
cially to  breeding,  raising  and  dealing  in  cat- 
tle, and    is  counted  among    the    successful 


i6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


stock  raisers  and  farmers  of  Ogle  county. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mulnix  have  been  born 
two  sons:  Forest  Robert  and  John  T. ,  the 
former  a  student  of  the  home  school. 

Mr.  Mulni.x  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  James  A.  Garfield,  in  1880,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
never  sought  or  wanted  public  office,  but 
having  at  heart  the  interest  of  the  public 
schools,  he  has  served  on  the  school  board 
for  nine  years,  and  is  now  township  trustee 
of  schools.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of 
Polo,  and  also  of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe. 
It  is  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  that  he  is 
best  known  throughout  Ogle  and  adjoining 
counties.  He  has  shown  himself  well  qual- 
ified for  the  business,  and  is  a  thoroughly 
practical  man.  A  man  of  strict  integrity  of 
character  he  makes  friends  and  ever  retains 
that  friendship. 


CHARLES  M.  HALLER,  an  old  and 
highly-esteemed  citizen  of  Forreston, 
traces  his  ancestry  back  to  colonial  days. 
His  maternal  grandfather.  Captain  Meach, 
who  was  in  command  of  a  vessel,  took  part 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  daughter, 
Abigail  Meach,  married  Robert  Hewitt,  who 
was  of  English  and  French  ancestry,  and 
who  also  took  part  m  the  Revolutionary 
war,  having  many  narrow  escapes  in  several 
engagements.  Robert  Hewitt  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  but  with  his  wife  and  family 
he  emigrated  to  Maryland  in  1815.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  of 
whom  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  fifth 
in  order  of  birth.  He  died  in  1830,  and 
his  remains  were  buried  at  Middlebury, 
Franklin   county,    Pennsylvania.      His    wife 


survived  him  many  years,  and  came  with 
her  family  to  Illinois  in  1840.  She  lived  to 
a  ripe  old  age,  dying  in  November,  1855, 
in  her  ninety-fourth  year,  having  been  born 
August  10,  1 76 1.  Her  remains  were  in- 
terred in  the  Hewitt  cemetery,  at  Forres- 
ton. She  used  to  cook  for  the  Indians, 
and  had  many  interesting  stories  to  relate 
of  her  Revolutionary  experiences. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  Abigail 
(Hewitt)  Haller,  was  the  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert and  Abigail  (^Meach)  Hewitt.  She  was 
born  in  iSoo,  at  Tolland,  Windham  county, 
Connecticut.  She  was  married  in  January, 
1 8 19,  to  Charles  A.  Haller,  who,  by  his  first 
wife,  Catherine  Bruner,  daughter  of  John 
Bruner,  a  farmer  of  Frederick  county, 
Maryland,  had  four  children:  John,  a 
farmer,  who  lived  and  died  in  Attica,  Indi- 
ana; Henry,  a  wagonmaker,  who  also  died 
at  Attica,  Indiana;  Katherine,  wife  of  Jacob 
Dovenbarger,  of  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, but  who  came  to  Ogle  county,  and 
lived  near  Adeline ;  and  Samuel,  who 
lived  and  died  at  Attica,  Indiana.  To 
Charles  A.  and  wife  seven  children  were 
born.  Charles  M.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Jane  Abigail  married  Francis  Ham- 
ilton, of  Maryland,  who  removed  to  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  later  removed  to  Keokuk,  Iowa. 
Sarah  Ann  is  the  widow  of  Jacob  Flaut. 
She  resides  in  Lanark,  Illinois.  James 
Robert  died  when  about  eleven  months  old. 
Louis  lived  to  be  twenty-two  years  old,  and 
died  in  Pine  Creek  township,  and  was  buried 
at  Mt.  Morris.  George  William,  who  had 
been  a  successful  school  teacher  and  insur- 
ance agent,  died  at  Decatur,  Illinois.  Jo- 
seph is  a  physician  engaged  in  practice  at 
Lanark,  Illinois.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter, 


CHARLES   M.HALLER. 


->>^: 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


19 


Sarah,  at  Lanark,  Illinois,  in  1882,  and  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  that  place. 

Charles  Haller,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  came  to  America  from  Germany  in 
colonial  days,  paying  for  his  passage  by 
his  labor.  He  landed  in  Baltimore,  and 
from  there  went  to  Washington,  and  later 
to  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  where  Charles 
A.  Haller,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  He 
died  and  was  buried  at  New  Market,  Mary- 
land. When  a  young  man,  Charles  A.  Hal- 
ler moved  with  his  parents  to  Frederick 
county,  Maryland,  where  he  learned  the 
wogon-maker's  trade  and  conducted  a  shop. 
Later  he  moved  to  Boonesborough,  Mar}'- 
land,  on  the  National  road.  With  his  wife 
and  four  children,  in  May,  1846,  he  came  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  five  and 
a  half  miles  south  of  Mt.  Morris,  on  the 
Grand  Detour  road,  where  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land.  He 
lived  there,  however,  only  si.X'months,  and 
died  December  7,  1848,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Boonesborough,  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, November  15,  1819,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  subscription 
schools,  in  the  meantime  assisting  his  father 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  thirty-three- 
acre  tract  of  land  which  he  owned,  and 
in  the  manufacture  of  brick,  in  which 
he  was  engaged.  After  attaining  his  major- 
ity, he  aided  his  old  school-master,  James 
Brown,  in  the  management  of  his  school, 
which  had  an  attendance  of  one  hundred 
scholars,  and  engaged  in  their  instruction. 

In  April,   1846,  when  twenty-seven   years 

old,  he    was    united  in   marriage  with    Miss 

Elizabeth      Nikirk,     daughter     of     Samuel 

Nikirk,    a  carpet  weaver   in     the    town    of 
2 


Boonesborough,  Maryland,  where  she  was 
born,  educated,  and  grew  to  womanhood. 
The  month  after  his  marriage,  in  company 
with  his  parents  and  brothers  and  sisters,  he 
brought  his  young  bride  to  Ogle  county. 
They  left  Boonesborough  May  21,  1846, 
their  household  goods  in  a  two-horse  wagon, 
and  a  light  wagon  with  accommodation  for 
si.x  persons,  the  younger  children  finding 
place  in  the  wagon  with  the  furniture. 
Their  trip  overland  took  just  six  weeks,  and 
they  arrived  near  Mt.  Morris,  their  destina- 
tion, July  3,  1846,  and  immediately  set 
about  erecting  a  house  of  four  rooms,  two 
stories  high, the  lumber  for  the  construction 
of  which  our  subject  had  to  get  in  Chicago. 
He  set  out  on  Monday  morning  for  Chicago 
and  arrived  home  the  following  Monday. 
Those  were  the  days  of  "ox  team  transpor- 
tation," when  the  traveler  cooked  for  him- 
self along  the  roadside,  slept  in  his  wagon, 
and  whistled  a  song  along  the  lonesome 
roads  to  keep  himself  company. 

Their  little  home  erected,  young  Haller 
helped  his  mother  and  brothers  the  next 
year,  but  during  the  years  1847  and  1848 
he  took  charge  of  a  school  at  Phelps'  Grove, 
and  in  1S48-9  taught  the  school  on  the 
Grand  Detour  road,  near  Mt.  Morris.  In 
the  fall  of  1850  he  moved  to  West  Grove 
and  settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land  given 
him  by  his  uncle,  George  W.  Hewitt.  He 
built  a  frame  house  and  set  about  improv- 
ing the  place,  dividing  his  time,  however, 
between  school  teaching  and  farming.  He 
remained  on  that  place  until  1859,  when  he 
went  to  Forreston  and  engaged  in  general 
merchandising.  Later  he  purchased  a  stock 
of  drugs  .from  Frank  Barker,  now  of  Ro- 
chelle,  and  a  former  resident  of  Forreston, 
and  still  conducts  the  establishment  under 
the  management  of  his  son,  E.  E.  Haller. 


^o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haller  seven  children 
were  born.  Samuel  Henry  died  when  seven 
years  old.  Susan  married  John  Mullen,  but 
is  now  deceased.  Charles  Louis  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years.  Theodore  F.  is  the 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Forreston  Her- 
ald. George  Louis  is  now  deceased. 
Charles  M.  is  now  living  at  Portland,  Ore- 
gon. Edward  Everett  is  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness at  Forreston.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  December  23,  1893,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years,  and  her  remains  were 
interred  in  the  Hewitt  cemetery  at  Forres- 
ton. 

Mr.  Haller  sawed  the  log  and  split  the 
stakes  used  in  laying  out  the  town  of  For- 
reston in  1855,  the  town  being  laid  out  on 
the  land  of  his  uncle,  George  W.  Hewitt, 
who  had  located  a  claim  of  eight  hundred 
acres.  The  first  house  built  in  the  place 
was  a  rude  frame  structure  built  by  the  rail- 
road company  for  a  boarding  house.  Dr. 
Kingsbury  was  the  first  physician  in  Forres- 
ton. The  first  school  teacher  was  Thomas 
J.  Hewitt.  Mr.  Haller  was  selected  as  the 
first  teacher,  but  having  so  much  to  do  on 
his  farm  at  the  time,  he  secured  the  place 
for  his  cousin,  Mr.  Hewitt.  The  latter  mar- 
ried Miss  Fannie  Rockwood,  who  was  his 
assistant  in  the  school.  The  first  school 
building  was  just  west  of  where  the  present 
school  building  now  stands.  It  was  a  large 
frame  structure  and  built  under  the  super- 
vision of  George  W.  Hewitt  at  a  cost  of 
about  two  thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Haller  cast  his  first  vote  at  a  special 
election  in  his  native  state,  and  his  first 
presidential  vote  was  cast  in  1848  for  Zach- 
ary  Taylor,  the  Whig  candidate.  With  the 
Whig  party  he  continued  to  act  until  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  since 
which  time  he  has  given  his  support  to  the 


men  and  measures  of  that  party.  Relig- 
iously he  is  a  Lutheran,  and  assisted  in  or- 
ganizing the  Lutheran  church  in  Forreston 
in  1858,  and  has  since  been  an  elder  in  the 
same.  He  aided  and  supervised  the  build- 
ing of  the  church  which  was  dedicated  July 
10,  1864.  By  the  county  court  Mr.  Haller 
was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace,  was 
then  elected  and  served  one  year.  He  was 
later  appointed  notary  public  by  the  gov- 
ernor and  filled  the  position  twenty  years. 
He  was  also  township  school  treasurer  si.x 
years.  All  in  all,  Mr.  Haller  has  led  an 
active  life.  He  is  well  known  throughout 
the  county,  and  all  who  know  him  esteem 
him  for  his  many  excellent  qualities  of  head 
and  heart. 

ZIBA  A.  LANDERS,  senior  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Ogle  County  Repub- 
lican, Oregon,  Illinois,  was  born  March  21, 
1857,  at  Waukegan,  Illinois,  and  is  the  son 
of  Hezekiah  M.  and  Permelia  (Ivetchum) 
Landers,  the  former  being  a  native  of 
Canada,  but  who  came  to  the  United  States 
in  the  'forties,  locating  in  Lake  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1858  he  removed  to  Dade  county,  Missouri, 
where  he  likewise  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  remained  in  Missouri  until 
1864,  when  he  was  driven  out  by  the  Con- 
federates, entailing  on  him  a  great  loss  of 
property.  Leaving  Missouri,  he  returned 
to  Illinois  in  June,  1865,  and  located  in 
Ogle  county,  in  the  town  of  Dement. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about 
eight  years  old  when  his  parents  left  Mis- 
souri and  he  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  that 
time  and  the  conditions  which  compelled 
the  family  to  leave.  In  the  district  schools 
of  Ogle  county  he  obtained  his  education, 
attending  the   same    until    he  was   fourteen 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


21 


years  old,  when  he  went  out  to  earn  his 
own  living.  Choosing  the  printer's  trade, 
he  commenced  to  learn  the  business  with  an 
Oregon  mechanic,  and  after  completing  the 
trade  he  worked  as  a  journeyman,  in  all 
a  period  of  twelve  years,  when  he  engaged 
in  merchandising,  at  which  he  continued  for 
eight  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  purchased 
the  Creston  Observer.  This  was  in  1891, 
and  he  continued  the  publication  of  the 
paper  until  July,  1894,  when  he  sold 
the  establishment,  and  January  i,  1895,  he 
purchased  the  Ogle  County  Republican,  in 
connection  with  E.  L.  Reed,  which  partner- 
ship continued  until  October,  1898,  when 
Mr.  Reed  retired  from  the  business  and  Mr. 
Frank  C.  Sorrel  was  duly  installed  in  his 
position  upon  the  Republican. 

Mr.  Landers  was  married  November  30, 
1881,  to  Miss  Harriet  P.  Spickerman,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Sarah  (Sherman)  Spick- 
erman, both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Wayne  county,  New  York,  where  Mrs. 
Landers  was  also  born.  Her  parents  came 
to  Ogle  county  in  1870,  her  father  engaging 
in  farming.  By  this  union  four  children 
have  been  born — Ernest  D.,  Chester,  Clif- 
ford and  Sherman.  Clifford  died  when  one 
year  old. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Landers  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Frater- 
nally, he  is  a  member  of  Creston  Lodge, 
No.  320,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Rock  River 
Chapter,  No.  151,  R.  A.  M.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican,  with  which  party  he  has 
been  identified  since  attaining  his  majority, 
and  served  in  the  forty-first  general  assem- 
bly as  sergeant-at-arms  of  the  senate  in  a 
very  creditable  manner.  He  is  at  present  a 
member  of  the  Republican  town  committee 
of  Oregon,  and  aids  with  voice  and  pen  in 
promulgating    the    principles   of   his  party. 


While  residing  at  Creston  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  and  also  held 
other  official  positions. 

The  Ogle  County  Republican  was  founded 
in  1888  by  Bemis  &  Wagoner,  and  is  now 
conducted  by  Landers  &  Sorrel,  who  are 
first-class  newspaper  men,  good  writers  and 
men  of  unimpeachable  integrity.  The  pa- 
per is  a  six-column  quarto,  and  in  politics  is 
uncompromisingly  Republican. 


M 


ILTON  BURRIGHT.  a  retired  farmer 
residing  in  Oregon,  is  one  of  the  old- 
est living  settlers  in  Ogle  county,  having 
taken  up  his  residence  here  shortly  after  he 
attained  his  majority.  He  was  born  near 
Schenectady,  New  York,  December  25, 
181  5,  and  is  the  son  of  Cornelius  Burright, 
and  the  grandson  of  John  Burright,  of  whom 
little  is  known.  Cornelius  Burright  was 
born  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  New  York,  and 
was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  a  calling  that 
he  pursued  during  his  entire  life.  He  mar- 
ried Olive  Messenger,  also  a  native  of  New 
York.  She  died  in  Licking  oounty,  Ohio, 
in  1S27,  when  about  forty-five  years  old. 
Her  father  and  mother  lived  to  be  one  hun- 
dred and  one  hundred  and  three  years,  re- 
spectively. Some  years  after  the  death  of 
his  wife  Cornelius  Burright  came  to  Ogle 
county  and  for  twenty-five  years  prior  to  his 
death  made  his  home  with  our  subject.  He 
died  in  August,  1875,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
eight  years  and  seven  months. 

W^hile  he  was  yet  an  infant  our  subject's 
parents  moved  to  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
and  about  1823  moved  to  Licking  county, 
in  the  same  state.  He  was  but  twelve  years 
old  when  his  mother  died,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  his  father  remarried,  and  from  that 
time  he  had  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 


22 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


world.  For  one  season  he  worked  on  the 
Ohio  canal,  driving  an  ox  team  at  twenty- 
five  cents  per  day.  For  three  seasons  he 
worked  in  a  brick  yard  in  Franklin  county, 
Ohio,  and  during  the  winter  cut  cord  wood 
for  use  in  the  brick  yard  in  the  summer. 
He  saved  his  money  and  in  1836  he  walked 
one  hundred  miles  to  Van  Wert  county, 
Ohio,  and  entered  eighty  acres  of  timber 
land,  which  he  held  until  after  he  came  to 
Illinois.  About  this  time  he  spent  two 
winters  in  Mississippi  and  Louisiana,  cutting 
wood  for  steamboats.  He  was  an  unusually 
good  chopper,  and  on  one  occasion,  with 
the  assistance  of  three  companions,  cut 
twelve  cords  of  wood  in  one  day.  On  a 
wager,  alone,  he  cut  four  and  a  half  cords 
in  a  half  day,  a  record  which  has  probably 
never  been  beaten.  His  first  summer  in  Illi- 
nois was  spent  in  Grand  Detour,  and  his 
second  one  in  Dixon. 

In  April,  1838,  Mr.  Burright  bought  a 
claim  to  three  quarter-sections  of  land  in 
Pine  Rock  township,  and  after  remaining  on 
the  claim  until  the  following  August  he  went 
to  Missouri  to  spend  the  winter,  fearing  the 
cold  of  northern  Illinois.  He  went  on 
south  to  Natchez,  Mississippi,  and  later  to 
Louisiana.  In  the  spring  of  1839  he  re- 
turned to  Ogle  county,  and  has  never  felt 
the  necessity  of  again  leaving  it.  His  farm 
he  at  once  began  to  improve  and  from  time 
to  time  he  added  to  his  original  purchase 
until  he  once  owned  over  one  thousand  acres 
of  choice  land.  Much  of  this  he  disposed 
of  to  his  children,  retaining  only  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty-four  acres.  After  living  upon 
the  farm  for  nearly  a  half  century,  he  pur- 
chased a  house  and  lot  in  Oregon  and  has 
since  lived  a  retired  life. 

Since  coming  to  Ogle  county,  Mr.  Bur- 
right  has  never  lived  under  any  but  his  owti 


roof.  The  first  log  house  built  upon  his 
claim  was  a  very  rude  affair.  No  stove  was 
ever  used,  all  cooking  being  done  in  the  fire- 
place. The  chimney  was  made  of  sticks, 
and  his  bedstead  was  of  his  own  construc- 
tion and  had  but  one  leg.  It  was  built  in 
the  corner  of  the  cabin,  two  sides  being 
fastened  into  the  logs,  one  post  or  leg  hold- 
ing up  the  other  sides.  Its  springs  were 
slats  or  "shakes"  split  out  of  oak  logs,  and 
were  thin  and  elastic,  taking  the  place  of 
the  modern  woven  wire  springs.  He  later 
built  a  more  commodious  log  house,  and 
finally  a  fine  brick  house,  which  is  the  farm 
residence  to-day.  It  was  one  of  the  first 
of  its  kind  between  St.  Charles,  Kane  county, 
and  Dixon,  Lee  county. 

With  but  little  schooling  in  early  life, 
Mr.  Burright  has  made  up  for  lost  time  by 
being  an  extensive  reader.  After  marriage, 
his  wife,  who  had  a  good  education  for  that 
day,  taught  him,  and  his  own  natural  ability 
and  perseverance  did  the  rest.  His  first 
two  crops  of  grain  he  hauled  to  Chicago 
with  ox  teams,  being  several  days  on  the 
road.  Produce  was  then  %ery  low  and  pro- 
visions very  high. 

Mr.  Burright  was  first  married  October 
24,  1839,  in  Lafayette  township.  Ogle 
county,  to  Miss  Susanna  Drummond,  born 
in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  Decem- 
ber 18,  I  8  1 9,  and  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Elizabeth  (Loutzenheiser)  Drummond.  The 
latter,  who  attained  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years,  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  Loutzen- 
heiser,  whose  parents  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  when  he  was  but  two  years 
old.  He  married  Judith  Merchant,  whose 
brother.  Dr.  Da\id  Merchant,  was  a  sur- 
geon in  the  Re\-olutionary  war.  Two  other 
brothers  were  also  surgeons,  but  were  not 
in  the  Continental  service.     Andrew  Drum- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


23 


mond  was  born  in  New  York  state,  and 
came  west  in  the  fall  of  1838.  He  was  by 
occupation  a  farmer,  and  was  quite  promi- 
nent in  the  early  days  of  the^  county.  He 
was  instrumental  in  organizing  every  school 
district  between  Ashton,  Lee  county,  and 
Polo,  feeing  a  man  of  superior  education, 
he  was  of  great  service  in  that  connection. 
For  some  years  he  served  as  postmaster  of 
Ashton.  His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven  years.  Of  the  eleven  children 
born  to  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  Drummond, 
four  are  yet  living  in  Ogle  county.  Levi 
and  Lewis  are  living  in  Pine  Rock  town- 
ship; Jackson  resides  in  Lafayette  township; 
and  the  present  Mrs.  Burright  in  Oregon. 

To  our  subject  and  his  first  wife  nine 
children  were  born,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Thomas  Sheldon  married  Margaret 
Bailey,  and  they  now  reside  in  Dixon,  Illi- 
nois, with  their  family  of  seven  children. 
Sarah  Olive  married  Jacob  Acker,  and  with 
their  fi\e  children  they  live  in  Pine  Rock 
township,  John  married  Emma  Ashbaugh, 
by  whom  he  has  had  thirteen  children. 
They  reside  in  Iowa.  Thornton  lives  in 
Chana.  He  first  married  Christine  Dug- 
dale,  by  whom  he  had  four  children.  His 
second  wife  was  Miss  Addie  Lee,  by  whom 
he  has  one  child.  Albert  lives  in  Pine  Rock 
township,  near  the  old  home  farm.  He 
first  married  Armista  Thurber,  by  whom  he 
has  two  sons.  He  next  married  Mrs.  [ulia 
Grimes,  in'i  Haymaker.  Jeannette  mar- 
ried Oscar  Dugdale,  and  with  their  four 
children  they  live  in  Pine  Rock  township, 
adjoining  the  village  of  Chana.  Mary  mar- 
ried Charles  Dailey,  and  they  reside  in  Pine 
Rock  township.  They  have  had  five  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  August  24, 
1873. 


Mr.  Burright's  second  marriage  was  sol- 
emnized February  10,  1875,  when  he  wed- 
ded Mrs.  Judith  Rinker,  a  sister  of  his  first 
wife,  who  was  born  in  Licking  county. 
Ohio.  She  was  the  widow  of  Alhanen  Rink- 
er, a  native  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and 
who  died  near  Oregon,  October  2,  1855,  at 
the  age  of  thirty  years.  He  was  the  father 
of  four  children  who  lived  to  maturity. 
Wallace  E.  married  Margaret  Sutter,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children.  He  served 
in  the  Union  army,  during  the  Civil  war, 
but  was  drowned  in  a  river  in  Kansas  in 
187S.  Ellen  married  Robert  Garrison,  of 
Portland,  Oregon,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren. Frank  married  Annie  Wicks,  who 
died  leaving  three  children.  He  lives  in 
Clearfield,  Iowa.  Loretta  A.  married  Henry 
Yates,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade 
at   Chana,  Illinois.      They   have  one   child. 

In  politics  Mr.  Burright  is  a  Republican. 
He  has  not  been  an  office  seeker,  but  has 
held  several  local  offices,  including  school 
director,  road  commissioner,  and  township 
trustee.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  and  re- 
ligiously he  is  identified  with  the  Christian 
church,  but  there  being  no  service  held  by 
that  church  in  Oregon  he  attends  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  wife  has 
been  a  church  member  since  the  age  of  fif- 
teen years,  and  is  one  of  the  only  two  orig- 
inal members  of  the  first  church  organized 
in  Pine  Rock  township.  She  has  been  an 
efticient  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school  for 
many  years.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  she 
taught  school  at  Lafayette  Grove.  She  has 
now  a  bed  of  violets,  the  sprouts  of  which 
grew  at  the  door  of  the  first  school  which 
she  attended   when  a  girl. 

Mr.  Burright  has  not  only  reared  his 
own  children  in  comfort,  giving  them  good 
educations,    but    has  reared  several  of  his 


24 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


kindred  who  were  left  homeless,  and  is  now 
educating  his  wife's  grandson,  a  son  of 
Frank  Rinker.  He  is  a  man  highly  es- 
teemed for  his  works'  sake. 


WILLIAM  C.  BUNN.— In  this  enlight- 
ened age  when  men  of  energy,  indus- 
try and  merit  are  rapidly  pushing  their  way 
to  the  front,  those  who,  by  their  own  indi- 
vidual efforts,  have  won  favor  and  fortune 
may  properly  claim  recognition.  Years  ago, 
when  the  west  was  entering  upon  an  era  of 
growth  and  Ogle  county  was  laying  its  foun- 
dation for  future  prosperity,  there  came 
thither  from  all  parts  of  the  country  men 
poor  but  honest,  and  with  sturdy  independ- 
ence and  a  determination  to  succeed  that 
justly  entitled  them  to  representation  in  the 
history  of  the  great  west.  Among  this  now 
is  Mr.  Bunn,  who  has  met  with  remarkable 
success  in  his  business  undertakings,  and  is 
now  practically  living  retired  in  Byron. 

He  was  born  on  the  lOth  of  February, 
1837,  in  Hunterdon  county.  New  Jersey,  of 
which  county  his  father,  John  E.  Bunn,  was 
also  a  native.  On  attaining  to  man's  es- 
tate the  latter  married  Sarah  Conover,  who 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  in  1817.  He  con- 
tinued to  successfully  engage  in  farming  in 
his  native  county  until  1855,  when  he 
brought  his  family  to  Illinois,  where  he 
joined  some  New  Jersey  friends.  For  a  few 
years  he  resided  in  Byron  township.  Ogle 
county,  and  then  purchased  land  in  Winne- 
bago county,  where  he  developed  a  fine 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  oper- 
ating the  same  for  many  years.  He  finally 
sold  and  in  1882  returned  to  Byron  town- 
ship, Ogle  county,  where  he  died  in  1892, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-two  years.  His 
wife  had  passed  away  in  1872  and  both  were 


laid  to  rest  in  the  Stillman  'Valley  cemetery. 
In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
thirteen  children,  four  sons  and  nine  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity. 
William  C,  of  this  review,  is  the  oldest; 
Mary  wedded  Wesley  Yard  and  is  now  de- 
ceased; A.  M.  resides  on  a  farm  in  Byron 
township;  Mrs.  Sarah  Powell  is  a  widow; 
Anna  is  deceased;  Henry  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen;  Mrs.  Lucinda  Wells  resides  in 
Rockford,  Illinois;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of 
William  Van  Valzy,  of  Ogle  county;  Caro- 
line is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Anderson,  who 
owns  and  occupies  the  old  Bunn  homestead; 
Jane  married  but  is  now  deceased;  Garrett 
is  a  farmer  of  Winnebago  county;  and  Mar- 
tha is  the  wife  of  Henry  Liggett,  of  Marcus, 
Iowa. 

William  C.  Bunn  was  reared  in  New 
Jersey  and  educated  in  its  common  schools. 
He  came  with  the  family  to  this  state  and 
assisted  his  father  in  opening  up  the  farm, 
remaining  with  him  until  twenty-five  years 
of  age.  In  1861  he  was  married,  in  Ogle 
county,  to  Miss  Julia  Jarver,  a  native  of 
New  York,  who  was  brought  to  the  county 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years  by  her  father, 
Anthony  Jarver,  a  worthy  pioneer  of  Byron 
township,  where  he  reared  his  family.  Four 
children  have  been  born  of  their  union: 
John,  who  is  married  and  conducts  the  ele- 
vator and  buys  grain  in  Byron;  Alma,  wife 
of  Homer  Long,  a  business  man  of  Mt.  Car- 
roll, Carroll  county,  Illinois;  Arthur,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Myrtle,  Ogle  county;  and 
George,  who  is  employed  in  the  Farmers  & 
Merchants  Bank,  of  Byron. 

For  eight  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
I5unn  engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land, 
but  two  years  before  the  close  of  that  period 
he  purchased  a  half  interest  in  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres,   which  he  operated   in 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


!5 


connection  with  the  rented  farm.  In  the 
spring  of  1870  he  located  upon  his  place, 
but  sold  his  interest  in  the  same  two  years 
later  and  again  became  a  renter.  In  1872 
he  bought  an  improved  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  Marion  township,  to  the  fur- 
ther development  and  cultivation  of  which 
he  devoted  his  energies  for  four  years.  He 
remodeled  the  house,  enlarged  the  barn  and 
made  many  other  improvements  which 
added  to  its  value  and  attractive  appearance. 
On  account  of  impaired  health  he  removed 
to  Byron  in  the  spring  of  1S76,  but  three 
years  later  returned  to  the  farm  and  con- 
tinued to  follow  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1886,  when  he  rented  his  place  and  pur- 
chased residence  property  in  the  village 
where  he  still  resides.  He  became  inter- 
ested in  the  grain  business,  and  four  years 
later  bought  the  elevator  at  Byron.  He 
also  began  buying  and  shipping  cattle  and 
hogs  on  an  extensive  scale,  and  became  a 
large  dealer  in  flour,  feed,  salt,  coal,  etc. 
At  one  time  Mr.  Bunn  was  one  of  the 
heaviest  depositors  in  the  Byron  Bank,  but 
owing  to  a  change  of  ownership  and  man- 
agement he  became  dissatisfied  and  decided 
to  establish  a  bank  of  his  own.  Later  the 
bank  closed  and  a  number  of  the  depositors 
lost  heavily.  Since  then  the  present  Byron 
Bank  has  been  started.  Withdrawing  from 
the  former  institution  Mr.  Bunn  established, 
in  1891,  the  Farmers  &  Merchants  Bank, 
which  has  since  done  a  large  and  profitable 
business,  and  is  one  of  the  solid  financial 
institutions  of  the  county.  Although  our 
subject  started  out  in  life  for  himself  in  lim- 
ited circumstances  he  is  now  one  of  the 
most  successful  business  men  of  the  com- 
munity, and  is  the  owner  of  much  valuable 
real  estate  besides  his  business  property,  all 
of  which  has  been  acquired  through  his  own 


well-directed  efforts.  At  all  times  he  sup- 
ports the  principles  of  the  Republican  party 
by  his  ballot,  and  though  he  served  as  col- 
lector of  Marion  township  at  one  time,  he 
has  never  cared  for  political  preferment. 
He  is  public-spirited  and  enterprising,  giv- 
ing a  liberal  support  to  all  measures  which 
he  believes  calculated  to  advance  the  moral, 
intellectual  or  material  welfare  of  his  own 
town  or  county. 


F\V.  HOWE,  an  enterprising  business 
man  and  postmaster  of  Monroe  Center, 
was  born  in  Cherry  Valley,  Winnebago 
county,  Illinois,  November  28,  1S65,  and  is 
the  son  of  Maynard  and  Susan  (Foster) 
Howe,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New 
York  state,  but  who  came  west  in  an  early 
day  and  settled  in  Cherry  Valley,  where  the 
fatherengaged  in  the  grain  business,  having  a 
large  elevator,  and  building  up  an  extensive 
trade,  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  also  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade 
for  a  time.  His  death  occurred  at  Cherry 
\'alley  some  years  since,  and  his  widow  later 
married  T.  M.  Lee,  a  lumber  merchant  of 
Cherry  Valley.  Maynard  and  Susan  (Fos- 
ter) Howe  were  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren,— Fannie,  residing  in  Cherry  \'alley, 
and  our  subject. 

In  his  native  village  our  subject  grew  to 
manhood  and  attended  the  district  school 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  found 
employment  in  the  lumber-yard  of  his  step- 
father, continuing  with  him  for  three  years. 
While  thus  employed  he  learned  telegraphy, 
and  later  secured  a  position  with  the  Chi- 
cago &  Northwestern  railway,  where  he 
was  employed  about  six  months.  He  then 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  lumber-yard 
with  his  stepfather,  at   Monroe  Center,  and 


S/UiK  VALLEY  COLLEGE 
LRC 


43Gi9 


26 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


later  they  purchased  the  hardware  store  of 
Hildebrand  &  Eychaner,  since  which  time 
they  have  continued  both  lines  of  trade.  In 
addition  to  his  mercantile  interests,  Mr. 
Howe  has  an  interest  in  a  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  near  Cherry  Valley,  and  has 
also  considerable  town  property  in  Monroe 
Center. 

On  the  1 2th  of  March,  1889,  Mr.  Howe 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cora  Alex- 
ander, of  Monroe  Center,  and  daughter  of 
J.  Alexander,  and  by  this  union  two  chil- 
dren have  been  born, — Maynard  A.  and 
Vera  May. 

In  politics  Mr.  Howe  has  always  been  a 
Republican  and  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
principles  of  the  party.  For  three  years  he 
served  as  town  clerk  of  Monroe,  and  in 
1 896  and  1897  was  assessor  of  the  township. 
In  April,  1897,  he  received  his  appointment 
as  postmaster  of  Monroe,  which  position  he 
fills  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner.  Frater- 
nally, he  is  a  Mason,  and  also  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  his 
local  camp  he  has  served  as  clerk  for  three 
years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Home 
Forum  and  Knights  of  Pythias.  Always 
interested  in  the  public  schools,  he  has  given 
of  his  time  to  advance  their  interests,  serv- 
ing three  years  as  a  school  director.  Re- 
ligiously, Mrs.  Howe  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  the  work  of 
which  she  is  deeply  interested.  As  a  busi- 
ness man  Mr.  Howe  is  thoroughly  progress- 
ive and  always  up  with  the  times. 


NOAH  SPEAKER.— One  of  the  busi- 
est, most  energetic  and  most  enter- 
prising citizens  of  Ogle  county  is  Noah 
Speaker — the    founder    of    Egan    City.      It 


was  through  his  influence  and  determination 
that  a  station  was  established  at  that  time 
and  the  people  of  the  community  owe  to 
him  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can  never 
be  repaid  for  it  has  proved  of  inestimable 
value  to  neighboring  farmers.  For  over 
half  a  century  he  has  taken  a  most  promi- 
nent and  active  part  in  the  development 
and  upbuilding  of  the  county,  and  has 
advanced  its  interests  in  every  possible 
way. 

Mr.  Speaker  was  born  in  Washington 
count}-,  Mar}land,  December  24,  1820,  and 
on  the  paternal  side  is  of  German  extrac- 
tion. His  father,  Samuel  Speaker,  was 
born  about  1791,  in  Ohio,  where  the  grand- 
father resided  for  a  few  years  prior  to  lo- 
cating in  Pennsylvania,  but  later  in  life  he 
became  a  resident  of  Washington  county, 
Maryland.  Samuel  Speaker  was  reared  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  there  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Kretsinger.  He  was  a  carpenter  and 
joiner  by  trade  and  followed  contracting 
and  building  throughout  his  active  life.  He 
was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  18 12  and 
received  a  land  warrant  for  his  serv- 
ices. In  1855  he  joined  his  children  in  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  and  here  spent  his  last 
years,  dying  in  1864.  The  death  of  his 
wife  occurred  in  1862.  Their  family,  con- 
sisting of  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  were 
reared  in  Maryland.  William,  the  eldest, 
came  west  in  1855  and  settled  in  Stephen- 
son county,  Illinois,  where  he  died.  Noah 
is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Washington 
also  came  to  Illinois  in  1855,  but  afterward 
settled  in  Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred, 
but  his  remains  were  interred  in  Egan  cem- 
etery, this  count)'.  Isaiah,  a  carpenter  and 
joiner,  resides  in  Toledo,  Iowa.  Eliza  re- 
mained in  Maryland,  where  she  married  and 
reared  a  family,  but  is  now  deceased.    Mary 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


27 


Ann,  also  deceased,  married  and  settled  in 
Mt.  Morris,  Illinois. 

Noah  Speaker  is  wholly  a  self-educated 
man  as  he  had  no  school  advantages.  In 
May,  1844,  he  came  to  Ogle  county,  driving 
a  team  across  the  country  for  Samuel  Rine- 
hart,  who  settled  in  Adeline.  Here  our 
subject  worked  by  the  month  for  William 
Hopwood  for  four  years  on  his  farm  near 
Oregon,  and  in  1S49  returned  to  his  native 
county,  where  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherine  Ann  Garvin.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  again  came  to  Ogle  county 
and  made  a  permanent  location.  He  had 
previously  entered  a  tract  of  forty  acres, 
where  he  now  resides  and  after  his  marriage 
rented  a  little  house  near  his  land.  While 
breaking  and  improving  his  property  he 
worked  at  anything  by  which  he  could  earn 
a  livelihood  and  in  this  way  secured  a  start 
in  life.  In  1853  he  built  a  house  upon  his 
place,  and  afterwards  bought  an  adjoining 
forty  acres.  He  now  has  a  large,  neat  and 
substantial  residence,  good  outbuildings,  and, 
in  fact,  all  of  the  conveniences  and  acces- 
sories of  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  Two  years  after  the  railroad  was 
laid  out  he  made  an  effort  to  get  a  station 
established,  and,  after  a  hard  struggle,  suc- 
ceeded. It  was  located  near  the  northeast 
corner  of  his  place  by  J.  M.  Egan,  a  railroad 
official,  and  was  named  in  honor  of  that 
gentleman.  Mr.  Speaker  laid  out  the  town 
and  has  since  sold  many  lots  and  has  suc- 
ceeded in  founding  a  thriving  little  village 
which  is  a  credit  to  him. 

He  has  been  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who  died  April  6, 
1895,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Egan  ceme- 
tery. To  them  were  born  four  children, 
namely:    William,  a  successful  physician  of 

Manson,  Iowa;  Alice,  wife  of  John  Harmon, 
3 


of  Haldane,  Illinois;  Rosa,  wife  of  W.  W. 
Williams,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  and  Marian, 
deceased  wife  of  Newton  Harmon. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Speaker 
has  been  a  life-long  Democrat,  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren 
in  1836.  For  si.xteen  years  he  was  an  effi- 
cient member  of  the  school  board  of  Egan, 
but  has  never  sought  nor  desired  official 
honors,  preferring  to  give  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  his  business  interests.  As  a  public- 
spirited,  enterprising  citizen,  he  certainly 
deserves  honorable  mention  in  a  work  of 
this  kind,  and  his  many  friends  in  Ogle 
county  will  read  with  interest  this  brief 
sketch  of  his  life. 


SAMUEL  S.  McGUFFIN.— Among  the 
prominent  and  enterprising  men  who 
are  identified  with  Ogle  county  and  its  ad- 
vancement, belongs  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view. His  birth  occurred  in  Canada  on  the 
23d  of  December,  1832,  where  he  lived  un- 
til his  tenth  year.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Margaret  (Howard)  McGuffin,  who  came 
to  Illinois  in  1843  and  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Ogle  county.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living.  Andrew  is  the  second  old- 
est. The  second  son,  John,  is  a  Method- 
ist minister  in  Chicago.  Annie  is  the  wife 
of  Benjamin  Canfield,  a  farmer  in  Ogle 
county.  Sarah  married  Solomon  Whitaker, 
also  a  farmer  in  Ogle  county.  Katie  is  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Mossit  and  resides  in  Can- 
ada. The  sixth  child  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Samuel  S.  McGuffin  worked  for  his  fa- 
ther until  i860,  when  he  accepted  a  con- 
tract to  clear  and  break  a  tract  of  farmland 
in  Rockvale  township,  and  received  in  pay- 


28 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ment  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 21,  where  he  now  resides,  and  the 
present  fine  residence,  outbuildings,  or- 
chards, fences,  ornamental  trees  and  general 
thrifty  appearance,  all  bespeak  the  owner's 
enterprise  and  energy.  In  1865  Mr.  Mc- 
Guffin  married  Frances  Elizabeth  Griswold, 
who  was  born  February  3,  1845,  in  Rock- 
vale  township,  which  place  has  always  been 
her  home.  Nine  children  have  blessed  this 
union  and  are  here  named  in  order  of  birth: 
Ida  married  Isaac  Price,  who  is  in  the  em- 
ploy of  one  of  the  Chicago  railroad  com- 
panies. Maud  is  living  at  home.  May  is 
the  wife  of  R.  L.  Thomas,  a  farmer  of  Ogle 
county.  Nellie,  the  fourth  child,  died  in 
infancy.  Maggie  is  the  wife  of  Martin  Ash- 
baugh,  of  Oregon.  Blanch  married  George 
Crowell,  of  Pocahontas  county,  Iowa.  Cath- 
erine is  deceased.  Talbot  is  at  home  aid- 
ing in  the  management  of  the  home  farm, 
and  Edith  Frances,  the  youngest,  is  also 
living  at  home. 

Mrs.  McGuffiin  is  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Hannah  (Jackson)  Griswold,  who  came 
to  Ogle  county,  in  1838,  and  settled  in  Or- 
egon. Her  father  is  an  Englishman  and 
her  mother  a  native  of  Boston.  She  is  one 
of  six  chidren,  namely:  William,  now  de- 
ceased; Henry,  a  well-to-do  banker  of  Man- 
son,  Iowa,  now  deceased;  Mary,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Harvey,  a  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer  of  Rockvale  township;  Alice,  the  wife 
of  A.  W.  Price,  a  dental  surgeon  and  a 
large  property-owner  of  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship. Mrs.  McGuffin's  brother  enlisted  with 
the  Seventy-fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry and  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of 
of  Shiloh.  Her  uncle, Charles  H.  Jackson, 
served  with  distinction  throughout  the  Civil 
war. 

.  Mr.  McGuffin  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abra- 


ham Lincoln,  but  is  an  independent  voter 
rather  than  a  party  man,  voting  his  convic- 
tions without  reference  to  the  politics  of 
the  candidate.  He  has  at  all  times  been  an 
advocate  of  good  roads,  and  his  ideas, which 
he  put  into  practice  during  his  term  of  town- 
ship trustee,  did  not  receive  the  endorse- 
ment of  his  fellow  citizens.  The  wisdom  of 
his  opinions  in  this  particular  is  now  every- 
where apparent,  and  his  ideas  and  sugges- 
tions, while  in  "advance  of  his  time,"  are 
now  being  rapidly  carried  out.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McGuffin  are  surrounded  by  a  bright 
and  intelligent  family,  each  member  of 
which  has  displayed  marked  taste  for  edu- 
cational pursuits,  all  the  girls  adopting  the 
profession  of  school  teaching.  They  are 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  the  high  esteem  in  which  they  have 
always  been  held,  is  the  reward  for  upright- 
ness, integrity  and  sociability  in  their  rela- 
tions to  all. 


DENNIS  SULLIVAN,  the  agreeable, 
accommodating  and  efficient  agent  and 
telegraph  operator  for  the  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  railroad  at  Harper,  is  a  native  son  of 
Illinois,  born  in  Winnebago  county,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1857,  a  son  of  Dennis  Sullivan,  Sr. , 
who  died  just  prior  to  the  birth  of  our  sub- 
ject. The  mother  later  removed  to  Mt. 
Carroll,  Illinois,  where  her  son  grew  to  man- 
hood, and  completed  his  education  in  the 
Mt.  Carroll  high  school.  He  then  worked 
on  a  farm  for  a  short  time,  and  subsequently 
entered  the  service  of  the  Milwaukee  & 
St.  Paul  railroad  as  brakeman  for  a  few 
months.  He  next  entered  the  Mt.  Carroll 
office,  where  he  assisted  the  agent  and 
learned  telegraphy,  remaining  there  about 
three    years,  during   which  time  he  became 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


29 


an  expert  operator.  On  the  1st  of  August, 
1887,  he  was  given  the  position  of  night 
operator  at  Harper,  and  after  three  years 
and  three  months  spent  here,  he  went  to 
Galewood,  where  he  was  agent  and  operator 
for  two  years.  On  the  28th  ol  July,  1S92, 
he  was  again  transferred  to  Harper,  where 
he  has  since  served  as  operator  and  agent 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  company 
and  the  general  public. 

At  Freeport,  Illinois,  July  2,  18S9,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Sullivan  and 
Miss  Catherine  Lang,  who  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  Forreston,  and  they  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  three  children,  namely; 
Daniel  H.,  Floyd  D.  and  Helen  S.  Since 
attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Sullivan  has  been 
an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
having  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
James  A.  Garfield,  but  he  has  never  been 
an  aspirant  for  office.  He  is  a  wide-awake, 
energetic  business  man  and  since  coming  to 
Harper  has  bought  lots  and  erected  two 
neat  and  substantial  residences  thereon.  In 
social  as  well  as  business  circles  he  stands 
deservedly  high,  as  he  is  pleasant,  genial 
and  affable  and  makes  friends  readily. 


JOHN  WATERBURY  CLINTON,  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Ogle  County 
Press,  Polo,  was  born  in  Andes,  Delaware 
county.  New  York,  and  is  the  son  of  George 
N.  and  Jane  A.  (Gibbs)  Clinton.  On  his 
father's  side  he  traces  his  ancestry  to  Jo- 
seph Clinton,  his  great-grandfather,  of  New 
Canaan,  Connecticut,  who  married  Phrebe 
Benedict.  Their  son,  Joseph  Benedict  Clin- 
ton, married  Abigail  Camp,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  George  Nelson  Clinton,  the 
father  of  our  subject.  On  his  mother's 
side  he  goes  back  to  his  grandfather,  Phineas 


Gibbs,  of  Andes,  New  York,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  and  who  married 
Anna  Thompson,  daughter  of  John  Thomp- 
son, of  Andes,  New  York,  who  was  in  re- 
ligion, a  Quaker.  Joseph  Benedict  Clinton 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  in 
the  First  Connecticut  Line,  under  Colonel 
Webb.      He  died  in  1828. 

George  N.  Clinton  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  but  in  his  native  city  engaged  in  the 
general  mercantile  trade,  having  a  small 
general  store.  He  was  for  a  time  postmas- 
ter of  the  place.  In  the  winter  of  1839- 
40,  he  came  to  Ogle  county  and  purchased  a 
settlers'  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  prairie  land  and  forty  acres  of  timber,  then 
returned  east,  with  a  view  of  returning  and 
making  the  claim  his  permanent  home.  On 
account  of  the  failing  health  of  his  wife,  he 
abandoned  the  idea,  losing  the  amount  paid 
for  the  claim.  In  1870,  he  came  once  more 
to  the  county,  but  only  on  a  visit  to  his 
son.  The  changes  wrought  in  the  country 
in  the  thirty  years  he  could  scarcely  real- 
ize. His  death  occurred  in  his  home  at 
Andes,  New  York,  in  June,  1883.  His 
good  wife  preceded  him  many  years,  dying 
in  1847. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  an 
academic  education  in  his  native  state, 
where  he  engaged  in  teaching  until  October, 
1857,  when  he  came  to  Polo.  During  the 
ensuing  winter  he  taught  the  school  in  Buf- 
falo Grove,  and  the  next  summer  taught  a 
select  school  in  the  old  seminary.  He  was 
afterward  employed  as  a  teacher  in  the 
Buffalo,  Forreston  and  Polo  schools  until 
1865,  when  he  became  editor  and  proprie- 
tor of  the  Polo  Press,  of  which  he  is  sole 
proprieter.  He  was  also  publisher  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Poultry  Argus,  and  the  Fores- 
ton  Journal,  the  predecessor  of  the  Herald, 


30 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


of  the  former  during  1875-6,  and  the  latter 
1 87 1-4.  He  has  held  the  position  of  town 
clerk  and  assistant  supervisor  of  Buffalo 
township,  and  was  postmaster  at  Polo  for 
eight  years,  from  1875  to  1883. 

Mr.  Clinton  is  known  throughout  the 
state  as  a  newspaper  man,  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Illinois  Press  Association 
since  1869.  He  has  been  one  of  its  active 
members,  serving  it  as  treasurer  from  1873 
to  1875,  and  from  1876  to  1881.  In 
February,  1883,  he  was  elected  president 
of  the  Association  and  served  one  year. 
He  has  been  elected  several  times  a  dele- 
gate from  the  Illinois  Press  Association  to 
the  National  Association. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1861,  Mr.  Clin- 
ton was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Carrie 
A.  Perkins,  a  native  of  Delhi,  Delaware 
county,  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  Dea- 
con Timothy  and  Sarah  (Veghte)  Perkins. 
Timothy  Perkins  was  the  son  of  Rufus,  and 
grandson  of  Timothy  Perkins,  who  were 
natives  of  Massachusetts.  Timothy  Per- 
kins, the  father  of  Mrs.  Clinton,  served  in 
the  war  of  181 2,  in  Colonel  Farrington's 
regiment,  light  infantry,  and  with  his  regi- 
ment was  stationed  near  Fort  Gainesworth. 
He  married  Sarah  Veghte,  daughter  of  John 
Veghte,  of  Johnstown,  New  York.  In  i  840  he 
came  to  Ogle  county,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives,  the  mother  dying 
in  the  spring  of  1876,  when  about  seventy- 
five  years  of  age.  The  father  died  Novem- 
ber 23,   1884,  aged  ninety  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clinton  seven  children 
were  born,  of  whom  five  are  yet  living — 
Evangeline,  George  P.,  John  D.,  Edgar  M. 
and  Anna  Lucile;  Georgiana,  the  eldest. 
and  Bertie  F.  died  in  infancy.  The  living 
children  are  all  graduates  of  the  Polo  high 
school.      George  P.  and  John  D.  are  gradu- 


ates of  the  University  of  Illinois,  the  former 
now  serving  as  assistant  botanist  in  the  Illi- 
nois Experiment  Station  connected  with 
the  University  of  Illinois.  Edgar  M.  is  a 
student  in  Stanford  University,  California. 
In  politics  Mr.  Clinton  is  a  Republican, 
the  Press  being  an  advocate  of  Republican 
principles.  He  was  initiated  in  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  April  26,  1858. 


MARTIN  L.  ETTINGER,  retired,  is  a 
gentleman  who  has  retained  a  person- 
al association  with  the  affairs  of  Rochelle 
and  Oregon  for  almost  half  a  century.  His  life 
has  been  one  of  honest  endeavor, and  due  suc- 
cess has  not  been  denied  him.  A  man  of  un- 
swerving integrity  and  honor,  who  has  a 
perfect  appreciation  of  the  higher  ethics  of 
life,  he  has  gained  the  respect  of  his  asso- 
ciates, and  is  distinctively  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Rochelle.  He  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Dover,  York  county,  on  the  23rd  of 
December,  1832,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated,  attending  the  common  schools 
until  his  seventeenth  year.  After  leaving 
school  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  car- 
penter, for  three  years  and  in  1854  left  the 
parental  roof  for  the  west,  going  direct  to 
Oregon,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  four  years.  At  this  time  he  was 
appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the  recorder's 
office,  where  he  soon  made  himself  at  the 
necessary  official,  so  much  so,  that  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  it  was  a  most 
earnest  request  of  the  recortler  that  he  re- 
frained from  enlisting,  which  he  had  fully 
intended  doing.  He  served  as  deputy  clerk 
of  the  Circuit  court  until  1864,  when  he  was 
elected  county  treasurer,  serving  four  years. 
At  the  e.xpiration  of    this  term    he  opened  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


31 


music  store  dealing  in  pianos,  organs,  etc. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  account- 
ant at  Chicago,  for  the  Chicago  &  Iowa 
Railroad  Company,  and  in  1 877  he  was 
appointed  general  ticket  agent  and  auditor 
at  Rochelle.  He  filled  these  two  positions 
with  great  credit  to  himself,  until  1887, 
since  which  time  he   has  lived  a  retired  life. 

Mr.  Ettinger  is  the  second  of  si.x  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living.  His  fa- 
ther was  Daniel  M.  Ettinger,  who  was 
born  in  Rossville,  York  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  attained  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years.  Mr.  Ettinger,  Sr.,  taught  school  for 
thirty-five  years,  a  record  few  could  equal, 
and  dnring  that  time  acted  as  local  surveyor 
and  engineer.  In  1852  he  came  to  Chicago 
and  had  charge  of  the  engineering  depart- 
ment of  the  Wisconsin  division  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  railroad.  The 
following  year  he  returned  to  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  made  his  home  un- 
til his  death.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig, 
and  during  the  war  was  in  charge  of  one  of 
the  underground  railroads.  He  attended 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  where  he 
was  a  highly  respected  member.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Lavina  (Toomy) 
Ettinger,  a  daughter  of  Peter  Toomy,  a  res- 
ident of  Perry  county,  Pennsylvania,  formerly 
of  York  county. 

In  March,  1855,  there  occurred  in  Free- 
port,  Illinois,  the  marriage  of  our  subject 
to  Miss  Eleanor  Cregier,  of  New  Jersey,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living:  Frank,  an  engineer  on 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Ouincy  railroad, 
is  married,  and  has  three  children;  Carrie, 
Charles  and  Blanche.  The  second  chhld 
Banche,  is  the  wife  of  B.  W.  Eraser,  a 
merchant  of  Polo,  Ilinois.  Carrie,  the 
youngest  living  child,  is  attending  school  at 


Rochelle.  The  paternal  grandparents  of 
our  subject  were  Adam  and  Abbie  (Miller) 
Ettinger.  The  former  was  born  in  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  dying  at  the  age  of 
ninety-six,  and  was  a  minister  of  a  denom- 
ination known  as  the  Albrights. 

Martin  L.  Ettinger  is  an  independent 
Democrat,  and  is  serving  as  chairman  of 
the  county  central  committee.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  was  for  two  years  a  member  of  the  city 
council  of  Rochelle  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  When  the  Ogle  &  Car- 
roll county  railroad  was  projected  he  was 
instrumental  in  aiding  the  enterprise 
through,  and  was  a  stockholder  and  secre- 
tary of  said  company  until  it  was  absorbed 
by  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Ouincy  Rail- 
road Company.  Most  of  his  mature  years 
have  been  spent  in  active  railroad  life,  and 
he  has  that  genial  bearing  common  to  rail- 
road officials.  He  has  served  as  president 
of  the  Rochelle  Whist  club,  and  is  voted 
by  his  friends  as  an  all  around  good  fellow. 


JOHN  SMALL,  a  retired  farmer  living  on 
section  20,  Lincoln  township,  came  to 
Ogle  county  in  March,  1864,  when  in  his 
eighteenth  year.  He  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Maryland,  Jul}'  28,  1S46,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Wenrick) 
Small,  the  former  a  native  of  Maryland  and 
the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  The  parents 
never  came  west,  but  both  passed  to  their 
reward  in  Maryland,  the  father  dying  in 
1853,  the  mother  surviving  him  a  number 
of  years,  rearing  and  caring  for  their  chil- 
dren. They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  who  grew  to  mature 
years,  but  of  the  number  our  subject  and 
his  sister,  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Henry  A.  Long, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


of  Scott  county,  Kansas,  are  the  only  sur- 
vivors. 

In  his  native  county  John  Small  re- 
mained until  in  his  eighteenth  year.  His 
educational  advantages  were  very  limited, 
but  he  has  made  use  of  the  opportunities  he 
has  had  in  mingling  with  the  world  until 
to-day  he  is  a  well-informed  man.  He  came 
to  Ogle  county  and  here  joined  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Long,  who,  with  her  husband,  had  set- 
tled here  some  time  previously.  On  his  ar- 
rival he  commenced  farm  work  by  the  month 
and  continued  to  be  thus  employed  during 
the  summer  and  fall  of  1864.  The  war  for 
the  Union  had  now  been  in  progress  for 
nearly  four  years,  and  although  not  eighteen 
years  old  he  determined  to  offer  his  services 
to  his  country.  He  enlisted  March  8,  1865, 
"for  one  year  or  during  the  war,"  becom- 
ing a  member  of  Company  K,  Fifteenth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  and  joined  his  regi- 
ment, which  was  then  at  Raleigh,  North 
Carolina.  With  his  regiment  he  was  en- 
gaged in  doing  guard  duty  along  the  rail- 
roads, and  continued  to  be  thus  actively  em- 
ployed until  near  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  later  taken  sick  and  was  in  Harewood 
hospital,  at  Washington  City,  for  about  three 
weeks.  He  received  an  honorable  discharge 
July  13,    1865. 

Being  within  a  few  miles  of  his  old  home 
when  discharged  he  concluded  to  visit  rela- 
tives and  friends  in  Maryland  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  so  spent  delightfully  a  couple  of 
weeks.  He  then  returned  to  Ogle  county 
and  the  following  season  worked  by  the 
month.  He  then  purchased  a  threshing 
machine  and  for  several  years  engaged  in 
threshing  grain,  a  business  which  was  then 
fairly  remunerative.  On  the  13th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1876,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss    Susanna  Tschopp,  who  was  born  and 


reared  in  Ogle  county,  and  daughter  of 
Philip  Tschopp,  a  native  of  Northumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  who  there  grew  to 
manhood  and  married  Susanna  Heckart, 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  had  a 
family  of  five  daughters  and  one  son  who 
grew  to  mature  years:  Helen,  who  married 
John  Rebuck,  and  died  about  1881;  Mrs. 
Catherine  Weaver,  of  Mt.  Morris  township; 
Anna,  wife  of  John  Pagan,  of  Lincoln  town- 
ship; Charles  Henry,  who  resides  at  Hal- 
dane.  Ogle  county;  Sarah,  wife  of  Fred 
Martz,  of  Lincoln  township;  and  Susanna, 
wife  of  our  subject.  Mr.  Tschopp  came 
with  his  family  to  Ogle  county  in  1854,  and 
settled  in  Leaf  River  township  and  afterward 
moved  to  Mt.  Morris  township,  that  part 
which  is  now  Lincoln  township,  and  here 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  the 
fall  of  1 89 1.  His  wife  survives  him  and  is 
now  living  in  Forreston. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Small  rented  a 
farm  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  and  continued 
fo  rent  for  several  years.  In  1883  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Lincoln  township,  to  which  he  re- 
moved with  his  family,  and  on  which  they 
lived  for  nine  years,  in  the  meantime  put- 
ting some  substantial  improvements  upon 
the  place.  Selling  that  farm,  he  bought  the 
place  on  which  they  now  reside,  which  lies 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  Hal- 
dane,  and  where  he  has  since  lived  retired. 

Politically  Mr.  Small  is  a  Republican, 
although  he  was  reared  a  Democrat.  He 
never,  however,  voted  the  Democratic 
ticket,  but  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  General  Grant  in  1868.  He  has  taken 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  various  conventions  of 
his  party.  He  is  at  present  a  member  of 
the  Lincoln  township    central  committee  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


33 


his  party,  and  of  the  county  central  com- 
mittee. For  seven  consecutive  years  he 
served  as  assessor  of  his  township,  and 
for  nine  years  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  president  of  the  same  for  years. 
In  all  local  afiairs  he  has  been  quite  active. 
Since  1890  he  has  been  secretary  of  the 
Lincoln  Township  Insurance  Company. 
He  is  also  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Ogle  County  Farmers'  Institute,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Farmers'  National  Congress, 
which  met  at  Fort  Worth,  Texas,  Decem- 
ber 6, 1898.  While  gone  he  visited  Galves- 
ton, Houston,  Waco,  San  Antonio,  and  a 
number  of  other  important  points  in  the 
"Lone  Star  state."  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R. ,  of  Mt.  Morris.  In 
the  thirty-five  years  he  has  been  a  resident 
of  Ogle  county  he  has  made  man}'  friends, 
who  esteem  him  as  one  worthy  of  their  con- 
fidence. 

GEORGE  H.  ANDREW,  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  Ogle  county,  was 
born  in  Paine's  Point,  Pine  Rock  township, 
Ogle  county,  July  16,  1855.  Heisasonof 
Nicholas  and  Margaret  (Eychaner)  Andrew, 
who  were  married  in  1840.  Nicholas  An- 
drew was  born  in  18 18,  on  the  Mohawk 
river.  New  York,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated,  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming.  Mrs.  Andrew  was  born  in  1824, 
in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Conrad  Eychaner,  a  farmer  of  New 
York  state.  Mr.  Eychaner  took  an  active 
part  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  served  with 
much  distinction.  Shortly  after  his  mar- 
riage he  came  to  Illinois  and  was  among 
the  first  settlers  of  the  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Andrew  had  five  children.  Daniel, 
the  eldest  and  a  prominent  farmer  of  Ogle 
county,  was  born  in  1S45  ^nd  died  in  1898. 


Franklin,  born  in  March,  1S47,  is  at  present 
road  commissioner  of  Pine  Rock  township. 
Nathan,  born  in  1850,  is  a  prominent  mer- 
chant in  the  town  of  Oregon.  Amanda  was 
born  in  1S52  and  died  in  1865.  Mr.  An- 
drew died  in  1856,  in  the  prime  of  life,  be- 
ing only  thirty-eight  years  of  age.  His  wife 
is  still  living  at  Paine's  Point,  and  enjoys 
a  comfortable  old  age. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
review,  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon school,  and  after  completing  his  edu- 
cation took  up  the  pursuit  of  farming,  which 
he  followed  until  1879,  when  he  removed 
to  Ghana.  On  the  nineteenth  of  Septem- 
ber, 1878,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ida 
M.  Eddy,  a  daughter  of  Horace  and  Jane 
(Woodward)  Eddy,  natives  of  De  Kalb 
county,  where  Mr.  Eddy  is  a  prominent 
farmer.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  two 
children  have  been  born:  Eddy  Glenn,  at- 
tending school  at  Oregon;  and  Edith  Lyle 
at  home  with  her  parents.  At  various 
times  Mr.  Andrew's  popularity  has  been 
evinced  by  his  election  to  office  in  township 
and  county.  He  has  for  thirteen  years  ful- 
filled the  office  of  township  assessor,  and  in 
December,  1894,  he  vvas  appointed  deputy 
sheriff.  In  this  capacity  he  served  with 
great  distinction,  which  led  up  to  his  elec- 
tion, in  1898,  to  the  office  of  sheriff  of  Ogle 
county.  After  election  he  removed  to  Ore- 
gon, where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Andrew 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, Oregon  Lodge,  No.  420,  Ivnights 
of  Pythias,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  He  attained  his  majority  in  1S76 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Rutherford  B. 
Hayes,  and  each  succeeding  election,  town, 
county,  state  or  national  he  has  given  his 
support  and  ballot  to  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  platform. 


34 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


BENJAMIN  T.  HEDRICK,  deceased, 
who  was  numbered  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Ogle  county,  was  a  true  repre- 
sentative of  that  class  of  men  who  enter  into 
a  new  country,  where  hardships  must  be 
experienced,  and  by  the  sweat  of  their  face, 
prepare  the  way,  rendering  the  paths 
smooth  for  those  who  shall  come  after 
them.  He  was  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  and  was  born  November 
I,  1812,  in  Sharpsburg.  His  father,  George 
Hedrick,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  born  February  3,  1779,  while  his 
mother  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  April  12,  1785.  George  Hed- 
rick was  a  mechanic,  but  on  going  to  Mary- 
land engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  a 
large  scale,  owning  several  slaves.  During 
the  war  of  1812  he  served  as  a  recruiting 
officer.  He  never  came  west,  but  died  in 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  April  21, 
1 83 1,  his  wife  surviving  him  some  eighteen 
years,  dying  January  10,  1859.  They  had 
a  large  family. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  county,  and  after  passing 
through  the  common  schools,  entered  Will- 
iamstown  College,  Virginia.  On  the  19th 
of  October,  1841,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Anna  Shryock,  who  was 
born  October  21,  1808,  in  Hagerstown, 
Maryland.  She  was  the  daughter  of  George 
Shryock,  born  February  24,  1783,  and 
Elizabeth  (Lewis)  Shryock,  born  August  5, 
1784.  He  was  an  officer,  with  the  rank  of 
captain,  in  the  war  of  1812,  under  General 
Ringold.  He  was  the  son  of  John  Shryock, 
a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  Maryland 
families.  Elizabeth  Lewis  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Captain  William  Lewis,  who  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  under  Gen- 
eral Wayne.      Anna   Shryock  was  the  old- 


est of  a  family  of  eight  children  born  to 
George  and  Elizabeth  Shryock.  John  Shry- 
ock was  the  son  of  Leonard  Shryock,  one  of 
two  brothers  who  emigrated  to  the  colonies 
from  one  of  the  German  states,  probably 
about  the  year  1720,  settling  in  York  coun- 
ty,  Pennsylvania. 

To  B.  T.  and  Anna  Hedrick  five  chil- 
dren were  born,  one  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. George  M.  is  married,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Lincoln  township.  Ogle 
county.  He  has  five  children.  Lucy  T. 
resides  in  Polo,  where  she  is  well  known 
and  universally  esteemed.  She  is  a  mem- 
ber and  an  active  worker  in  the  Lutheran 
church.  Walter  K.  is  married  and  has  four 
children.  He  also  lives  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship, where  he  is  engaged  in  farming.  Al- 
len M.  is  married  and  has  had  five  children. 
He  is  now  living  in  Santa  Paula,  California. 

In  1845  Mr.  Hedrick  came  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Ogle  county  and  settled  on  a  tract  of 
land  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
acres,  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  which  he 
had  previously  purchased.  He  at  once 
commenced  its  improvement,  and  in  due 
time  had  a  farm  of  which  he  had  just  rea- 
son to  be  proud.  After  living  upon  that 
farm  for  thirty-one  years,  and  there  rearing 
his  children,  he  went  to  California  for  a  stay 
of  one  year,  and  in  1879  moved  to  Polo,  in 
order  that  he  might  live  a  retired  life.  He 
was  quite  a  traveller,  and  thorough!)'  en- 
joyed visiting  various  parts  of  his  native 
land  and  associating  with  people  of  whom 
he  had  heard  but  had  not  seen.  Success 
had  crowned  his  efforts  and  he  felt  that  he 
could  take  some  enjoyment  in  life.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  the  owner  of  sev- 
eral farms  in  Ogle  county,  and  was  consid- 
ered one  of  the  county's  best  and  most  pros- 
jjerous  citizens. 


B.  T.   HEDRICK. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


37 


In  politics  Mr.  Hedrick  was  a  Repub- 
lican, after  the  organization  of  the  party. 
His  experience  with  slavery  made  him  a 
warm  advocate  of  Republican  principles, 
and  he  did  not  hesitate  to  express  his  con- 
victions. During  the  Civil  war  he  was  a 
strong  Union  man,  and  on  one  occasion 
when  a  draft  was  imminent,  in  company 
with  Prof.  Williamson,  of  Mt.  Morris  Col- 
lege, and  the  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  at  Mt.  Morris,  went  to  Dixon 
and  secured  enough  men  to  save  the  town- 
ship from  a  draft.  He  was  a  very  capable 
and  influential  man  and  served  the  county 
well  during  that  trying  period.  His  death 
occurred  July  19,  1886,  his  faithful  wife 
having  preceded  him  to  their  heavenly  home 
some  thirty  years,  having  died  July  27, 
1866.  They  were  both  devoted  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  died  in  the 
faith  of  a  blessed  resurrection.  He  was 
well  known  in  every  part  of  the  county,  and 
those  knowing  him  had  for  him  the  greatest 
respect.  He  served  his  township  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  county  board  of  supervisors,  and 
in  various  local  positions,  and  in  whatever 
position  he  was  asked  to  fill,  he  was  ever 
faithful. 


EZRA  H.  EVANS.— In  the  respect  that 
is  accorded  to  men  who  have  fought 
their  own  way  to  success  through  unfavor- 
able environments  we  find  an  unconscious 
recognition  of  the  intrinsic  worth  of  a  char- 
acter which  can  not  only  endure  so  rough  a 
test,  but  gain  new  strength  through  the  dis- 
cipline. The  following  history  sets  forth 
briefly  the  steps  by  which  our  subject,  now 
one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Byron, 
overcame  the  disadvantages  of  his  early  life. 

This  worthy  pioneer  of  Ogle  county,  was 
4 


born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  Novem- 
ber 22,  1829,  and  is  a  representative  of  an 
old  New  York  family  of  Welsh  descent. 
His  father,  Ozias  Evans,  and  his  grandfa- 
ther, Hugh  Evans,  were  both  natives  of 
Oneida  county.  The  former  wedded  Miss 
Mary  Jeffords,  who  was  born  in  Herkimer 
county.  New  York  and  was  left  an  orphan 
in  childhood.  In  Oneida  county  they  reared 
their  family,  but  finally  removed  to  New 
Milford,  Illinois,  where  they  spent  their  last 
years.  The  father  died,  however,  in  Wis- 
consin, while  on  a  visit,  but  was  laid  to  rest 
by  the  side  of  his  wife  in  Byron  cemetery, 
her  death  having  occurred  several  years  pre- 
viously. To  them  were  born  six  children, 
two  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  all  are 
still  living  with  the  exception  of  the  eldest, 
Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Cook,  and  Sally  and 
Sally  2d;  Ezra  H.,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs. 
Nancy  Soper  is  a  widow  living  in  California; 
Caroline  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Andrews,  of 
Rockford,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Martha  Fisher  is 
a  widow  living  at  Black  River  Falls,  Wis- 
consin; and  Erastus  C.  is  living  retired  in 
Denver,  Colorado. 

Ezra  H.  Evans  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  received  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion which  well  fitted  him  for  the  practical 
duties  of  life.  He  was  eighteen  years  of 
age  on  coming  to  Ogle  county  in  the  fall  of 
1848,  but  the  following  year  was  spent  on  a 
farm  in  Wisconsin.  Returning  to  this 
county  in  1849,  he  secured  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Marion  township 
with  a  land  warrant.  He  located  in  New 
Milford  and  engaged  in  teaming  for  five 
years,  hauling  flour  to  Rockford. 

In  August,  1850,  Mr.  Evans  was  married 
in  Winnebago  county,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Phebe 
Ann  Osborn,  a  native  of  Northamptonshire, 
England,  and  a  daughter  of  George  Osborn, 


3S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


who  was  born  in  the  same  shire  and  emi- 
grated to  the  new  world  about  1S31,  locat- 
ing at  Hudson,  New  York,  where  he  spent 
four  or  five  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Oneida  county,  where 
he  made  his  home  for  eleven  years,  and  on 
coming  west,  in  1846,  settled  in  Winnebago 
county,  Illinois,  ten  miles  west  of  Rockford, 
where  he  purchased  a  partially  improved 
farm  and  there  spent  his  remaining  days  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  In  his  native  land  he 
married  Hannah  Webster,  who  died  in 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  and  he  subse- 
quently married  again.  Mrs.  Evans  was 
the  only  daughter  by  the  first  marriage,  but 
there  were  three  sons,  all  of  whom  were 
born  in  England  and  are  now  deceased.  All 
married  and  lived  for  a  time  in  Illinois,  but 
Joseph  died  in  Texas,  and  William  died  in 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  George  died  in 
California.  Mrs.  Evans  was  principally 
reared  and  educated  in  Oneida  county.  New 
York,  being  a  young  lady  when  the  family 
removed  to  this  state.  By  her  marriage  to 
our  subject  she  has  become  the  mother  of 
three  children:  Fransula  M. ,  wife  of  David 
Creager,  a  farmer  of  Byron  township.  Ogle 
county;  Arthur  A.  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen months;  and  Earnest  E.,  who  has  been 
in  the  drug  business  in  Los  Gatos,  Cali- 
fornia, for  the  last  three  years.  For  about 
ten  years  he  was  engaged  in  Byron,  Illinois, 
in  drug  business.  In  1885  he  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Spalding,  daughter  of  Phineas 
Spalding,  of  Beloit,  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans  spent  the  first  year 
of  their  married  life  with  her  father,  our 
subject  assisting  in  the  operation  of  the 
farm,  and  then  removed  to  New  Milford, 
where  he  engaged  in  teaming  for  five  years. 
In  1857  they  located  on  the  land  he  had 
purchased  in  Marion  township,  moving  down 


the  river  in  a  ferry  boat  in  the  spring  of  that 
year,  when  the  streams  were  very  high  and 
the  roads  almost  impassable.  Mr.  Evans 
built  a  frame  house,  fenced  his  land  and 
began  the  development  of  his  farm,  which 
he  successfully  operated  for  about  twelve 
years.  He  then  sold  the  place  and  bought 
a  residence  in  Byron,  where  he  still  resides. 
Three  years  after  locating  here  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  fifty-five  acres  in  Byron  township, 
adjoining  the  village,  and  has  since  added 
to  it  a  thirty-acre  tract,  all  of  which  he  op- 
erates. He  also  owns  a  well-improved  and 
valuable  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  the  north- 
ern line  of  the  county  in  Byron  township, 
and  is  to-daj'  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
and  successful  citizens  of  the  community, 
the  result  of  his  own  industry,  enterprise 
and  good  management. 

Politically  Mr.  Evans  has  been  a  sup- 
porter of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party  since  casting  his  first  vote  for 
John  C.  Fremont  in  1856,  but  he  has  never 
sought  or  cared  for  official  honors,  though 
he  served  as  commissioner  of  highways  in 
Byron  township  and  as  township  trustee. 
Religiously  his  wife  is  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Congregational  church  of  Byron,  and 
socially  he  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of 
the  Masonic  lodge  at  that  place,  in  which 
he  has  served  as  senior  warden  and  also  be- 
longs to  Rockford  chapter,  R.  A.  M.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Evans  spent  the  winter  of  1896- 
97  on  the  Pacific  slope,  visiting  their  son 
and  other  relatives,  including  Mrs.  Evans' 
brother's  wife  and  family,  and  an  uncle  of 
Mr.  Evans.  They  thoroughly  enjoyed  the 
trip  and  returned  home  by  way  of  the 
Southern  Pacific  route,  stopping  in  Te.xas 
for  a  time.  They  brought  home  with  them 
a  fine  collection  of  mosses,  shells,  pebbles 
and  other  curios  gathered  on  the  beach  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


39 


the  Pacific.  In  1S76  they  spent  four  months 
in  visiting  the  Centennial  exposition  at 
Philadelphia,  and  old  friends  in  New  York. 
They  receive  and  merit  the  high  regard  of 
the  entire  community  in  which  they  live 
and  have  a  host  of  warm  friends  throughout 
Ogle  county,  who  will  read  with  interest 
this  short  sketch  of  so  worthy  a  couple. 


TIMOTHY  W.  ALDEN.— There  are  few 
men  more  worthy  of  representation  in 
a  work  of  this  character  than  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  who  is  now  passing  his  declin- 
ing years  in  retirement  from  active  labor  on 
his  farm  on  section  8,  Leaf  River  township. 
His  has  been  a  long  and  busy  career,  rich 
with  experience,  and  in  which  he  has  es- 
tablished himself  in  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  all  who  know  him.  Since  1837 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county,  and 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  its  growth  and 
development. 

This  worthy  pioneer  was  born  in  Brad- 
ford county,  Pennsylvania,  March  13,  1821, 
and  is  of  the  eighth  generation  from  John 
Alden,  clerk  of  Captain  Miles  Standish. 
The  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  its  first 
representative  in  this  country  was  brought 
to  our  shores  by  the  Mayflower.  Timothy 
Alden,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  and  in  1801  removed 
with  his  family  to  Bradford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, becoming  one  of  its  first  settlers. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  Adonijah  Alden, 
was  then  about  two  years  old,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Massachusetts,  in  1799,  and 
in  Bradford  county  he  grew  to  manhood. 
He  married  Vesta  York,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Minor 
York,  one  of  its  pioneers.  She  was  living 
in  Wyoming  at  the  time  of  the   massacre 


and  was  a  child  of  twelve  years.  Her  fa- 
ther was  away  with  the  army,  and  her 
mother,  with  her  children,  got  into  a  canoe 
and  succeeded  in  slipping  down  the  river 
unseen  by  the  Indians.  Mr.  Alden  settled 
at  Durell,  on  the  Susquehanna  river,  and 
continued  to  engage  in  farming  in  Bradford 
county  for  a  number  of  years,  but  in  1837 
came  by  team  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and 
took  up  a  claim  in  Marion  township,  two 
miles  below  Byron.  He  did  not  long  en- 
joy his  new  home,  however,  for  he  died  in 
the  prime  of  life,  in  1839,  at  the  age  of 
forty-eight  years.  His  wife  had  passed 
away  a  few  months  previous,  and  a  son  and 
two  daughters  died  the  same  year,  all  be- 
tween March  and  August,  of  1839.  The 
other  seven  children  all  reached  years  of 
maturity,  and  remained  together  on  the 
farm  for  a  few  years. 

In  his  native  state  Timothy  W.  Alden 
had  received  fair  school  advantages.  He 
aided  in  the  development  of  the  new  farm 
in  Ogle  county,  pre-empted  the  land  and 
devoted  his  time  to  its  cultivation  and  im- 
provement for  five  years.  He  then  sold  the 
claim  and  engaged  in  teaming  and  thresh- 
ing, having  purchased  a  thresher,  which  he 
operated  in  season  for  ten  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  bought  eighty  acres  of 
raw  land  in  Leaf  River  township,  and  dur- 
ing the  six  years  he  resided  thereon  he 
placed  it  under  cultivation  and  made  many 
improvements.  On  selling  the  place  in  1856 
he  bought  another  tract  of  eighty  acres  of 
unimproved  land,  on  which  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  To  the  original  purchase 
he  added  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  but 
has  since  sold  forty  acres,  so  that  he  now 
has  two  hundred  acres,  which  he  has  placed 
under  excellent  cultivation,  but  now  leaves 
the    active    management;    of    the    farm  to 


40 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


younger  hands.  His  first  home  here  he  has 
enlarged  and  improved  and  there  is  spend- 
ing his  decHning  days  in  ease  and  quiet. 

In  Byron  township, Ogle  county,  in  1852, 
Mr.  Alden  married  Miss  Orpha  Coolbaugh, 
also  a  native  of  Bradford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  a  daughter  of  Moses  Coolbaugh, 
who  was  born  in  the  same  state.  She  came 
to  this  state  with  her  parents  when  a  young 
girl  and  died  July  9,  1891,  and  was  laid  to 
rest  in  Byron  cemetery.  Thirteen  children 
were  born  of  this  union  and  eleven  are  still 
living,  namely:  Professor  Martin  M.,  prin- 
cipal of  the  Kirkland,  Illinois,  schools;  C. 
A.,  editor  and  proprietor  of  a  paper  pub- 
lished in  Fulton,  Illinois;  Vista,  wife  of 
Frank  Lindley,  a  farmer  of  Winnebago 
county,  Illinois;  Rev.  David,  minister  of 
the  Congregational  church  at  Prophetstown, 
Illinois;  Fred  Grant,  a  resident  of  Winne- 
bago county;  James,  a  farmer  of  Leaf  River 
township;  Nancy  E.,  wife  of  Joseph  Curtis, 
of  Winnebago  county;  John  and  Emmett, 
both  farmers  of  that  county;  and  Lilly  M., 
who  is  attending  the  nurses  training  school 
in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Alden  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  the  Whig  candidate  in  1844,  and  con- 
tinued to  support  that  party  until  1856, 
when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
party,  voting  for  John  C.  Fremont,  and  has 
since  fought  under  its  banner.  He  has 
always  taken  an  active  and  commendable 
interest  in  politics,  but  has  never  been  a 
politician  in  the  sense  of  office-seeking. 
When  the  Great  Western  railroad  was  built 
through  the  county,  he  took  stock  and 
helped  to  establish  the  elevator  at  Egan 
City,  and  at  all  times  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  those  interests  calculated  to 
promote  the  general  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity.     In  1841  he  united  with  the  Con- 


gregational church  at  Byron,  and  assisted 
in  building  the  house  of  worship,  getting 
out  the  timber  and  hauling  it  to  Byron, 
He  has  since  transferred  his  membership  to 
the  church  at  Seward.  The  wonderful 
changes  which  have  taken  place  in  this 
region  since  his  arrival  here  can  scarcely  be 
realized;  the  country  at  that  time  was  wild 
and  unimproved,  but  now  are  seen  on  every 
hand  churches,  schoolhouses,  fine  farms, 
thriving  villages  and  cities,  while  the  county 
is  crossed  and  re-crossed  by  railroads  and 
telegraphs. 


GEORGE  W.  GARNHART,  who  is  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  on  his  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Polo,  on  section  14,  Buffalo 
township,  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  Ogle 
county,  of  which  he  has  been  a  resident 
since  1849.  He  was  born  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  December  13, 
1839,  and  is  the  son  of  John  Garnhart,  and 
a  brother  of  Charles  W.  Garnhart,  of  Ogle 
county,  whose  family  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  work. 

From  his  native  county  in  Pennsylvania, 
Mr.  Garnhart  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  the  father  locating  in 
Marion  township.  In  the  public  schools  of 
Marion  and  White  Rock  townships.  Ogle 
county,  he  received  his  primary  education. 
Later  he  attended  Franklin  College,  in  In- 
diana, where  he  spent  one  year  and  a  half 
in  obtaining  a  higher  education.  Subse- 
quently he  attended  Parson  Bros.  Commer- 
cial College,  at  LaPorte,  Indiana,  for  one 
year.  In  his  youth  he  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  which  he  followed  some  three 
or  four  years  in  LaPorte,  but  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in  teaching 
in  the  public  schools  and  in  farming.    While 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


41 


in  Indiana,  he  spent  some  three  j'ears  as  a 
teacher  in  the  schools  of  that  state.  Re- 
turning to  Ilhnois,  he  here  engaged  in  teach- 
ing in  the  public  schools,  and  as  a  profes- 
sional teacher  continued  to  be  employed  for 
some  years.  He  then  purchased  an  im- 
proved farm  in  White  Rock  township,  Ogle 
county,  and  there  engaged  in  farming  for  a 
few  years,  then  sold  out  and  purchased  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides  in  Buffalo  town- 
ship. This  farm  was  also  improved,  but 
on  coming  into  possession  he  made  further 
improvements  to  the  place,  and  has  it  now 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The 
house  was  remodeled  by  him,  good  barns 
and  outbuildings  were  erected,  shade  and 
ornamental  trees  set  out,  and  the  whole 
place  transformed. 

Mr.  Garnhart  was  married  about  1S63, 
and  is  the  father  of  three  children,  two  sons 
and  a  daughter,  Walter  W. ,  Alwilda  E.  and 
Dewitt  C.  (deceased).  Walter  W.  is  a  well 
educated  young  man,  a  graduate  of  Brown 
University,  while  the  latter  is  also  well  ed- 
ucated, and  is  a  teacher  of  music. 

Mr.  Garnhart  has  been  an  earnest  ad- 
vocate of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party  since  its  organization.  His  first  pres- 
idential vote  was  cast  for  our  first  martyr 
president,  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  he  has 
since  voted  for  every  presidential  nominee 
of  the  party,  including  William  McKinley. 
He  has  never  asked  or  desired  public  office, 
having  no  inclinations  in  that  respect.  His 
interest  in  the  cause  of  education  has  always 
been  great,  and  some  eighteen  or  twenty 
years  of  his  life  were  passed  as  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools,  and  about  the  same 
length  of  time  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  clerk  of  the  school  district.  For 
a  half  century  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
county  and  he  has  always  been  interested  in 


its  advancement.  As  a  professional  teach- 
er, as  a  farmer,  and  as  a  citizen,  he  has 
contributed  his  share  to  make  the  county 
one  of  the  best  in  the  great  prairie  state. 
He  is  well  known  as  a  man  of  sterling  char- 
acter, and  has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
a  large  circle  of  friends. 


JACOB  STEFFA  is  one  of  the  old  and 
honored  citizens  of  Ogle  county  who 
has  aided  so  materially  in  the  development 
of  this  region  from  pioneer  days.  He  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  8,  Rockvale  town- 
ship, on  which  he  has  successfully  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Steffa  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  born 
in  Washington  county,  February  21,  18 18, 
and  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Oto- 
alt)  Steffa,  the  former  born  in  Washington 
county,  and  the  latter  in  Hagerstown, 
Maryland.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. In  their  family  were  ten  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest,  the  others 
being  John,  a  resident  of  Pomona,  Califor- 
nia; Joseph,  of  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois;  David, 
who  is  living  with  his  son,  William  Steffa, 
in  Rockvale  township.  Ogle  county;  Solo- 
mon; William;  Elizabeth.  Matilda  and  Mary, 
deceased;  and  Hannah,  who  is  now  living  in 
Iowa. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Jacob 
Steffa  attended  the  district  schools  during 
the  winter  months,  while  during  the  summer 
season  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  labors 
of  the  farm  until  eighteen  years  of  age 
when  he  left  school  and  began  working  for 
Christly  Hershe,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  two  years.  The  following  two  years 
were  spent  on  a  farm  near  Sharpsburg, 
Maryland,  on  the  Potomac  river,  at  the  end 


42 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


of  which  time  he  came  west  by  team,  ar- 
riving in  Ogle  county,  October  6,  1844, 
after  being  a  month  upon  the  road.  His 
brother  had  located  here  the  spring  previous 
and  was  then  working  for  John  Phelps. 
When  our  subject  and  his  father  arrived, 
they  rented  the  Phelps  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  which  they  operated 
for  three  years  and  then  the  son  leased  the 
Washington  Phelps  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  for  two  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  made  his  first  purchase,  con- 
sisting of  eighty  acres,  but  subsequently  sold 
that  place  and  bought  his  present  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Rockvale 
township,  upon  which  he  has  made  many 
valuable  and  useful  improvements  which 
add  greatly  to  its  value  and  attractive  appear- 
ance. As  a  citizen  he  has  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  who  know  him,  and  his 
friends  are  many  throughout  the  communtiy 
in  which  he  makes  his  home. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1831,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Steffa  and  Miss  Mary 
Houze,  who  was  born  in  Maryland,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1822,  a  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Lydia  (Funk)  Houze,  also  natives  of  that 
state.  The  children  born  of  this  union  are 
as  follows:  Daniel,  born  March  31,  1841, 
was  one  of  the  boys  in  blue  during  the  Civil 
war,  a  member  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Illinois 
\'olunteer  Infantry,  and  is  now  living  in 
Colorado.  He  married  first  Elizabeth  Ran- 
dall, and  for  his  second  wife  wedded  Mrs. 
Browning,  by  whom  he  has  three  children. 
Sarah  Margaret,  born  March  11,  1843,  mar- 
ried Jacob  IJolembaugh,  who  was  killed 
during  the  Civil  war,  and  she  later  married 
a  Mr.  Morse,  by  whom  she  has  two  chil- 
dren. She  is  also  living  in  Colorado.  Sam- 
uel, born  January  7,  1845,  enlisted  in  the 
Thirty-fourth    Illinois    Volunteer    Infantry 


during  the  Rebellion  and  served  until  hos- 
tilities ceased,  taking  part  in  many  impor- 
tant battles  and  the  celebrated  march  to 
the  sea.  He  married  Charlotte  McDonald, 
by  whom  he  has  two  children,  and  they  live 
at  Rockford,  Illinois.  Reuben  Jonathan, 
born  March  25,  1847,  married  Mrs.  Thema 
Myers,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  and  they 
live  in  Redwing,  Minnesota.  Ann  Celesta, 
born  September  28,  1850,  married  Thomas 
Mallory  and  lives  in  Chicago.  William 
Arthur,  born  July  8,  1852,  married  Lorina 
Waite,  by  whom  he  has  two  children,  and 
they  live  in  Oregon,  Ogle  county.  Mary 
Alice,  born  August  31,  1854,  married  Jacob 
Hemmer.  She  has  two  children:  Harry 
Wilbur,  born  July  12,  1882;  and  Wilfred, 
born  October  27,   1884. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Steffa  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  has  ever  taken  an  active 
and  commendable  interest  in  political  af- 
fairs, serving  as  school  director  several 
terms  and  as  road  commissioner  for  one 
term  of  three  years,  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  all  concerned. 


DANIEL  H.  TOBIAS,  who  resides  on 
section  2,  Lincoln  township,  has  been 
a  resident  of  Ogle  county  almost  a  third  of 
a  century,  coming  here  in  March,  1866. 
The  farm  which  he  owns  and  operates  con- 
tains two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  well 
improved  land  and  is  one  of  the  best  in  Lin- 
coln township.  He  is  a  native  of  Dauphin 
count}',  Pennsylvania,  about  thirty-four 
miles  from  Harrisburg,  and  was  born  April 
30,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Tobias, 
a  native  of  the  same  county  and  state,  and 
the  grandson  of  Daniel  Tobias. 

John  Tobias  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


43 


tive  county  and  in  his  youth  learned  the 
stone  mason's  trade,  and  followed  that  oc- 
cupation, in  connection  with  mining  during 
his  entire  life.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Miss  Nancy  Rowe,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
daughter  of  Wendell  Rowe,  of  the  same 
county.  She  became  the  mother  of  five 
sons,  four  of  whom  grew  to  manhood,  and 
three  now  living:  Daniel  H.,  our  subject; 
Henry,  residing  in  Schuylkill  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; and  John,  a  resident  of  Northum- 
berland county,  in  the  same  state.  A  few 
years  after  his  marriage,  John  Tobias  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Schuylkill  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  engaged  at  his  trade 
and  also  at  mining.  His  first  wife,  the 
mother  of  the  children  named,  died  in  1850, 
but  he  survived  her  many  years,  dying  in 
1896  when  about  seventy-five  years  old. 

In  his  native  county  our  subject  spent 
his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  in  its  common 
schools  obtained  his  education,  attending 
usually  in  the  winter  months  and  farming 
in  the  summer.  He  attained  his  majority 
during  the  trying  period  of  the  Civil  war, 
and  on  the  19th  of  September,  1864,  at 
Harrisburg,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Two  Hundred  and  Tenth  Pennsylvania  \'ol- 
unteer  Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  his  regiment  forming  a  part  of 
the  Fifth  Corps,  army  of  the  Potomac.  He 
participated  in  the  two  battles  at  Hatches 
Run,  Gravelly  Run,  Five  Forks,  Appomat- 
tox Court  House,  and  was  present  at  the 
time  of  Lee's  surrender,  April  9,  1865.  In 
addition  to  the  engagements  mentioned  he 
was  in  several  minor  ones,  and  participat- 
ed in  the  grand  review  at  Washington  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  The  regiment  went 
out  with  nine  hundred  and  sixty  men  and 
returned    with    four    hundred    and  ninety- 


three.  Of  the  remainder,  some  were  killed 
in  battle,  and  some  wounded  or  otherwise 
disabled.  Mr.  Tobias  received  several 
shots  through  his  clothing,  but  was  never 
wounded. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Tobias 
returned  to  his  old  home  and  engaged  in 
teaming  until  the  spring  of  1866,  when  he 
came  to  Ogle  county  in  company  with 
Aaron  Meyers,  who  is  a  substantial  farmer 
of  Lincoln  township.  After  coming  here, 
for  two  years  he  worked  by  the  month  for 
various  persons.  He  was  married  in  Lin- 
coln township.  Ogle  county,  December  26, 
1867,  to  Margaret  Meyers,  daughter  of 
Jacob  M.  Meyers,  who  was  an  Ogle  county 
pioneer,  coming  here,  in  1837,  from  Boons- 
borough,  Maryland.  He  was,  however,  a 
native  of  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  born 
in  1799,  but  reared  in  Dauphin  county,  go- 
ing to  Maryland  a  young  man  of  nineteen. 
He  was  a  stonemason  by  trade,  an  occupa- 
tion that  he  followed  while  residing  in  Mary- 
land. He  married  Elizabeth  Gloss,  a  native 
of  Washington  county,  Maryland,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Lewis  Gloss,  a  German  ancestry.  On 
coming  to  Ogle  county,  Jacob  Meyers  lo- 
cated in  that  part  of  Mt.  Morris  township 
which  has  since  been  organized  under  the 
name  of  Lincoln,  where  he  bought  a  claim 
of  eight  hundred  acres,  entered  the  land 
when  it  came  into  market,  and  became  one 
of  the  most  substantial  farmers  of  the 
county.  He  died  in  Lincoln  township  Au- 
gust 26,  1877,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  His  wife  passed  away  April  6,  of 
the  same  year.  Their  remains  were  interred 
in  the  West  Grove  cemetery.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  one 
son  and  six  daughters  grew  to  mature  years, 
though  but  three  are  now  living, — Sarah, 
wife  of  Daniel  Eager,  of  Forreston;  Ellen, 


44 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


wife  of  John  Mace,  a  farmer  of  Lincoln 
township;  and  Margaret,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. Jacob  S.  Meyers,  the  son,  who  grew 
to  manhood,  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
was  taken  sick  while  in  the  service,  brought 
home  and  died  October  4,   1864. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  To- 
bias commenced  life  on  the  old  Myers  home- 
stead, where  Mrs.  Myers  was  born  and 
reared.  They  lived  on  that  farm  until  the 
spring  of  1897,  when  Mr.  Tobias  purchased 
his  present  farm  to  which  they  at  once  re- 
moved. They  are  the  parents  of  three 
daughters.  Emma  Luella  is  the  wife  of 
Samuel  W.  Hamilton,  a  farmer  of  Lincoln 
township.  Ella  Viola,  who  was  well  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Forreston  and  Ore- 
gon, is  now  a  successful  teacher  in  the 
schools  of  Ogle  county  for  about  four  years. 
Edna  Agnes  is  a  student  in  the  home  school. 
Politically,  Mr.  Tobias  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, and  has  voted  for  ten  presidential 
candidates  of  that  party.  He  has  never 
cared  for  public  office,  but  for  the  reason 
that  he  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
the  public  schools,  he  has  served  on  the 
school  board  for  eighteen  years,  a  portion 
of  which  time  he  has  been  president  of  the 
board.  He  has  also  served  as  district  clerk 
and  one  term  as  road  commissioner.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
church  at  West  Grove,  and  take  a  lively 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  church.  Both 
are  highly  esteemed  wherever  known.  Mrs. 
Tobias  has  been  a  life-long  resident  of  the 
township,  while  Mr.  Tobias  has  given  some 
thirty-three  years  of  his  life  to  the  building 
up  and  development  of  his  adopted  county. 
Fraternal!}',  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Post,  No.  116,  of  Oregon,  and  of  White 
Oak  Camp,  No.  667,  M.  W.  A.,  of  Forreston. 


ASAPH  M.  TRUMBULL.— The  subject 
of  this  review  is  one  whose  history 
touches  the  pioneer  epoch  in  the  annals  of 
the  state  of  Illinois  and  whose  days  have 
been  an  integral  part  of  that  indissoluble 
chain  which  links  the  early  formative  period 
with  that  of  later-day  progress  and  prosper- 
ity. Not  alone  is  there  particular  interest 
attaching  to  his  career  as  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Ogle  county,  but  in  reviewing  his 
genealogical  record  we  find  his  lineage  trac- 
ing back  to  the  colonial  history  of  the  na- 
tion and  to  that  period  which  marked  the 
inception  of  the  grandest  republic  the  world 
has  ever  known. 

Mr.  Trumbull  was  born  near  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  September  13,  18 13,  and  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  an  old  and  hon- 
ored New  England  family,  which  was  founded 
in  this  country  by  three  brothers  of  English 
birth.  One  of  these,  Governor  Jonathan 
Trumbull,  of  Connecticut,  was  a  great  friend 
of  General  Washington,  who  always  made 
his  home  headquarters  when  in  that  region, 
and  it  is  believed  that  the  term  "Brother 
Jonathan  "  originated  from  this  friendship. 
Four  generations  of  the  family,  including 
our  subject,  were  born  in  the  same  house  on 
the  old  Trumbull  homestead  in  Connecticut. 
Among  these  was  the  grandfather,  David 
Trumbull,  and  the  father,  James  Trumbull, 
who  spent  their  entire  life  there  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  served  as  a  ser- 
geant in  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  forty-two  years,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  In  early  life 
he  married  Jane  Watson  also  a  native  of 
the  Nutmeg  state,  who  survived  him  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  died  on  the  old  homestead. 
To  them  were  born  nine  children,  but  only 
two  are  now  living:  Mrs.  Fanny  Weller,  a 
widow,  now  ninety-three  years  of  age,  who 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


45 


resides    in    Waterbury,    Connecticut;    and 
Asaph  M.,  our  subject. 

Until  he  attained  his  majority  Asaph  M. 
Trumbull  remained  with  his  mother  and 
aided  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm. 
His  educational  advantages  were  good  for 
those  days,  as  he  attended  both  the  com- 
mon schools  and  academies,  and  for  two 
winter  terms  he  engaged  in  teaching.  When 
a  young  man  he  went  to  Milton,  Union 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brooms  for  two  years. 
While  there  he  was  married  in  183S  to  Miss 
Sarah  Gotshall,  a  native  of  Milton.  The 
following  year  he  purchased  a  team  and 
wagon,  which  he  loaded  with  his  effects, 
and  in  May  started  for  Illinois,  being  four 
weeks  in  making  the  journey.  He  joined 
two  brothers,  David  and  Joseph,  who  had 
settled  in  Ogle  county  early  that  spring,  and 
he  secured  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  near  Byron.  He  spent  the  first  win- 
ter in  a  log  cabin  on  the  banks  of  a  creek, 
but  in  the  spring  that  stream  overflowed  its 
banks,  and  as  they  were  threatened  with 
drowning  they  were  forced  to  leave,  moving 
out  of  their  little  home  in  a  boat.  Mr. 
Trumbull  then  erected  a  house  and  barn  on 
higher  ground  and  proceeded  to  break  his 
land  preparatory  to  planting  crops.  Two 
years  later  he  traded  that  place  for  a  farm 
in  Marion  township,  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety  acres,  which  were  slightly  improved. 
He  planted  an  orchard,  erected  a  comforta- 
ble residence  and  good  outbuildings,  and  for 
forty  years  devoted  his  energies  to  the  culti- 
vation of  his  land,  making  it  one  of  the 
best  and  most  desirable  farms  of  the  town- 
ship. In  1 88 1  he  rented  the  place  and 
moved  to  Stillman  Valley,  where  he  built  a 
good  home  and  has  since  lived  retired  from 
active  labor,  though  he  still  looks  after  his 


farm  and  other  interests.  He  has  given  his 
support  to  a  number  of  business  enterprises 
that  have  done  much  for  the  development 
and  prosperity  of  this  part  of  the  county. 

Soon  after  coming  to  Illinois  Mr.  Trum- 
bull's first  wife  died,  and  he  subsequently 
wedded  Mary  Patrick,  who  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  when  young  came  west 
with  her  father,  Samuel  Patrick,  an  early 
settler  of  Ogle  county.  She  died  on  the 
farm  in  Marion  township,  and  of  the  three 
children  born  to  them  one  died  at  the  age 
of  eleven  years  and  one  at  the  age  of  two. 
The  only  one  now  living,  George  Trumbull, 
a  farmer  of  Marion  township,  is  married  and 
has  two  children.  On  the  6th  of  August, 
1 861,  in  Camden,  Oneida  county.  New 
York,  Mr.  Trumbull  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Honor  Preston,  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  at  that  place,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Rossiter  and  Orril  (Curtis) 
Preston,  both  natives  of  Connecticut.  They 
later  lived  for  a  number  of  years  in  Cam- 
den, New  York,  finally  removing  to  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois. 

Politically  Mr.  Trumbull  was  an  old- 
line  Whig  and  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Martin  Van  Buren,  but  on  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Republican  party  he  joined 
its  ranks,  voting  for  John  C.  Fremont  in 
1856,  and  has  never  failed  to  support  each 
presidential  candidate  of  that  party  since 
then.  He  has  ever  used  his  influence  to- 
ward securing  good  schools  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  a  most  efficient  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  has  also  served  his 
fellow  citizens  in  a  most  creditable  and  sat- 
isfactory manner  as  supervisor,  township 
clerk  and  assessor  for  a  few  years  each.  In 
early  life  he  joined  the  Presbyterian  church, 
but  after  coming  to  this  county  he  united 
with  the  Congregational   church   at  Byron. 


46 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


On  his  removal  to  Stillman  Valley  he  be- 
came connected  with  the  Congregational 
church  at  that  place,  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  church  and  Sabbath  school  work, 
and  for  thirty  years  has  been  a  member  of 
the  official  board,  being  a  deacon  at  the 
present  time.  His  life  is  exemplary  in 
many  respects  and  he  has  ever  supported 
those  interests  which  are  calculated  to  up- 
lift and  benefit  humanity,  while  his  own 
high  moral  worth  is  deserving  of  the  high- 
est commendation. 


GEORGE  W.  SHAFER,  who  resides  on 
section  lo,  Buffalo  township,  has  been 
a  resident  of  Ogle  county  since  October, 
1867.  He  was  born  in  Delaware  county. 
New  York,  September  2,  1843,  and  is  of 
German  ancestry,  the  family  being  early 
settlers,  however,  of  Duchess  county,  New 
York,  from  which  county  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject  removed  to  Delaware  coun- 
ty, in  the  same  state,  becoming  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  that  county.  Strange  as  it  may 
seem  to  those  who  think  of  the  east  as  old 
settled  country,  when  Henry  Shafer  moved 
to  Delaware  county  they  were  compelled 
to  go  to  Kingston,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles, 
on  horseback,  to  get  their  milling  done. 

Henry  S.  Shafer,  the  son  of  Henry 
Shafer  and  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Delaware  county,  March  19,  18 14, 
and  on  his  father's  farm  grew  to  manhood 
and  there  married  Deborah  Shafer,  daugh- 
ter of  Adam  Shafer,  also  a  pioneer  of  that 
county.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  as  follows:  Adam  H., 
of  Binghamton,  New  York;  George  W.,  of 
this  review;  Juliana,  wife  of  Daniel  Water- 
bury,  of  Polo;  Ransom,  a  business  man  of 
Chicago;   Eliff,  wife  of   Henry  C.  Wood,  of 


Binghamton,  New  York;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
D.  Kelley,  of  Walton,  New  York;  and  Celia, 
who  died  in  1876.  Both  parents  are  now 
deceased,  the  mother  dying  in  May,  1896, 
and  the  father  in  March,   1897. 

George  W.  Shafer  grew  to  manhood  in 
Delaware  county,  New  York,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county.  He  remained  at  home,  assisting 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm  until 
after  he  attained  his  majority,  but  with  that 
desire  to  better  himself  in  life,  he  came  to 
Ogle  county  in  1867,  where  he  joined  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Waterbury,  who  had  preceded 
him.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he  purchased 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  a  place 
which  was  fairly  well  improved.  Taking 
possession  of  the  place  he  put  in  a  crop  in 
the  spring  of  1S68  and  attended  to  its  cul- 
tivation. He  came  here,  however,  alone, 
and  believing  the  scriptural  statement  "that 
it  was  not  good  for  man  to  be  alone,"  he 
returned  to  his  old  home,  and  on  the  21st 
of  September,  1868,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Sarah  Shafer,  also  a  native  of 
Delaware  county,  New  York,  and  daughter 
of  Townsend  and  Adeline  (Van  Gaasbeek) 
Shafer,  the  former  a  native  of  Delaware 
county  and  the  latter  of  Ulster  county.  New 
York,  of  Holland  ancestry.  Townsend 
Shafer  spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native 
state,  where  his  death  occurred,  March  18, 
1873.  His  wife  survived  him  many  years, 
and  for  about  twenty  years  prior  to  her 
death  made  her  home  with  our  subject,  dy- 
ing, however,  in  Middletown,  Orange  coun- 
ty, New  York,  April  29,  1896,  while  on  a 
visit  to  that  cit}-.  Mrs.  Shafer  was  one  of 
two  daughters  born  to  her  parents,  her  sis- 
ter, Josephine,  now  being  the  wife  of  J.  A. 
Frasier,  of  California.  In  the  common 
schools  of  her  native  county,  and  in  Delphi 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


47 


Academ}',  Mrs.  Shafer  was  educated,  and 
for  a  time  prior  to  her  marriage  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  pubHc  schools. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Shafer  returned  to  Ogle  county  and  took 
care  of  his  crop,  subsequently  joining  his 
wife  in  Delaware  county,  where  they  re- 
mained until  February,  1868,  when  they  came 
to  their  new  home  near  Polo,  where  he  re- 
sumed farming,  and  where  they  have  since 
continued  to  reside.  Soon  after  taking 
possession  of  his  farm,  Mr.  Shafer  erected 
a  small  frame  house,  and  four  years  later 
built  an  addition  to,  and  there  they  lived 
until  1S82,  when  he  built  a  larger  and  more 
pretentious  dwelling.  From  time  to  time 
he  has  made  improvements  on  his  place, 
setting  out  shade  and  ornamental  trees,  till- 
ing the  land, and  erecting  the  necessary  out- 
buildings. His  farm  is  very  conveniently 
located,  being  within  one  mile  of  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  the  city  of  Polo. 

In  1864  Mr.  Shafer  attained  his  major- 
ity, and  in  November  following  he  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
since  which  time  he  has  continued  to  sup- 
port the  candidates  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  of  Polo,  and  he  is  one  of  its 
official  board.  In  the  work  of  the  church 
they  are  both  greatly  interested,  and  do 
what  they  can  to  advance  the  Master's  king- 
dom. They  believe  in  enjoying  life  and  to 
that  end  have  made  a  number  of  visits  back 
to  their  old  home  in  Delaware  county.  New 
York,  and  in  November,  1896,  went  to 
California,  where  they  remained  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1897,  during  which  time  they  visited 
San  Francisco,  Sacramento,  and  other  noted 
places  on  the  Pacific  slope.  Their  trip  was 
a  most  enjoyable  one.  Both  are  well 
known  in  Polo  and  vicinity  and  their  friends 


are  many  throughout  the  western  part  of 
the  county.  As  a  farmer,  he  thoroughly 
understands  his  business. 


DAVID  THOMSON.— Quite  a  number  of 
the  leading  and  prominent  citizens  of 
Ogle  county  are  of  alien  birth,  and  have 
transported  to  this  land  of  fertility  and 
plenty  the  thrifty  habits  of  their  native 
country.  Among  these  there  is  none  that 
is  better  known  or  more  widely  respected 
than  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch.  He  now  owns  and  operates  a 
valuable  farm  of  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  on  section  5,  Leaf  River  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Thomson  is  a  native  of  Scotland, 
born  in  Renfrewshire,  January  8,  1829,  and 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Eughemia  (St.  Clare) 
Thomson,  also  natives  of  that  country. 
The  father,  who  was  born  in  Ayrshire,  was 
a  baker  by  trade,  and  in  1810  embarked  in 
that  business  at  Johnstown,  Scotland,  where 
he  carried  on  operations  until  his  death  in 
1841.  His  wife  survived  him  twent}'  years, 
departing  this  life  in  1861.  In  the  family 
were  twelve  children,  eight  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  eleven  reached  years  of 
maturity,  but  only  three  are  now  living, 
namely:  Mrs.  Jane  Caldwell,  who  was  born 
in  1807,  and  now  resides  near  Glasgow, 
Scotland;  Nesbit,  who  was  born  in  181 1, 
and  is  also  living  in  that  country;  and  Da- 
vid,  our  subject. 

In  early  life  David  Thomson  learned 
the  baker's  trade  with  his  father,  and  con- 
tinued to  work  at  the  same  until  coming 
to  the  new  world  in  1848.  He  first  locat- 
ed in  Troy,  New  York,  where  he  had  two 
sisters  living,  Mrs.  Euphemia  Turner  and 
Mrs.    Mary  Ann  Craig,   who    later    became 


48 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


residents  of  Ogle  county,  Illinois.  Each 
had  but  one  child.  In  Troy,  Mr.  Thom- 
son worked  at  his  trade  for  about  three 
years,  and  the  following  year  was  spent 
in  a  bakery  in  Newark,  New  Jersey.  He 
went  to  California  in  1852,  taking  passage 
on  a  steamer  at  New  York  City.  He 
crossed  the  Isthmus  and  proceeded  up  the 
Pacific  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  worked 
in  a  bakery  for  two  months.  He  then  went 
to  the  mines  and  spent  about  ten  years  in 
search  for  the  yellow  metal.  In  1862  he 
returned  to  New  York  and  shortly  afterward 
came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where  his 
sisters  had  located  in  the  meantime.  The 
same  year  he  purchased  seventy-five  acres 
of  prairie  land  and  ten  acres  of  timber  land, 
and  at  once  turned  his  attention  to  the  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  his  place.  He 
bought  more  land  from  time  to  time  and 
now  has  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  improved  with  good  and 
substantial  buildings.  Although  this  was 
his  first  experience  in  farming,  he  met  with 
success  almost  from  the  start,  and  is  now 
numbered  among  the  most  successful  farm- 
ers and  stock  raisers  of  Leaf  River  town- 
ship. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1863,  in  Ogle 
county,  Mr.  Thomson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Ballaugh,  who  was 
born  in  Albany,  New  York,  and  reared  in 
that  state.  Her  father,  John  Ballaugh,  was 
a  molder  and  foundryman,  and  was  engaged 
in  business  in  Williamsburg,  New  York,  for 
some  years.  There  were  thirteen  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomson  and  all  are 
living  with  the  exception  of  two,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  and  the  other,  Mary, 
at  the  age  of  ten  years.  William  is  a 
farmer  of  Washington  county,  Illinois;  Jane 


is  the  wife  of  William  McCartney,  a  farmer 
of  Winnebago  county,  Illinois;  Euphemia 
is  the  wife  of  Chris  Kilker,  a  farmer  of 
Leaf  River  township.  Ogle  county;  John 
is  a  farmer  of  Jackson  county,  Minnesota; 
Dr.  Stewart  is  a  physician  of  Washington 
county,  Illinois.  The  above  are  all  mar- 
ried, while  the  others  are  still  single,  name- 
ly: David  A.,  who  is  clerking  in  a  grocery 
store  in  Steward,  Illinois;  Mattie,  who  is 
teaching  in  Winnebago  county;  Nesbit,who 
assists  in  the  farm  work;  and  Edward, 
Robert  and  George,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Thomson  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1S64,  and  has 
since  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  has  ever  used  his  in- 
fluence for  the  good  of  the  public  schools, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  was  also  clerk  of  his 
district  for  several  years  and  township 
trustee  for  three  years.  He  and  his  wife 
are  leading  members  of  the  Middle  Creek 
Presbyterian  church,  and  their  sterling  worth 
and  many  excellencies  of  character  have 
endeared  them  to  all  with  whom  they  have 
come  in  contact. 


JAMES  C.  WOODBURN  has  for  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  business  and  political  inter- 
ests of  Byron  and  is  distinctively  a  man  of 
affairs,  oue  who  wields  a  wide  influence. 
He  is  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law 
and  is  also  interested  in  the  real-estate  and 
insurance  business.  His  intellectual  energy, 
professional  integrity,  prudent  business 
methods,  and  reliable  sagacity  have  all  com- 
bined to  make  him  one  of  the  ablest  busi- 
ness men  of  the  community. 

A  native  of  Ogle  county,  Mr.  Woodburn 


JAMES    C.   WOODBUKN. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


51 


was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Byron 
township,  October  13,  1846,  and  belongs  to 
a  family  of  English  extraction,  whose  repre- 
sentatives were  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Connecticut.  His  grandfather,  John  Wood- 
burn,  was  born  in  that  state,  and  was  among 
the  pioneers  of  Bradford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  the  father,  Allen  Woodburn, 
first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  18 10, 
and  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  The  year 
1836  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  and  in  Byron  township,  near  the 
present  village  of  Byron,  he  took  a  claim  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on  which  he 
erected  a  log  house  and  raised  three  or  four 
small  crops.  Returning  to  his  native  coun- 
ty, he  was  there  married,  in  1840,  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Whitney,  who  was  born  in  Luzerne 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  William  Whitney,  Esq.,  a  representative 
of  an  old  Pennsylvanian  family.  Mr.  Wood- 
burn  brought  his  bride  to  the  home  he  had 
prepared  for  her  in  Ogle  county  and  resumed 
his  farming  operations  here.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  active,  enterprising  and  success- 
ful farmers  of  this  region  and  soon  had  his 
land  under  excellent  cultivation.  His  little 
pioneer  home  was  replaced  by  a  large,  neat 
and  substantial  residence,  good  outbuildings 
were  erected,  and  fruit,  forest  and  orna- 
mental trees  set  out.  From  time  to  time 
he  purchased  more  land  until  he  owned  one 
thousand  acres,  all  in  one  body,  on  which 
were  three  sets  of  farm  buildings  besides 
those  on  his  own  homestead,  it  being  one 
of  the  improved  and  most  highly  cultivated 
places  in  the  county.  Mr.  Woodburn  was 
quite  prominent  and  influential  and  was 
elected  to  a  number  of  local  offices  of  trust 
and  honor.  He  was  also  one  of  the  fore- 
most to  aid  by  his  influence  or  support  any 
object  which  he  believed  calculated  to  pro- 


mote the  upbuilding  or  advancement  of 
Ogle  county.  He  died  at  his  home  Decem- 
ber 22,  1887,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in 
1879.  Both  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  Byron 
cemetery,  where  has  been  erected  to  their 
memory  a  neat  and  substantial  monument. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Fred  C,  the  eldest,  is  now  living  retired  in 
Rockford,  Illinois;  James  C.  is  next  in  or- 
der of  birth;  and  Carrie  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  H.  Patrick,  of  Rockford. 

James  C.  Woodburn  completed  his  lit- 
erary education  in  Wheaton  College,  and 
later  entered  the  law  department  of  the 
Michigan  University  at  Ann  Arbor,  graduat- 
ing at  that  noted  institution  with  the  class 
of  1870.  He  then  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching  in  Ogle  county  for  two  years,  and 
at  the  end  of  that  time  opened  an  office  in 
Byron  for  the  practice  of  law.  Being  an 
able  lawyer,  and  a  man  of  sound  judgment, 
he  manages  his  cases  with  masterly  skill 
and  tact,  and  practices  in  all  of  the  courts. 
As  a  business  man  he  has  also  met  with 
marked  success  and  still  carries  on  a  large 
real  estate  and  insurance  business.  In  1882 
he  became  interested  in  banking,  in  which 
he  also  succeeded,  but  at  the  end  of  five 
years  he  sold  out. 

On  the  loth  of  November,  1S80,  in  Ogle 
county,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Woodburn  and  Miss  Ada  M.  Patrick,  a 
daughter  of  George  T.  Patrick,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  the  county.  She  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  here,  and  for  some 
years  prior  to  her  marriage  successfully  en- 
gaged in  teaching.  Four  children  bless 
this  union:  Mary  A.,  Roy  M.,  Adelbert  and 
Grace  E. 

Politically  Mr.  Woodburn  is  a  life-long 
Republican,  having  cast  his  first  presidential 


52 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ballot  for  U.  S.  Grant  in  1868.  He  has 
ever  taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
local  politics  and  campaign  work,  has  been 
a  delegate  to  many  county,  congressional 
and  state  conventions,  and  has  rendered  his 
party  efficient  service.  He  was  elected  and 
served  as  the  only  temperance  mayor  of 
Byron,  was  a  leading  member  of  the  town 
board  for  several  years,  treasurer  of  Byron 
township  twenty  years,  and  for  twenty-four 
years  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  in  the 
township,  a  position  he  is  still  most  credit- 
ably and  satisfactorily  filling.  He  is  also 
notary  public,  and  in  whatever  position  he 
has  been  called  upon  to  fill  he  has  proved 
a  most  faithful  trustworthy  official.  So- 
cially he  is  a  Master  Mason,  and  has  served 
as  secretary  of  Byron  lodge  for  the  past 
fifteen  years.  He  was  largely  instrumental 
in  organizing  the  Eastern  Star  at  that  place, 
of  which  he  and  his  wife  are  charter  mem- 
bers, and  Mrs.  Woodburn  is  now  worthy 
matron  of  the  order.  Both  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Congregational  church,  and  in 
social  circles  occupy  an   enviable   position. 


HON.  ALBERT  F.  BROWN.  — More 
than  sixty  years  have  passed  since  this 
gentleman  arrived  in  Ogle  county,  and  he  is 
justly  numbered  among  her  honored  pioneers 
and  leading  citizens.  As  an  agriculturist  he 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  her 
business  interests  and  in  early  life  took  quite 
an  influential  part  in  the  political  affairs  of 
this  section.  His  is  an  honorable  record  of 
a  conscientious  man,  who  by  his  upright  life 
has  won  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  come  in  contact. 

Mr.  Brown  was  born  September  4,  i8ig, 
in  Briuifield,  Hampden  county,  Massachu- 
setts, near  Springfield,  and  belongs  to  an  old 


and  distinguished  family  of  that  state.  The 
first  to  come  to  America  was  Jonathan 
Brown,  a  native  of  England,  who  settled  in 
Massachusetts  in  1736  and  received  a  grant 
of  land  from  King  George.  His  homestead 
remained  in  the  family  for  several  genera- 
tions. He  not  only  aided  the  colonies  in  their 
struggle  for  independence  during  the  Revo- 
lution, but  also  bore  an  active  part  in  the 
early  Indian  wars.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
citizens  of  the  colony  he  was  appointed  to 
visit  each  house  to  ascertain  whether  the 
inmates  were  using  imported  tea  and  if  so 
to  report  the  same  that  such  families  might 
be  ostracised,  this  being  just  prior  to  the 
famous  Boston  tea  party.  His  son,  Bar- 
tholomew Brown,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Brimfield,  Massachusetts,  and 
spent  his  entire  life  there,  his  remains  being 
interred  in  the  village  cemetery.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  served  with  dis- 
tinction as  a  lieutenant  in  the  Continental 
army  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Colonel  Dauphin  Brown,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  also  a  native  of  Brimfield,  born 
November  9,  1792,  and  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  was  married  December 
I,  1 8 14,  to  Miss  Sila  Patrick,  who  was 
born  in  Brimfield,  February  9,  1792,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Persis  (Smith)  Pat- 
rick. The  Patrick  family  is  also  of  English 
origin  and  was  founded  in  Massachusetts 
in  17 16.  The  Colonel  and  his  wife  lived 
on  the  old  Brown  homestead  until  April, 
1837,  when,  accompanied  by  their  sons, 
Albert  F.,  Samuel  Patrick  and  J.  M.  Clay- 
ton, he  started  for  Illinois,  taking  the  route 
I'ia  Hartford,  New  York  city,  Philadelphia 
and  Pittsburg,  thence  down  the  Ohio  and 
up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to  Pe- 
oria, where  they  procured  teams  and  drove 
to  Dixon.     There  they  rented  land  about  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


53 


mile  and  a  half  from  the  village  for  one 
summer.  Colonel  Brown  and  Mr.  Patrick 
visited  Ogle  count}'  and  the  former  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  at  Black  Walnut  Grove, 
on  section  9,  Marion  township.  In  the  fall 
of  that  year,  1887,  in  company  with  Jared 
and  J.  F.  Sanford,  he  built  a  sawmill  on 
Mill  creek,  in  what  is  now  Byron  township, 
and  in  December  returned  to  Massachusetts. 
The  following  spring  he  sold  his  farm  at 
Brimfield,  settled  up  all  business  claims, 
and  shipped  his  goods  from  Boston  by  way 
of  New  Orleans,  to  Savanna,  Carroll  county, 
Illinois,  while  his  family  came  west  by  the 
the  same  route  that  he  had  previously  taken, 
with  the  exception  that  they  landed  at  Sa- 
vanna instead  of  Peoria,  and  from  there 
came  to  Ogle  county.  Colonel  Brown 
bought  a  claim  of  eighty  acres  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  Byron  and  built  a  frame 
house  in  the  village,  where  the  family  re- 
sided for  seven  years  while  he  opened  up 
and  developed  his  farm.  As  soon  as  the 
land  came  into  market,  he  entered  his  claim 
on  section  9,  Marion  township,  and  also 
purchased  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
35,  townships  25  and  11,  on  which  he 
erected  a  residence  that  was  ever  afterward 
his  home.  There  his  death  occurred  No- 
vember 15,  1 87 1.  His  first  wife  had  passed 
away  in  1840,  and  in  1854  he  wedded  Miss 
Lucia  Homer,  who  was  also  born  in  Brim- 
field,  Massachusetts,  in  May,  1793,  and  died 
in  1 88 1.  He  was  commissioned  colonel 
in  the  Massachusetts  state  militia  by  Gov- 
ernor Levi  Lincoln,  but  entered  the  service 
as  a  private.  He  was  also  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  in  the  early  settlement  of 
Ogle  county,  was  one  of  the  first  commis- 
sioners elected  and  was  serving  in  that 
office  at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the 
first  court  house.      In    1849   he   ably  repre- 


sented his  district  in  the  Sixteenth  General 
Assembly  of  Illinois.  With  his  first  wife 
he  joined  the  Congregational  church  at 
Brimfield  in  early  life,  and  after  coming  to 
this  state  was  an  active  and  prominent 
member  of  that  denomination,  assisting  in 
the  organization  of  the  churches  at  Byron 
and  Stillman  Valley  and  serving  as  deacon 
for  many  years. 

To  Colonel  Dauphin  and  Sila  (Patrick) 
Brown  were  born  eight  children,  who  in 
order  of  birth  are  as  follows;  Persis  P. 
married  Dr.  Arnold  E.  Hurd,  a  pioneer  and 
prominent  citizen  of  Ogle  county,  and  both 
are  now  deceased,  Mrs.  Hurd  departing  this 
life  at  Stillman  Valley  in  August,  1861. 
Lucy  A.  married  Hon.  Joshua  White,  a 
leading  citizen  of  Ogle  county,  now  de- 
ceased, who  served  for  sixteen  years  as  a 
member  of  the  county  board  and  also  served 
in  the  Twenty-first  General  Assembly  of 
Illinois,  and  she  died  October  13,  1885. 
Albert  F. ,  our  subject,  is  the  next  in  the 
family.  Henry  F.  died  at  Byron,  July  30, 
1839,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  Sarah 
S.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  A.  Smith  and  resides 
near  Byron.  Harriet  L.  married  William 
J.  Mix  and  died  November  24,  1849. 
George  F.  died  at  Stillman  Valley,  Novem- 
ber 24,  1850.  Julia  A.  married  Hon. 
James  G.  White,  a  prominent  man  of  Ogle 
county,  now  deceased,  and  she  is  now  living 
in  Stillman  Valley. 

Albert  F.  Brown  was  sixteen  years  of 
age  when  he  accompanied  his  father  on  his 
first  trip  to  Illinois  and  amid  pioneer  scenes 
in  Ogle  county  he  grew  to  manhood,  early 
becoming  familiar  with  the  arduous  task  of 
transforming  the  wild  land  into  rich  and 
productive  fields.  His  education  was  prin- 
cipally obtained  in  the  common  schools, 
supplemented  by  one   year's  attendance   at 


54 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Wesleyan  Academy,  in  Massachusetts.  For 
a  few  years  he  operated  a  ferry  at  Byron, 
but  throughout  life  has  given  the  greater 
part  of  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1845  he  and  his  brother-in-law,  Dr. 
Hurd,  came  to  Stillman  Valley  and  entered 
between  eight  and  nine  hundred  acres  of 
land  and  each  opened  up  a  fine  farm.  Mr. 
Brown  owned  five  hundred  acres,  and  of 
this  he  placed  three  hundred  acres  under 
the  plow.  For  two  years  after  his  marriage 
he  continued  to  reside  in  Byron  and  then 
removed  to  Stillman  Valley,  owning  the 
first  frame  house  in  that  place.  Later  he 
built  a  more  commodious  and  substantial 
residence,  and  is  still  successfully  engaged 
in  farming  upon  one  of  the  best  improved 
and  most  valuable  farms  in  the  county. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  1842,  at  By- 
ron, Mr.  Brown  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Eunice  Cordelia  Colhren,  who 
was  born  in  Cayuga  county.  New  York, 
May  8,  1823,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Cothren,  also  a  pioneer  of  Ogle  county. 
She  was  called  to  her  final  rest  November 
10,  1892.  The  children  born  of  this  union 
were  as  follows:  Henrietta  C,  at  home; 
Charles  F.,  a  farmer  of  Marion  township; 
George  H.,  a  prominent  business  man  of 
Stillman  Valley,  and  a  stanch  Republican, 
who  is  president  of  the  village  school  board 
and  supervisor  of  Marion  township;  Esther 
J.,  wife  of  Harvey  Rood,  of  Chicago;  Cora 
C. ,  wife  of  William  F.  Hannum,  of  Still- 
man Valley;  A.  Chester,  a  stockholder  and 
cashier  of  the  Stillman  Valley  Bank;  Sila 
Persis,  wife  of  Joseph  G.  Pratt,  an  attorney 
of  Hilo,  Hawaiian  Islands;  and  Edwin,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Origmally  Mr.  Brown  was  an  old-line 
Whig  in  politics,  and  cast  his  first  ballot  in 
1840  for  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler,  too;  but  in 


1859  he  joined  the  newly  organized  Repub- 
lican party,  and  has  since  fought  under  its 
banner.  He  assisted  in  the  formation  of 
the  party  in  his  congressional  district,  and 
has  since  been  an  active  and  influential 
worker  in  its  ranks.  He  has  been  called 
upon  to  fill  many  local  offices  of  honor  and 
trust,  such  as  assessor  and  supervisor,  and 
was  chairman  of  the  board  a  number  of 
terms.  In  1878  he  was  elected  to  the 
thirty-second  general  assembly  of  Illinois, 
and  so  acceptably  did  he  fill  the  office  that 
he  was  twice  re-elected,  proving  a  most 
popular  and  capable  official.  He  was  a 
member  of  several  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  committees  on 
county  and  township  organizations  and  on 
roads,  and  state  buildings.  Since  his  re- 
tirement from  that  office  he  has  declined  all 
political  honors.  For  thirty-eight  years  he 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational church,  and  has  served  as  its  trus- 
tee for  forty  years.  As  a  citizen  he  stands 
ready  to  discharge  every  duty  devolving 
upon  him;  over  his  life  record  there  falls  no 
shadow  of  wrong;  his  public  service  was 
most  exemplary,  and  his  private  life  has 
been  marked  by  the  utmost  fidelity  to  duty. 


JF.  SNYDER,  M.  D.,  who  resides  at 
Monroe  Center,  Illinois,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  with 
gratifying  success,  is  a  native  of  Schoharie 
county.  New  York,  and  was  born  May  26, 
i860.  He  is  the  son  of  Nelson  and  Henri- 
etta (Hale)  Snyder,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  New  York,  the  father  being  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  following  that  vocation 
during  his  entire  life.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Daniel  Snyder,  married  Mary  Ecker- 
son,  both  being  New  York  people,  and  both 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


55 


living  and  dying  in  that  state.  For  many 
years  he  engaged  in  hotel  keeping  in  Mid- 
dleburg,  New  York,  at  the  same  time  en- 
gaging in   agricultural   pursuits. 

In  the  family  of  Nelson  and  Henrietta 
Snyder  were  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
Daniel  is  married  and  is  now  a  prosperous 
farmer  residing  in  Stillman  Valley.  Charles 
S.  married  Mary  Bly,  and  is  also  a  substan- 
tial farmer  living  at  Stillman  Valley.  Henry 
H.,  a  portrait  artist,  is  married  and  makes 
his  home  in  Rockford,  Illinois.  J.  F.  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Julia  married 
J.  Huff,  and  they  live  at  Byron,  where  he 
is  employed  at  his  trade,  that  of  a  carpen- 
ter. Helen  married  A.  J.  Woodcock,  M. 
D.,  and  they  reside  in  Byron,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  active  practice.  In  his  native 
state.  Nelson  Snyder  owned  and  operated 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres, 
which  he  sold  in  1868,  and  coming  to  Ogle 
county,  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Marion  township,  where 
he  yet  resides.  Many  improvements  have 
been  made  upon  the  place  since  it  came 
into  his  possession,  the  farm  being  well 
tilled,  with  good  barns  and  other  outbuild- 
ings which  show  that  it  is  owned  by  one 
who  thoroughly  understands  his  business. 
The  good  wife  and  mother  passed  to  her  re- 
ward May  26,  1896,  leaving  not  only  the 
family,  but  many  friends  to  mourn  her  loss. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  eight 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Ogle  county.  His  education,  which  was 
begun  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
state,  was  continued  in  the  schools  of  Ogle 
county.  He  was  an  apt  scholar,  and  at  the 
early  age  of  sixteen  years  passed  an  exami- 
nation and  commenced  teaching  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of   his  adopted  county.      Teach- 

6 


ing  in  the  winter  months,  and  working  upon 
the  farm  in  summer,  he  continued  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  old,  when  he  entered 
the  medical  department  of  Michigan  Uni- 
versity, at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  remained 
one  year,  and  then  entered  Rush  Medical 
College,  Chicago,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  1882,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  be- 
ing the  youngest  man  in  his  class. 

Immediately  after  receiving  his  diploma, 
Dr.  Snyder  located  at  Kings,  Ogle  county, 
and  at  once  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  but  in  September  of  the  same 
year  moved  to  Monroe  Center,  and  has  here 
continued  in  active  practice  to  the  present 
time.  That  his  choice  of  a  location  was  a 
good  one  is  evidenced  by  his  large  practice 
and  the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  in 
the  community.  In  1884  he  was  nominated 
on  the  Republican  ticket  for  the  office  of 
county  coroner,  was  duly  elected,  and 
served  the  full  term  of  four  years.  In  1890 
he  was  elected  township  treasurer,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  still  continues  to  hold. 
Reared  a  Republican,  he  has  since  contin- 
ued to  advocate  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  is  now  with  his  party 
in  favor  of  the  retention  of  all  gained  by  the 
late  war  with  Spain. 

Dr.  Snyder  was  married  September  4, 
1S89,  to  Miss  Hattie  Swett,  a  daughter  of 
Riley  and  Mary  (Hickox)  Swett,  who  were 
early  settlers  of  Ogle  county.  By  this  union 
there  is  one  son,  Clarendon  Swett  Snyder, 
now  a  lad  of  seven  years. 

Fraternally  Dr.  Snyder  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order  and  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  in  the  latter  body  being 
examining  physician  in  his  local  camp.  So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  the  Alumni  As- 
sociation of  Rush  Medical  College  and 
professionally    a     member     of      the     Fox 


56 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


River  Medical  Society.  He  is  a  liberal 
supporter  of  the  various  churches  and  the 
public  schools,  and  gives  aid  and  en- 
couragement to  every  enterprise  of  value 
to  his  town  and  county.  In  the  estimation 
of  his  fellow  citizens  he  is  held  in  the  high- 
est esteem. 


J  CHESTER  STIRES  is  a  worthy  rep- 
resentative of  the  business  interests  of 
Byron,  where  he  is  extensively  engaged  in 
buying  and  shipping  stock.  Of  excellent 
business  ability  and  broad  resources,  he  has 
attained  a  prominent  place  among  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  this  part  of  the  county, 
and  is  a  recognized  leader  in  public  affairs. 
He  has  won  success  by  his  well-directed, 
energetic  efforts,  and  the  prosperity  that 
has  come  to  him  is  certainly  well  deserved. 
Mr.  Stires  was  born  February  6,  1S52, 
in  Hunterdon  county.  New  Jersey,  and  be- 
longs to  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  that 
state,  of  which  his  parents,  Thomas  and 
Jane  (Conover)  Stires,  were  also  natives. 
The  father,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Hunt- 
erdon county,  in  1808,  engaged  in  farming 
there  until  1854  or  1855,  when  he  removed 
to  Ohio,  but  in  1856  he  became  a  resident 
of  Byron  township.  Ogle  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  purchased  an  improved  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  To  its  culti- 
vation he  devoted  his  energies  until  called 
from  this  life  July  i,  1864,  and  his  wife, 
who  survived  him  some  years,  passed  away 
in  February,  1878.  In  their  family  were 
five  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom 
reached  man  and  womanhood,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  son.  H.  C,  the  eldest,  re- 
sides in  Byron;  Ira  owns  and  occupies  the 
old  homestead  farm;  Mrs.  N.  J.  Hewitt  is 
a  resident  of   Byron;    Mrs.  Maggie   Swack- 


hamer  lives  in  Hunterdon  county,  New  Jer- 
sey; Carrie  N.  died  unmarried;  Mrs.  Han- 
nah Noyes  makes  her  home  in  Byron; 
Garret  and  J.  Chester  are  both  residents  of 
that  place;  and  Mrs.  Alice  Court  lives  in 
Creston,  Iowa. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm,  J.  Chester 
Stires  early  became  familiar  with  all  the 
duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agricult- 
urist, aiding  in  the  work  of  the  farm  dur- 
ing the  summer  season  and  attending  the 
district  school  during  the  winter  months. 
He  was  married  in  Marion  township.  Ogle 
county,  December  29,  1875,  to  Miss  Hattie 
N.  ^^'ilbu^,  who  was  born  in  Byron  town- 
ship and  was  reared  and  educated  in  this 
county.  Her  father,  Charles  Wilbur,  lo- 
cated here  in  1845  and  took  up  a  tract  of 
government  land  in  Byron  township,  which 
he  transformed  into  a  good  farm.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Stires  operated  this  place, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
until  1890,  and  also  owned  and  operated 
another  farm  of  two  hundred  and  thirty 
acres,  being  actively  and  successfully  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  for  fifteen 
years.  In  1890  he  removed  to  the  village 
of  Byron,  where  he  bought  residence  prop- 
erty, which  he  has  greatly  improved,  and 
now  has  a  very  pleasant  and  commodious 
home.  Here  he  engages  in  buying  and 
shipping  stock  and  is  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful dealers  in  the  county.  In  1892  he 
also  bought  an  interest  in  the  Byron  bank,- 
and  is  now  one  of  the  four  stockholders  of 
that  reliable  institution. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stires  are  the  parents  of 
four  children:  Mabel,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  thirteen  years;  Elva  Jane,  a  well  edu- 
cated young  lady  who  is  now  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Ogle  county; 
Anna  E.,  who  is  also  well  educated  and  is 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


57 


now    at  home,    and    Margaret    Grace,    who 
completes  the  family. 

Politically  Mr.  Stires  has  affiliated  with 
the  Democracy  since  casting  his  first  presiden- 
tial ballot  for  Samuel  J.  Tilden  in  1876,  and 
he  has  taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
local  politics,  serving  as  a  delegate  to  numer- 
ous county,  congressional  and  state  conven- 
tions. In  the  spring  of  1S98  he  was  elected 
supervisor  of  Byron  township,  defeating  the 
Republican  candidate  who  had  served  for 
ten  years  in  that  office  and  had  always 
been  elected  by  a  large  majority.  This  fact 
plainly  indicates  the  popularity  of  our  sub- 
ject, as  the  township  has  always  been 
strongly  Republican,  and  his  many  friends 
in  Byron  rejoiced  in  his  triumph,  manifest- 
ing their  enthusiasm  by  a  big  rally.  He  is 
now  serving  on  the  poor  farm  committee. 
In  1897  he  was  elected  president  of  the 
town  board.  Mr.  Stires  is  acknowledged  to 
be  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  public 
spirited  citizens  of  Byron,  and  for  eight 
years  advocated  the  building  of  a  bridge 
across  the  river  at  that  place  and  was  in- 
strumental in  at  last  securing  it.  He  con- 
tributed two  hundred  dollars  toward  its 
construction,  and  was  also  identified  with 
the  building  of  both  elevators  at  this  place. 


HORATIO  WALES.— Fortunate  is  he 
who  has  back  of  him  an  ancestry  hon- 
orable and  distinguished,  and  happy  is  he  if 
his  lines  of  life  are  cast  in  harmony  there- 
with. Our  subject  is  blessed  in  this  respect, 
for  he  springs  from  a  prominent  New  Eng- 
land family.  He  was  born  near  Polo,  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  November  27,  1S52,  and  is 
a  son  of  Horatio  Wales,  Sr,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred January    22,  1810,  in    the    town   of 


Wales,  Massachusetts,  where  after  clerking 
for  a  time  he  went  into  business.  On  coming 
to  Ogle  county  in  1836,  the  father  located  in 
Buffalo  Grove,  and  having  brought  with 
him  a  stock  of  goods,  he  opened  a  store  at 
that  place,  which  he  conducted  for  a  few 
years.  On  selling  out  he  bought  a  tract  of 
government  land  and  engaged  in  farming 
until  1876,  when  he  retired  from  active 
business  cares  and  spent  his  last  days  in 
Polo,  where  his  death  occurred  May  5, 
1890.  At  an  early  day  in  the  history  of 
the  county,  he  took  quite  an  active  and 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs  and  served 
as  sheriff  from  1838  until  1840.  He  at-, 
tended  the  Congregational  church,  and 
was  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

Royal  Wales,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  also  a  native  of  Wales, 
Massachusetts,  born  in  1773,  and  died  in 
1857.  For  his  second  wife  he  married 
Mrs.  Ruby  (Porter)  Bliss,  and  Horatio 
Wales,  Sr. ,  was  one  of  the  children  born 
of  this  union.  Royal  Wales  was  a  son 
of  Oliver  and  Elizabeth  Wales  and  a 
grandson  of  Ebenezer  Wales,  whose  fa- 
ther was  Deacon  Nathaniel  Wales,  a  son  of 
Timothy  Wales.  Nathaniel  Wales,  the  fa- 
ther of  Timothy,  was  born  in  Ide,  York- 
shire, England,  in  1586,  and  on  his  emigra- 
tion to  America  in  1662,  located  at  Dor- 
chester, Massachusetts.  His  father,  John 
Wales,  spent   his  entire   life  in  England. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Mary  E.  Williams,  and 
was  born  in  Brimfield,  Massachusetts,  a 
daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Eliza  (Whitwell) 
Williams.  The  Williams  family  was  found- 
ed in  America  by  Robert  Williams,  who 
crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1638,  and  his  de- 
scendants down   to  the  grandfather  of  our 


5^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


subject  are  as  follows:  Samuel,  probably 
born  in  England  in  1632,  died  in  i6g8; 
Samuel,  born  in  1655,  died  in  1735;  Rev. 
Ebenezer,  who  graduated  from  Cambridge 
in  1709,  was  born  in  1690  and  died  in  1753; 
Rev.  Chester,  born  in  1720,  died  in  1755; 
Rev.  Nehemiah,  who  graduated  from  Har- 
vard College  in  1769  and  was  a  Congrega- 
tional preacher  at  Brimfield,  Massachusetts, 
for  over  twenty-one  years,  was  born  in 
1749  and  died  in  1800;  and  Ebenezer, 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
1777,  and  died  in  1856.  Mrs.  Wales  died 
December  14,  1892. 

Horatio  Wales,  of  this  review,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  district  schools  near  his  boy- 
hood home  and  in  the  public  schools  of 
Polo,  continuing  his  studies  in  those  insti- 
tutions until  eighteen  years  of  age.  On 
attaining  his  majority  he  rented  land  from 
his  father  and  continued  to  engage  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  1S82.  Removing  to 
Polo,  he  embarked  in  business  at  that  place 
in  1885,  as  a  dealer  in  farm  machinery,  and 
from  year  to  year  as  his  business  has  grad- 
ually increased  he  has  enlarged  his  store 
room  until  he  now  occupies  a  commodious 
warehouse  and  office  on  the  principal  busi- 
ness street.  He  deals  in  all  kinds  of  agri- 
cultural implements,  buggies,  wagons,  wind 
mills  and  steam  heating  apparatus,  and  has 
built  up  a  most  excellent  trade. 

In  Polo,  January  12,  1893,  Mr.  Wales 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma 
Spear.  Her  father.  Captain  Joseph  L. 
Spear,  was  born  in  Martickville,  Pennsyl- 
vania, February  i,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
Rev.  John  Spear,  a  minister  of  the  Meth- 
odist church,  of  the  New  Jersey  conference, 
and  his  wife,  Matilda  Wentz,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Sarah  (Smith)  Wentz.  On 
coming  to  Illinois  in    1859,  Captain  Spear 


first  located  in  Brookville,  and  later  in  For- 
reston.  Ogle  county,  where  he  taught 
school  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war. 
In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  Ninety-second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, was  elected  first  lieutenant  of  his  com- 
pany and  was  soon  afterward  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  captain.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  Chicka- 
mauga,  was  with  Sherman  on  the  famous 
march  to  the  sea,  and  witnessed  Johnston's 
surrender  a  few  da\s  after  Lee's  capitula- 
tion. On  his  return  from  the  war  he  en- 
tered in  the  drug  business  in  Polo,  which  he 
successfully  carried  on  until  1896,  when  he 
sold  out  to  his  son.  Just  before  going  to 
the  front  Captain  Spear  was  married,  in 
Polo,  August  24,  1S62,  to  Miss  Mary  Car- 
penter, a  native  of  Delhi,  New  York,  and  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Olive  (Vegte)  Car- 
penter. Her  maternal  grandparents  were 
John  and  Catherine  (Shaw)  Vegte,  and 
great-grandparents  were  John  and  Cathar- 
ine (Vanderbilt)  Vegte.  Captain  Spear 
died  July  11,  1898.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wales 
have  an  interesting  family  of  three  children, 
namely:      Horatio,  Frank  and  Helen. 

Politically  Mr.  \\'ales  is  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  takes  quite 
an  active  interest  in  political  affairs,  and 
has  served  as  chairman  of  the  township 
Republican  committee.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
P^ellows  and  the  Knights  of  the  Globe,  while 
religiously  he  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church,  his  wife  being  a  member.  As  a 
business  man  he  ranks  among  the  foremost 
in  his  section  of  the  county  and  his  inter- 
ests have  ever  been  so  managed  as  to  gain 
him  the  confidence  of  the  public  and  the  suc- 
cess that  should  always  attend  honorable 
effort. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    KECOKD. 


59 


WILLIAM  CAMLING  has  for  many 
years  been  one  of  the  most  highly 
esteemed  and  valued  citizens  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty, his  home  being  on  section  9,  Kockvale 
township.  He  is  of  foreign  birth  but  his 
duties  of  citizenship  have  been  performed 
with  a  loyalty  equal  to  that  of  any  native 
son  of  America,  and  when  the  nation  was 
imperiled  by  rebellion,  he  went  to  the  de- 
fense of  the  Union  and  protected  the  cause 
of  his  adopted  country  on  many  a  southern 
battle  field. 

Mr.  Camling  is  a  native  of  Holland,  born 
near  Zealand,  August  10,  1842,  but  was 
only  two  )ears  and  a  half  old  when  brought 
to  America  by  his  father,  Cyrus  Camling, 
who  was  probably  a  farmer  in  the  old  world 
and  served  for  several  years  in  the  army  of 
the  Netherlands.  In  the  United  States  he 
was  employed  as  a  day  laborer  and  made 
his  home  near  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan, 
where  his  death  occurred  about  1876.  He 
held  membership  in  the  Lutheran  church  in 
Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  and  in  political  senti- 
ment was  a  Republican.  He  had  by  his 
first  wife  one  child,  a  son,  and  by  his  sec- 
ond had  three  children:  Lane,  who  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Van  Horn  and  is  engaged  in 
fruit  farming  in  Michigan;  Katie,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seven  years;  and  William,  our 
subject.  For  his  second  wife  he  wedded 
Miss  Jane  Van  Heltz;  by  his  third  wife  had 
no  children. 

On  first  crossing  the  Atlantic  the  family 
located  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  where  they 
made  their  home  until  William  Camling  was 
six  years  of  age,  and  then  removed  to  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  public  schools.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  he  left  home  and  be- 
gan the  battle  of  life  for  himself,  his  first 
employment  being  in   the  hay  field,  where 


he  worked  with  a  hand  rake  for  three 
months.  He  was  only  seventeen  when  he 
joined  the  boys  in  blue,  enlisting  in  January, 
1862,  at  Cold  Springs,  Wisconsin,  in  Com- 
pany F,  Second  Wisconsin  Cavalry.  The 
regiment  first  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  it  remained  for  about  three  months 
while  being  equipped,  and  then  proceeded 
to  Springfield,  that  state,  under  command 
of  Colonel  C.  C.  Washburn,  while  Com- 
pany F  was  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Forrest.  The  summer  was  spent  in  fight- 
ing bushwhackers  on  the  road  from  Spring- 
field to  Helena,  Arkansas.  Arriving  in  the 
latter  place  in  the  fall  of  that  year  they 
there  spent  the  winter,  and  during  1863 
were  engaged  in  many  skirmishes  and  also 
participated  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and 
in  the  battle  of  Jackson,  Mississippi.  Re- 
turning to  Vicksburg  they  were  on  garrison 
duty  there  during  the  winter  of  1863-4,  and 
in  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  went  up  the 
Red  river,  finally  landing  at  Austin,  Texas, 
where  they  were  kept  on  the  lookout  for 
hostile  Mexicans  until  the  fall  of  1865,  when 
they  were  mustered  out  at  that  place  and 
sent  to  Madison,  Wisconsin.  In  that  city 
Mr.  Camling  received  his  discharge  papers 
and  arrived  home  on  Christmas. 

During  the  following  winter  he  worked 
as  a  day  laborer,  and  then  hired  out  to  a 
farmer  for  a  couple  of  years.  He  continued 
to  make  his  home  in  Wisconsin  until  1869, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at 
Rochelle,  where,  as  a  teamster,  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Chicago  and  Iowa  Rail- 
road, then  in  course  of  construction.  For 
seven  years  he  followed  teaming,  three 
years  of  which  time  fie  was  in  the  employ 
of  Joseph  Strom  in  delivering  coal,  and  for 
the  same  length  of  time  was  with  Miles 
Braiden,  who  was  in   the  coal,  lumber  and 


6o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ice  business.  In  1876  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  his  present  farm  in  Rockvale  town- 
ship, to  which  he  has  added  from  time  to 
time  as  his  financial  resources  have  in- 
creased, including  tracts  of  forty,  forty- 
eight  and  eighty  acres,  until  he  now  has  a 
valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  and  a  half  acres,  which  he  has  placed 
under  excellent  cultivation  and  improved 
with  good  and  substantial  buildings,  that 
stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  in- 
dustry. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1S64,  Mr.  Camling 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Coldit/,,  who  was  born  May  6,  1846,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Mina  (Shmutzler) 
Colditz,  in  whose  family  were  five  children, 
the  others  being  Minnie,  who  is  now  the 
widow  of  Frederick  Troeger  and  lives  near 
Elida;  F.  W.,  who  married  Clara  Boeswet- 
ter,  but  both  are  now  deceased,  his  death 
occurring  in  1886;  Augusta,  wife  of  William 
Schroeder,  of  West  Bend,  Wisconsin;  and 
Lizzie,  wife  of  Charles  Wilke,  of  West 
Bend.  The  father  of  these  children  brought 
his  family  to  America  in  1854  and  located 
in  Wauwatosa,  Wisconsin,  where  he  died 
about  three  months  after  his  arrival,  at  the 
age  of  forty-six  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Camling  have  been  born  seven  children, 
namely:  William,  at  home;  Clara,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Cyrus,  at  home; 
Charles,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen; 
James  and  Belle,  both  at  home;  and  Har- 
rison, who  is  still  attending  the  district 
schools.  All  of  the  children  have  been  pro- 
vided with  fair  common-school  educations. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Camling 
is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  most  accept- 
ably served  his  fellow-citizens  as  road  com- 
missioner three  years  and  school  director 
twelve   years.     Socially  he   is  an  honored 


member  of  Oregon  Post,  No.  116,  G.  A.  R., 
and  religiously  was  at  one  time  identified 
with  the  Lutheran  church,  but  since  com- 
ing to  Ogle  county  has  not  united  with  any 
church  organization.  Brave  and  fearless, 
and  of  a  rather  venturesome  disposition,  he 
was  always  the  first  to  volunteer  for  any 
perilous  undertaking  during  the  Civil  war, 
and  has  ever  shown  the  same  spirit  when 
occasion  demands  in  days  of  peace,  and  is 
therefore  justly  numbered  among  the  valued 
and  useful  citizens  of  the  community. 


JOHN  BISTLINE.— Among  the  repre- 
sentative and  prosperous  farmers  of 
Ogle  county,  the  record  of  whose  lives  fills 
an  important  place  in  this  volume,  it  gives 
us  pleasure  to  commemorate  the  name  of 
this  gentleman,  who  now  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  well  improved  and  valuable  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres  on  section  14,  Forreston 
township.  Like  many  of  our  best  citizens, 
he  comes  from  the  old  Keystone  state,  his 
birth  occurring  in  Perry  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, September  6,  1831.  His  father,  Joseph 
Bistline,  was  a  native  of  Schuylkill  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  and  there  married  Miss 
Mary  Reipseimer.  P^or  a  number  of  years 
he  followed  farming  in  Perry  county,  and 
there  died   in  1849. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  John  Bist- 
line passed  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  the 
limited  education  he  received  in  its  public 
schools  has  been  greatly  supplemented  by 
reading  and  study  in  later  years,  so  that 
he  is  almost  wholly  a  self-educated  man. 
Before  coming  west  he  spent  four  years  in 
Center  county,  Pennsylvania,  but  in  1857 
we  fmd  him  ot  route  for  Illinois.  I'rom 
Chicago  he  rode  horseback  to  Stephenson 
county,    swimming   his    horses   across   the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


6i 


streams  as  no  bridges  had  then  been  built 
in  this  region.  During  the  two  years  he 
remained  in  that  county  he  worked  for  thir- 
teen dollars  per  month.  Coming  to  Ogle 
county  in  1859,  he  rented  land  in  Forreston 
township  for  two  years  and  in  the  meantime 
did  his  own  housekeeping.  In  1861  he 
made  his  first  purchase  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  the  same  township 
and  to  the  work  of  improvement  and  culti- 
vation at  once  turned  his  attention.  He 
led  one  of  the  steers  used  in  breaking  the 
first  furrow  upon  the  land,  and  soon  had 
one  hundred  acres  under  cultivation.  In 
the  spring  of  1862  he  built  a  small  house 
upon  the  place,  the  lumber  for  which  he 
hauled  from  Freeport.  Later  he  bought 
more  land,  and  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres  under  excellent  cultivation 
and  well  improved  with  good  and  substan- 
tial buildings,  including  a  commodious  and 
comfortable  residence. 

Returning  to  Perry  county,  Pennsylvania, 
Mr.  Bistline  was  married  there,  in  1S71,  to 
Miss  Mary  M.  Ewing,  who  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  that  state,  and  when 
a  child  of  thirteen  removed  with  her 
family  to  Perry  county.  Later  she  spent 
six  years  with  an  uncle  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, but  was  mostly  educated  in  Middle- 
town,  Dauphin  county. 

Mr.  Bistline  uses  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party,  but  has  never  cared  for 
political  preferment,  though  he  was  elected 
and  most  acceptably  served  as  township 
trustee  for  two  terms.  His  estimable  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  of 
Forreston.  Although  Mr.  Bistline  came  to 
this  state  as  a  young  man  with  no  capital, 
he  has  by  untiring  labor,  perseverance  and 
good  management  succeeded  in   accumulat- 


ing a  handsome  property,  and  has  also  won 
the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact  by  his 
straightforward  way  of  doing  business  and 
by  his  pleasant,  genial  manner. 


MALCOLM  C.  ROE,  M.  D.— Among 
the  prominent  practitioners  and  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Ogle  county,  and  a  gentle- 
man who  has  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury been  actively  identified  with  its  prog- 
ress and  development,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  deserves  special  mention.  He  is  a 
native  of  Ogle  county,  born  at  Light  House 
Point,  October  31,  1842.  His  father,  John 
Roe,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  near  Phila- 
delphia, in  1800.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  state  and  there  received  a  fairly 
good  education.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  at  Ed- 
dyville,  Lyon  county,  engaged  in  teaching 
a  private  school.  While  residing  in  that 
state  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  A.  Lyon,  a  native  of  that  state 
and  daughter  of  Colonel  Matthew  Lyon. 
Colonel  Matthew  Lyon  was  born  in  Wick- 
low  county,  Ireland,  and  in  boyhood  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  stopping  in  Halifax, 
Nova  Scotia,  worked  in  a  printing  office 
some  years.  He  then  removed  to  Vermont 
where  he  published  the  Scourge  of  Aristoc- 
racy, and  in  1776  became  a  lieutenant  in  a 
company  of  the  "Green  Mountain  Boys." 
He  became  a  very  prominent  man  in  that 
state,  married  a  daughter  of  Governor 
Thomas  Chittenden,  was  fined  $1,000,  and 
imprisoned  four  months  in  Vergennes,  Ver- 
mont, under  the  alien  and  sedition  law. 
After  his  death  congress  returned  to  his 
heirs  the  fine  of  $1,000  with  compound  inter- 
est.     While  in  jail   he  was  elected   to  con- 


62 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


gress,  was  in  congress  eight  years  from  Ver- 
mont, twelve  years  from  Kentucky,  and  was 
territorial  delegate  from  Arkansas  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  was  paymaster  during 
the  Revolution,  colonel  of  militia,  member 
of  the  legislature,  judge,  and  founded  the 
town  of  Fairhaven,  in  1783.  He  there 
built  a  saw  and  gristmill,  established  a 
forge,  and  engaged  in  other  manufacturing 
enterprises.  (For  a  more  extended  account 
of  the  Lyon  family  see  Johnson's  Universal 
Encyclopedia.) 

To  John  and  Elizabeth  A.  Roe  nine  chil- 
dren were  born.  Matthew  Humphrey,  born 
in  Kentucky,  died  in  infancy.  Uriah  C, 
born  in  Kentucky,  now  lives  in  Franklin 
Grove,  Illinois,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine.  Dr.  Franklin  M.  Roe, 
of  Downers  Grove,  Illinois.  Giles  Boliver, 
born  in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  died  in 
Ghana,  Illinois.  Matthew  Cartwright,  born 
in  Sangamon  county,  is  a  farmer  living  near 
Grand  Junction,  Iowa.  John  H.,  born  in 
Sangamon  county,  spent  the  years  from 
1853  to  1893  in  Kentucky,  but  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Ghana.  While  residing  in  Kentucky 
he  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  and 
was  also  in  the  life  insurance  business,  be- 
ing general  agent  of  the  Equitable  Life  In- 
surance Company  of  New  York.  Buelah 
Minerva,  born  at  Light  House,  Ogle  coun- 
ty, is  now  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Mayberry,  and 
they  reside  in  Chattanooga,  Tennessee. 
Frances  Maria  is  the  wife  of  John  Conlon, 
a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  residing  in  Milan 
township,  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  now 
dead.  Malcolm  C.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Leaving  Kentucky,  Dr.  John  Roe  moved 
to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  for  a 
few  years,  and    then  came   to  Ogle  county 


and  located  at  Light  House  Point,  where  he 
resumed  practice.  From  Light  House  he 
went  to  Chicago,  but  did  not  long  remain 
there,  going  from  there  to  Rockford,  Illi- 
nois, and  then  to  White  Rock  township, 
Ogle  county,  and  later  to  Malta,  DeKalb 
county,  finally  going  to  Nebraska,  locating 
at  Beatrice,  Gage  county,  where  he  died  in 
1871. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  two 
years  old  when  his  father  moved  to  Chicago. 
He  accompanied  his  parents  to  the  several 
places  in  which  they  located,  in  the  mean- 
time gaining  such  knowledge  as  was  possi- 
ble in  the  common  schools.  It  was  his  aim 
and  intention,  however,  to  obtain  a  higher 
education,  thus  fitting  himself  for  a  pro- 
fessional life.  To  that  end  he  entered  Mt. 
Morris  Seminary,  and  later  Western  Union 
College  and  Military  Academy  at  Fulton, 
Illinois.  This  was  in  1861,  and  the  war  for 
the  union  commencing,  the  school  was 
badly  broken  up,  and  he  therefore  remained 
there  but  one  year.  Later  he  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine,  and  entering  Bennett 
Medical  College,  Chicago,  he  pursued  the 
regular  course  and  was  graduated  from  that 
institution.  In  1871  he  took  up  a  post- 
graduate course  in  the  Physio-Medical  Col- 
lege at  Cincinnati,  and  graduated  from  it  in 
1872.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  1869  in  Ogle  county,  and  in 
1875  removed  to  Ghana,  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  reside,  building  up  a 
practice  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud. 

Dr.  Roe  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  P.  Sturtevant,  a  native  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  daughter  of  Benjamin  D. 
and  Annie  (Martin)  Sturtevant.  In  1857 
the  family  came  to  Ogle  county,  and  located 
in  White  Rock  township,  where  the  father 
carried  on  farming   in  connection  with  con- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


63 


tracting  and  building.  He  was  born  in 
Barton,  Vermont,  while  his  wife  was  born 
in  Cheshire  county,  New  Hampshire.  They 
had  a  family  of  six  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  The  four  yet  living  are 
George  N.,  who  lives  one-half  mile  west  of 
Ghana;  Milton  E. ,  a  farmer  of  White  Rock 
township,  living  on  the  old  homestead; 
Sarah  P.,  wife  of  our  subject;  and  Emma 
L. ,  wife  of  James  M.  Miller,  of  Rockford, 
Illinois. 

To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Roe  five  children  have 
been  born:  Effie  A.  is  deceased;  Milton 
H.  is  a  farmer  living  on  the  north  side  ot 
Ghana;  Dr.  John  B.  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Ghana,  Illinois; 
Ada  M.  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  S.  D.  Bartle,  of 
Oasis,  Iowa;  S.  Maud  is  living  at  home; 
Malcolm  R.  is  living  at  home  and  attending 
the  village  school. 

In  politics  Dr.  Roe  is  a  Democrat.  In 
1 88 5  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  board 
of  supervisors  and  served  two  years.  After 
an  intermission  he  was  again  elected  in 
1896.  During  the  Cleveland  administra- 
tions he  was  a  member  of  the  pension 
board.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  blue  lodge  at  Oregon  and  the 
commander}'  at  Di.xon,  Illinois.  In  educa- 
tional matters  he  is  especially  interested, 
his  aim  being  to  have  the  schools  of  his 
place  of  residence  on  a  par  with  the  best  of 
those  in  larger  places.  In  fact  there  is  no 
enterprise  of  a  public  nature  but  finds  in 
him  an  earnest  advocate.  He  is  popular 
not  onl}'  as  a  physician,  but  as  a  citizen  as 
well. 


JUDSON   AGARD   WAITE,  a  prominent 
representative  of  the  farming  and  stock 
raising  interests  of  Ogle  county,    owns  and 


operates  a  valuable  farm  on  section  15, 
Rockvale  township,  whose  neat  and  thrifty 
appearance  well  indicates  his  careful  super- 
vision. Substantial  improvements  are  sur- 
rounded by  well-tilled  fields,  and  all  of  the 
accessories  and  conveniences  of  a  model 
farm  are  there  found. 

Mr.  Waite  was  born  upon  that  place, 
January  6,  1862,  a  son  of  Adoniram  Judson 
and  Amelia  (Agard)  Waite.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  Washington  county,  New  York, 
born  July  5,  1S21,  and  was  a  son  of  Clarke 
G.  and  Abigail  (Phillips)  Waite,  the  former 
born  April  3,'  1787,  the  latter  May  14,  1791. 
The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Peleg  Waite.  Adoniram  J.  Waite,  the  father, 
was  reared  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  and 
received  a  common-school  education.  Un- 
til twenty-eight  or  thirty  years  of  age  he  re- 
mained there  and  was  married  December  8, 
1842,  to  Miss  Caroline  Bull,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children,  namely:  Missouri  Lorina, 
who  married  William  A.  Steffa  and  lives  in 
Oregon;  Alton  Perry,  who  married  Annie 
Greenawalt  and  is  now  deceased;  and  Alzina, 
who  married  John  Allen  and  resides  in 
Oregon.  The  mother  of  these  children  de- 
parted this  life  in  July,  i860.  The  father 
continued  to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Washington  county.  New  York,  until 
about  1850,  when  he  removed  to  Erie 
count)',  that  state,  making  his  home  there 
until  April  8,  1853.  He  then  joined  his 
two  brothers,  Clarke  G.  and  Elverton  I. 
Waite,  who  had  located  in  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  in  1837.  Here  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  wild  land,  to 
the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  which 
he  at  once  turned  his  attention. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1861,  Adoniram 
J.  Waite  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Mrs.  Amelia  (Agard)  Lan- 


64 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


don,  who  was  born  November  9,  1822. 
Her  parents,  Joshua  and  Lucy  (Sibley) 
Agard,  were  natives  of  Wilmington,  Con- 
necticut, the  former  born  April  16,  17S9, 
the  latter  June  18,  1792.  In  the  fam- 
ily were  five  children,  as  follows:  Maria, 
Mary,  Amelia,  Austin  and  Hannah,  also 
a  half  sister.  Malissa  Ann,  all  now  de- 
ceased with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Waite, 
who  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  hus- 
band being  Horace  Landon,  Jr.,  a  son  of 
Horace  Landon,  of  Collins,  Erie  county, 
New  York.  By  that  union  she  had  two 
children:  Newton,  who  married  Annie 
Lyons,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Ten- 
nessee; and  Sarah  Maria,  wife  of  Charles 
Rathbun,  who  is  engaged  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness in  Streator,  Illinois,  and  is  secretary 
and  assistant  manager  of  the  Star  Coal 
Company.  Judson  A.  Waite,  of  this  review, 
was  the  only  child  born  of  the  second  mar- 
riage. Joshua  Agard  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  was  in  the  battle  of  Monmouth, 
New  Jersey.  The  father  died  January  22, 
1897,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  had  had  several  light  strokes 
of  paralysis,  but  on  the  morning  of  the  day 
of  his  death  was  feeling  quite  well  at  break- 
fast, but  twenty  minutes  after  leaving  the 
table  he  had  another  stroke  and  was  un- 
conscious until  he  passed  away  at  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  He  was  one  of 
the  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  his 
community,  was  a  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  took  quite  an  active  part  in 
local  politics.  He  served  as  supervisor  and 
school  trustee,  holding  both  offices  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  early  life  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  but  after 
coming  to  this  state  never  united  with  any 
congregation. 

Mr.  Waite,  whose  name  introduces  this 


sketch,  attended  the  district  schools  near 
his  home  and  supplemented  his  early  edu- 
cation by  two  years'  attendance  at  the  Mt. 
Morris  Academy,  leaving  here  in  18S2. 
Thus  well  fitted  for  life's  responsible  duties 
he  returned  to  the  old  homestead  and  has 
since  devoted  his  attention  to  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  with  most  gratify- 
ing results.  He  is  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred and  thirty  acres  of  arable  land  in  the 
home  place,  besides  one  hundred  and  forty- 
five  acres  elsewhere,  all  under  the  highest 
cultivation  and  well  improved.  Upon  the 
farm  are  three  large  barns  and  other  out- 
buildings besides  a  neat  and  comfortable 
residence.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  interested  in  stock-raising,  making  a 
specialty  of  shorthorn  and  Durham  cattle 
and  Chester  white  hogs,  and  at  one  time 
also  raised  Morgan  horses.  However,  he 
still  has  upon  his  place  thirteen  good  horses. 
Mr.  Waite  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party  and  its  principles  and  for 
six  years  has  most  capably  and  satisfactorily 
represented  his  township  on  the  board  of 
supervisors,  during  which  time  he  has 
served  on  the  committees  on  equalization, 
bridges,  public  buildings,  printing  and  edu- 
cation. He  has  also  been  town  clerk  for 
seven  years  and  in  all  of  the  relations  of  life 
has  been  found  true  and  faithful  to  every 
trust  reposed  in  him. 


PETER  R.  MEYERS,  who  resides  on 
section  11,  Lincoln  township,  is  a 
native  of  Ogle  county,  and  was  born  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides,  December  23, 
1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Jonathan  and  Eliza- 
beth (Redman)  Meyers,  the  former  a  native 
of  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  born 
January  23,  1812,  and  the  latter  of  Baden, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


65 


Germany,  and  who  came  to  the  new  world 
a  young  lady,  locating  first  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  later  coming  to  Ogle  county,  where  she 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mr.  Meyers. 
In  early  life  Jonathan  Meyers  learned  the 
trade  of  stone  mason,  following  that  occu- 
pation in  Hagarstown,  Maryland,  to  which 
place  he  removed.  From  Maryland  he 
came  to  Ogle  county,  being  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  1837.  On  coming  to  this  county  he 
took  up  a  claim  in  what  is  now  Lincoln 
township,  a  portion  of  which  is  now  com- 
prised in  the  farm  of  our  subject.  He  was 
accompanied  to  this  county  by  his  brother, 
Jacob  Meyers,  who  was  well  known  to  the 
early  settlers,  and  whose  descendants  are 
yet  residing  in  the  county.  When  the  land 
came  into  market,  Jonathan  Meyers  entered 
and  purchased  four  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
and  later  eighty  acres  additional.  He  died 
on  the  farm  which  was  his  home  for  more 
than  a  half  century,  his  death  taking  place 
July  16,  1893,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one 
years.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1S77,  and 
their  remains  lie  interred  in  the  cemetery  at 
\\  est  Grove. 

Peter  R.  Meyers  is  the  eldest  of  a  family 
of  seven  children,  of  whom  six  lived  to 
mature  years  and  have  families  of  their  own. 
He  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm, 
and  from  the  time  old  enough  to  render  any 
assistance,  made  himself  useful  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  farm.  His  education  was 
limited  to  the  common-schools  of  the  early 
days  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Meyers  was  married  in  Forreston, 
Ogle  county,  January  17,  1867,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Jane  McLane,  a  native  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty, and  daughter  of  Richard  McLane,  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  but  an  early  settler  of 
Ogle  county.  By  this  union  four  children 
were  born.      Lewis  F.  is  a  farmer  of   Lin- 


coln township.  Edwin  H.  is  a  farmer  of 
Maryland  township,  on  the  old  McLane 
farm.  Charles  A.  makes  his  home  with  his 
brother  Lewis,  while  Ettie  May  is  a  young 
lady  residing  at  home. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Meyers  moved 
to  the  McLane  homestead,  which  he  occu- 
pied and  cultivated  the  farm  for  twenty- 
seven  years,  during  which  time  he  made 
some  permanent  improvements  to  the  place. 
In  1S94  he  succeeded  to  a  part  of  the  old 
Meyers  homestead  and  removed  to  the  old 
place.  In  addition  to  the  two  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  acres  of  the  Meyers  homestead, 
he  owns  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  the 
old  McLane  homestead.  Both  tracts  are 
well  improved,  and  the  farm  presents  a  very 
neat  and  attractive  appearance. 

Politically  Mr.  Meyers  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  has  supported  that  party 
ticket  since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1S64.  He  has  been 
somewhat  active  in  local  politics,  but  not 
as  an  office  seeker.  He  has,  however, 
served  as  township  trustee,  school  director, 
and  such  minor  offices.  In  the  fifty-five 
years  that  he  has  resided  in  the  county — 
his  entire  life — he  has  been  brought  in  con- 
tact with  many  of  the  best  people,  and 
wherever  known  he  is  regarded  as  a  man  of 
exemplary  habits,  a  good  citizen,  one  will- 
ing to  do  all  he  can  for  his  native  county 
and  state. 


EDWARD  E.  PRICE,  who  is  now  living 
retired  in  the  village  of  Byron,  is  a 
self-made  man,  who  at  an  early  age  started 
out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He 
now  represents  a  valuable  property,  all  of 
which  he  has  accumulated  by  his  own  per- 
severance and  industry.    A  native  of  Wales, 


66 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


he  was  born  in  Montgomeryshire,  January 
I,  1836,  and  there  remained  until  fourteen 
years  of  age.  In  i  S49  he  crossed  the  broad 
Atlantic  to  join  his  brother,  David  Price, 
who  was  then  living  in  Utica,  New  York. 
There  he  worked  on  a  farm  during  the  sum- 
mer season  for  a  year  or  two,  also  engaged 
in  teaming  one  summer,  and  spent  one 
winter  working  in  a  tanyard,  remaining  there 
for  about  four  years.  In  the  meantime  his 
brother  had  come  west  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  Winnebago,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home,  residing  in  Rockford  at  the  pres- 
ent time  retired  from  active  business. 

In  1S55  Edward  E.  Price  also  removed 
to  Winnebago  county,  where  he  worked  on 
a  farm  by  the  month  for  some  time.  There 
he  married  Miss  Sarah  Goodhue,  a  most  es- 
timable lady,  who  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  child  born  in  Winftebago  county.  Her 
father.  Squire  Goodhue,  was  numbered 
among  its  first  settlers  and  opened  up  a 
farm  at  Kishwaukee.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Price  took  charge  of  the  Goodhue 
homestead  and  he  and  his  wife  cared  for 
her  parents  until  they  were  called  to  their 
final  rest,  and  then  succeeded  to  the  place, 
which  ^^r.  Price  operated  for  twenty-five  or 
thirty  years.  In  1890  he  removed  from 
Kishwaukee  to  Byron,  Ogle  county,  where 
he  bought  residence  property  and  has  since 
lived  retired.  In  189S  he  purchased  lots 
and  erected  a  good,  neat  and  substantial 
residence  which  is  now  his  home. 

Mr.  Price  has  a  family  of  seven  children, 
two  sons  and  five  daughters,  namely:  Ed- 
ward J.,  a  resident  of  B^ron;  Thomas  C, 
of  David  Junction;  Mrs.  Leora  L.  Helson, 
of  Byron;  Mrs.  Lillian  Poole,  of  Rockford; 
Mrs.  Alberta  Blakesley,  of  Wisconsin;  and 
Lizzie,  of  Beloit,  Wisconsin,  and  Lenora 
E.  lives  in  Beloit. 


Politically  Mr.  Price  has  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  party  since  its  organi- 
zation, casting  his  first  \ote  for  John  C. 
Fremont  in  1856,  and  has  supported 
every  candidate  of  the  party  for  the  presi- 
dency since  that  time.  He  is  enterprising 
and  progressive,  and  through  his  own  un- 
aided efforts  has  attained  success  in  life  and 
won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  a  large  cir- 
cle of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


TAMES  PANKHURST,  M.  D.,  of  Grand 
»J  Detour,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of 
Ogle  county,  was  born  in  Westfield,  Sussex 
county,  England,  January  iS,  1845,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Welfare)  Pank- 
hurst,  the  former  a  native  of  Sussex  county, 
England,  born  in  181  i,  and  the  latter  of 
Hastings,  England,  born  in  1805.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  John  Pankhurst,  Sr., 
who  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade,  was  also 
a  nati\'e  of  England,  where  his  entire  life 
was  spent. 

John  Pankhurst,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  also  a  wheelwright  by  trade,  which 
occupation  he  followed  until  coming  to 
America,  in  1S50.  Convinced  that  in  his 
native  land  he  could  never  rise  higher  than 
a  common  wheelwright,  with  no  opportunity 
to  provide  for  the  future,  he  determined  on 
coming  to  the  United  States.  With  his 
family  he  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel, 
and  after  a  voyage  of  five  weeks  he  landed 
in  New  York.  Our  subject  has  but  a  faint 
recollection  of  the  voyage,  but  as  a  reminder 
he  still  retains  in  his  possession  the  box  in 
which  the  provisions  of  the  family  were 
stored  during  the  voyage. 

After  spending  a  few  weeks  in  Alexan- 
dria, Pennsylvania,  the  family  came  west  to 
Carroll  coimty,  Illinois.      Leaving   there  his 


JAMES    PANKHURST,   M.   D. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


69 


family,  John  Pankhurst  trudged  on  foot  to 
Grand  Detour,  where  he  obtained  a  respon- 
sible position  with  the  Grand  Detour  Plow 
Company,  and  here  brought  the  family. 
He  did  not,  however,  remain  but  one  year, 
when  he  went  to  Jackson  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  also  remained  one  year.  Being 
offered  the  foremanship  in  the  wood  depart- 
ment of  the  plow  company,  he  returned  to 
Grand  Detour,  and  here  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  days.  He  remained  with  the 
company  for  ten  years  after  its  removal  to 
Dixon,  but  still  retained  his  home  in  Grand 
Detour.  His  death,  the  result  of  an  acci- 
dent, occurred  July  14,  1S96.  His  good 
wife  passed  away  September  26,  1S94,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  Both  were 
devoted  members  of  the  Church  of  England, 
and  were  firm  in  the  faith.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children, — Stephen,  John, 
William,  Sarah,  Edward,  Selina,  James  and 
Jane.  Of  these,  John  died  in  infancy,  and 
Sarah  in  early  childhood.  In  politics,  John 
Parikhurst  was  a  stanch  Republican.  He 
was  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  the  village, 
esteemed  for  his  many  e.\ceilent  qualities  of 
head  and  heart. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  six 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Ogle  county, 
and  in  the  district  schools  of  Grand  Detour 
township  he  received  his  primary  education. 
When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  was  but 
sixteen,  and  one  year  later,  on  the  2nd  of 
June,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Sixty-ninth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  un- 
der Colonel  Tucker,  anil  was  mustered  into 
the  service  at  Chicago.  He  was  stationed 
at  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  doing  guard 
duty,  and  was  continued  there  the  term  of 
his  service,  being  discharged  September  27, 
1862. 

Returning  home  after  receiving  his  dis- 


charge, our  young  soldier  commenced  work 
in  the  plow  factory,  and  until  June,  1865, 
worked  in  the  summer  and  attended  school 
in  the  winter.  In  the  meantime,  as  the  op- 
portunity was  afforded  him,  he  read  medi- 
cine under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  C.  E. 
Loornis,  of  Grand  Detour,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1S65,  entered  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor, 
where  he  remained  until  the  following  spring. 
He  then  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Sny- 
der, then  practicing  in  Grand  Detour,  but 
now  of  Polo,  Illinois.  In  1867  he  went  to 
Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  and  finish- 
ing the  prescribed  course,  was  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  February,  1S68. 
After  receiving  his  diploma,  the  Doctor  re- 
turned to  Grand  Detour  and  formed  a  part- 
nership with  his  former  preceptor.  Dr.  Sny- 
der, which  continued  one  year.  He  then 
purchased  his  partner's  interest,  since  which 
time  he  has  been   alone  in  practice 

Dr.  Pankhurst  has  been  thrice  married, 
and  by  his  first  union  there  was  one  daugh- 
ter, Bessie  C. ,  who  is  now  in  Chicago,  and 
is  a  student  in  the  Armour  Institute.  His 
second  union  was  with  Miss  Frances  Foxley, 
a  native  of  England,  and  their  marriage  was 
celebrated  May  17,  1884.  She  departed 
this  life  November  24,  1894.  The  Doctor 
was  again  married,  January  22,  1896,  his 
third  union  being  with  Miss  May  U.  Shef- 
field, who  was  born  January  28,  1861,  and 
daughter  of  Amos  A.  and  Elizabeth  (Sco- 
field)  Sheffield,  of  whom  mention  is  made 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Politically  Dr.  Pankhurst  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  is  at  present  a  member  of  the 
Republican  central  committee  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty. He  has  always  taken  a  commendable 
interest  in  politics,  but  never  in  a  sense  of 
being  an   office   seeker.      Believing    it    the 


JO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


duty  of  every  citizen  to  exercise  the  rights 
of  franchise,  he  endeavors  to  keep  posted 
in  the  political  issues  of  the  day  that  he  may 
intelligently  do  his  duty.  It  is,  however, 
as  a  physician  that  he  is  best  known,  and 
his  professional  duties  require  the  greater 
part  of  his  time.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Ogle  County  Medical  Society  and  the  North- 
ern Illinois  Medical  Association,  in  the  meet- 
ings of  which  he  takes  an  active  part.  He 
is  medical  examiner  for  the  New  York  Life 
Insurance  Company,  of  New  York,  the  New 
York  Mutual  and  the  Union  Central  Life 
Insurance  Company,  of  Cincinnati,  and 
others.  Religiously,  he  and  his  daughter 
are  members  of  the  Episcopal  church.  The 
Doctor  is  a  good  physician,  a  loyal  citizen, 
a  kind  neighbor,  and  steadfast  friend  of 
those  with  whom  he  has  so  long  been  asso- 
ciated, and  he  and  his  wife  are  held  in  high 
esteem. 


MICHAEL  N.  SWINGLEY  is  one  of 
Ogle  county's  honored  pioneers  and 
most  highly  esteemed  citizens,  having  made 
his  home  here  almost  continuously  since 
September,  1845.  '^s  an  agriculturist  he 
has  taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
its  growth  and  development,  and  given  his 
support  to  those  enterprises  which  he  be- 
lieved calculated  to  advance  the  general 
welfare.  He  now  owns  and  operates  a  well 
improved  farm  of  seventy  acres  on  section 
15,  Leaf  River  township. 

Mr.  Swingley  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  March  19,  1S22,  a  son 
of  Hon.  Michael  Swingley,  also  a  native  of 
that  state  and  a  grandson  of  Nicholas 
Swingley,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
great-grandfather  was  born  in  Switzerland 
and  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Lancas- 


ter county,  Pennsylvania.  At  an  early  day 
Nicholas  Swingley  removed  to  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  where  his  son  Michael 
was  reared.  The  latter,  on  attaining  to 
man's  estate,  wedded  Miss  Mary  Newcomer, 
also  a  native  of  Maryland.  He  owned  and 
operated  the  old  Swingley  homestead  and 
reared  his  family  there,  but  in  1845  emi- 
grated to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  taking  up 
his  residence  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  where 
he  bought  a  claim  and  entered  land  amount- 
ing to  about  eight  hundred  acres.  Here  he 
opened  up  and  improved  a  large  farm,  sup- 
plied with  good  buildings.  He  was  one  of 
the  honest  yeomanry  and  successful  business 
men  of  the  county.  He  was  a  soldier  of 
the  war  of  181  2,  and  held  a  number  of  of- 
ficial positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  Mary- 
land, representing  his  district  one  or  more 
terms  in  the  state  legislature.  He  died  in 
Ogle  county  in  1852,  and  his  wife,  who  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  passed  away  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1870.  To  them  were  born  eight 
children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  all 
of  whom  are  still  living  with  the  exception 
of  our  son.  Benjamin,  the  eldest,  is  now 
living  retired  in  Mt.  Morris;  Samuel  is  a 
resident  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  George 
died  in  St.  Louis;  Michael  N.,  of  this  re- 
view, is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Allen  resides  in  Mt.  Morris;  Mrs. 
Mary  l->aker  lives  in  Polo;  Mrs.  Martha 
Highbarger  makes  her  home  in  Montana; 
and  William  lives  in  Oregon,  Illinois. 

Michael  N.  Swingley  is  indebted  to  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  state  for  his 
educational  privileges,  and  there  he  grew  to 
manhood.  Coming  with  the  family  to  Ogle 
county  in  1S45,  he  was  put  to  work  at  driv- 
ing an  ox  team  used  in  breaking  prairie  and 
soon  became  familiar  with  all  the  arduous 
duties  which  fall  to  the   lot  of  the  pioneer. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


;t 


In  the  fall  of  1846  he  returned  to  Maryland 
where  he  spent  the  winter,  and  on  again 
coming  to  this  state  resumed  work  on  the 
home  farm.  About  the  ist  of  April,  1849, 
he  started  overland  for  California,  overtook 
a  train  in  Nebraska,  and  reached  his  desti- 
nation in  August  of  that  year.  He  engaged 
in  prospecting  and  mining  until  the  spring 
of  1850,  when  he  started  for  home  by  way 
of  the  Nicaraugua  route.  He  was  obliged 
to  spend  the  whole  winter  on  the  Isthmus, 
finally  in  the  spring  secured  passage  on  a 
vessel  bound  for  Cuba,  where  he  was  again 
delayed  until  a  vessel  arrived  which  would 
take  him  to  New  Orleans.  However,  he 
at  length  reached  home  in  1851  and  resumed 
farming  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  where 
he  carried  on  operations  until  i860. 

In  August,  1854,  in  that  township,  Mr. 
Swingley  married  Miss  Susan  Welty,  who 
was  born  in  the  same  neighborhood  as  our 
subject.  Her  father,  John  Welty,  was  also 
a  native  of  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
and  in  1846  came  to  Illinois.  He  improved 
a  farm  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  on  which 
he  reared  his  family.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Wolff,  departed 
this  life  in  1875.  Mrs.  Swingley  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Mt.  Morris  township.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  two  children: 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  Leroy  Her,  of  Leaf  Riv- 
er township,  and  has  two  children:  Verna, 
who  is  a  student  in  the  Leaf  River  schools; 
and  Ray,  who  is  attending  the  home  school. 
Cora  is  the  wife  of  James  Wilson,  of 
Winnebago  county,  Illinois,  and  they  have 
four  children:  Lottie,  Altha  and  Nellie,  who 
are  attending  the  home  school;  and  Harry, 
at  home. 

In  1855  Mr.  Swingley  removed  to  Polo, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1859,  and 
then  again   made  an  overland   trip  to  Cali- 


fornia. This  time  he  located  in  Sacra- 
mento City,  where  he  engaged  in  the  livery 
business  for  about  two  years,  returning  to 
Ogle  county  in  February,  1861.  For  several 
years  thereafter  he  followed  farming  in  Mt. 
Morris  township,  and  in  1869  removed  to 
Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  where  he  op- 
erated rented  land  for  about  three  years. 
On  his  return  to  Ogle  county,  in  1S73,  he 
purchased  his  present  place  in  Leaf  River 
township,  on  which  a  fairly  good  house  was 
standing  and  which  was  slightly  improved. 
To  its  further  development  and  cultivation 
he  has  since  devoted  his  energies  with 
marked  success,  and  now  has  a  well-im- 
proved farm  pleasantly  situated  three  miles 
northwest  of  Leaf  River. 

Mr.  Swingley  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  James  K.  Polk  in  1844,  and  has 
never  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  De- 
mocracy. In  religious  faith  he  is  a  Lutheran, 
while  his  wife  holds  membership  in  the 
Christian  church,  and  they  stand  high  in 
the  community  where  they  have  so  long 
made  their  home.  Those  who  know  them 
best  are  numbered  among  their  warmest 
friends,  and  no  citizens  in  Leaf  River  town- 
ship are  more  honored  or  highly  respected. 


JACOB  RICE,  deceased,  was  numbered 
among  the  pioneers  of  1837,  and, like  all 
others  who  came  at  that  early  day,  he  ex- 
perienced the  privations  incidental  to  the 
settlement  of  a  new  country.  He  was  born 
in  Washington  county,  Maryland,  and  was 
the  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Roland)  Rice, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same 
county  and  state,  and  of  whom  special  men- 
tion is  made  in  the  sketch  of  Isaac  Rice,  on 
another  page  of  this  work. 

In    his    native    state  our    subject  com- 


72 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD, 


menced  his  education  in  tlie  common 
schools,  and  on  coming  to  Ogle  county  he 
attended  a  pioneer  school  taught  by  his  older 
brother,  Joshua,  who  engaged  in  teaching 
soon  after  their  arrival.  He  was  a  well  ed- 
ucated young  man  and  gave  his  younger 
brothers  excellent  instruction.  In  1843  he 
left  school  and  assisted  his  father  on  the 
farm  in  Mt.  Morris  township, continuing  with 
him  until  he  was  twenty-seven  years  old, 
when  he  rented  one  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  Maryland  township  and  commenced  life 
for  himself. 

On  the  1 1  th  of  December,  185  i,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Zeigler,  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  Vir- 
ginia, born  September  7,  1833,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Stanger)  Zeigler, 
the  former  born  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  January  15,  1795,  and  the  latter 
in  Alsace  Loraine,  at  that  time  in  the 
kingdom  of  France,  but  which  is  now  a  part 
of  Germany,  September  12,  1796.  She 
came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  when 
but  eight  years  old.  They  came  to  .America 
in  1830  and  first  located  in  Jefferson  coun.- 
ty,  Virginia,  but  four  years  later  moved  to 
Clark  county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  in  connection  with  his  trade  as 
cooper.  In  1S41  he  came  to  Ogle  county 
and  settled  in  Leaf  River  township,  where 
he  took  up  three  hundred  acres  of  govern- 
ment land,  paying  the  regular  price  of  one 
dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre  for  the 
greater  part  of  it.  A  portion  of  the  land 
had  been  staked  as  a  claim  by  another  party 
on  which  he  had  erected  a  small  cabin. 
For  this  he  had  to  give  a  small  bonus.  He 
was  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  possessions 
but  a  very  short  time,  his  death  occurring 
in  1843.  Jacob  Zeigler  and  wife  were  the 
parents  of  eiglit  children,  as  follows:      Mary 


Ann,  born  July  22,  181S;  Lavina,  January 
I,  1821;  Caroline,  October  16,  1823;  Mar- 
garet A.,  March  4,  1826;  Samuel  C. ,  Jan- 
uary 23,  1828;  John  D.,  March  27,  1830, 
Elizabeth,  September  7,  1833;  Jane  C, 
June  II,  1840.  Mrs.  Zeigler  died  October 
29,  1874.  In  politics  Jacob  Zeigler  was  a 
Whig,  and,  religiously,  a  Methodist.  The 
family  were  of  some  note  in  the  old  world,  a 
granduncle  of  Mrs.  Rice  being  an  officer 
under  the  first  Napoleon,  serving  with  him 
in  many  of  his  wars. 

To  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Rice  three  sons 
were  born — William  A.,  August  4,  1854; 
Frederick  N.,  August  5,  1859;  and  Eldridge 
E.,  December  3,  1863.  Alb  are  residing  at 
home. 

On  the  death  of  his  father  our  subject 
moved  to  the  home  place,  which  comprised 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  choice  land. 
There  he  continued  to  farm  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  In  addition  to  general 
farming  he  was  engaged  somewhat  exten- 
sively in  stock  raising,  in  which  he  was 
quite  successful.  About  1884  he  was  strick- 
en with  creeping  paralysis,  and  after  linger- 
ing along  for  ten  years  passed  peacefully 
away,  February  2,  1894.  In  politics  he 
was  for  many  years  a  Republican,  but  in 
1S84  he  voted  for  St.  John,  the  Prohibition 
candidate  for  president,  and  continued  to 
vote  with  the  Prohibition  jiarty  until  the 
end  of  his  life.  He  never  aspired  to  any 
official  position,  but  served  as  school  di- 
rector for  years.  Religiously  he  was  a 
Methodist,  holding  membership  with  the 
church  in  Mt.  Morris.  He  was  a  firm  be- 
liever in  Christ,  and  died  in  the  full  assur- 
ance of  faith. 

Mrs.  Rice  still  lives  upon  the  old  home 
place,  and  like  her  husband  is  respected  by 
all  who  know  her.      She  is  also   a   member 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


7S 


of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  has 
a  Hvely  interest  in  ail  that  concerns  her  fel- 
lowmen.  She  well  remembers  hearing 
her  mother  tell  of  crossing  the  ocean  in  a 
sail  vessel,  being  three  months  upon  the 
water.  She  has  also  a  vivid  recollection  of 
the  journey  made  by  the  family  to  Illinois. 
They  started  from  their  Ohio  home  with 
some  stock  and  barnyard  fowls,  and  in  com- 
ing into  the  state  were  stuck  fast  in  a  snow 
drift.  Her  mother  brought  the  first  turkeys 
that  were  ever  brought  into  northern  Illi- 
nois. When  they  came  to  the  county 
wild  game  was  very  plentiful.  Wolves 
were  in  great  numbers,  and  often  when 
Mrs.  Rice  was  sent  after  the  cows  she 
could  hear  the  wolves  on  all  sides.  Her 
father  dying  so  soon  after  their  arrival, 
her  mother  was  compelled  to  attend  to  all 
the  farm  duties,  and  often  hired  her  grain 
hauled  to  Chicago,  where  it  was  disposed  of. 
Those  were  days  of  trial  and  hardships 
which  those  of  the  present  generation  can 
have  no  conception,  but  they  had  to  be  en- 
dured. Out  of  it  all  has  grown  the  finest 
country  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  and  to 
such  men  and  women  as  Jacob  Rice  and  his 
wife  the  credit   is  due. 


H 


ENRY  COFFMAN.  —  Prominent  among 
the  energetic,  progressive  and  success- 
ful business  men  of  Ogle  county  are  the 
gentlemen  composing  the  firm  of  Coffman 
Brothers,  e.xtensive  breeders  and  dealers  in 
pure  blooded  shorthorn  cattle,  in  which 
business  they  have  been  engaged  for  the 
past  eight  years.  They  are  representatives 
of  one  of  the  old  and  prominent  families  of 
the  'County,  being  sons  of  Abraham  Coft- 
man,  who  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,    May   5,    iSiS.      John   Coffman, 


the  grandfather,  was  also  a  native  of  that 
state,  and  in  1840  came  to  Ogle  county, 
where  he  pre-empted  a  large  tract  of  land, 
and,  in  company  with  several  families,  the 
Coffman  family  drove  across  the  country 
with  teams. 

Abraham  Coffman,  our  subject's  father, 
located  on  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in  Mary- 
land township,  to  which  he  added  by  subse- 
quent purchase  until  he  had  a  valuable 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 
This  he  broke  and  improved  with  good 
buildings,  making  it  one  of  the  most  desir- 
able places  in  the  locality.  In  this  county 
he  married  Miss  Caroline  Wagner,  also  a 
native  of  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
and  a  daughter  of  Henry  Wagner,  who  set- 
tled in  Ogle  county  as  early  as  1838,  but 
died  a  few  years  later  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five.  For  several  years  Mr.  Coffman  con- 
tinued to  operate  his  farm  in  Maryland 
township,  becoming  one  of  its  most  sub- 
stantial and  well-to-do  citizens,  but  his  last 
days  were  spent  in  retirement  in  the  village 
of  Forreston,  where  he  bought  residence 
property.  There  he  passed  away  July  11, 
1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years, 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  His  estimable  wife  is  still  living  in 
Forreston  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  To 
this  worthy  couple  were  born  eight  children, 
all  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  but 
only  two  are  now  living:  Henry,  of  this 
review,  and  Isaiah  T.,  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Coffman  Brothers,  who  was 
born  on  the  old  homestead  and  like  his 
brother  was  educated  in  the  local  schools. 
Those  deceased  are  as  follows:  Elizabeth, 
who  married  William  A.  Harris,  a  business 
man  of  Adeline,  Ogle  county,  and  died 
there  leaving  one  daughter;  Mary  A.; 
Amanda;  Ada  Alice;  Joseph  N.,   who  died 


74 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


at  about  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  and 
Charles  Eugene,  who  resided  in  Iowa  with 
his  brother,  Henry  W.,  and  died  in  IHinois 
at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years. 

Henry  W.  Coffman  was  born  January 
3,1849,  on  the  old  homestead  on  section  5, 
Maryland  township,  where  he  now  resides, 
and  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  his 
father's  family.  After  reaching  man's  es- 
tate he  went  to  Grundy  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  bought  land,  but  in  1883  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Ackley,  that  state,  where  for  sev- 
en years  he  successfully  engaged  in  the  ag- 
ricultural implement  business.  He  built  up 
an  excellent  trade,  but  finally  sold  out  to 
an  advantage  and  returned  to  Ogle  county. 
In  partnership  with  his  brother  he  took 
charge  of  the  home  farm,  and  in  connection 
with  general  farming  have  engaged  in  the 
breeding  of  shorthorn  cattle  since  1891, 
having  upon  their  place  a  fine  herd  of  fifty 
thoroughbreds,  with  Cruickshank,  a  regis- 
tered bull,  at  the  head.  As  upright,  relia- 
ble business  men,  the  brothers  have  become 
widely  known,  and  in  all  their  undertakings 
have  been  unusually  successful. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  18S7,  in  Har- 
din county,  Iowa,  Henry  W.  Coffman  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Carrie  Walker, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Walker.  She  was  born 
in  Clinton  county,  Pennsylvania,  but  was 
mostly  reared  and  educated  in  Hardin  coun- 
ty, Iowa.  Her  father  removed  from  the 
latter  state  to  Illinois  in  March,  1896,  and 
is  now  engaged  in  business  in  Freeport.  He 
is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  formerly  fol- 
lowed contracting  and  building.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Coffman  have  been  born  four 
children,  namely:  Raymond  A.,  Merritt  J. 
and  Hazel  Ruth,  all  living;  and  Wava  Gleo, 
deceased.  The  home  of  this  family  is  one 
of  the  most  hospitable  in  Ogle  county;  the 


stranger  within  its  doors  are  made  to  feel  at 
ease;  and  their  many  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances are  always  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome. 
In  politics  Mr.  Coffman  is  independent. 


ELLAS  G.  BOWERS,  an  energetic  and 
progressive  farmer  residing  on  section 
10,  Brookville  township,  has  spent  almost 
his  entire  life  in  Ogle  county,  and  as  one  of 
its  public-spirited  citizens  uses  his  influence 
in  advancing  its  welfare,  materially  aiding 
all  beneficial  schemes  for  promoting  its 
prosperity.  Mr.  Bovvers  was  born  in  North- 
umberland county,  Pennsylvania,  March  15, 
1844,  but  in  June  of  that  year  was  brought 
to  this  county,  where  amid  frontier  scenes 
he  grew  to  manhood. 

His  father,  Henry  Bowers,  was  also  a 
native  of  Northumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, born  in  October,  180S,  and  was  a 
son  of  Jacob  flowers,  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, who  reared  his  family  in  that  county, 
but  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio.  Henry  Bowers  wedded  Miss 
Mary  Magdalene  Garman,  a  native  of 
Northumberland  county  and  a  daughter  of 
Martin  Garman.  During  his  early  life  Mr. 
Bowers  was  employed  on  public  works, 
principally  canal  and  bridge  building,  but  in 
May,  1844,  started  by  team,  with  several 
other  Pennsylvania  families,  for  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  and  on  his  arrival  here  bought  a 
claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  and 
turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  de- 
veloped a  fine  farm  from  the  unbroken 
prairie,  in  1850  erected  thereon  a  large 
brick  residence  and  later  a  large  barn,  and 
was  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  most 
skillful  and  successful  agriculturists  of  the 
locality.  Having  prospered  in  his  new  home 
he  was  able  to  spend    his   last   years   in    re- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


75 


tirement  from  active  labor  and  in  1S65  re- 
moved from  the  farm  to  Forreston,  where 
he  passed  away  February  4,  1882.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  had  died  in  August, 
1850,  and  he  subsequently  married  again, 
his  second  wife  dying  in  April,   1872. 

EliasG.  Bowers,  the  only  child  born  to  his 
parents,  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  where 
he  now  lives  and  acquired  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
On  the  1st  of  April,  1864,  he  enlisted  for 
three  months  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  He  was  on  guard  duty  most  of 
the  time,  along  railroads,  and  was  honor- 
ably discharged  on  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  enlistment,  but  he  later  joined  Company 
I,  Ninety-second  Illinois  Mounted  Infantry, 
which  became  a  part  of  Kilpatrick's  cav- 
alry. The  regiment  proceeded  to  North 
Carolina,  where  they  remained  until  the  war 
was  over.  Mr.  Bowers  was  mostly  on  de- 
tailed duty  with  a  wagon  train,  and  when 
hostilities  ceased  and  his  services  were  no 
longer  needed  he  was  discharged  at  Chicago 
in  August,   1865,  and  returned  home. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Bowers  ran  a  thresh- 
ing machine  and  engaged  in  other  labors 
until  the  fall  of  1867,  when  he  went  to 
Pennsylvania,  spending  five  years  in  North- 
umberland and  Dauphin  counties.  He  was 
first  employed  by  a  company  engaged  in 
manufacturing  lumber,  but  the  last  two 
years  was  interested  in  the  hotel  business 
with  his  brother-in-law,  at  Lykens,  Dauphin 
county.  Disposing  of  his  property  in  the 
east,  he  returned  to  Ogle  county  in  1873 
and  took  charge  of  the  old  home  farm. 
He  has  since  remodeled  the  residence  and 
outbuildings  and  now  has  one  of  the  best 
improved  places  in  the  locality. 


While  in  Northumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, Mr.  Bowers  was  married,  Decem- 
ber 26,  i86g,  to  Miss  Sarah  Engle,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  that  county, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Abram  Engle.  Five 
children  were  born  of  this  union:  Alice,  wife 
of  Harvey  C.  Good,  of  Carroll  county,  Illi- 
nois; Henry  W.,  who  is  now  a  member  of 
the  First  South  Dakota  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  is  one  of  the  brave  bojs  now  stationed 
at  Manila;  and  Agnes,  William  A.  and  John 
J.,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Bowers  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  in  1876,  and 
has  always  supported  the  Democratic  party. 
For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  taken  quite 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  local  politics, 
and  has  most  creditably  served  his  fellow 
citizens  as  constable,  justice  of  the  peace, 
township  assessor,  treasurer,  and  as  super- 
visor for  four  years,  during  which  time  he 
was  a  member  of  several  important  com- 
mittees. He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  several  years,  and  served 
as  clerk  of  the  district  eight  years.  Socially 
he  is  a  prominent  member  of  Brookville 
Lodge,  I.  O.  O,  F.,  which  he  has  repre- 
sented in  the  Grand  Lodge  eight  years,  and 
in  which  he  has  passed  through  all  the 
chairs  and  is  now  past  grand.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  post  at  For- 
reston, and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
influential  citizens  of  his  community. 


EDWARD  C.  BUTERBAUGH,  who  re- 
sides upon  his  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  on  section  11,  Mt.  Morris 
township,  is  a  native  of  Ogle  county,  and  was 
born  in  this  county  July  8,  1863.  He  is 
the  son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Hershey) 
Buterbaugh,  the  former  born  July  22,  1819, 


76 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
latter  of  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
born  June  25,  1821.  Henry  Buterbaugh 
was  the  son  of  Stephen  and  Susan  Buter- 
baugh, who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Maryland,  respectively. 

Henry  Buterbaugh  received  but  a  lim- 
ited education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  county  and  was  reared  to  farm  life. 
After  his  marriage  with  Catherine  Hershey, 
November  18,  1844,  he  removed  with  his 
bride  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  coming  west 
with  a  team  in  1847.  On  his  arrival  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  to 
which  he  later  added  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  more,  giving  him  an  estate  of  four 
hundred  and  eighty  acres.  He  was  an  act- 
ive and  prosperous  farmer,  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church,  and  was  a  good 
friend  and  neighbor.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  for  many  years  served  as 
school  director  of  his  district.  He  died 
March  22,  1883,  and  his  remains  were  laid 
to  rest  in  Silver  Creek  cemetery.  His  wife 
is  yet  living  and  makes  her  home  in  the 
village  of  Mt.  Morris.  Like  her  husband, 
she  is  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  a  true  Christian  woman,  and  one 
deserving  the  love  and  esteem  in  which  she 
is  held.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children.  Emma  married  William  Thomas, 
but  is  now  deceased.  Alice  married  Wil- 
loughby  Felter  and  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead. John,  Joseph,  Mary,  Ella  and  Mar- 
tin are  deceased.  Mary  married  George 
Thomas  and  became  the  mother  of  three 
children. 

Edward  C.  Buterbaugh,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  is  the  youngest  member  of  the 
family.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
and  in  the  district  school  received  his  edu- 


cation. At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  com- 
menced life  for  himself,  renting  the  home 
farm  and  engaging  in  its  cultivation.  Two 
years  later  he  became  sole  proprietor  of 
the  place.  On  the  14th  of  December,  1882, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Bopp,  who  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  December  21,  1862,  and  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Matilda  (Secore)  Bopp,  the 
former  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, October  16,  1829,  and  the  latter  in 
Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  September  14, 
1828.  They  were  the  parents  of  si.x  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  John  H.,  born  September 
2,  1856;  Benjamin  P.,  January  26,  1858^ 
William  T. ,  August  13,  1859;  Mary  E., 
December  2,  1862;  Emma  J.,  December  2, 
1866;  and  Ida  M.,  September  26,  1871. 
The  three  sons  and  the  mother  are  now  de- 
ceased, the  latter  dying  October  31,   1896. 

After  residing  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  until  1864,  John  Bobb  removed 
with  his  family  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  resided  eleven  years,  Mr. 
Bopp  engaging  in  farming.  In  1876  they 
came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  to  make  a 
permanent  home. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buterbaugh  four  chil- 
dren have  been  born:  Edith,  December 
18,  1S83;  Clinton,  June  23,  1885;  Pearl, 
October  21,  1886,  and  Chester,  December 
II,  1S87.  The  latter  died  September  5, 
1 888,  after  an  illness  of  two  weeks.  The 
remaining  children  are  all  attending  the 
public  school,  and  it  is  the  design  of  the  par- 
ents to  give  them  good  education. 

After  giving  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm  until 
1893,  Mr.  Buterbaugh  rented  the  same,  but 
still  remained  upon  the  place, and  has  given 
his  attention  to  stock  raising  e.xclusively. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  the  red  polled  cat- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


n 


tie  and  Poland-China  hogs.  He  has  also  a 
number  of  draught  and  road  horses,  but  in 
all  probability  give  his  attention  to  road- 
sters. He  thoroughly  understands  the 
stock  business,  and  in  that  line  has  met  with 
good  success.  Since  coming  into  full  pos- 
session of  the  farm,  he  has  made  upon  it 
many  valuable  improvements,  and  keeps  it 
at  all  times  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  stanch 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  party,  but 
he  is  not  a  politician  in  the  common  accep- 
tation of  the  term.  As  a  farmer  he  has 
thoroughly  demonstrated  his  abilities.  As 
a  citizen  he  enjoys  the  respect  of  all  who 
know  him. 


SAMUEL  W.  POWELL,  residing  on  sec- 
tion I,  Buffalo  township,  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  has  been  a  resident 
of  Ogle  county  since  May  2,  1854.  He  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Maryland,  De- 
cember 3,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Upton  Pow- 
ell, a  native  of  the  same  county  and  state, 
who  was  born  in  1801.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Jonathan  Powell,  was  a  native  of 
Wales,  a  seafaring  man  in  early  life,  but 
who  settled  in  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, at  an  early  day. 

Upton  Powell  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  county  and  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  that  early 
day.  In  his  youth  he  learned  the  miller's 
trade,  an  occupation  he  followed  until  he 
went  to  farming,  while  yet  residing  in  Mary- 
land. He  there  married  Miss  Anna  Smith, 
a  native  of  Maryland,  of  German  ancestry, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years. 
Mary  Ann  died  a  single  lady.  Susan  mar- 
ried John  N.  Winders,  and  is  now  a  widow, 


residing  in  Polo,  Illinois.  Samuel  W.  is 
third  in  order  of  birth.  John  A.  is  residing 
in  Polo.  Jacob  H.  is  also  living  in  Polo. 
Catherine  is  the  wife  of  John  M.  Davis,  a 
substantial  farmer  of  Buffalo  township,  of 
whom  mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  William  is  a  farmer  of  Pine  Creek 
township. 

Fully  convinced  that  better  opportuni- 
ties were  open  before  him  in  the  great  Prai- 
rie state,  and  having  in  Ogle  county  a  nuni- 
berof  old  friends  and  neighbors,  Upton  Pow- 
ell determined  here  to  find  for  himself  and 
family  a  new  home.  In  the  fall  of  1853, 
he  came  out  and  selected  a  location  in  Pine 
Creek  township,  purchasing  a  partially  im- 
proved place  of  four  hundred  and  fifty-one 
acres,  and  in  April,  1854,  left  his  old  home 
with  his  family  and  arrived  here  May  2, 
1854.  With  characteristic  energy,  he  com- 
menced to  improve  the  place,  in  due  time 
erecting  a  good  residence,  barn,  and  various 
outbuildings.  From  time  to  time  he  added 
to  his  possessions  until  he  became  the  owner 
of  over  eight  hundred  acres  of  good  farming 
land.  He  was  quite  prosperous  and  became 
a  well-known  citizen  of  the  county.  He 
lived  upon  the  old  place  for  some  years,  and 
then  moved  to  a  farm  near  Polo,  where  his 
death  occurred  about  1883.  His  wife  passed 
away  some  years  previously. 

In  his  native  county  our  subject  spent 
his  boyhood  and  youth,  assisting  his  father 
upon  the  farm  and  in  the  mill,  in  the  mean- 
time attending  the  common  school  as  the 
opportunity  was  given  him.  He  came  with 
the  family  to  Ogle  county  and  continued  to 
assist  his  father  for  some  years,  dividing  his 
time  between  the  saw  mill  and  the  farm. 
He  was  married  January  20,  i860,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Hays,  a  native  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  and  daughter  of  Henry  Hays, 


78 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


also  a  native  of  the  same  county  and  state, 
and  who  Hkewise  came  to  Ogle  county  in 
May,  1854,  locating  in  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship. By  this  union  three  sons  were  born. 
William  H.  is  married  and  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  Black  Hawk  county,  Iowa.  John 
Upton  and  George  W.  yet  reside  at  home, 
assisting  in  the  farm  work,  and  with  their 
father  are  making  a  business  of  fattening 
cattle  and  hogs  for  the  markets.  They  are 
also  interested  in  a  meat  market  at  Mt. 
Morris,  and  also  furnish  dressed  meat  for  a 
market  in  Oregon. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Powell  located 
on  the  sawmill  place,  and  carried  on  the 
mill  and  engaged  in  farming  for  three  years. 
In  1864  he  purchased  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  consisting  of  but  one  hundred 
and  si.xty  acres  at  that  time.  He  later  added 
one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  more,  and  still 
later  fifteen  acres,  making  the  home  farm 
contain  three  hundred  and  thirty-frve  acres. 
He  has  also  three  hundred  and  sixteen 
acres  in  Pine  Creek  township,  divided  into 
four  small  farms,  and  has  fifty  acres  in 
Grand  Detour  township.  The  home  farm 
presents  a  very  neat  and  attractive  appear- 
ance with  its  fine  residence  and  barn,  nu- 
merous outbuildings,  fruit  and  ornamental 
trees.  Everything  about  the  place  denotes 
the  energy  and  thrift  of  the  owner.  In 
addition  to  the  cultivation  of  grain,  he  has 
given  much  attention  to  stock  raising,  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of  Poland-China  hogs. 

Politically  Mr.  Powell  is  a  Democrat, 
having  voted  the  ticket  since  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  James  Buchanan 
in  1 8 56.  He  has  been  honored  by  his 
friends  and  neighbors  with  various  local 
offices,  serving  as  highway  commissioner 
some  eighteen  or  twenty  years  and  as  su- 
pervisor one  term,  in  1894-5.      After  an  in- 


terval of  two  years  he  was  again  elected 
in  1 898  and  is  now  serving  in  that  capac- 
ity. During  his  first  term  he  was  on 
several  important  committees,  and  is  now 
a  member  of  the  equalization  and  of  the 
finance  committee.  Interested  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  he  has  served  as  school  director 
for  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  years. 

An  active  and  enterprising  man,  Mr. 
Powell  is  highly  regarded  by  all  who  know 
him,  and  his  friends  are  not  confined  to 
those  of  his  own  party.  Broad-minded  and 
liberal,  he  commands  the  respect  of  all. 
In  the  forty-five  years  of  his  residence  in 
Ogle  county  he  has  been  an  active  factor  in 
its  progress  and  has  done  his  full  share 
in  its  development.  Success  has  crowned 
his  efforts,  but  no  one  envies  him  for  that 
he  has,  knowing  that  it  has  been  gained  by 
honest  efforts. 


CHARLES  AYRES,  deceased,  was  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Woosung  town- 
ship, one  well  known  in  Lee  and  Ogle 
counties.  He  was  born  in  Huntingdon 
county,  Penns3lvania,  September  13,  1824, 
and  was  the  son  of  Ludlum  and  Susanna 
(Sharer)  Ayres,  who  emigrated  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Illinois  in  1S45,  locating  in 
Franklin  Grove,  Lee  county,  where  they 
remained  until  i860,  when  they  moved  to 
the  southern  part  of  the  state,  where  they 
spent  about  one  year,  and  then  returned  to 
Lee  county,  where  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  were  spent.  They  had  a  family  of 
eight  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  child- 
hood. Those  growing  to  maturity  were 
Charles  H.,  Matthew,  John,  William, 
Thomas  and  Ludlum  Smith. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  3'outh  in  his  native  state,    and  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


79 


the  schools  of  that  state  received  his  educa- 
tion. This  was,  however,  supplemented  by 
attendance  in  the  schools  of  Dixon,  after 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  this  state.  He 
remained  with  his  parents  until  twenty-two 
years  old,  when  he  began  life  for  himself, 
cultivating  a  farm  and  operating  two  thresh- 
ing machines  during  the  seasons.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  June  i,  1S55,  with  Miss 
Mary  J.  Crush,  who  was  born  March  7, 
1834,  and  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Catherine 
(Burns)  Crush,  the  former  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster county,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter 
of  Huntingdon  county,  in  the  same  state. 
Isaac  Crush  was  the  son  of  Isaac  Crush, 
Sr. ,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  who  died  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Isaac  Crush  was  by  trade  a 
miller,  and  also  followed  the  trade  of  cooper. 
In  1846  he  came  with  his  family  to  Ogle 
county,  and  located  in  Pine  Creek  township, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  which  he  operated  until 
within  a  few  years  before  his  death,  when 
he  retired  from  active  life,  and  died  at  tlie 
residence  of  his  son  in  Paul  City,  Nebraska. 

Isaac  and  Catherine  Crush  were  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity — Philip,  John,  William,  James, 
Mary  J.,  Elizabeth,  Emma  and  Catherine. 
Two  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Catherine  Crush 
passed  to  her  reward  in  185  i,  and  later  Mr. 
Crush  married  Mrs.  Catherine  (Lutz)  Eshel- 
man,  a  widow,  and  by  this  marriage  there 
was  one  daughter,  Vernie. 

To  Charles  and  Mary  J.  Ayres  eight 
children  were  born.  Elsie  M.,  born  June 
17,  1856,  died  June  2,  1892.  Samuel  R., 
born  December  28,  1857,  is  now  living  in 
Hardin  county,  Ipwa;  he  married  Miss  Delia 
Miller,  of  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
and  they  have  a  son,  Charles  L.     Johnnie 


E.,  born  December  28,  1859,  died  January 
IS,  1861.  Alma  S.,  born  January  I  5,  1861, 
is  now  the  wife  of  C.  E.  Parks,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Clarence  C,  born  January 
I,  1888;  they  reside  on  the  old  hornestead. 
Lillie  S.,  born  December  31,  1863,  married 
John  Lampen,  and  they  live  in  Pine  Creek 
township.  Henry  P.,  born  August  15,  1869, 
died  June  6,  1895.  Charles,  born  August 
5,  1866,  died  March  17,  1867.  Lena  May, 
born  June  28,   1872,  died  February  6,  1875. 

Mr.  Ayres  purchased  the  farm  on  which 
his  widow  now  resides,  on  section  8,  Woo- 
sung  township,  from  his  brother  William, 
wiio  entered  the  land  from  the  government. 
In  1855,  soon  after  his  marriage,  he  built  a 
small  house,  which  is  now  used  as  an  ice 
house.  The  second  house  in  which  the 
family  lived  was  erected  a  few  years  after, 
and  is  now  used  as  a  shop.  In  1874  he 
erected  the  house  in  which  the  famil}'  now 
live,  and  which  is  a  commodious  and  com- 
fortable structure.  As  his  means  would  per- 
mit, Mr.  Ayers  added  to  the  improvements 
of  the  place,  erecting  a  large  barn,  and  put- 
ting up  other  outbuildings,  setting  out  fruit 
and  ornamental  trees,  and  otherwise  adding 
to  the  attractive  appearance  of  the  farm. 
He  was  a  practical  farmer  and  endeavored 
to  keep  up  with  the  times  in  the  way  of  im- 
provements. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Ayres  was  a  Republican, 
and  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of 
the  party.  He  served  his  neighborhood  as 
school  director  for  a  number  of  years,  as  he 
always  felt  an  interest  in  the  public  schools. 
He  was  also  road  commissioner  a  number  of 
years.  Religiously  he  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  in  which  he  took 
great  interest,  being  a  firm  believer  in  the 
Christian  religion.  His  wife  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  that  church.      Mr.  Ayres  passed  from 


8o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


this  life  November  i,  1880,  his  death  being 
from  asthma  and  consumption.  He  was  a 
good  man,  and  his  death  was  a  sad  loss  not 
only  to  his  faithful  wife,  who  was  always  a 
comfort  and  stay  to  him,  but  to  the  com- 
munity as  well.  His  friends  were  numer- 
ous in  both  Lee  and  Ogle  counties. 


THOMAS  DIXON  is  one  of  the  retired 
farmers  who  are  living  at  their  ease  in 
the  village  of  Byron,  and  who  know  right 
well  how  to  take  care  of  the  property  they 
accumulated  in  their  younger  years  by  un- 
tiring industry  and  economy.  For  a  period 
of  over  forty  years  he  was  actively  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Ogle  county,  but  has  now  laid  aside  busi- 
ness cares  to  spend  his  remaming  years  in 
ease  and  retirement. 

Mr.  Dixon  comes  from  across  the  sea, 
being  a  native  of  England,  born  in  Cum- 
berland county,  February  10,  1834.  His 
father,  John  Dixon,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  county  and  a  son  of  Thomas  Dixon, 
a  farmer  of  that  region.  There  the  former 
grew  to  manhood  and  married  Miss  Ann 
Thompson,  an  English  lady,  who  died  in 
her  native  land  about  1841.  He  was  again 
married,  but  his  second  wife  also  died  in 
England.  In  1855  he  and  his  family  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  and  on  reach- 
ing the  shores  of  this  country  proceeded  at 
once  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  arriving  here 
in  the  fall  of  that  year.  He  purchased  a 
farm  in  Marion  township  and  to  its  further 
improvement  and  cultivation  devoted  his 
energies  until  failing  health  caused  his  re- 
tirement. Although  he  was  not  well  for 
some  years,  he  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of 
seventy-eight,  dying  July  19,   1873. 

In   his    family   were    four  children,    two 


sons  and  two  daughters,  but  the  latter  are 
both  deceased.  Sarah  died  unmarried,  and 
Anna  married  Joshua  Chain,  of  Byron,  and 
died  leaving  three  children.  Our  subject 
is  the  older  son.  Paul,  born  in  England, 
in  1838,  came  with  the  family  to  the  new 
world  in  1855,  and  was  married  here  to 
Miss  Addie  Millis,  a  native  of  Ogle  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  Millis,  who  was  a 
pioneer  of  southern  Illinois,  and  from  this 
state  went  to  California  during  the  '50s. 
On  his  return  he  bought  a  farm  in  Marion 
township.  Ogle  county,  where  he  success- 
fully engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  a 
number  of  years.  Later  he  rented  his  farm 
and  bought  residence  property  in  Byron, 
where  he  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life. 
After  his  marriage  Paul  Dixon  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  number  of  years  in  Marion 
township,  where  he  owned  and  occupied  a 
farm  of  over  one  hundred  acres,  which  he 
placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  removed  to 
Dixon,  Illinois,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  two  daughters,  Eva  and  Sarah,  both 
well  educated  young  ladies.  The  latter  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  Byron  and  also 
the  Rockford  Commercial  College,  and  is 
now  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  in 
Ogle  county. 

Thomas  Dixon,  of  this  review,  was  a 
young  man  of  twenty  years  on  the  emigra- 
tion of  the  family  to  America,  and  he  was 
of  great  assistance  to  his  father  in  develop- 
ing and  carrying  on  the  home  farm.  After 
arriving  at  mature  years  he  took  charge  of 
the  place  and  business,  remaining  with  his 
father  until  the  latter's  death,  and  caring 
for  him  during  his  declining  years.  Subse- 
quently he  purchased  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs  and  succeeded  to  the  old  home- 
stead, on  which  he  made  many  substantial 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


8i 


and  useful  improvements.  After  operating 
it  for  some  years  he  sold  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  Scott 
township,  near  Stillman  Valley.  He  lo- 
cated thereon,  and  for  a  year  was  engaged 
in  building  and  improving  the  place,  erect- 
ing a  good  residence,  barn,  cribs  and  other 
outbuildings,  and  converting  it  into  one  of 
the  best  improved  farms  of  the  township. 
This  work  completed  he  rented  it,  and  in 
1S97  removed  to  Byron,  where  he  now 
lives,  enjoying  the  rest  he  has  so  well  earned 
and  so  truly  deserves.  The  Republican 
party  has  found  in  him  an  earnest  advocate 
of  its  principles  since  he  cast  his  first  vote 
for  General  U.  S.  Grant  in  186S,  and  he 
has  never  missed  a  presidential  election 
since  that  time.  Although  not  a  member 
of  any  religious  denomination  he  attends 
and  gives  liberally  toward  the  support  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  and 
his  brother  are  well  known  in  Byron  and 
Ogle  county  as  men  of  exemplary  habits 
and  sterling  worth,  and  this  brief  sketch  of 
their  lives  will  be  read  with  interest  by  their 
many  friends. 


WILLIAM  STAHLHUT,  an  enterpris- 
ing farmer  residing  on  section  9,  Mt. 
Morris  township,  is  a  native  of  the  town- 
ship, born  August  7,  1S55,  but  is  of  German 
descent,  his  parents,  August  and  Frederika 
(Bruns)  Stahlhut,  being  natives  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  the  former  born  April  28,  1809, 
and  the  latter  January  4,  18 18.  They  were 
reared  and  married  in  their  native  land,  and 
in  1849  came  to  the  United  States  with  a 
party  of  immigrants,  coming  direct  to  Mt. 
Morris  township,  some  of  the  party  having 
relatives   in    this    county.       The    father    of 

Mrs.  Stahlhut,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 

9 


our  subject,  was  an  officer  of  high  rank  in 
the  German  army,  and  commanded  a  por- 
tion of  the  German  troops  at  the  battle  of 
Waterloo. 

August  Stahlhut  was  a  stonemason  by 
trade.  On  his  arrival  in  Mt.  Morris,  he 
found  himself  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land, 
the  language  of  the  people  being  unfamiliar 
to  him.  He  came,  however,  with  the  in- 
tention of  becoming  an  American  citizen, 
and  to  that  end  assimilated  himself  to  his 
new  surroundings.  He  at  once  found  em- 
ployment at  his  trade,  working  on  the  new 
building  of  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  and 
on  various  private  dwellings  in  course  of 
erection.  He  continued  to  work  at  his  trade 
and  saving  his  earnings  until  he  had  accu- 
mulated sufficient  to  buy  a  farm,  after  which 
he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  only  occasionally  working  at  his 
trade.  August  and  Frederika  Stahlhut 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  the  last 
born  dying  in  infancy.  August,  born  in  No- 
vember, 1 84 1,  in  Germany,  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  country  when  in  his  eighth 
year.  Here  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  dur- 
ing the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion,  when  the 
president  issued  his  call  for  more  men,  he 
offered  his  services  to  his  adopted  country 
and  took  his  place  within  the  ranks  in  Com- 
pany K,  Ninety-second  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry.  With  his  regiment  he  went  to 
the  front,  and  after  being  wounded  in  a 
skirmish  near  Jonesboro,  Tennessee,  he  was 
taken  prisoner  and  later  confined  in  the 
dreaded  Andersonville  prison,  where  he  re- 
covered from  his  wound,  but  was  starved  to 
death.  Henry,  born  November  19,  1850, 
married  Laura  Feidt,  and  they  have  two 
children.  He  is  a  farmer  in  Mt.  Morris 
township.  William,  our  subject,  was  ne.xt 
in  order  of  birth. 


82 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


William  Stahlhut,  our  subject,  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Mt.  Morris 
township,  and  until  eighteen  years  old  at- 
tended the  district  school,  receiving  a  fair 
common-school  education.  He  was  early 
learned  the  meaning  of  work  and  was  required 
to  do  his  share  of  the  farm  work.  Leav- 
ing school  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  in 
partnership  with  his  brother,  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  and  they  connnenced 
farming  for  themselves. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1875,  Mr. 
Stahlhut  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lydia  C.  Thomas,  born  October  19,  1850, 
in  Mt.  Morris  township,  and  daughter  of 
Ezra  and  Elizabeth  (Rice)  Thomas,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  and  who  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Ogle  county.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children:  William  R.,  Jacob 
O.,  Martha  J.,  Mary  E.,  Lydia  C.  and  Ben- 
jamin F.  Mr.  Thomas  died  at  his  home  in 
Mt.  Morris,  of  blood  poisoning,  March  20, 
1880.  His  wife  survived  him,  dying  March 
22,   1888.      In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stahlhut  seven  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  the  first  dying  in  in- 
fancy. Olive  C,  born  March  14,  1878; 
Charles  A.,  born  November  29,  1881,  died 
December  13,  1882;  Benjamin  A.,  born 
April  26,  18S4;  William  H.,  May  22,  1886; 
Edward  Earl,  December  23,  1888;  and 
Jesse  T.,  born  July  23,  1894.  Those  living 
are  all  yet  residing  with  their  parents,  and 
all  are  being  given  good  education. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Stahlhut  contin- 
ued to  farm  with  his  brother,  and  in  Febru- 
ary, 18S7,  he  purchased  forty  acres  more 
and  has  now  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  which  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  has  confined  himself  to  no 
special    fads,    but   has   engaged    in   general 


farming.  He  has  been  raising  mostly  road 
horses,  but  has  raised  some  Norman  draft. 
Of  cattle  he  has  raised  Hereford,  but  is  now 
mostly  engaged  with  Durhams. 

In  politics  Mr.  Stahlhut  is  a  Republican. 
He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Ruth- 
erford B.  Hayes  in  1776,  and  has  since  con- 
tinued to  vote  the  party  ticket.  He  has 
held  several  local  offices,  including  school 
director,  school  trustee  and  supervisor.  In 
the  latter  office  he  served  two  terms  and 
was  a  member  of  the  board  during  the  rail- 
road bond  trouble,  which  run  for  a  number 
of  years.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  as  is  also  his  daughter, 
Olive.  Active  and  enterprising,  Mr.  Stahl- 
hut keeps  abreast  with  the  times,  lending 
aid  and  encouragement  to  all  worthy  enter- 
prises. With  his  family,  he  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem,  having  many  friends  in  all 
parts  of  the  county. 


FREDERICK  H.  LEWIS.  — Prominent 
among  the  more  intelligent,  active  and 
enterprising  citizens  of  Marion  township  is 
the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
biography.  His  reputation  for  integrity  and 
industry  is  second  to  none  in  the  county, 
and  being  a  man  of  rare  intellectual  attain- 
ments, he  is  authority  on  many  questions 
with  the  people  of  the  community.  He 
owns  and  occupies  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  on  section  15,  Marion  township, 
and  is  successfully  engaged  in  its  operation. 
Mr.  Lewis  is  a  native  son  of  Ogle  coun- 
t\',  his  birth  occurring  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides  December  22,  1849.  His 
father.  Homer  D.  Lewis,  was  born  near 
Ware,  Massachusetts,  in  January,  1822,  and 
was  a  son  of  David  Lewis,  also  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  who  with  his  family  came  to 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


8: 


Illinois  in  1S37.  His  sons  drove  across  the 
country  with  wagons  and  the  family  settled 
in  Marion  township,  Ogle  county,  where  he 
cleared  and  developed  a  farm,  one  mile  west 
of  the  home  of  our  subject.  Here  Homer 
D.  Lewis  grew  to  manhood  and  married 
Miss  Adaline  Bacon,  also  a  native  of  the  old 
Bay  state  and  a  daughter  of  Squire  Bacon, 
who  came  west  and  died  in  Illinois.  Mr. 
Lewis  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
where  his  son  is  now  living  and  soon  trans- 
formed the  wild  land  into  highly  cultivated 
and  productive  fields.  To  his  original  farm 
he  later  added  two  adjoining  tracts  of  forty 
acres  each,  making  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  which  he  improved 
with  good  buildings.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  active  and  successful  farmers  of  the 
township  and  at  one  time  owned  seven  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  land,  all  of  which 
property  was  acquired  through  his  own  in- 
dustry, enterprise  and  good  management. 
He  was  honored  with  a  number  of  responsi- 
ble official  positions.  From  his  farm  he  re- 
moved to  Stillman  Valley,  but  subsequently 
took  up  his  residence  in  Rockford,  where  he 
passed  away  November  29,  1S97,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-five  years.  His  wife  survives 
him   and  still  resides  in  that  city. 

Frederick  H.  Lewis  is  the  only  son  liv- 
ing in  a  family  of  five  children.  Loura  M., 
his  oldest  sister,  is  the  wife  of  H.  H.  Hurd, 
of  Stillman  Valley;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Na- 
than James,  of  the  same  place;  Carrie  A.  is 
the  wife  of  William  S.  Ives,  of  Byron  town- 
ship, Ogle  county;  and  Lucy  is  the  wife  of 
John  L.  Keep  and  resides  with  her  mother 
in  Rockford. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  reared  in 
much  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys,  and 
the  knowledge  he  acquired  in  the  district 
schools  has  been  supplemented  by  a  course 


in  the  Rockford  High  School  and  also  in  the 
Commercial  College  of  that  place.  During 
his  youth  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  home  farm  and  then  purchased 
eighty  acres  adjoining,  on  which  he  resided 
for  ten  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
bought  the  old  homestead,  which  he  had 
previously  rented,  and  in  its  skillful  man- 
agement he  is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of 
the  most  progressive  and  systematic  farmers 
of  the  community. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  1871,  in 
Marion  township,  Mr.  Lewis  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Lucy  A.  Johnson,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  G.  S.  Johnson,  who  served 
as  postmaster  of  Stillman  Valley  continu- 
ously for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  an  early  set- 
tler of  Illinois,  and  was  a  direct  descendant 
of  John  Alden,  who  came  to  America  on  the 
Mayflower,  and  for  some  time  engaged  in 
merchandising  in  Rockford,  but  spent  the 
last  years  of  his  life  in  Stillman  Valley. 
Mrs.  Lewis  was  born  in  Ohio,  but  was 
reared  in  Ogle  county,  and  being  well  edu- 
cated she  became  a  successful  and  popular 
teacher.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  a 
family  of  si.x  children,  all  at  home,  namely: 
Charles,  Harry,  Julia,  Fred  and  Frank, 
twins,  and  George.  The  daughter  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Stillman  Valley  High  School 
and  is  quite  proficient  in  music,  and  the 
youngest  (  son  is  now  attending  the  high 
school  at  that  place. 

Mr.  Lewis  is  a  member  of  the  G.  O.  P., 
being  an  ardent  Republican  since  casting 
his  first  vote  for  General  U.  S.  Grant  in 
1S72.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Scott  &  Mar- 
ion Township  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany, has  been  an  active  member  of  the 
school  board  for  twenty  years,  and  has 
served  as  its  president  and  also  clerk  of  the. 


84 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD, 


district  most  of  the  time.  He  is  now  serv- 
ing his  second  term  as  township  trustee, 
and  he  has  most  capably  and  faithfully  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  every  position  he  has 
been  called  upon  to  fill,  whether  in  public 
or  private  life.  He  is  one  of  the  official 
members  of  the  Congregational  church  of 
Stillman  Valley,  to  which  his  family  also 
belong,  and  in  the  best  social  circles  of  the 
community  they  occupy  an  enviable  po- 
sition. 


FREDERICK  ZICK,  Pn.  D.,  teacher 
and  lawyer,  is  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Polo,  and  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  practic- 
ing at  the  bar  of  Ogle  county,  having  the 
mental  grasp  which  enables  him  to  discover 
the  best  points  in  a  case.  A  man  of  sound 
judgment,  he  manages  his  cases  with  mas- 
terly skill  and  tact,  and  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  ablest  jury  advocates  in  this  section 
of  the  state.  He  is  a  logical  reasoner,  able 
debater  and  forcible  in  argument,  uniting  a 
rare  gift  of  oratory  with  the  most  convinc- 
ing logic  that  arouses  the  emotion  and  con- 
vinces the  judgment. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Zick  was  born 
in  Thompson  township,  Jo  Daviess  county, 
October  20,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Mary  (Deuchman)  Zick,  both  natives  of 
the  province  of  Waldec,  Germany,  the  for- 
mer born  about  I  Si  6  and  the  latter  about 
1832.  They  were  married  in  their  native 
land  and  came  to  America  in  1852,  landing 
at  New  York  after  a  long  and  tedious  voy- 
age. After  a  short  time  spent  in  the  me- 
tropolis they  proceeded  westward  and  lo- 
cated in  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois,  where 
the  father  engaged  in  farming  until  1877, 
when  he  laid  aside  all  busmess  cares.  He 
then  spent  one  year  in  Galena  and  his  last 


days  in  the  country  near  that  city,  where  he 
passed  away  in  1879.  His  wife  died  in  Jo 
Daviess  county  in  1866.  To  them  were 
born  two  sons:  John,  who  lives  on  a  farm 
in  Jo  Daviess  county;  and  Frederick,  of  this 
review.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  John  Zick,  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Germany. 

Frederick  Zick,  our  subject,  is  indebted 
to  the  district  schools  of  Jo  Daviess  county 
for  his  early  educational  privileges,  and  he 
received  his  early  training  at  farm  work. 
When  he  arrived  at  his  majority  he  decided 
to  change  his  occupation,  and  took  a  pre- 
paratory course  for  teaching  at  the  German- 
English  College,  then  located  at  Galena, 
Illinois.  He  taught  school  two  terms 
and  graduated  from  the  Northern  Illinois 
College,  Fulton,  Illinois,  in  1884.  He 
read  law  one  year  with  Judge  McCoy, 
at  Fulton,  and  then  read  one  year  in 
the  law  office  of  John  J.  Cole,  Esq.,  at  La 
Crosse,  Wisconsin.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  the  territory  (now  state)  of  North 
Dakota  in  1886,  and  there  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  state's 
attorney  two  years  for  Cavalier  county, 
North  Dakota,  and  in  1S91  located  at  Seat- 
tle, Washington,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years  and  a  half,  during  which  time  he 
gained  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  criminal 
lawyer.  While  at  Seattle  he  tried  many 
criminal  cases,  and  appeared  for  the  de- 
fense in  two  noted  murder  trials.  He  tried 
the  case  of  S.  N.  Saddler,  who  was  charged 
with  murder  in  the  first  degree  for  stabbing 
a  Greek  fisherman  on  West  street  in  Seattle, 
and  secured  his  acquittal  on  the  theory  of 
self-defense.  He  tried  the  case  of  Mattia 
Leoni  and  Joseph  Puccia,  two  Italians 
charged  with  murdering  George  Richards, 
on    Mercer    island,'  in    Lake    Washington. 


FRED    ZICK. 


GERTRUDE    M.  ZICK, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


89 


They  buried  the  body  in  the  lake  and  Leoni 
then  went  to  Canada,  where  he  was  arrested 
and  brought  back  for  trial.  Mr.  Zick  de- 
fended them  on  the  theory  of  self-defense, 
and  Leoni  was  convicted  of  manslaughter 
and  sentenced  to  eighteen  months  in  the 
penitentiary,  and  Puccia  to  three  months  in 
the  county  jail  as  accessory  after  the  fact. 
In  August,  1893,  he  came  to  Polo,  Illinois, 
where  his  wife's  parents  reside,  and  here 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  practice, 
meeting  with  a  well-deserved  success. 

In  Polo,  on  the  29th  day  of  April,  1890, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Zick 
and  Miss  Gertrude  M.  Sanborn,  a  native  of 
Ogle  county,  a  graduate  of  the  Northern 
Illinois  College,  of  Fulton,  a  successful 
teacher  in  our  public  schools,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Ambrose  and  Elizabeth  (Good)  San- 
born. In  his  political  affiliations  our  sub- 
ject is  a  Republican.  He  is  city  attorney 
of  Polo,  has  one  of  the  largest  law  libraries 
in  the  county,  has  a  large  office  and  probate 
practice  and  is  well  versed  in  all  and  every- 
thing necessary  to  make  him  a  successful 
practitioner.  Socially,  he  joined  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  while  at  Seattle  and  was  elected 
a  representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge  in 
1893.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
the  Globe  and  also  of  the  Mystic  Workers 
of  the  World,  and  is  one  of  the  supreme 
directors  of  the  Mystic  Workers.  Person- 
ally Mr.  Zick  is  a  little  over  medium  height, 
well  proportioned,  with  black  hair,  grey 
eyes  and  strong  features  that  indicate  force 
and  determination. 


HENRY  LANDIS  THOMAS.— Among 
the  leading  and  representative  agricult- 
urists of  Ogle  county,  none  stands  higher 
in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow  men  than  the 


subject  of  this  review,  who  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on 
section  18,  Rockvale  township.  He  was 
born  in  Maryland,  October  24,  1S38,  a  son 
of  Joshua  and  Salina  (Landis)  Thomas,  na- 
tives of  Washington  county,  that  state,  the 
former  born  March  8,  181 1,  the  latter 
March  7,  18 12.  The  paternal  grandpa- 
rents were  Henry  and  Catherine  Thomas, 
in  whose  family  were  the  following  children: 
Mrs.  Susan  Hoffan,  deceased;  Mrs.  Ruan 
Newcomer,  a  resident  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, Maryland;  Joshua,  father  of  our  subject; 
Elias  and  Elizabeth.  Our  subject  is  the 
third  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  seven 
children,  the  others  being:  Permelia  M., 
widow  of  Robert  Hitt,  of  Polo,  Illinois; 
Mary  Catherine,  wife  of  H.  M.  Funk,  a 
hardware  merchant  of  Polo,  Illinois;  L.  F., 
who  married  Olga  Smith,  and  conducts  a 
paint,  oil  and  sash  store  at  Polo;  Jacob 
Oskie,  deceased;  John,  who  married  Martha 
Seyster  and  operated  the  old  home  farm; 
Lewis  Ferdinand;  and  John  Edwin.  The 
mother  of  these  children  departed  this  life 
September  22,  1854,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
two  years,  six  months  and  fifteen  days,  and 
the  father  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Susan  Felker,  by  whom  he 
had  five  children:  Ettie.  deceased;  Robert 
Lee,  who  married  May  McGuffin  and  lives 
on  the  old  home  farm;  Frank  F.  and  Olin 
M.,  who  are  also  living  with  their  mother  on 
the  home  place;  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Joshua  Thomas,  our  subject's  father, 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Maryland  and  throughout  life  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  first  came  to  Ogle 
county  in  the  fall  of  1S39,  and  purchased 
two  hundred  acres  of  government  land  for 
himself  and  father,  who  came  here  in  1840, 


90 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


it  being  bought  at  the  land  office  in  Dixon 
at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre  when  it 
came  into  market.  After  securing  his  land, 
Joshua  Thomas  returned  east,  but  the  fol- 
lowing year  brought  his  family  to  their  new 
home,  making  the  trip  overland.  All  of  his 
land  was  unbroken  with  the  exception  of 
about  three  or  four  acres,  which  had  been 
placed  under  cultivation,  and  the  only 
building  upon  the  place  was  a  log  house, 
but  to  its  further  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion he  at  once  turned  his  attention  and 
soon  converted  the  wild  tract  into  a  most 
desirable  farm.  In  1850  he  made  a  trip  to 
the  gold  fields  of  California  by  way  of  the 
overland  route,  in  company  with  Mr.  Pitzer 
and  Captain  Swingley,  of  Brodie's  Grove. 
He  met  with  fair  success  on  the  Pacific 
slope  and  returned  to  Illinois  in  1852  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  settled 
down  to  farming  again.  In  politics  he  was 
a  pronouneed  Democrat,  and  being  one  of 
the  most  prominent  and  infiuential  men  of 
the  community,  he  was  often  called  to  pub- 
lic office,  serving  as  school  director  fifteen 
years, school  trustee  three  years,  and  direct- 
or of  the  Ogle  County  Agricultural  Society 
from  1853  until  i860.  He  also  served  as 
president  of  that  organization  for  a  time. 
He  departed  this  life  March  18,   1884. 

Henry  L.  Thomas,  of  this  review,  was 
only  two  years  old  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Ogle  county,  and  he  was  reared 
about  two  miles  south  of  his  present  home, 
his  early  education  being  acquired  in  a  little 
log  school-house  a  half  mile  from  his  boy- 
hood home.  He  continued  to  assist  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm 
until  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated 
December  20,  1866,  Miss  Mary  Ellen 
Felker  becoming  his  wife.  He  then  rented  a 
farm  of  one    hundred    and    thirty    acres   in 


Pine  Creek  township,  on  which  he  lived  for 
three  years,  and  for  the  same  length  of 
time  rented  his  present  farm,  which  then 
belonged  to  George  \V.  Phelps.  The  fol- 
lowing two  years  were  spent  on  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres  in  Mt.  Morris  township, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  his  present 
farm.  Before  moving  to  this  place,  how- 
ever, he  rented  the  A.  F.  Weaver  farm,  of 
eighty  acres,  for  one  year,  and  then  located 
upon  his  own  farm,  to  which  he  has  added 
a  tract  of  forty  acres,  making  a  valuable 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  which  he  has 
placed  under  excellent  cultivation  and  im- 
proved with  good  and  substantial  buildings. 
He  is  interested  in  stock  raising  to  some 
extent. 

Mrs.  Thomas  is  a  daughter  of  Abraham 
and  Catherine  Felker,  the  former  born  in 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  July  6, 
1802,  the  latter  in  Franklin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  24,  181 1.  Her  grandfather 
was  a  tanner,  but  her  father  followed  farm- 
ing in  the  east,  and  on  coming  to  Illinois  in 
1855,  settled  in  the  town  of  Mt.  Morris, 
where  he  spent  three  years  and  then  moved 
to  a  farm  in  Ogle  county,  which  he  had 
previously  purchased.  Mrs.  Thomas'  edu- 
cation was  begun  in  the  schools  of  Mary- 
land, and  after  coming  to  this  state  attend- 
ed the  public  schools  and  academy  at  Mt. 
Morris.  Nine  children  have  been  born  to 
our  subject  and  his  wife,  namely:  Lillie 
May,  born  ]anuary  15,  1868,  died  January 
6,  1876;  Edgar  Felker,  born  July  29,  1869, 
is  a  dentist  by  profession  and  is  now  at 
home.  While  serving  as  a  member  of  the 
committee  on  the  Fourth  of  July  celebra- 
tion, he  had  his  finger  inujred  liy  a  skyrocket 
and  had  to  have  it  amputated;  b'lorence 
Edna,  born   April    11,    1871,  is   the    wife  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Charles  Zoller,  manager  of  the  Union  Tea 
Company  at  Omaha,  Nebraska;  Noble  Fill- 
more, born  December  12,  1872,  married 
Susan  Young,  by  whom  he  has  a  little  son, 
and  they  live  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming;  Ada  Ellen,  born 
December  19,  1875,  died  in  infancy;  Charles 
Henry,  born  April  3,  1S77;  Freddie  Hen- 
derson, born  December  15,  1879,  and 
Catherine,  born  March  26,  1882,  are  all  at 
home;  Nellie  Maude,  born  February  19, 
1885,  is  attending  the  district  school. 

Mr.  Thomas  has  always  affiliated  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  is  to-day  a  strong 
advocate  of  the  free  coinage  of  silver.  He 
has  served  as  school  director  for  nine  years, 
and  is  at  present  school  trustee.  His  wife 
and  three  daughters  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church  and  he  gives  to  its  sup- 
port. He  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  the  community  in  which  he  has 
so  long  made  his  home,  and  he  has  a  host 
of  warm  friends. 


HON.  CHARLES  SCHNEIDER,  mayor 
of  Oregon,  and  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  of  that  city,  is  a  native  of 
the  city,  and  was  born  October  19,  1843, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  M.  and  Rebecca 
(Etnyre)  Schneider,  the  former  a  native  of 
Bavaria,  and  the  latter  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland.  John  M.  Schneider  was 
born  June  8,  1808,  and  in  his  native  country 
grew  to  manhood.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1834,  locating  first  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  where  he  remained  for  a  time, 
removing  from  there  to  St.  Louis,  and  later 
to  Galena,  Illinois.  In  1836  he  settled  in 
Oregon,  which  at  that  time  contained  two 
log  houses.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  but 
at  Oregon  opened  first  a  grocery  store  and 


engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  later  estab- 
lishing a  clothing  store  and  continued  in  the 
clothing  business  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  September  30,  1893.  He 
was  a  successful  business  man  and  accumu- 
lated a  good  estate.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  religiously  a  Catholic.  His 
wife,  who  was  born  at  Smithsburg,  Wash- 
ington county,  Maryland,  August  20,  1808, 
was  the  eldest  child  of  John  and  Catherine 
Etnyre,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Ogle 
county  in  1839.  In  religious  belief  she  was 
a  Lutheran.  She  died  in  the  spring  of  1895. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
Charles,  Mary  and  Ellen.  Both  daughters 
died  in  young  womanhood. 

Charles  Schneider  was  reared  in  Oregon, 
and  after  obtaining  his  primary  education  in 
the  public  schools,  entered  the  University  of 
Notre  Dame,  at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  where 
he  completed  his  course.  After  leaving  that 
institution  he  returned  to  Oregon  and  clerked 
for  a  time  in  a  store,  and  in  1870  entered 
the  banking  house  of  Bayard  &  Company, 
as  bookkeeper.  One  year  later  this  bank 
was  converted  into  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Oregon,  Illinois,  and  in  iS74Mr.  Schnei- 
der was  elected  cashier,  which  position  he 
has  since  held.  He  was  a  little  later  elected 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  bank,  and  is  still 
serving  as  such.  The  bank  was  chartered  in 
1 87 1  with  a  capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
The  present  officers  are  George  A.  Mix,  pres- 
ident; J.  L.  Rice,  vice-president;  and 
Charles  Schneider,  cashier.  In  addition  to 
those  named  the  directors  are  William  H. 
Guilford  and  John  Matmiller. 

Mr.  Schneider  was  married  September 
14,  1 87 1,  to  Miss  Fannie  Weller,  a  native 
of  Martinsburg,  Virginia,  and  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Mary  (Timmons)  Weller.  At 
an  early   day   her  parents   located   in   Pine 


92 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Creek  township,  Ogle  county,  where  she 
grew  to  womanhood.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  December  i,  1805, 
and  died  in  Ogle  county,  December  26, 
1890.  Her  mother,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
John  Timmons,  was  born  in  Martinsburg, 
Virginia,  and  died  November  11,  18S6. 
With  the  exception  of  her  brother  Charles, 
now  living  in  Pine  Creek  township,  Mrs. 
Schneider  is  the  only  one  of  her  family  now 
living.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schneider  eight 
children  have  been  born — Frank  B. ,  Charles 
j.,  William  D.,  Leo,  Mary,  Bert  A.,  Ellen 
and  George  E.,  all  of  whom  are  living  but 
Mary,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schneider  are  members  of 
the  Catholic  church.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican.  In  1885  he  was  elected  alder- 
man and  was  re-elected  three  times.  In 
1893  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  re- 
elected in  1895,  ^^'^  again  in  1897,  and  is 
yet  serving  in  that  office.  No  other  mayor 
ever  served  such  a  length  of  time.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  citizen,  and  believes  in  push- 
ing things,  desiring  his  city  to  take  a  posi- 
tion which  it  is  entitled  by  its  natural  ad- 
vantages. He  is  keenly  alive  to  the  de- 
mands of  the  age,  and  under  his  administra- 
tion the  city  of  his  birth  will  not  suffer  in 
comparison  with  others.  He  is  treasurer  of 
the  Rock  River  Electric  railroad,  a  new 
enterprise  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  pro- 
moters. 


JOSIAH  A.  HAYS,  a  well-to-do  farmer 
of  Buffalo  township,  resides  on  a  well 
improved  farm  on  section  1 1,  lying  near  the 
city  of  Polo.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
the  county  since  the  spring  of  1854,  com- 
ing here  from  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, where  he  was  born   March    17,  1843. 


He  is  a  son  of  Henry  Hays,  a  native  of  the 
same  county  and  state,  who  was  born  in 
1808,  and  who  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive county  and  married  Miss  Sarah  Eakle, 
who  was  likewise  a  native  of  Washington 
county.  The  good  reports  from  Ogle  coun- 
ty, sent  by  friends  who  had  settled  here, 
made  him  determine  to  follow  their  exam- 
ple, and  accordingly,  in  the  spring  of  1854, 
accompanied  by  his  family,  he  came  to  the 
county  and  located  in  Pine  Creek  township, 
where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  acres  of  choice  land  and  engaged  in 
farming,  an  occupation  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged in  his  native  state.  On  that  farm  he 
resided  a  number  of  years,  and  then  moved 
to  Polo,  and  there  spent  the  last  years  of 
his  life,  dying  there  in  1889,  his  death  being 
the  result  of  an  accident,  having  been  run 
over  by  a  railroad  train. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  in 
his  native  state,  and  in  the  common  schools 
he  commenced  to  obtain  an  education.  He 
was  but  eleven  years  old  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Ogle  county.  He  is 
one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  all  living 
but  one.  On  his  arrival  in  Ogle  county  he 
assisted  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
home  farm,  and  usually  in  the  winter 
months  attended  the  public  schools.  He 
remained  with  his  parents  until  after  he 
attained  his  majority,  and  was  of  great  as- 
sistance to  them  in  developing  the  farm.  In 
March,  1S65,  he  enlisted  under  the  last  call 
of  the  president  for  men  to  fill  up  the 
depleted  regiments.  He  became  a  member 
of  Company  F,  Eighteenth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  joining  his  regiment  at  Little 
Rock,  Arkansas.  While  the  war  was  soon 
afterwards  ended,  his  regiment  was  retained 
in  the  service,  doing  guard  duty  through 
Arkansas,  until  in  December,   1865,  when  it 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


93 


\yas  mustered  out  of  service  at  Pine  Bluff, 
Arkansas,  the  men  receiving  their  discharge 
at  Springfield,  Illinois. 

On  receiving  his  discharge  Mr.  Hays  re- 
turned to  his  old  home  and  again  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  On  the  jSth  of 
December,  1866,  he  was  united  in  marriage, 
at  Freeport,  Illinois,  with  Miss  Louisa  Ann 
Martha  Fo.x,  a  native  of  Albany,  New  York, 
and  daughter  of  John  Fo.x,  an  Englishman, 
who  later  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Macoupin  county,  where  Mrs.  Hays  was 
reared,  and  where  he  died  in  1S56.  His 
widow  later  married  John  Greenfield,  and 
now  resides  in  Grundy  Center,  Iowa.  She 
is  also  English  born,  and  is  now  about 
eighty-four  years  old.  Mrs.  Hays  is  one  of 
a  family  of  three  children,  and  the  sole  sur- 
vivor. One  brother,  John  A.  T.,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Southern  army,  while  the 
other,  F.  B.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union 
army,  and  died  while  in  the  service  of  his 
country. 

The  spring  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Hays 
moved  to  Harden  county,  Iowa,  where  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  and  opened 
up  a  farm.  He  remained  on  that  farm  two 
years,  then  sold  out  and  rented  for  two 
years,  then  moved  to  Grundy  county,  in  the 
state,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  and  commenced  the  development  of  a 
new  farm.  After  remaining  there  ten  years 
and  putting  the  farm  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  he  sold  out,  and  in  1883  returned 
to  Ogle  county  and  purchased  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  on  which  he  has  made 
some  permanent  and  valuable  improvements, 
including  the  remodeling  of  the  house. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hays  have  two  daughters. 

Martha   Ellen   is    now    the    wife    of    James 

Woolsey,    and    they   have  three  children — 

Frank  E.,  Eugene  Hays  and  Murial   May. 
10 


They  reside  on  a  farm  in  Buffalo  township. 
Fanny  Belle  is  the  wife  of  William  Dew,  of 
Buffalo  township,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren—  Perry  W.,  Elmer,  Mary  Lavina  and 
Josie  Louise. 

Politically  Mr.  Hays  has  been  a  Repub- 
lican since  attaining  his  majority.  His  first 
presidential  ballot  was  for^braham  Lincoln 
in  1863,  a  time  when  the  votes  of  every  true 
unionist  counted  for  something.  He  has 
never  cared  for  office,  but  while  residing  in 
Iowa  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
township  treasurer  and  secretary  of  the 
school  board.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church  at  Polo,  of  which  body 
his  wife  is  also  a  member.  In  whatever 
concerns  the  church  they  take  an  active  in- 
terest, having  at  heart  a  love  for  the  cause. 
Although  absent  from  the  county  for  some 
years  he  never  lost  interest  in  his  old  home, 
and  is  happy  to  be  again  numbered  among 
its  representative  citizens. 


CORNELIUS  BOWMAN  is  the  posses- 
sor of  a  handsome  property  which  now 
enables  him  to  spend  his  declining  years  in 
the  pleasurable  enjoyment  of  his  accumula- 
tions Until  recently  the  record  of  his  life 
was  that  of  an  active,  enterprising,  method- 
ical and  sagacious  business  man  and  farmer, 
who  bent  his  energies  to  the  honorable  ac- 
quirement of  a  comfortable  competence  for 
himself  and  family,  but  he  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  the  village  of  Harper. 

Mr.  Bowman  was  born  near  Berlin, 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  13, 
1 83 1,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Bowman,  who 
was  born  on  the  same  farm  in  1792.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Somerset  count}-,  where  he  opened  up  the 


94 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


farm  on  which  both  our  subject  and  his 
father  were  born.  The  latter  married  EHza- 
beth  Marteeny,  who  was  born  near  Somer- 
set, Somerset  county,  of  English  ancestry. 
He  spent  his  entire  life  upon  the  old  home- 
stead engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
there  died  in  1844  at  the  age  of  fifty-two 
years.  His  wife  long  survived  him,  dying 
in  1890  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four 
year.  To  them  were  born  thirteen  children, 
but  only  six  reached  }ears  of  maturity  and 
four  are  now  living,  namely:  Uriah,  who 
owns  and  operates  the  old  homestead;  John 
J.,  a  farmer  of  Somerset  county;  Chauncy, 
also  a  farmer  of  Somerset  county,  who 
served  through  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Gett}S- 
burg,  and  Cornelius,  of  this  review.  Cyrus, 
the  oldest  of  the  family,  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  Som- 
erset county.  Levina  married  Aaron  Gei- 
ger  and  also  died  in  that  county. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  Cornelius  Bow- 
man grew  to  manhood,  and  in  the  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  obtained  a  limited  ed- 
ucation, which  has  been  greatly  supple- 
mented by  reading  and  study  at  home. 
During  early  life  he  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching  for  several  terms.  On  the  27th 
of  February,  1S52,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Theresa  Hauger,  also  a 
native  of  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Hauger,  who  was 
born  there  and  belonged  to  an  old  family  of 
the  county.  Of  the  twelve  children  born 
of  this  union  three  died  in  infancy  and  John 
died  from  an  accident  at  the  age  of  nine 
years.  Those  living  are  Harvey,  who  re- 
sides on  the  home  farm  in  Ogle  county, 
Illinois;  Norman,  who  is  married  and  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Webster  City,  Iowa; 
Grant,  at  home;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Fred  F. 


Nicodemus,  of  Forreston,  Illinois;  Mrs. 
Rosanna  E.  Costello,  who  is  now  keeping 
house  for  her  brother  Harvey;  Agnes  M., 
wife  of  Henry  Fisher,  who  lives  near  For- 
reston; Mary,  wife  of  Jacob  Piper,  a  farmer 
of  Forreston,  and  Verna,  at  home. 

During  the  first  year  of  his  married  life 
Mr.  Bowman  operated  a  rented  farm  m 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  then 
in  connection  with  his  brother  he  bought  a 
tract  of  land  which  they  developed  into  a 
good  farm  and  cultivated  for  thirteen  years. 
In  the  meantime  he  served  as  school  direct- 
or and  township  assessor.  Coming  west 
in  1S65  he  first  located  in  Lee  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  rented  the  Colonel  Dement 
farm  for  one  year,  but  at  the  end  of  that 
time  he  became  a  resident  of  Ogle  county, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He 
rented  a  farm  in  Forreston  township  for  one 
year  and  then  bought  a  tract  of  eighty  acres, 
to  the  cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  his 
time  for  several  years.  On  selling  that 
place  he  bought  the  old  David  Raisinger 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Forreston 
township,  and  located  thereon.  When  the 
railroad  was  laid  out  across  his  land,  he 
divided  some  of  his  property  into  town  lots 
and  started  the  village  of  Harper.  He 
built  a  store  room  and  embarked  in  mer- 
chandising at  that  place,  leaving  his  sons  to 
operate  the  farm,  and  continued  to  actively 
engage  in  business  there  for  seventeen  years. 
In  the  meantime  he  served  as  assistant  post- 
master, and  later  as  postmaster  being  con- 
nected with  that  office  for  si.xteen  or 
seventeen  years.  Besides  his  village  pro- 
perty and  the  'farm  already  mentioned  he 
owns  a  well  improved  and  valuable  farm 
in  Carroll  county,  Illinois,  comprising 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  has 
four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  improved 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


95 


land  in  Cheyenne  county,  Nebraska.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Forreston 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  stockholder,  director  and  secretary 
for  seven  years,  and  he  has  been  actively 
identified  with  all  enterprises  which  he  be- 
lieved calculated  to  advance  the  interests  of 
the  community  in  which  he  lives  and  pro- 
mote general  prosperity. 

Originally  Mr.  Bowman  was  a  Whig  in 
politics,  casting  his  first  vote  for  General 
Winfield  Scott,  and  since  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  party  he  has  been  one  of  its 
stanch  supporters.  He  has  taken  quite  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  local  politics, 
and  has  filled  a  number  of  township  offices, 
being  commissioner  of  highways  si.x  years, 
school  director  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
supervisor  two  terms,  during  which  time  he 
served  on  some  important  committees.  He 
and  his  wife  are  among  the  original  members 
of  the  Reformed  church  of  Forreston,  con- 
tribute liberally  to  its  support  and  assisted 
in  the  erection  of  the  house  of  worship. 
For  the  success  he  has  achieved  in  life  Mr. 
Bowman  deserves  great  credit,  for  he  started 
out  in  life  with  but  little  capital,  and  the 
prosperity  that  has  come  to  him  is  due  to 
his  own  industry,  enterprise,  perseverance 
and  good  management.  He  is  to-day  one 
of  the  substantial  men  of  the  county,  as 
well  as  one  of  its  honored  and  highly  es- 
teemed citizens. 


JOHN  J.  LEBO  is  a  wide-awake  and 
energetic  farmer  of  Forreston  township 
who  owns  and  operates  a  well-improved  and 
valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  conveniently  situated  within  a  mile  of 
the  village  of  Forreston.  He  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,     born    near    Harrisburg,    in 


Dauphin  county,  September  i8,  1847,  and 
is  a  son  of  Phillip  Lebo,  a  native  of  the 
same  county.  The  grandfather,  John  Lebo, 
who  was  born  of  French  parentage,  was  a 
pioneer  of  Dauphin  county,  where  he  open- 
ed up  a  farm  and  reared  his  family.  On 
reaching  man's  estate  Philip  Lebo  married 
Miss  Barbara  Meyers,  also  a  native  of 
Dauphin  county  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
Mej'ers,  who  was  a  represntative  of  one  of 
its  honored  pioneer  families.  Mr.  Lebo  owned 
and  operated  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  near  Elizabethville,  Penn- 
sylvania, was  one  of  the  prominent  and  in- 
ffuential  citizens  of  his  county,  and  was 
called  upon  to  serve  in  a  number  of  local 
of^ces  of  honor  and  trust.  In  the  county 
of  his  nativity  he  died  in  April,  1886,  at 
about  the  age  of  eighty-four,  having  sur- 
vived his  wife  for  some  years. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
twelve  children,  of  whom  ten  reached  years 
of  maturity,  namely:  Philip,  a  prominent 
business  man,  who  is  now  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  lumber  in  the  state  of 
Washington;  John  J.,  our  subject;  Eliza  A., 
twin  sister  of  John  J.,  and  the  wife  of  C.  S. 
Hartman,  of  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania; 
Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Herner,  a  widow  residing  in 
Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania;  Aaron  S.,  who  is 
married  and  engaged  in  blacksmithing  in 
the  state  of  \\'ashington;  William,  who 
married  but  is  now  deceased;  Mrs.  Ann 
Reams,  a  widow  living  in  Harrisburg;  Re- 
becca J.,  wife  of  John  Mayer,  of  Washing- 
ton; Mary  D.,  wife  of  John  D.  Hartman,  of 
Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania;  and  Eman- 
uel N.,  a  contractor  and  builder  of  Harris- 
burg. 

John  J.  Lebo  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania  and 
received   a  good  common-school  education, 


96 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


which  has  been  greatly  supplemented  by 
reading  and  observation  in  later  years.  He 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  reach- 
ing man's  estate  and  in  Dauphin  county  was 
married,  June  2,  1870,  to  Miss  Sarah  Lark, 
who  was  also  born,  reared  and  educated  in 
that  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Susan  Lark,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Two  children  have  been  born  of  their  union, 
namely:  Cora  E. ,  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  D. 
N.  Frantz,  a  minister  of  the  Reformed 
church  now  located  at  Stonington,  Illinois; 
and  Harry  E.,  who  is  attending  school  in 
Dixon. 

For  several  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Lebo  operated  rented  land  in  his  native 
county,  but  in  1877  he  came  west,  joining 
old  Pennsylvania  friends  in  Ogle  county, 
Illinois.  After  renting  for  about  four  years 
he  bought  eighty  acres  in  Forreston  town- 
ship on  which  he  now  resides,  and  erected 
thereon  a  good  house  and  substantial  out- 
buildings, but  in  1890  his  residence  was 
destroyed  bj?  fire,  together  with  a  large  part 
of  the  household  goods.  Later  in  the  sea- 
son he  built  his  present  comfortable  home 
and  barn,  and  now  has  one  of  the  best 
improved  farms  of  the  locality.  To  the 
original  purchase  he  added  a  forty-acre  tract 
adjoining  and  now  has  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  which  he  has  placed  under  ex- 
cellent cultivation.  In  connection  with 
general  farming  he  is  also  interested  in  stock 
raising  and  has  upon  his  place  a  good  grade 
of  horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

Politically  Mr.  Lebo  is  a  lifelong  Re- 
publican, having  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  U.  S.  Grant  in  the  fall  of  1868,  and 
as  a  delegate  to  the  county  conventions  of 
his  party  he  has  done  much  to  advance  its 
interest  in  this  section  of  the  state.  b'or 
eighteen  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 


school  board  and  secretary  of  the  district  for 
about  the  same  length  of  time,  but  has  never 
sought  nor  desired  office,  preferring  to  give 
his  undivided  attention  to  his  business  in- 
terests. Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Globe  and  the  Mystic  Order, 
and  religiously  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  English  Lutheran  church. 
They  are  widely  and  favorably  known  and 
their  friends  are  many  in  Ogle  county. 


WILLIAM  C.  DIEFFENBAUGH.-- 
Among  the  successful  and  enterpris- 
ing farmers  of  Ogle  count}',  who  have  ac- 
cumulated a  competency  through  their 
own  exertions  and  economy,  and  who  thor- 
oughly understand  their  chosen  calling,  is 
the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  who 
resides  in  section  14,  Forreston  township. 
He  was  born  in  Montour  count}',  Pennsyl- 
vania, February  6,  1840,  a  son  of  Conrad 
Dieffenbaugh,  a  native  of  Columbia  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  married  Catherine  Stannn,  also  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  state.  The  father,  who 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  spent  his  en- 
tire life  in  Pennsylvania,  dying  there  in 
18S2.  In  the  family  were  the  following 
children;  Benjamin,  a  farmer  of  Pennsyl- 
vania; William  C. ,  our  subject;  David  E.,  a 
resident  of  Sandusky  county,  Ohio;  Frank- 
lin, a  resident  of  Wood  county,  Ohio; 
Charles,  who  lives  in  Kansas,  twenty-five 
miles  west  of\\'ichita;  Mrs.  Mary  Ellen 
Brown,  a  widow  residing  in  Cheney,  Kan- 
sas; and  Sarah  Ann,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
ten  years. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  William 
C.  Dieffenbaugh  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  was  reared  on  the 
houu;  farm,  remaining  with  his  father  until 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


97 


he  attained  his  majority,  and  assisting  him 
in  carrying  on  the  place.  He  continued  to 
work  for  his  father  for  one  year  and  then 
went  to  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  for  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  rais- 
ing broom  corn  during  the  summer  and 
manufacturing  it  into  brooms  during  the 
winter  months  at  Bloomsburg.  In  the 
spring  of  1864,  he  came  to  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  but  after  working  on  a  farm  in  For- 
reston  township  for  one  summer,  he  went 
to  Carroll  county,  where  he  remained  for 
four  years. 

Returning  to  Ogle  county,  Mr.  Dieffen- 
baugh  married  Miss  Anna  Heitman,  a 
native  of  Maryland,  who  died  here  in  1S71, 
and  of  the  two  children  born  of  that  union 
one  died  in  infancy  and  the  other  at  the  age 
of  thirteen  months.  He  was  again  married 
in  Ogle  county,  September  25,  i  873,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Miss  Margaret  Timmer, 
a  native  of  the  county,  who  was  reared  amidst 
scenes  incident  to  pioneer  life.  As  a  child 
she  remembers  seeing  deer  approach  the 
house  in  search  of  food,  and  the  wolves 
often  made  the  night  hideous  by  their  howls. 
Her  father,  Frederick  Timmer,  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  but  was  reared  in  Maryland, 
where  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Jane  Fry, 
who  was  born  in  that  state,  but  whose 
father  was  an  Englishman,  her  mother  a 
German.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Timmer  were  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  Ogle  county,  and  here 
reared  their  family  of  ten  children,  all  of 
whom  reached  man  and  womanhood,  and 
with  but  one  exception  all  are  still  living. 
They  are  as  follows:  John  F.,  a  farmer  of 
Forreston  township;  Elias  A.,  a  farmer  of 
Mar3'land  township;  Margaret,  wife  of  our 
subject;  'Mary  Ellen,  deceased;  Sophia, 
wife  of  John  Rebman,  a  farmer  of  Ogle 
county;  Helen  E.,  wife  of  Chris  Zumdahl, 


of  Ogle  county;  Henry,  a  resident  of  For- 
reston; Frank,  who  owns  and  operates  the 
old  home  farm;  Emma,  a  resident  of  For- 
reston; and  Charles,  a  farmer  of  this 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dieffenbaugh  have  a 
family  of  seven  children,  namely:  Anna, 
who  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the 
home  district  of  Forreston,  and  is  now  the 
wife  of  Harry  Acker,  a  farmer  of  Brook- 
ville,  IIHnois;  John  and  Jesse,  who  assist 
their  father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm ; 
Frances  Luella,  at  home;  Benjamin  C,  a 
student  of  the  Forreston  high  school; 
Harvey  F. ,  at  home;  Walter  F.,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  months;  and  Emma 
May,  who  is  attending  the  home  school. 

For  a  number  of  years  after  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Dieffenbaugh  rented  land  and 
engaged  in  farming  and  raising  broom  corn 
during  the  summer,  while  through  the  win- 
ter he  continued  to  engage  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  brooms.  In  1884  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  14,  Forreston  township,  and  the 
following  year  located  thereon,  since  which 
time  he  has  devoted  his  energies  to  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  with  most  grati- 
fying results.  He  has  remodeled  the  house 
and  made  other  improvements  upon  the 
place  which  add  to  its  value  and  attractive 
appearance. 

Politically  Mr.  Dieffenbaugh  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Democratic  party,  but  aside 
from  voting  has  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  political  affairs.  He  is  a  warm 
friend  of  our  public  school  s\stem,  and  is 
now  most  capably  and  satisfactorily  serving 
his  fourteenth  year  as  president  of  the  dis- 
trict school  board.  Religiously  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  earnest  and  faithful  members 
of  the  Zion  Reformed  church  at  Forreston. 
His    sterling    integrity,    inflexible    honesty, 


98 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


and  general  high  principles,  have  won  him 
the  respect  of  every  community  in  which  he 
has  resided,  and  he  is  to-day  one  of  the 
most  esteemed  and  valued  citizens  of  his 
portion  of  the  county. 


J 


OHN  REYNOLDS,  one  of  the  leading 
and  representative  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  Woosung  township,  and  who  re- 
sides on  his  fine  farm  on  section  9,  was  born 
June  24,  1844,  in  county  Roscommon,  Ire- 
land, and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Graham)  Reynolds,  both  natives  of  the 
same  county  in  Ireland. 

In  1849  Thomas  Reynolds  came  to  the 
United  States,  taking  passage  in  a  slow  sail- 
ing vessel,  and  landing  in  New  York.  He 
remained  in  that  city  but  a  very  short  time, 
going  from  there  into  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  secured  work  on  a  railroad.  He  remained 
in  Pennsylvania  about  two  years,  and  then 
went  to  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  had  now  ac- 
cumulated sufficient  funds  to  send  for  his 
family,  which  he  accordingly  did,  and  in 
due  time  they  joined  him  at  Dayton.  After 
remaining  in  that  city  until  1865,  he  con- 
cluded to  come  to  Illinois.  Locating  in 
Woosung  township.  Ogle  county,  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  Industrious  as  the  day  was  long, 
he  made  a  success  in  life,  becoming  a  thor- 
ough and  practical  farmer.  He  continued 
farming  until  within  a  few  years  of  his  death, 
when  he  retired  from  active  life  and  lived 
retired,  still,  however,  remaining  on  his 
farm.  His  death  occurred  December  16, 
i89r,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  He  was 
a  fine  type  of  the  Irish  gentleman,  and  was 
a  hale  and  hearty  old  man,  retaining  his 
mental  faculties  until  the  last.  His  good 
wife  died   February  15,    1881.      They  were 


the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  oldest.  Winifred,  who  is  the 
wife  of  John  Donavan,  is  living  in  Dayton, 
Ohio.  Martin,  who  was  in  the  Fourth  Ohio 
Cavalry  and  served  through  the  entire  Civil 
war,  is  now  making  his  home  with  our  sub- 
ject. Patrick,  who  married  Bridget  Dalton, 
is  living  on  the  old  home  place  in  Woosung 
township.  Mary  died  in  infancy.  In  poli- 
tics Thomas  Reynolds  was  a  Democrat,  and 
religiously  was  a  Roman  Catholic. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city  received  his  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  fifteen,  he  quit  school 
and  commenced  working  in  a  furniture  fac- 
tory. He  remained  in  that  employment 
but  a  short  time  and  then  ran  a  stationary 
engine  in  a  foundry  for  several  years.  In 
1S65,  he  came  to  Ogle  county,  joining  his 
father,  who  had  come  about  one  month  pre- 
viously. On  his  arrival  he  took  the  man- 
agement of  his  father's  farm,  although  he 
had  no  previous  experience  in  farming.  His 
success  has  been  wonderful  in  this  respect, 
as  it  is  not  often  that  one  takes  up  the  life 
of  a  farmer  after  having  spent  years  in  other 
employment  and  makes  of  farming  a  suc- 
cess. 

Mr.  Reynolds  continued  to  manage  his 
father's  farm  until  his  marriage,  November 
28,  1882,  to  Miss  Mary  Doyle,  who  was 
born  August  29,  1857,  in  Livingston  county, 
New  York,  and  daughter  of  Darby  and 
Mary  (Dalton)  Doyle,  her  father  being  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  Both  parents  were 
natives  of  Tipperary  county,  Ireland.  They 
left  their  native  land  in  1852,  and  crossing 
the  Atlantic,  made  their  way  to  Livingston 
county.  New  York,  where  they  were  mar- 
ried, and  resided  about  five  years.  From 
that  county  they  moved  to  Lexington,  Ken- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


99 


tucky,  where  they  remained  four  years, 
coming  from  there  to  Ogle  county  and 
locating  on  a  farm  on  section  12,  Woosung 
township,  where  the  family  has  since  con- 
tinued to  reside.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doyle  had 
a  family  of  six  children:  Mary,  wife  of  our 
subject;  James,  living  in  Le.xington,  Ken- 
tucky; Catherine,  deceased;  Lizzie,  wife  of 
William  Callahan,  who  is  living  on  the  farm 
of  Mr.  Doyle;  two  daughters,  who  died  in 
infancy.  Mrs.  Dojle  died  September  23, 
1897.  ^^r.  Doyle  is  yet  living  on  the  old 
homestead.  Religiously  he  is  a  Roman 
Catholic,  and  politically  a  Democrat. 

Four  children  have  come  to  bless  the 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds.  Mary 
Winifred,  born  March  17,  1885,  is  now  at- 
tending school  at  St.  Clara  Academy,  Sin- 
sinawa,  Wisconsin;  Catherine  Frances,  born 
February  15,  1888;  James  Martin,  born 
July  4,  1889,  and  Elizabeth  Lauretta,  born 
February  21,  1893,  are  attending  the  dis- 
trict school. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Reynolds  moved 
to  his  present  farm,  which  he  had  previously 
purchased  and  which  comprises  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  excellent  land.  The  farm  has 
been  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  everything  about  the  place  denotes 
the  master  mind  of  its  owner.  He  raises 
Durham  short-horn  cattle,  Poland-China 
hogs  and  Morgan  horses.  Each  year  he 
markets  about  one  hundred  head  of  hogs. 
Commencing  life  with  bat  little  else  than  a 
stout  heart  and  willing  hands,  he  has  been 
quite  successful  in  life,  and  has  no  reason 
to  regret  making  Ogle  county  his  permanent 
home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Reynolds  is  a  Democrat, 
but  in  local  affairs  he  votes  for  the  man  and 
not  party.  For  thirteen  years  he  has  served 
as  school  director,   and  for  five  years  was 


road  commissioner.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  the  board  of  supervisors  for  four  years, 
during'  which  time  he  was  on  several  im- 
portant committees,  including  the  commit- 
tee on  education  and  the  building  com- 
mittee. A  public  spirited  man,  he  has  the 
confidence  of  his  friends  and  neighbors  in 
a  remarkable  degree.  Religiously  he  is 
connected  with  the  Catholic  church,  of 
which  his  wife  is  also  a  devoted  member. 


JOHNSON  LAWRENCE,  a  well-known 
and  prominent  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion I,  Eagle  Point  township,  is  a  represent- 
ative of  one  of  the  old  and  honored  pioneer 
families  of  Ogle  county — one  who  has  borne 
its  part  in  her  development  and  prosperity 
for  over  sixty  years.  He  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead  where  he  still  resides,  June 
17,1844,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Lawrence, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Kent  county,  Eng- 
land, in  I  So  I.  Leaving  home  in  18  17,  he 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  and  after  spend- 
ing one  year  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
went  to  Ontario,  Canada,  locating  north  of 
Toronto,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
There  he  married  Miss  Lydia  Johnson,  a 
native  of  that  country,  where  they  continued 
to  make  their  home  until  1838,  which  year 
witnessed  their  arrival  in  Ogle  county,  being 
among  its  first  settlers.  In  Eagle  Point 
township  the  father  bought  a  claim  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty-three  acres,  of  which 
only  a  few  acres  had  been  broken  and  a  log 
cabin  erected  thereon.  To  the  further  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  the  place  he  at 
once  turned  his  attention,  and  when  the  land 
came  into  market  he  entered  it  from  the 
government.  He  was  one  of  the  represent- 
ative and  most  active  farmers  in  the  coun- 
ty and  from  the  raw  land  soon  developed  a 


lOO 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fine  farm.  He  met  with  a  well-deserved 
success  in  his  operations  and  by  an  upright, 
honorable  life  commanded  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  one 
of  the  original  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Buffalon  Grove,  gave 
liberally  of  his  means  to  its  support,  and  al- 
ways took  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
church  work.  He  died  on  October  31, 
1886, and  his  estimable  wife  passed  away  in 
November,  1888,  the  remains  of  both  being 
interred  in  the  Polo  cemetery,  where  a  sub- 
stantial monument  marks  their  last  resting 
place. 

Johnson  Lawrence,  of  this  review,  is  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  seven  children,  two 
sons  and  five  daughters,  namely:  Nancy, 
who  married  Philetus  Peck  and  settled  in 
Nebraska,  where  she  died  in  1867;  Susana, 
who  married  Albert  Slater  and  resides  in  Jef- 
ferson, Marion  county,  Oregon;  Mary,  wife 
of  J.  C.  Williams,  of  Denver,  Colorado ;Jor- 
dan  who  is  now  living  retired  in  Polo;Cath- 
erine,  who  married  Moses  Culver  and  died 
in  Nebraska;  Maria,  wife  of  Isaac  Appleford, 
of  Di.xon,  Illinois;  and  Johnson. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  much  the 
usual  manner  of  a  farmer  of  his  day,  and 
his  early  education,  acquired  in  the  com- 
mon schools  near  his  boyhood  home,  was 
supplemented  by  a  year's  course  in  Mt. 
Morris  College,  then  known  as  the  Rock 
River  Seminary.  On  the  4th  of  September, 
1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company 
D,  Ninety-second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  and  with  which  he  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Tryune,  Ten- 
nessee. In  August,  1S63,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  mounted  infantry,  and  later 
took  part  in  the  engagements  at  Hoover's 
Gap,  Shelbyville  and  a  series  of  skirmishes. 


With  his  regiment  he  was  the  first  at  Look- 
out Mountain  and  Chattanooga,  and  be- 
sides taking  an  active  part  in  the  battles 
there,  he  also  bore  his  part  in  the  en- 
gagements at  Chickamauga  and  Ringgold, 
Georgia,  and  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  where 
the  regiment  was  almost  constantly  under 
fire.  During  this  time  he  was  changed 
from  Wilder's  brigade  to  Kilkpatrick's  cav- 
alry division,  with  which  he  remained  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  with  Sher- 
man on  his  memorable  march  to  the  sea, 
and  later  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Ben- 
tonville,  Waynesborough,  Georgia,  and 
Aiken,  South  Carolina.  The  regiment  was 
then  left  in  the  south  and  was  finally  mus- 
tered out  at  Concord,  North  Carolina,  after 
which  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  was 
discharged  in  July,  1865.  On  his  return 
home  he  resumed  his  farming  operations 
and  continued  to  aid  in  the  work  on  the  old 
homestead  until  1875,  when  he  took  com- 
plete charge  of  the  same.  He  is  a  thor- 
ough and  systematic  farmer  and  has  met 
with  excellent  success  in  his  life-work.  Be- 
sides the  home  farm,  comprising  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-three  acres,  he  also  owns  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  three 
miles  south  of  the  former.  For  over  twenty 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  feeding  and 
dealing  in  stock  and  annually'  ships  from 
three  to  five  car  loads  of  cattle  and  one  or 
two  car  loads  of  hogs.  He  has  also  found 
this  business  quite  profitable,  and  is  to-day 
one  of  the  most  substantial  and  reliable 
citizens  of  his  community. 

In  Polo,  April  8,  1S79,  Mr.  Lawrence 
married  Miss  Julia  E.  Read,  a  native  of 
Ogle  county  and  a  daughter  of  George  D. 
Read,  an  early  settler  of  Ogle  county  from 
New  York,  who  came  here  when  a  young 
man,  in  1836,  and  served  as  postmaster  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


lot 


Buffalo  for  a  number  of  years.  Here  he 
wedded  Mary  Wamsley,  also  a  native  of 
New  York.  His  death  occurred  in  188:2, 
and  she  passed  away  in  1884.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lawrence  have  one  daughter,  Lillis, 
now  a  student  in  the  home  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Lawrence  has  been  a 
lifelong  Republican,  casting  his  first  presi- 
dential ballot  for  General  U.  S.  Grant,  in 
1868,  and  supporting  every  Republican  can- 
didate for  that  office  since  then.  He  has 
taken  quite  an  active  and  influential  part  in 
local  politics,  and  has  served  five  or  si.\' 
years  as  assessor  of  Eagle  Point  township, 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  a  number  of 
county  and  congressional  conventions  of  his 
part}-.  In  1S93  he  was  elected  supervisor, 
and  so  acceptably  did  he  fill  that  office  that 
he  has  been  continually  reelected,  being  the 
present  incumbent.  In  1S98  he  was  elect- 
ed chairman  of  the  county  board  and  is  now 
filling  that  position  with  credit  to  himself 
and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  constitu- 
ents. In  whatever  position  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  he  has  discharged  the 
duties  in  a  most  efficient  and  creditable 
manner.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  his  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Presb}'- 
terian  church  of  Polo.  They  stand  high  in 
the  communit}'  where  they  have  so  long 
made  their  home  and  those  who  know  them 
best  are  numbered  among  their  warmest 
friends. 


JOHN  S.  ROSIER  is  a  well-known  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  Byron,  of  whose 
skill  many  notable  examples  are  to  be  seen 
in  Ogle  county.  Thoroughly  reliable  in  all 
things,  the  quality  of  his  work  is  a  convinc- 
ing test  of  his  own  personal  worth  and  the 
11 


same  admirable  trait  is  shown  in  his  consci- 
entious discharge  of  the  duties  of  different 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility  to  which 
he  has  been  chosen. 

Mr.  Rosier  was  born  in  Perry  county, 
Pennsylvania,  June  29,  1830.  His  ances- 
tors originally  made  their  home  in  Wurtem- 
burg,  Germany,  but  during  the  seventeenth 
century  they  were  driven  out  by  the  French 
and  sought  a  home  on  this  side  of  the  Atlan- 
tic, becoming  pioneers  of  Berks  county, 
Pennsylvania.  The  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  Jonathan  Rosier,  removed  from 
that  count}'  to  what  is  now  Perry  county 
and  there  reared  his  family,  including  George 
Rosier,  our  subject's  grandfather,  who  was 
born  in  Berks  county.  The  father,  John 
Rosier,  spent  his  entire  life  in  Perry  county, 
was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  a  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  his  community.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  Rice,  a  native  of  Juniata  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Margaret  (Thomas)  Rice.  Her  father  was 
one  of  a  family  of  twenty-one  children, 
twelve  sons  and  nine  daughters,  whose  par- 
ents, Zachariah  Rice  and  wife,  lived  to  ad- 
vanced ages.  The  Rice  family  is  also  of 
German  descent  and  was  founded  near 
Bradywine,  Pennsyhania,  during  the  seven- 
teenth century. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  John  S. 
Rosier  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth,  attend- 
ing the  common  schools  to  a  limited  e.xtent, 
but  he  is  mostly  self-educated  since  reach- 
ing man's  estate.  There  he  also  learned 
the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade,  which  he 
followed  in  Pittsburg  in  1851.  Coming  to 
Illinois  in  1852,  he  worked  at  his  trade  in 
Rockford  for  one  year,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1853  came  to  Byron,  where  he  has  since 
carried  on  operations  as  a  contractor  and 
builder  with  marked  success. 


102 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  January,  1854,  Mr.  Kosier  was  united 
in  marriage  with   Miss   Rebecca  N.  Bull,  a 
daughter  of  John  Bull,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  county,  and  they  began  their  domes- 
tic life  in  the    village   of   Byron,  where  he 
purchased  an   unfinished  residence  the  fol- 
lowing year.    That  place  continued  to  be  his 
home  until  1890,  when  it,  with  its  entire  con- 
tents, was  destroyed  by  fire.     Subsequently 
he  erected  his  present  residence,  which  is 
heated  by  a  furnace   and   supplied   with  all 
modern  conveniences,  being  one  of  the  best 
in  the  village.     He  is  now  one  of  the  oldest 
contractors  in   the  state,  having  carried  on 
operations    in    Ogle    county    for    forty-five 
years  and  on   all   sides  are  seen  many  evi- 
dences of  his  skill  and  handiwork.      He  has 
not  only  erected    most    of   the  buildings  in 
Byron,  but  has  also  built  many  houses   and 
barns  throughout  the   surrounding  country. 
Mr.  Kosier's  first  wife  died   in  October, 
1858,  leaving  two   children:     Frances   M., 
now  deceased,    was   a  well-educated   lady, 
who  was  one  of  the  successful  and    popular 
teachers  of  Ogle  county;  and   Charles  B.,  a 
carpenter  and  joiner,  is  married  and  resides 
in  Byron.      Mr.  Kosier  was   again   married, 
December  27,   1859,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  Titus,  of  Rockford,who 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  but  when  a  child 
went  to  Michigan  and  later  came  to  Illinois. 
Her  father,  Jarvis  Titus,  was   an   early  set- 
tler of  Winnebago  county,  this  state,  where 
Mrs.  Kosier  was  principally  reared  and  edu- 
cated.     By  the  second  marriage  there  are 
four  children:      Lucy  Adella,  wife  of  C.  C. 
Kennedy,     of     Hinckley,    Illinois;   Rebecca 
E.,  wife  of   Captain    H.    C.    Newcomer,  of 
the  engineering  corps  of  the  United  States 
army,    who   is    now    located   at    Memphis, 
Tennessee,  and  has  charge  of  the  levees  on 
the  Mississippi   and   Arkansas   rivers;   Belle 


L. ,  a  well-eduCated  young  lady  now  en- 
gaged in  teaching;  and  Albert,  who  is  a 
first-class  carpenter  and  is  now  with  his 
father. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Kosier 
was  first  an  old-line  Whig,  but  in  1856 
joined  the  Republican  party,  and  has  since 
been  one  of  its  stanch  supporters.  He  takes 
an  active  part  in  local  politics  and  cam- 
paign work,  and  as  alternate  delegate  to 
the  national  convention  of  1880,  he  assisted 
in  the  nomination  of  James  A.  Garfield  for 
the  presidency.  For  nearly  forty  years  he 
has  served  continuously  as  a  delegate  to  the 
county  and  congressional  conventions  of  his 
party  and  has  done  some  very  effective 
work  in  promoting  its  interests.  He. has 
never  sought  office,  but  has  served  as  village 
trustee,  commissioner  of  highways  and 
member  of  the  school  board,  in  a  most 
capable  and  satisfactory  manner.  In  1858 
he  became  identified  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  to-day  is  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent members  of  Byron  Lodge,  No.  274, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  has  been  master 
twenty-two  years  and  uninterruptedly  for 
eighteen  years,  while  for  the  same  length 
of  time  he  has  represented  the  lodge  in  the 
Grand  Lodge.  He  also  belongs  to  Winne- 
bago Chapter,  No.  24,  R.  A.  M.,  at  Rock- 
ford.  For  forty-five  years  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Ogle  county,  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  its  growth  and  development,  and 
is  to-day  an  honored  member  of  the  Old 
Settler  Association,  serving  as  its  president. 
He  has  attended  its  meetings  and  taken 
part  in  its  proceedings  for  many  years,  and 
in  1897  made  a  speech  in  reply  to  the  ad- 
dress of  welcome.  He  is  one  of  the  best 
known  men  in  the  county,  and  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  none  are  held  in  higher  regard  or 
have  more  friends  than  John  S.  Kosier. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


103 


ADAM  BUTTELL,  the  founder  of  the 
Buttell  Piano  Manufacturing  Company, 
Oregon,  Illinois,  was  born  in  New  York 
city,  April  21,  1855,  and  is  the  son  of 
Philip  and  Margaret  (Lieb)  Butteli,  the 
former  a  native  of  Alsace,  France,  but  who 
in  early  life  removed  to  Bavaria,  and  later 
to  the  United  States,  locating  in  New  York 
city.  He  was  a  cabinet  and  piano  maker 
by  trade,  and  was  an  expert  in  that  line. 
His  death  occurred  in  New  York  city  some 
years  ago.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican, 
and  religiously  a  Catholic.  His  wife  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Adam,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  George, 
residing  in  New  York  city,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  trade;  John,  also  of 
New  York,  engaged  in  general  merchandis- 
ing; and  Margaret,  living  in  New  York. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  in 
New  York  city,  where  his  education  was 
obtained.  He  began  when  of  sufficient  age 
to  learn  the  trade  of  piano  making,  work- 
ing with  his  father,  who,  as  already  stated, 
was  an  expert  in  that  line,  understanding 
the  manufacture  of  pianos  in  all  its  branches. 
He  there  perfected  his  knowledge  of  the 
trade,  and  later  was  employed  in  the  best 
establishments  of  the  east.  In  April,  1889, 
he  left  for  the  west,  locating  at  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  where  he  started  a  factory  for  him- 
self, under  the  name  of  Adam  Buttell  Piano 
Company,  which  was  later  changed  to 
Adam  Buttell  &  Sons.  The  excellence  of 
this- piano,  and  the  purity  of  its  tone,  soon 
commanded  attention,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  the  Buttell  piano  was  placed  in  the 
best  homes  in  Des  Moines,  and  was  the  de- 
light of  the  lovers  of  good  music.  He  was 
able  to  compete  with  the  oldest  piano 
factories  in  the  country  in  placing  his  instru- 


ments. In  1895,  he  removed  his  factory  to 
Oregon,  under  the  auspices  of  the  National 
Piano  Company,  of  which  company  he  took 
the  superintendency.  This  move  was  made 
to  get  a  good  water  power  and  to  be  near 
the  great  centers  of  trade.  This  arrange- 
ment lasted  until  June  i,  1897,  when 
he  resigned  his  position  with  the  National 
Piano  Company,  and  re-established  the 
Adam  Buttell  &  Sons  Piano  Company. 
The  latter  company  has  been  increasing  its 
trade,  and  has  met  with  flattering  success  in 
the  sale  of  its  pianos.  As  in  Des  Moines, 
they  are  able  to  compete  with  the  oldest 
piano  makers,  and  have  a  bright  future  be- 
fore them.  As  with  all  new  work,  it  takes 
time  for  the  people  to  learn  of  its  merits, 
but  the  Buttell  piano  has  met  with  success 
far  beyond  the  company's  fondest  hopes, 
which  demonstrates  beyond  a  doubt  the  ex- 
cellence of  this  instrument,  its  rich,  pure 
tone,  its  durability,  and  also  that  people 
appreciate  a  perfect  piano.  They  have  been 
placed  in  Chicago,  throughout  the  state  of 
Iowa,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Nebraska,  Wis- 
consin, Missouri,  and  other  states. 

The  Buttell  piano  is  an  upright,  embrac- 
ing all  the  modern  improvements,  and  is  an 
artistic  and  beautiful  piece  of  workmanship. 
From  the  special  and  superior  construction 
of  its  sounding  board,  the  tone  enhances 
with  age.  The  evenness  of  the  scale  holds 
it  longer  in  tune  than  other  pianos.  All 
the  material  in  these  pianos  is  of  the  high- 
est grade  and  selected  with  great  care,  al- 
ways with  the  aim  of  producing  the  best 
and  most  harmonious  effects  in  tone.  An- 
other feature  of  this  piano  is  that  Mr.  But- 
tell is  ever  present,  and  supervises  in  the 
minutest  detail  the  putting  together  of  every 
part  of  his  instruments.  This  feature,  with 
his   long  experience,  is  of   the  highest   im-j 


I04 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


portance.  Mr.  Buttell  sells  direct  to  the 
people  in  this  section  of  the  country,  and 
his  son  John  looks  after  its  sale  in  Des 
Moines,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Buttell  was  married  in  New  York 
city,  August  14,  1876,  to  Miss  Anna  Marie 
Geis,  daughter  of  Jacob  Geis.  She  is  a 
native  of  Germany,  born  at  Budeskeim  on 
the  Rhine.  Her  parents,  who  are  both  de- 
ceased, came  to  the  United  States  in  1872, 
locating  in  New  York,  where  they  both  died. 
By  this  union  there  were  six  children — John 
Jacob,  George  Joseph,  Frank  Adam,  Cath- 
erine, Richard  Arthur,  and  Harold  Stanton. 
Of  these,  Catherine  died  in  childhood,  while 
the  two  oldest  are  in  business  with  their 
father.  In  politics  Mr.  Buttell  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
Oregon  Lodge,  No.  420,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  of  Des  Moines  Lodge,  No.  18,  A.  O. 
U.  W.,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

It  is  very  fortunate  for  the  city  of  Ore- 
gon that  the  Buttell  Piano  Company  has 
been  located  there.  In  addition  to  its  just- 
ly acquired  fame  of  being  the  most  beauti- 
ful located  town  on  the  far-famed  Rock 
river,  it  will  have  the  distinction  of  being  the 
home  of  one  of  the  best  piano  manufactor- 
ies in  this  country. 


CHARLES  P.  CHEESEM.-\N,  a  leading 
and  representative  farmer  of  Eagle 
Point  township,  residing  on  section  34,  was 
born  near  Toronto,  Canada,  July  17,  1837. 
His  father,  Alfred  Cheeseman,  was  a  native 
of  England,  born  near  London,  in  Kent 
county.  May  8,  18 12,  and  there  grew  to 
manhood,  learning  the  shoemaker's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  some  \ears.  In 
early  manhood  he  married  Miss  Susan  Law- 
rence,also  a  native  of  England  and  a  daugh- 


ter of  John  Lawrence.  In  iS36they  emi- 
grated to  Canada  and  took  up  their  resi- 
dence near  Toronto,  but  three  years  later 
came  to  Ogle  count}',  Illinois.  At  Buffalo 
Grove,  Mr.  Cheeseman  took  up  a  claim, 
erected  thereon  a  log  house  and  began  to 
break,  fence  and  improve  his  little  farm, 
but  in  the  spring  of  1842  he  sold  the  place 
and  removed  to  Chambers  Grove,  Carroll 
county,  where  he  purchased  Michael  .dyers' 
claim  to  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  .A 
few  acres  had  been  broken  and  a  log  house 
built,  in  which  the  family  lived  while  the  fa- 
ther opened  up  his  farm.  In  1S57  he 
built  a  comfortable  brick  residence,  a  good 
barn,  set  out  a  fine  orchard  and  made  a 
fairly  well  improved  farm  of  his  place. 
There  he  spent  his  remaining  years,  dying 
December  26,  1894.  His  first  wife,  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  passed  away  Febru- 
ary 2,  1S54,  and  he  subsequently  married 
Miss  Frances  P.  l>uck,  who  died'  seven 
weeks  previous  to  her  husband's  death. 

Our  subject  is  the  oldest  of  the  children 
born  of  the  tirst  union;  Robert  D.  is  a 
farmer  residing  near  Shannon,  Illinois;  Eliz- 
abeth A.  is  the  wife  of  Christopher  L. 
Shirk,  of  Richland  Cit}-,  Richland  county, 
\\'isconsin;  Mrs.  Mary  Saterly  is  a  widow 
residing  near  Shannon,  Illinois;  Rachel  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Gross,  of  Sumnerville, 
Tennessee;  Nancy  Jane  is  the  wife  of  ^^'ill- 
iam  J.  Griswold,  of  Milledgeville,  Illinois; 
Rhoda  died  in  infancy;  lantha,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Jabez  Todd,  of  Milledge- 
ville; Emma  married  Dr.  Robert  McPherso, 
of  Carroll  county,  and  died  in  California. 
There  were  four  children  by  the  second 
marriage,  namely:  George  W.,  a  resident 
of  Daggett,  Illinuis;  fosephine,  of  Chicago; 
Samuel  B. ,  (jf  South  Dakota;  and  Lafajette, 
of  Chicago. 


C.   p.   CHEESEMAN. 


THl-:    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


107 


On  the  home  farm  in  Carroll  county 
Charles  P.  Cheeseman  passed  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  attending  the  district  schools  a 
few  months  during  the  winter,  and  aiding 
in  the  farm  work  during  the  remainder  of 
the  year.  He  remained  with  his  father  un- 
til reaching  man's  estate  and  on  leaving 
home  went  to  Nodaway  county,  Missouri, 
where  he  worked  for  one  year  on  a  farm 
four  miles  south  of  Maryville.  The  follow- 
ing year  was  passed  in  Doniphan  county, 
Kansas,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
staging.  In  the  spring  of  i860  he  went  to 
Denver  and  from  there  to  the  Rocky  mount- 
ains, and  engaged  in  freighting  across  the 
plains  for  a  year. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1S61,  Mr. 
Cheeseman  manifested  his  patriotism  and 
love  of  country  by  enlisting  in  Company  H, 
Second  Kansas  Cavalry,  under  Captain  Gun- 
ther  and  Colonel  W.  F.  Cloud,  the  regiment 
being  assigned  to  the  Seventh  Army  Corps. 
He  participated  in  numerous  skirmishes,  in- 
cluding those  at  Lone  Jack,  Missouri;  Cane 
Hill,  Arkansas;  Prairie  Grove  and  Coon 
Creek,  Missouri.  He  had  some  ribs  broken 
and  sustained  a  rupture  by  being  thrown 
from  his  horse  and  for  a  short  time  was  con- 
fined in  the  hospital  at  Fort  Scott.  Later 
he  was  on  duty  with  a  scouting  detachment 
made  up  of  soldiers  from  the  hospital  and 
thus  spent  four  months  in  Kansas  and  Mis- 
souri. After  rejoining  his  regiment  at 
Springfield,  Missouri,  he  participated  in  the 
capture  of  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas,  and  on  a 
scouting  expedition  took  Dardanelles.  He 
took  part  in  the  Shreveport  campaign  un- 
der Steele,  and  from  there  went  to  Hot 
Springs,  participating  in  number  of  battles 
and  skirmishes,  including  the  battle  of  Prai- 
rie Deann,  the  taking  of  Fort  Camden  and 
the   engagement    of    Poison    Springs,  where 


fourteen  hundred  Union  men  were  engaged 
in  battle  with  seven  thousand  rebels,  and 
where  the  former  lost  their  artillery  and  the 
latter  lost  about  twenty-two  hundred  men 
in  killed  and  wounded.  After  the  battle  of 
Jenks  Ferry,  Mr.  Cheeseman  was  transferred 
to  the  ambulance  corps  and  while  taking 
wounded  to  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas,  was  cap- 
tured, but  was  soon  released.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded with  his  charges  to  Little  Rock, 
where  he  remained  for  six  months,  and  later 
rejoined  the  command  at  Fort  Sirnth,  re- 
maining there  until  mustered  out  on  the  e.x- 
piration  of  his  term  of  service,  March  7, 
1S65,  at  Little  Rock. 

Mr.  Cheeseman  then  returned  to  his 
home  in  Elwood,  Kansas,  but  a  few  weeks 
later  came  to  the  old  homestead  at  Cham- 
bers Grove,  Carroll  county,  Illinois,  and  for 
two  years  assisted  his  father  in  carrying  on 
the  farm.  In  that  count}'  he  was  married, 
December  25,  1S67,  to  Miss  Hannah  M. 
Hyzer,  a  native  of  Delaware  county.  New 
York,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Eliza- 
beth (Hoyt)  Hyzer,  who  settled  in  Carroll 
count}-,  Illinois,  in  1855,  and  there  spent 
their  remaining  years.  The  father  died  in 
1891,  the  mother  a  few  }ears  previous. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cheese- 
man are  as  follows:  Tina,  who  married 
David  Buchanan,  and  died  leaving  one  son, 
Robert  Grant,  who  is  now  living  with  our 
subject;  Harvey  J.,  who  carries  on  the  home 
farm;  Lenny,  who  died  in  infancy;  Susie, 
wife  of  \'ernon  Finkle,  of  Sanfordville,  Illi- 
nois; James,  Albert  and  May,  all    at   home. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Cheeseman  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  Lee  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  operated  rented  land  for  three 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Story  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits   for    two    years.      On  returning  to 


io8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


this  state  he  purchased  the  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Eagle  Point  township,  Ogle  coun- 
ty, where  he  still  resides,  and  to  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation  he  has  since  de- 
voted his  energies  with  marked  success.  He 
is  a  natural  mechanic,  very  handy  with 
tools,  and  has  conducted  a  wagon  and  re- 
pair shop  since  locating  here.  He  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
in  1864,  and  has  since  been  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party  and  its  prin- 
ciples. Socially  he  is  a  charter  member  of 
George  Crider  Post,  No.  575,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Milledgeville,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly 
respected  and  honored  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lives. 


REUBEN  S.  MARSHALL.— If  one  de- 
sires to  gain  a  vivid  realization  of  the 
rapid  advance  in  civilization  which  the  last 
few  decades  have  brought  about,  he  can  lis- 
ten to  the  stories  of  the  men  who  are  still 
living  among  us,  and  by  no  means  overbur- 
dened with  years,  can  tell  of  their  boy- 
hood. The  log  cabin  home,  the  still  ruder 
school-house  with  its  rough  seats  made  of 
slabs,  its  limited  range  of  studies  and  its 
brief  terms,  arranged  on  the  subscription 
plan,  the  routine  of  work  at  home,  unre- 
lieved by  any  of  the  modern  devices  by 
which  machinery  is  made  to  do  in  a  short 
time  what  formerly  occupied  the  entire 
year — these  and  many  si  miliar  descriptions 
will  bring  up  in  sharp  contrast  the  advan- 
tages of  to-day.  The  subject  of  thissketch, 
a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Mt.  Morris 
township,  residing  on  section  11,  has  many 
interesting  reminiscences  of  this  sort. 

Reuben  S.  Marshall  was  born  in  Clinton 
county,  New  York,  October  4,  1827,  and  is 
the  son  of  Caleb  and  Louisa  (Sanburn)  Mar- 


shall, both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Stowe, 
Vermont,  the  former  born  November  5, 
1778,  and  the  latter  July  15,  1798.  Her 
father  later  served  in  the  war  of  18 12. 
Soon  after  their  marriage  Caleb  Marshall 
and  wife  removed  to  Clinton  county,  New 
York,  where  all  their  children  were  born. 
They  were  numbered  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  that  county,  which  was  their  home 
for  many  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
si.\  children,  as  follows:  Caleb  S.,  born 
January  21,  1819;  Almira  E.,  August  21, 
1820;  Lucien,  May  14,  1822;  Phila,  July  21, 
iS24;Mary  K.,  September  23,  iS25;and 
Reuben  S.,  our  subject. 

Caleb  Marshall  served  in  the  same  regi- 
ment, under  Colonel  Baker,  in  which  was 
his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Sanburn.  By  trade 
he  was  a  dyer  and  puller,  and  in  his  day  the 
cloth  was  all  dyed  and  pulled  by  hand.  He 
also  learned  the  trade  of  a  cooper,  which  he 
followed  to  some  e.Ntent  while  yet  residing 
in  the  east,  but  never  after  coming  west. 

In  November,  1834,  the  Marshall  family 
started  for  Illinois,  but  on  arriving  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  they  heard  alarming  reports 
about  the  Indians  and  concluded  to  stop  for 
a  time  until  there  should  be  no  further 
trouble  from  hostile  Indians.  They  re- 
mained in  Ohio  about  two  years.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1836,  Caleb  Marshall  left  his  family  in 
Cleveland  and  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  made  claim  to  a  half  section  of 
land  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  the  present 
home  farm  of  our  subject.  Lake  naviga- 
tion having  suspended  when  he  \Vas  ready 
to  return  to  Cleveland,  he  walked  the  entire 
distance  back  to  that  city. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1837,  the  fam- 
ily left  Cleveland  for  their  new  home,  com- 
ing by  team  arrising  at  Oregon,  on  the  19th 
of    March,   being  about  four  weeks  on  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


109 


road.  After  remaining  in  Oregon  about 
three  weeks,  they  crossed  the  river,  pro- 
ceeding to  their  claim,  where  a  small  log 
house,  12  X  14,  was  erected,  into  which  the 
family  moved.  An  addition  was  subsequent- 
ly built  of  about  twelve  feet,  and  that 
cabin  was  the  family  home  for  some  years. 
For  a  time  there  was  nothing  but  a  dirt 
floor,  but  finally  a  floor  of  punchsons  was 
laid.  The  roof  was  made  of  "shakes," 
held  down  by  weight  poles.  It  was  a  rude 
structure,  but  it  was  the  abode  of  hospitaity. 
As  soon  as  the  frost  was  out  of  the  ground 
some  five  acres  were  broken  and  their  first 
crop  planted,  consisting  of  two  acres  of 
wheat,  one  acre  of  oats,  an  acre  and  a  half 
of  sod  corn,  and  a  half  acre  of  potatoes. 

On  arriving  in  Ogle  county,  Caleb  Mar- 
shall found  himself  the  possessor  of  sixteen 
dollars  and  a  half,  and  a  two-horse  team; 
with  that  capital  he  had  to  provide  for  his 
family  until  he  could  so  improve  his  farm 
as  to  make  it  productive.  This  was  no 
easy  thing  to  do  in  a  new  country  where 
there  was  no  markets  nearer  than  Chicago, 
save  Galena,  which  in  many  respects  was 
not  as  good.  Often  has  our  subject  gone 
to  the  former  place  with  a  load  of  wheat 
and  without  a  cent  to  defray  expenses.  In 
those  trips  he  was  usually  commissioned  to 
buy  something  for  neighbors.  In  Chicago 
payment  was  made  in  paper  currency,  but 
in  Galena  only  gold  and  silver  were  used. 
It  was  difficult  to  carry  out  a  neighbor's 
commission  at  the  latter  place  when  no  one 
in  this  vicinity  had  gold  or  silver  to  pay. 
Taxes,  however,  had  to  be  paid  in  gold  or 
silver  and  it  was  fortunate  that  such  a  town 
as  Galena  was  convenient.  When  one  did 
not  have  produce  to  sell  at  that  point,  they 
would  go  to  the  lead  mines  at  that  place 
and  work  long  enough  to  get  sufficient  gold 


or  silver  for  taxes.  The  first  trip  our  sub- 
ject made  to  Chicago  with  wheat  was  when 
he  was  fifteen  years  old,  and  it  required 
seven  days  in  going  and  coming  with  a  team 
of  horses. 

Caleb  Marshall  was  twice  married.  By 
his  first  union  there  was  one  daughter  that 
grew  to  womanhood,  married  and  went  still 
farther  west.  After  a  wedded  life  of  about 
two  years,  his  first  wife  died,  and  he  subse- 
quently married  Louisa  Sanburn,  as  already 
stated.  His  death  occurred  May  17,  i860, 
his  wife  having  passed  away  August  12,  1S58. 
In  politics  he  was  an  old-line  Whig  until 
the  birth  of  the  Republican  party,  when  he 
voted  for  its  first  presidential  candidate, 
John  C.  Fremont.  Fraternally  he  was  a 
Mason  of  high  standing  in  the  east.  Relig- 
iously he  was  a  Congregationalist,  as  was 
also  his  wife.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  char- 
acter, a  kind  husband  and  father,  and  a 
good   neighbor. 

Reuben  S.  Marshall  was  in  his  tenth  year 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ogle 
county.  His  educational  advantages  were 
very  limited  and  confined  strictly  to  the 
common  school,  attending  a  few  daj's  each 
winter  term  until  he  was  seventeen  years 
old.  The  longest  that  time  he  continuously 
attended  was  for  twenty-one  days.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  pupils  to  attend  a  school 
taught  by  John  A.  Wagner,  there  being  but 
nine  enrolled  during  the  term.  The  school 
house  was  the  typical  one  of  logs,  with  pun- 
cheon floor  and  slab  seats.  On  leaving 
school  he  settled  down  to  a  life  of  hard 
work,  and  in  the  sixty-two  years  that  he  has 
resided  in  Ogle  county,  he  has  certainly 
done  his  full  share  of  the  work  necessar\-  to 
its  development. 

Mr.  Marshall  was  married  January  13, 
1850,  to   Miss    Matilda    Steffa,  a    nati\'e  of 


no 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Washington  county,  Maryland,  born  July 
29,  183  I,  and  daughter  of  William  and  Eliz- 
abeth Steffa,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
the  same  county  and  state,  and  who  came 
to  Ogle  county  in  1S44.  By  this  union 
twelve  children  were  born.  William  C. , 
born  March  6,  1853,  married  Mary  Rowe, 
and  they  have  two  children.  He  is  living 
in  the  town  of  Mount  Morris.  Mary  E., 
born  May  25,  1854,  died  September  19,  of 
the  same  year.  Emma  May,  born  May  25, 
1 85  5,  married  Dr.  H.  C.  Clements,  and 
they  reside  in  Chicago.  They  have  one 
child.  IraW.,  born  August  24,  1857,  mar- 
ried Delia  Smith,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren. They  are  living  in  Mount  Morris 
township.  Charles  E.,  born  January  30, 
1S59,  died  September  2,  1859.  AlbertusS., 
born  July  27,  1S61,  married  Martha  Price, 
and  they  reside  in  Oregon,  where  he  is  in 
the  hotel  business,  as  proprietor  of  the  Sin- 
issippi  House.  Francis  E.,  born  June  12, 
1863,  married  Anna  Smith,  and  they  reside 
in  Mount  Morris  township.  Ida  E.,  born 
February  3,  1866,  is  living  at  Oregon.  John 
C,  born  September  10,  1867,  married  Grace 
Koontz,  and  with  their  two  children  they 
are  living  in  Mount  Morris  township.  Grace 
A.,  born  April  24,  1S69,  married  John  M. 
Rinehart,  and  they  have  one  child.  They 
are  living  in  Iowa  Falls,  Iowa.  Viola, 
born  December  11,  1S70,  married  David 
Bock,  and  they  have  three  children.  They 
make  their  home  with  our  subject.  Oliver 
E.,  born  March  21,  1873,  is  living  in  Iowa 
Falls,  Iowa,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  drug 
business.  Mrs.  Marshall  died  Februar)-  24, 
1875.  She  was  a  devoted  wife  and  mother, 
and  her  place  in  the  home  circle  left  a  void 
that  could   not  be  filled. 

Mr.  Marshall  has  in  his  possession  some 
rare  old  papers  that    he   prizes   very  highl}'. 


among  them  the  Ulster  County  Gazette, 
under  date  January  4,  1800,  containing  the 
notice  of  the  death  of  George  Washington, 
which  occurred  on  the  14th  of  December, 
1799,  some  twenty  days  previously.  To 
realize  something  of  the  progress  made  in 
means  of  communication,  one  has  but  to 
think  of  the  death  of  the  most  noted  man 
in  the  country,  and  yet  it  required  nearly 
three  weeks  to  carry  the  news  a  few  hundred 
miles.  Now  the  death  of  a  man  in  any  part 
of  the  civilized  world  is  knosvn  everywhere 
within  a  few  minutes  after  the  occurrence. 
Another  one  of  the  papers  in  Mr.  Marshall's 
possession  is  the  New  England  Weekly 
Journal,  of  Monday,  April  3,  1728.  He  has 
also  the  New  York  Morning  Post,  of  Friday, 
November  7,  1783.  The  last  named  con- 
tains notices  of  several  slave  sales.  Think 
of  slave  sales  in  New  York! 

In  politics  Mr.  Marshall  is  a  Republican, 
with  which  party  he  has  acted  since  the 
"  Pathfinder,"  John  C.  Fremont,  was  nomi- 
nated for  the  presidency  in  i860.  He  has 
always  manifested  an  interest  in  politics  and 
local  affairs.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
school  director  for  thirty  years  and  that  of 
road  commissioner  for  thirty-three  years. 
He  served  two  terms  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors,  and  was  one  of  the 
building  committee  for  the  erection  of  the 
present  court  house  in  Oregon.  \\'hile  a 
member  of  the  board  he  served  as  chairman 
of  the  claim  connnittee  for  two  years,  and 
chairman  of  the  salary  committee  one  year. 
Fraternally  he  was  for  many  years  con- 
nected with  the  Odd  Fellows,  but  is  not 
at  present  in  fellowship,  his  age  and  the 
distance  from  the  lodge  preventing.  Re- 
ligiously he  is  identified  with  the  Lutherans, 
holding  membership  with  the  church  in  Mt. 
Morris. 


THK    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


1 1 


In  the  sixty-two  years  in  which  Mr.  Mar- 
shall has  lived  in  Ogle  county  what  wonder- 
ful changes  have  been  made!  Then  a  thinly 
settled  country,  with  neighbors  few  and  far 
between.  Now,  a  perfect  hive  of  industry, 
the  country  thickly  settled  with  a  prosper- 
ous people.  When  he  came  to  the  county 
there  were  but  three  log  cabins  in  Oregon 
and  but  three  in  the  vicinity,  and  not  one 
between  Oregon  and  Freeport,  and  only 
seven  in  the  latter  place.  He  was  here 
when  the  notorious  Driscolls  were  executed 
and  when  they  committed  their  worst  crimes. 
In  the  early  days  it  was  not  always  easy  to 
even  get  enough  to  eat.  He  remembers  that 
on  one  occasion  his  father  went  to  Ottawa  for 
provisions,  soon  after  their  arrival  here,  and 
while  he  was  gone  the  family  ate  up  every- 
thing but  some  dried  beans.  On  those  beans 
and  some  gophers  that  the  boys  killed  the 
family  lived  for  several  days. 

Notwithstanding  the  hardships  endured, 
it  was  not  always  dark  and  gloomy.  There 
was  a  bright  side  to  pioneer  life.  People 
were  as  hospitable  as  the  day  was  long. 
There  was  little  conventiality.  Boys  and 
girls  used  to  go  barefooted  until  they  were 
quite  large.  The  country  dance  was  a  source 
of  amusement.  The  boys  would  go  for  their 
girls  on  horseback,  and  taking  them  on  behind 
away  they  would  go,  and  "dance  till  broad 
daylight."  Spelling-schools  and  husking- 
bees  were  another  source  of  amusement  often 
indulged  in.  All  in  all  they  had  a  good  time, 
and  few  pioneers  would  be  willing  to  ex- 
change their  experience  for  those  of  a  later 
day.  Mr.  Marshall  has  no  cause  to  regret 
becoming  a  pioneer  of  Ogle  county.  He 
has  been  blessed  "  in  basket  and  store,"  and 
has  to-day  more  than  a  section  of  as  fine 
land  as  one  would  care  to  see,  and  "the 
wolf  has  alwaj's  been  kept  from   the  door." 

12 


TAMES  H.  DONALDSON,  an  active 
vJ  and  enterprising  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion I,  Buffalo  township,  about  three  miles 
from  Polo,  is  a  native  of  Ogle  county,  and 
was  born  in  Brookville  township,  November 
30,  1854.  His  father,  Walter  Donaldson, 
was  a  native  of  England,  born  on  the  line 
between  England  and  Scotland,  but  on  the 
English  side,  in  1819.  William  Donaldson, 
the  grandfather,  was  of  Scottish  birth,  as 
was  also  his  wife. 

In  1 82 1  William  Donaldson  came  with 
his  family  to  the  United  States,  landed  in 
Vermont  and  afterward  settled  in  New 
York.  Later  he  moved  to  Canada,  where 
he  lived  some  years,  and  in  1839  came  to 
Ogle  county  and  settled  in  Eagle  Point 
township,  being  among  the  first  settlers  of 
that  township.  Taking  up  a  claim  in  Buf- 
falo Grove,  he  opened  up  a  farm,  purchas- 
ing the  land  when  it  came  into  the  market. 
Walter  Donaldson  came  with  his  parents  to 
the  county  and  took  up  a  claim  in  Brook- 
ville township  and  at  once  began  its  im- 
provement. He  later  went  to  Canada,  and 
near  Toronto  married  Miss  Sarah  Sylvester, 
a  native  of  Canada,  but  of  Scotch  and  Irish 
parentage.  After  his  marriage  he  returned 
with  his  bride  to  his  farm  in  Ogle  county 
and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  be- 
coming one  of  the  enterprising  and  success- 
ful farmers,  and  a  highly  honored  citizen. 
He  served  his  township  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors,  and  in  other  official 
positions.  He  died  on  his  old  farm  Novem- 
ber 28,  1 888,  while  his  wife  passed  away 
about  six  years  previously.  They  were  the 
parents  of  three  children,  the  others  being 
William,  a  farmer  of  Lincoln  township,  and 
Ellen,  wife  of  Arthur  McMaster,  of  Fowler, 
Colorado. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 


tl2 


thp:  biographical  record. 


hood  on  the  old  home  farm  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
He  remained  with  his  father  till  his  death 
and  carried  on  the  old  place  for  several 
years  after.  He  was  married  in  Whiteside 
county,  Illinois,  January  15,  1889,  to  Miss 
Agnes  McNeil,  a  native  of  Whiteside  coun- 
ty, where  she  was  reared.  In  the  schools 
of  Sterling,  that  county,  she  finished  her 
education,  and  for  some  years  prior  to  her 
marriage  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  public 
schools.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Robert  Mc- 
Neil, a  native  of  Scotland  who  came  to  the 
United  States  when  a  young  man,  located 
in  Whiteside  county,  and  there  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Jean 
Lyle,  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  daugh- 
ter of  James  Lyle,  a  pioneer  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donaldson  three 
children  have  been  born — Robert  W.,  Har- 
old J.  and  Mildred. 

Mr.  Donaldson  continued  to  live  on  the 
family  homestead  until  1893,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Rock  Falls,  Whiteside  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  rented  a  place  for  a  few 
months  while  looking  for  a  new  farm.  In 
the  fall  of  1893  he  decided  on  his  present 
place  and  immediately  made  the  purchase. 
On  the  1st  of  March,  1894,  he  moved  to 
the  farm  and  has  no  cause  to  regret  his 
choice  of  location.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock  raising  and  is 
meeting  with  a  fair  degree  of  success. 

The  first  presidential  vote  cast  by  Mr. 
Donaldson  was  in  1876,  when  he  voted  for 
Samuel  J.  Tilden,  since  which  time  he  has 
voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  his  last  presi- 
dential vote  being  for  John  M.  Palmer,  in 
1896.  He  was  not  with  the  majority  of 
his  party  on  the  financial  question,  and  is 
yet  proud  to  be  classed  among  the  so-called 
"gold  Democrats"  of  his    party.      Relig- 


iously he  and  his  wife  are  identified  with 
the  Presbyterian  church  at  Polo.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  Mason  and  is  a  member  of  the 
lodge  at  Polo.  He  has  passed  through  all 
the  chairs,  and  was  worshipful  master  of 
the  lodge  in  1897  and  in  1898,  daring  which 
time  he  represented  the  lodge  in  the  grand 
lodge  of  the  state.  A  lifelong  resident  of 
the  county,  his  interests  are  here,  and  he  is 
always  willing  to  do  all  he  can  to  make  the 
county  occupy  an  exalted  rank  among  the 
counties  of  the  state. 


CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  T.  DODDS,  who 
is  now  living  retired  in  Byron,  is  one 
of  the  veterans  of  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  envia- 
ble reputation  through  the  sterling  quali- 
ties which  go  to  the  making  of  a  good  cit- 
izen. 

The  Captain  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
in  Nile  township,  Scioto  county,  August  7, 
1 83 1,  and  is  of  Irish  descent,  his  grand- 
father, James  Dodds,  being  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
on  the  Isle  of  Man  and  on  crossing  the  At- 
lantic to  America  became  a  resident  of 
Pennsylvania.  Major  John  B.  Dodds,  the 
Captain's  father,  was  born  in  the  Keystone 
state  in  1797  or  1798,  and  there  passed 
his  boyhood  and  youth,  acquiring  a  good 
practical  education  for  that  early  day.  He 
was  a  second  cousin  of  General  Scott,  and 
a  first  cousin  of  Governor  Samuel  Black, 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  his  day.  When  a  young  man 
Major  Dodds  went  to  Scioto  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  school  teaching  for 
several  years    with    marked    success.      He 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


113 


married  Ann  Tucker,  a  native  of  that  state 
and  a  daughter  of  John  Tucker,  and  they 
began  housekeeping  upon  a  farm  in  Scioto 
county.  He  became  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent and  influential  men  of  the  county,  was 
honored  with  a  number  of  official  positions, 
and  served  as  sheriff  for  one  or  more  terms. 
During  the  Mexican  war  he  was  commis- 
sioned major  and  detailed  as  recruiting  offi- 
cer. In  1855  he  determined  to  try  his 
fortune  farther  west  and  moved  to  Ellis- 
ville,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
spent  his  last  years  in  retirement,  dying 
there  in  1883.  His  first  wife,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  had  died  in  Ohio,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-one.  Later  he  was  again  married 
and  had  by  the  second  union  three  chil- 
dren. Harvey,  the  oldest  child  of  the  first 
marriage,  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years. 
David  T.  came  to  Illinois  in  1853,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing at  Ellisville,  but  finally  located  on  a 
farm  in  Fulton  county.  From  there  he 
went  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  and  was 
very  successful.  He  died  there  about  1892. 
Martha  married  Nelson  Moore  and  died  soon 
afterward.  Sarah  J.  married  Samuel  Ed- 
ward, a  farmer  in  Fulton  county  and  is 
now  deceased.  William  T. ,  our  subject,  is 
the  next  of  the  family.  J.  W.  served  as 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  B,  Forty- 
seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  during 
the  Civil  war,  and  is  now  treasurer  of  Ful- 
ton county,  making  his  home  in  Lewiston. 
Captain  Dodds  grew  to  manhood  in 
Scioto  county,  Ohio,  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  which  has  been 
greatly  supplemented  by  reading  and  study 
in  subsequent  years.  In  1853  he  went 
with  his  brother  David  to  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,    and  spent  nearly   a  year  with  his 


uncle,  James  Schearer.  Later  he  engaged 
in  farming  with  his  brother-in-law,  Samuel 
Edwards,  for  a  year  or  two,  and  in  1859 
crossed  the  plains  with  ox  teams  to  Pikes 
Peak,  being  about  eight  weeks  on  the  way. 
Prospects  not  being  good,  he  and  one  com- 
rade went  to  Kansas  and  in  Brown  county 
he  took  a  quarter  section  of  land.  Return- 
ing to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  he  built  a 
boat  and  run  a  ferry  across  Spoon  river  at 
Ellisville,  in  i860,  and  did  a  profitable 
business. 

Feeling  his  country  needed  his  services 
Captain  Dodds  laid  aside  all  personal  inter- 
ests in  1861,  and  joined  the  boys  in  blue  as 
a  private  of  Company  C,  Seventeenth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  but  was  soon  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  sergeant.  With  his 
regiment  he  went  to  Missouri,  and  after  his 
first  engagement  at  Fredericktown,  Missouri, 
was  commissioned  first  lieutenant.  Later  he 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Belmont, 
Fort  Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh  and 
Corinth.  At  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson 
he  received  a  gunshot  wound  and  at  Shiloh 
was  again  wounded.  He  commanded  his 
company  at  Shiloh  and  Corinth  and  was 
called  captain  though  never  commissioned 
such.  When  he  entered  the  service  he 
weighed  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  pounds, 
but  on  resigning,  in  1863,  his  weight  had 
been  reduced  to  one  hundred  ten  and  a  half. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1863,  in  Ogle 
county.  Captain  Dodds  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ellen  W.  Ercanbrack,  a  na- 
tive of  Little  Falls,  New  York,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  S.  Ercanbrack,  who  located 
herein  181  5.  The  children  born  of  this  union 
are  Albert  R. ;  Charles  A.,  a  traveling  sales- 
man, who  is  married  and  resides  in  Joliet, 
Illinois;  Jessie  B.,  wife  of  Fred  Nott,  a 
merchant   of  Byron,    Oglg   county;    Grace 


114 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Ellen,  wife  of  W.  E.  Cort,  a  successful  law- 
yer of  Lewiston,  Montana;  and  W'illiam  B., 
who  was  drowned  in  the  Rock  river  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years. 

After  his  marriage  Captain  Dodds  locat- 
ed at  Byron,  and  for  one  year  carried  the 
mail,  one  day  to  Oregon  and  the  next  to 
Rockford,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  sold 
his  route.  In  1865  he  removed  to  Peoria, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
six  or  seven  years,  and  from  there  went  to 
Canton,  Fulton  county,  where  he  was  in- 
terested in  the  grain  business  tor  two  years. 
On  selling  out  in  1873,  he  returned  to  By- 
ron and  assisted  his  father-in-law  on  the 
farm  for  a  year.  He  then  went  on  the  road 
as  salesman  for  a  Chicago  house,  and  during 
the  thirteen  years  he  traveled  was  with 
three  different  firms,  his  route  being  in  this 
state  the  entire  time.  He  had  a  large  trade 
and  built  up  a  good  business  for  each  house. 
He  was  very  successful  in  this  line.  On 
leaving  the  road,  he  bought  an  established 
hardware  business  at  Byron,  which  he  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  for  eleven  jears,  selling 
out  in  September,  1892.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  progressive  busi- 
ness men  of  the  county,  and  seemed  to 
prosper  in  all  his  undertakings  so  that  he  is 
now  quite  well-to-do,  while  he  lives  retired 
from  active  business. 

In  1852  the  Captain  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential ballot  for  General  Winfield  Scott, 
and  in  1 856  supported  John  C.  Fremont, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  an  uncompro- 
mising Republican,  but  he  has  never  cared 
for  official  honors,  preferring  to  give  his  un- 
divided attention  to  his  business  interests. 
He  has  always  been  a  strong  supporter  of 
temperance.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  Ma- 
son, belonging  to  the  blue  lodge  No.  i  5  of 
Peoria,  and  the  chapter  and  conimnndery  of 


Peoria,  and  is  a  thirty-third  degree  Mason, 
and  he  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post  of  Byron.  A  man  of 
strong  individuality  and  indubitable  probity, 
one  who  has  attained  to  a  due  measure  of 
success  in  the  affairs  of  life,  and  whose  in- 
fluence has  always  been  exerted  for  the 
good  of  the  community,  this  honored  veter- 
an assuredly  demands  representation  in  this 
volume. 


PETER  S.  MEYERS.— While  ■  ■  the  race 
is  not  always  to  the  swift  nor  the  bat- 
tle to  the  strong,"  the  invariable  law  of 
destiny  accords  to  tireless  energy,  industry 
and  ability  a  successful  career.  The  truth 
of  this  assertion  is  abundantly  verified  in  the 
life  of  Mr.  Meyers,  a  well-known  and  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Forreston  township,  re- 
siding on  section  28. 

He  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Dauphin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  January  7,  1831,  and 
is  of  French  descent,  his  great-grandfather 
having  come  from  France  and  settled  in  Berks 
county,  Pennsylvania.  The  grandfather, 
Jacob  Mej'ers,  was  a  native  of  that  county, 
and  the  father,  Peter  Meyers,  was  born  at 
the  same  place  September  11,  1805.  The 
family  was  established  in  Dauphin  county 
when  the  latter  was  a  lad  of  nine 
years,,  and  as  a  pioneer  of  that  region  Jacob 
Meyers  materiall)-  aided  in  its  development 
and  upbuilding.  There  his  son  Peter  grew 
to  manhood  and  married  Hannah  Thoff- 
stall,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
continued  to  carry  on  the  old  home  farm  for 
a  number  of  years,  but  in  1852,  with  his 
family,  he  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois. 
With  his  three  sons  and  one  son-in-law,  he 
purchased  eight  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
I'orreston   township,    adjoining    the  present 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD.  115 

village  of  that  name,  and  he,  himself,  locat-  pany  and  gives  a  cheerful  support  to  all  en- 

ed  on  the  farm  where   our  subject    now   re-  terprises    which   he    believes    calculated    to 

sides,  making  his    home   there    until    called  prove  of  public  benefit. 

from  this  life    in  1891,  at  the  age  of  eighty-  Mrs.  Meyers  died  in  1871,  leaving  three 

si.K   years,  eleven    months    and    twenty-two  children,  namely;      Millmon  Riley,  who  was 

days.      His  wife  preceded    him  a  number  of  an  engineer  on  the  Illinois  Central    railroad 

years,  dying  in  1870.      Our    subject    is    the  for    several    years;   Alfred    Ale.xander,  who 

youngest  of  their  four  children,    the    others  owns  and   operates  a   farm   of  one  hundred 

being     as     follows;       Eliza,     who    married  and  sixty  acres  near  Polo,  Ogle  county;  and 

Joseph    Fisher   and    died    in   Ogle    county;  Louisa  Jane, wife  of  Henry  Tice,  a  business 

Jacob  P.,  who   at   one    time  was  a  harness-  man  of  Polo.      In  Forreston  township,  Feb- 

maker  in  Mt.  Carroll,  Illinois,    and    later  at  ruary  8,   1872,  Mr.  Meyers  was   again   mar- 

at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  for  some  years,  but  is  ried,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Mc- 

now  living   retired  at  Waterloo,  that  state;  linda   Hoffa,    a    daughter    of    Jacob    Hoffa. 

and  John,  who  is  engaged   in  the  real  estate  She   was   born   in  Northumberland    county, 

business  at  Spokane  Falls,  Washington.  Pennsylvania,  but  was  reared  in  Ogle  coun- 

Peter  S.  Meyers    grew  to    manhood    in  ty.      Of    the    eight    children    born    of    this 

Pottsville,   Pennsylvania,  where    he  learned  union  seven  are  now  living,  namely;      Sarah 

the  cabinetmaker's  trade,  and  also  painting  Ann,    wife    of    Edward    E.     Haller,    whose 

and  fancy  graining,  at  which   he  worked  for  sketch    appears     elsewhere     in     this    work; 

a  number  of  years.    In  1852  he  accompanied  William   H.,  a   farmer  of  Forreston   town- 

the  family  on  their  removal  to  Ogle  county,  ship;   Hannah   H.,  wife    of    Frank   Diehl,  a 

and  in  addition   to  helping  his  father  on    the  farmer  of  the  same   township;   MelindaA., 

home    farm,  he     worked   at   cabinetmaking  at   home;   Daniel   P.,  a  student  in  the  For- 

for  neighboring  farmers  and  in  West  Grove.  reston   school;   Jacob    C,    at    home;   Edith 

In    October,    1857,    at    White   Oak    Grove,  E.,  who  died  at  the   age    of  six    years;   and 

Ogle    county,    he    was    united    in    marriage  Lucien    G. ,    who     is     attending    the    home 

with  Miss  Sarah   Adams,  who   was    born   in  school. 

Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  Mr.  Meyers  manifested  his  patriotism 
1830,  and  was  reared  there,  coming  to  Illi-  and  loyalty  to  country  during  the  Civil  war 
nois  when  a  young  lady,  and  they  began  by  enlisting  at  Dixon,  in  February,  1864,  in 
their  domestic  life  upon  his  farm  in  For-  Company  F,  Fifteenth  Illinois  \'olunteer  In- 
reston  township.  In  1853  and  1854  he  had  fantry,  and  entered  the  service  as  corporal, 
hauled  stone  and  erected  the  only  stone  With  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  the  reg- 
house  in  the  township.  This  neat  and  sub.  iment  participated  in  many  skirmishes,  and 
stantial  structure  is  still  standing,  making  a  later  joined  General  Sherman's  command  at 
pleasant  home  for  the  family.  Mr.  Meyers  Morehead  City,  and  with  him  marched  to 
now  gives  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the  sea.  They  took  part  in  the  grand  re- 
agricultural  pursuits  and  is  the  owner  of  two  view  at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia, 
fine  farms  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  then  went  to  Louisville,  Iventucky,  Leaven- 
Forreston  township.  He  is  a  charter  mem-  worth,  Kansas,  and  later  to  Smoky  Hill, 
ber  of  the  Forreston   Fire    Insurance   Com-  and  were  finally  discharged  at  Leavenworth 


ii6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


in  August,  1865.  Mr.  Meyers  first  united 
in  Oregon  Post,  but  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post  at  Forreston.  He  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  General  Win- 
field  Scott,  the  Whig  candidate,  but  since 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in 
1856,  he  has  fought  under  its  banner.  He 
has  been  honored  with  various  official  posi- 
tions, serving  as  highway  commissioner  over 
fifteen  years,  township  treasurer  twelve 
years,  and  school  director  twenty-two  years, 
being  president  of  the  board  most  of  the 
time.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  is  now  a  member  of  Mt.  Morris 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  At  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  he  joined  the  Reformed  church,  and  is 
now  a  member  of  the  church  of  that  denom- 
ination at  Forreston,  while  his  wife  holds 
membership  in  the  English  Lutheran 
church.  Upright  and  honorable  in  all  the 
relations  of  life,  he  has  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence of  all  who  know  him  and  this  brief 
sketch  of  his  life  will  be  read  with  interest 
by  his  many  friends  in  Ogle  county. 


GEORGE  WINDLE,  a  thoroughly  pro- 
gressive farmer  and  stock  raiser,  resid- 
ing on  section  15,  Mt.  Morris  township,  was 
born  in  Shenandoah  county,  Virginia,  No- 
vember 18,  i84i,and  is  the  son  of  William 
and  Mary  (Kretsinger)  Windle,  the  former 
a  native  of  the  same  county  and  state,  born 
in  1807,  and  the  latter  in  1806.  His  father 
was  the  son  of  George  Windle,  a  wagon 
manufacturer,  also  a  native  of  Shenandoah 
county,  Virginia.  His  father,  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  emigrated  to  this  country, 
hjcated  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  there 
spent   the    remainder    of   his    life.      George 


Windle  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years 
in  Shenandoah  county.  He  was  the  father 
of  nine  children — William,  Samuel,  Joseph, 
Amos,  Richard,  Branson,  George,  Eliza- 
beth and  Margaret. 

William  Windle  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county, 
and  after  leaving  school  took  his  regular 
place  upon  his  father's  farm  and  assisted  in 
its  cultivation.  Later  he  became  the  pos- 
sessor of  a  farm  known  as  the  "  Cedar  Creek 
farm,"  which  he  continued  to  cultivate  un- 
til his  removal  to  Ogle  county  in  1855.  On 
coming  to  this  county  he  rented  land  for 
about  nine  years,  and  in  1864  purchased 
two  hundred  acres  of  Mrs.  Hess,  in  Pine 
Creek  township,  and  there  resided  until  his 
death  in  1879.  To  William  and  Mary  Win- 
dle ten  children  were  born,  all  of  whom  are 
yet  living — John,  Cornelius,  Lydia,  Maggie, 
George,  William,  Joseph,  L.  W.,  Jackson 
and  Isaiah.  The  father  died  in  July,  1879, 
and  the  mother  in  1875.  They  were  both 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Jacksonian  Democrat. 

In  his  native  state  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  began  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  attending  during  the  winter  terms. 
He  accompanied  the  family  to  Ogle  county, 
arriving  here  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 
Here  he  also  attended  the  district  schools 
during  the  winter  and  in  the  summer  giving 
his  entire  time  to  his  father  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  farm.  After  attaining  his  ma- 
jority, he  entered  Rock  River  Seminary, 
which  he  attended  three  terms,  closing  his 
school  life  in  that  institution.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  years  he  commenced  to  learn 
the  carpenter's  trade  under  Isaiah  Speaker, 
and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two  years. 
He  then  worked  at  the  trade  as  a  journey- 
man until  1866.      In  1863,  in  company  with 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


117 


twelve  others,  he  started  from  Mt.  Morris 
for  Pike's  Peak,  Colorado,  going  overland 
with  a  team,  being  thirty  days  in  route 
Arriving  at  Denver,  he  commenced  work  at 
his  trade  and  continued  there  about  ten 
months.  He  then  concluded  to  return  home, 
and  started  back  with  a  mule  team.  Arriv- 
ing at  the  Missouri  river,  he  took  the  stage 
for  State  Center,  Iowa,  and  from  the  latter 
place  he  came  as  far  as  Polo  by  railroad, 
and  from  there  to  his  home  in  Mt.  Morris 
township  in  a  buggy.  During  the  winter  of 
1865-6  he  taught  school  in  Mt.  Morris  town- 
ship, and  in  the  fall  of  1866  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  Mrs.  Annie  Rine,  and  to  that 
farm  he  removed  and  there  lived  until  1872, 
when  he  went  into  the  mercantile  business 
at  Mt.  Morris,  in  which  he  continued  two 
years.  He  then  traded  his  stock  of  goods 
and  his  eighty-acre  farm  for  his  present 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  on 
which  he  has  since  continued   to  live. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1865,  Mr. 
Windle  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  E.  Sprecher,  born  in  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  June  6,  1843,  and  the  daughter  of 
Philip  and  Catherine  (Houk)  Sprecher, 
natives  of  Washington  county,  Maryland. 
Her  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
came  by  teams  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in 
1839,  settling  on  section  25,  Mt.  Morris 
township,  where  he  purchased  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  to  which  he 
later  added  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
giving  him  a  valuable  farm  of  five  hundred 
and  twenty  acres.  Philip  and  Catherine 
Sprecher  were  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  died  in  early  childhood, 
the  remainder  reaching  years  of  maturity — 
Daniel,  George,  John,  Adasale,  Ann  and 
Mary  E.  Both  parents  are  now  deceased. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.      Both  were 


reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  but  later 
united  with  the  Advent  church. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Windle  six  children 
have  been  born:  Charles  Elmer  died  Au- 
gust 24,  1 88 1,  his  death  resulting  from  an 
accident,  being  injured  by  a  traction  engine, 
and  only  living  thirty-six  hours  after  the  ac- 
cident occurred.  Mary  Catherine  married 
J.  H.  Harnly,  of  Auburn,  Illinois,  and  they 
are  now  living  in  Eldora,  Iowa,  where  both 
are  employed  as  teachers  in  the  Industrial 
school;  Addie  married  Prof.  Ira  R.  Hend- 
rickson,  by  whom  she  had  two  children, 
one,  Ruth  Mary,  now  living.  He  is  engaged 
in  teaching  in  Lamar,  Missiouri;  Orpha 
Irene  is  teaching  in  Mt.  Morris  township; 
^^'illiam,  teaching  in  Mt.  Morris  township; 
Philip  W.  is  living  at  home;  Thurlow  died 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Windle  have  adopted  a  little  boy,  taking, 
when  but  five  months  old,  Clifford  Neff 
Windle.  They  have  also  made  a  home  for 
a  young  miss  from  Chicago,  Clara  Fallask- 
son,  thirteen  years  old.  These  deeds  speak 
well  for  the  kindly  disposition  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Windle. 

In  politics  Mr.  Windle  is  a  Democrat, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party 
he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  its  well 
being,  attending  the  various  local  conven- 
tions and  giving  of  his  time  to  advance  the 
cause.  He  has  served  as  a  delegate  to  the 
state  convention  of  his  party,  and  is  now 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  congressional 
conmiittee.  Interested  in  educational  af- 
fairs, he  served  for  twelve  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board.  Religiously  he  is 
identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  being  one  of  the  trustees.  He  takes 
an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  church, 
and  does  his  full  duty  in  maintaining  its 
services. 


ni 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


In  his  business  relations  Mr.  Windle  has 
been  quite  successful,  and  in  addition  to 
the  home  farm  he  owns  one  hundred  and 
seven  acres  southwest  of  Mt.  Morris,  and 
also  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Buena  Vista  county,  Iowa.  His  farm  is 
well  stocked  and  is  kept  in  excellent  condi- 
tion and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
In  1 876  he  set  out  a  large  number  of  shade  and 
ornamental  trees  which  add  to  the  attractive 
appearance  of  the  place.  His  dwelling 
house  has  been  remodeled,  making  it  a  fine 
country  residence.  In  stock  he  is  making 
a  specialty  of  Durham  short-horn  cattle, 
Chester  white  hogs  and  Norman  horses. 
In  addition  to  his  farm  work,  he  is  agent 
for  the  Aultman  &  Taylor  Company,  and 
the  Rumely  Company,  manufacturers  of 
steam  engines  and  threshers,  and  is  also 
dealing  to  some  extent  in  real  estate.  He 
is  a  very  busy  man,  very  industrious,  and  it 
is  no  wonder  that  success  has  crowned  his 
efforts.  While  he  is  not  numbered  among 
those  who  claim  to  be  pioneers,  he  has  yet 
resided  in  Ogle  county  for  about  forty-four 
years,  and  it  is  but  just  to  say  that  in  that 
time  he  has  done  what  he  could  to  advance 
the  business  and  commercial  interests  of  the 
county,  and  is  deserving  of  the  high  honor 
and  respect  in  which  he  is  held. 


JOHN  L.  SMITH,  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  and  highly  esteemed  citizens 
of  Ogle  county,  who  now  makes  his  home  in 
Leaf  River,  was  born  at  Sharpsburg,  Wash- 
ington county,  Maryland,  April  2,  1832, 
and  is  a  son  of  Abram  Smith,  who  spent 
his  entire  life  there.  Our  subject,  with  his 
mother  and  maternal  grandfather,  came  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in  1839,  and  here  he 
grew  to  manhood  amid  scenes  common   to 


frontier  life,  early  becoming  familiar  with 
every  department  of  farm  work.  When 
quite  young  he  began  to  earn  his  own  liveli- 
hood and  the  success  that  he  has  achieved 
is  due  entirely  to  his  own  unaided  efforts. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1S54,  Mr.  Smith 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susan  A. 
Myers,  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Myers, 
who  came  to  this  county  in  1S37,  entered 
government  land  and  developed  a  farm,  on 
which  he  died  in  1876.  Here  Mrs.  Smith 
was  reared  as  one  of  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren. Five  children  were  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife,  namely:  Mary  E.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  Harriet  C. , 
wife  of  John  Palmer,  a  farmer  of  Ogle 
county;  Lydia  H.,  wife  of  Jacob  Palmer, 
also  a  substantial  farmer  of  Leaf  River 
township;  and  Elmer  G.  and  Jacob  M.,  who 
assist  their  father  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Smith  operated 
the  Myers  homestead  for  six  years  and  then 
made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  consisting 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  and  a 
half  acres  in  Leaf  River  township,  which  he 
soon  transformed  into  a  fine  farm,  placing 
the  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  erecting  thereon  good  and  substantial 
buildings  that  stand  as  monuments  to  his 
thrift  and  enterprise.  As  his  financial 
resources  increased,  he  added  to  the  original 
purchase  until  he  has  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  all  in  one  bodj',  and  he  has 
also  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  the  Myers  homestead.  All  the  property 
is  well  improved  and  quite  valuable.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith  commenced  their  married 
life  in  limited  circumstances,  but  prosperity 
has  crowned  their  combined  efforts  and 
they  are   now    numbered    among    the    sub- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


119 


stantial  and  well-to-do  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. Besides  their  farm  property  they 
own  a  good  home  in  Leaf  River,  where 
they  are  now  living  retired,  surrounded  by 
all  of  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries 
of  life.  They  and  their  family  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Christian  church  at  that  place 
and  are  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  have 
witnessed  their  successful  struggle  with  ad- 
versity. In  his  political  views  Mr.  Smith 
is  a  pronounced  Republican,  but  has  never 
cared  for  official  honors,  preferring  to  give 
his  undivided  attention  to  his  business  in- 
terests. He  takes  considerable  interest  in 
educational  affairs,  and  for  twelve  years 
most  acceptably  served  as  township  trustee. 
For  almost  sixty  years  he  has  watched  with 
interest  the  growth  and  development  of  this 
region,  and  has  been  no  unimportant  factor 
in  its  upbuilding  and  prosperity. 


AMOS  F.  MOORE,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 34,  Woosung  township,  is  not  only 
a  prominent  agriculturist,  but  is  an  up-to- 
date  business  man  and  stock  raiser,  with  a 
reputation  which  is  confined  not  alone  to 
the  state  of  Illinois,  but  he  is  well  and  fav- 
orably known  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
country,  especially  where  the  people  are  in- 
terested in  fine  thoroughbred  horses.  He 
was  born  March  11,  1832,  in  Ackworth, 
Sullivan  county.  New  Hampshire,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  and  Mehitable  (Foster) 
Moore,  the  former  born  December  31,  1795, 
in  Petersborough,  New  Hampshire,  and  the 
latter  October  9,  1798,  in  Hillsborough, 
New  Hampshire. 

John  Moore  was  the  son  of  Samuel  and 
Jennie  (Thompson)  Moore,  also  natives  of 
New  Hampshire.  Samuel  Moore  was  the 
son  of  Deacon  Samuel  Moore,  who  moved 

13 


from  Londonderry,  New  Hampshire,  to 
Petersborough,  in  the  same  state,  in  1751. 
The  ancestor  of  Deacon  Samuel  Moore  was 
John  Moore,  who  was  murdered  February 
I,  1692,  in  the  massacre  of  Glencoe.  His 
wife  escaped  and  that  night  a  boy  baby  was 
born,  John  Moore,  who  moved  to  London- 
derry, New  Hampshire,  in  1718,  and  who  is 
the  progenitor  of  the  Moores  in  America. 
This  John  Moore  married  Janet  Cochrane, 
and  to  them  were  born  seven  children,  of 
whom  Deacon  Samuel  Moore  was  second 
in  order  of  birth.  Deacon  Samuel  Moore 
married  Margaret  Morrison,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  six  children,  of  whom 
Samuel,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
third  in  order  of  birth.  Samuel  Moore 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was 
mustered  in  at  the  time  of  the  alarm  at 
Lexington,  April  19,  1775.  He  also  served 
in  the  war  of  18 12.  He  married  Jennie 
Thompson,  July  34,  1784,  and  by  this  mar- 
riage were  eleven  children,  of  whom  John 
Moore,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the 
sixth.  Samuel  Moore  died  February  5, 
1844,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  He 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  a  very  stoutly 
built  and  robust  man,  and  our  subject  well 
remembers  him  breaking  a  colt  when  well 
past  eighty  years  old. 

John  Moore  grew  to  manhood  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  was  a  mechanic  and  farm- 
er. In  the  winter  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  spinning  wheels  and  reels,  and  in 
the  summer  engaged  in  farm  work.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mehitable 
Foster,  on  the  13th  of  April,  1824.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Mehitable 
(Nichols)  Foster,  who  were  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  eight  sons  and  two  daughters. 
One  of  their  sons.  Rev.  Aaron  Fos- 
ter,   was    a    minister  and    was    the    father 


120 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


of  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  hav- 
ing given  pubHc  utterance  to  the  first  words 
spoken  in  favor  of  the  enterprise.  Another 
son,  Lieutenant  Amos  Foster,  was  stationed 
at  Fort  Dearborn,  Chicago,  for  a  few  years. 
He  purchased  twenty-five  lots  on  the  sec- 
tion where  the  depot  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  railway  is  now  located,  and 
located  there  in  the  'twenties.  He  was 
killed  in  1832,  at  Fort  Howard,  Green  Bay, 
Michigan,  by  an  insubordinate  soldier,  whom 
he  had  ordered  under  arrest.  Another  son. 
Dr.  John  H.  Foster,  later  removed  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  looked  after  his  deceased 
brother's  property.  He  also  became  inter- 
ested in  Chicago  real  estate,  purchasing 
what  is  now  known  as  Lincoln  Park,  for 
which  he  paid  thirty-five  dollars  per  acre. 
In  after  years  his  heirs  sold  portions  of  it 
for  twenty  thousand  dollars  an  acre  for 
park  purposes.  Our  subject  built  the  first 
fence  put  up  in  that  vicinity,  while  he  was 
living  with  the  Doctor.  The  Doctor  died  in 
1874,  leaving  an  estate  estimated  at  several 
million  dollars.  Another  one  of  the  sons, 
Sewell  Foster,  founded  the  town  of  Musca- 
tine, Iowa.  He  was  a  prominent  horticult- 
uralist,  and  was  the  father  of  the  Agricult- 
ural College  at  Ames,  Iowa.  To  John 
Moore  and  wife  six  children  were  born,  two 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Of  those  who 
lived,  Philenia  is  living  in  Malone,  New 
York;  J.  Leavitt  is  living  in  Polo,  Illinois; 
Amos  F.  is  our  subject;  and  Sarah  E.  is 
living  in  Seattle,  Washington.  John  Moore 
died  in  Ackworth,  New  Hampshire,  August 
II,  1834.  His  wife  survived  him  fifty-two 
years,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 
Amos  F.  Moore  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  schools  of  Malone,  New 
York,  but  his  real  education  was  received  in 
the  school  of  experience,  or  "hard  knocks," 


as  he  expresses  it.  He  began  to  work  for 
himself  at  a  very  early  age.  When  eleven 
years  old  he  was  put  out  to  work  for  neigh- 
boring farmers,  and  when  fifteen  years  old 
he  came  west  to  Chicago,  where  his  uncle. 
Dr.  John  Foster,  was  then  living.  He  as- 
sisted his  uncle  for  a  time  in  collecting  his 
rents,  and  in  various  ways.  In  1849  he 
unloaded  the  first  rail  from  the  vessel  to  be 
used  in  the  construction  of  the  Galena  Union 
railroad,  his  uncle  being  a  director  in  the 
company.  In  that  same  year,  when  out 
horseback  riding,  he  was  favorably  impressed 
with  the  land,  and  his  uncle  purchased  him 
a  farm,  which  comprises  now  the  city  of 
Evanston,  for  which  he  paid  fifteen  hundred 
dollars.  Having  an  attack  of  the  ague,  Mr. 
Moore  returned  east  in  the  fall  of  1849,  and 
the  next  year  his  uncle  wrote  him  that  a 
lot  of  fanatics  wanted  to  buy  the  farm  for 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  He  sold  the 
land,  but  now  thinks  that  instead  of  being 
fanatics,  those  desiring  to  purchase  were 
very  far-seeing  men. 

In  the  latter  part  of  185 1,  Mr.  Moore 
returned  to  Chicago,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  foundry  business,  having  built  the  larg- 
est foundry  in  the  city.  In  1853  he  came 
to  Ogle  county  and  purchased  land,  but 
continued  in  business  in  Chicago  until  1856, 
when  he  took  up  his  permanent  residence 
in  the  county.  On  the  6th  of  October, 
1856,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Marcia  A.  Cutts,  who  was  born  November 
13,  183S,  in  York  county,  Maine,  and 
daughter  of  Captain  Hiram  and  Eunice 
(Brown)  Cutts,  the  former  a  native  of  Ports- 
mouth,   New    Hampshire,  born    in   

and  the  latter  a  native  of  the  same  city, 
born  February  4,  1802.  Captain  Hiram 
Cutts  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Donald  Cutts, 
who   was    probably   a   merchant    in    Ports- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


121 


mouth.  Hiram  Cutts  followed  the  sea  for 
many  years,  in  the  merchant  service,  trad- 
ing all  over  the  world.  In  his  family  were 
nine  children,  —  Joseph  B.,  Alzira,  Hiram, 
Thomas,  Emily,  Harriet,  Elizabeth,  Mar- 
cia  and  George.  In  politics  he  was  an  old- 
line  Whig.  In  September,  1846,  with  his 
wife  and  family,  he  came  to  Ogle  county, 
and  located  on  a  farm  in  Buffalo  township, 
where  the  city  of  Polo  is  now  located.  For 
the  erection  of  his  house,  barns  and  fences, 
he  hauled  all  the  lumber  from  Chicago.  He 
died  on  his  farm  April  5,  1850,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-two  years.  His  wife  survived  him, 
and  died  November  28,   1884. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  seven  children 
have  been  born:  John  died  at  the  age  of 
four  months;  Albert  C.  is  a  graduate  of  the 
State  University,  Champaign,  and  is  now  in 
the  employ  of  the  Oregon  Short  Line  rail- 
road. He  is  the  owner  of  several  ranches 
in  that  state.  A.  Foster  is  a  practicing 
physician  and  surgeon,  of  Dixon,  Illinois. 
George  H.  is  now  attending  the  University 
of  Wisconsin,  at  Madison.  Fred  L.  is  at 
home.  Stata  M.  is  also  at  home,  and  is 
her  father's  stenographer.  Frank  is  attend- 
ing the  high  school  in  Polo. 

Mr.  Moore  erected  his  dwelling  house 
upon  his  farm  in  1856,  but  did  not  com- 
mence active  farming  operations  until  the 
spring  of  1857.  To  his  original  purchase 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-  acres,  he  has 
added  from  time  to  time  until  his  home 
farm  now  comprises  six  hundred  acres  of 
fine  land,  which  is  kept  under  the  highest 
state  of  cultivation.  Before  moving  to  his 
farm,  in  1856,  he  planted  a  large  apple 
orchard,  and  has  since  been  adding  to  it  un- 
til it  is  now  one  of  the  largest  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  state.  In  i860  he  made  an 
artificial  pond  on  his  farm,  the  water  from 


which  he  used  for  stock  purposes  until  wind 
mills  came  into  general  use,  since  which 
time  it  has  been  used  as  a  skating  pond. 

In  1865  Mr.  Moore  purchased  three 
Morgan  horses  of  pure  blood  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  breeding  the  same.  He  is 
now  the  largest  breeder  of  that  stock  in  the 
United  States,  and  has  continually  upon  his 
place  more  than  sixty  head  of  thorough- 
breds. During  the  World's  Fair  in  Chi- 
cago, there  was  formed  a  National  Morgan 
Horse  Breeders'  Association,  and  he  be- 
came one  of  its  charter  members.  He  is 
now  president  of  the  state  of  Illinois  Asso- 
ciation of  Breeders  of  Morgan  Horses.  In 
everything  calculated  to  advance  the  inter- 
ests of  the  farming  community  he  takes  a 
lively  and  commendable  interest.  In  1892 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  In- 
stitute, and  in  1893  was  appointed  di- 
rector in  the  same,  a  position  which 
he  still  holds.  In  1897  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  Institute  and  is  still  fill- 
ing that  position.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  Pure  Food 
Association  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Stock  Breeders'  Association  of  Illinois. 

In  politics  Mr.  Moore  is  an  earnest  and 
stanch  Republican,  and  has  been  identified 
with  the  party  since  its  organization.  Be- 
fore the  division  of  the  township  he  was  su- 
pervisor of  Buffalo  township  one  term.  He 
has  also  served  as  road  commissioner  for 
fifteen  years,  and  been  president  of  the 
board  of  school  trustees  of  township  23, 
range  8,  for  the  same  length  of  time.  For 
three  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  commissioners  from  Woosung  township. 
He  was  the  man  that  made  the  test  case 
and  carried  it  to  the  supreme  court,  to  as- 
certain whether  the  Illinois  CentrEtl  railroad 


122 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


could  take  land  when  and  where  it  pleased. 
In  all  that  he  did  the  rights  of  the  people 
were  always  in  view,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to 
him  to  think  that  he  has  secured  their 
rights  at  times  when  they  might  have  been 
irrevocably  lost.  He  is  a  man  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  believes  the  people  have  rights 
which  corporations  are  bound  to  respect. 
While  not  a  politician  in  the  common  ac- 
ceptation of  the  term,  he  has  on  more  than 
one  occasion  made  his  influence  felt 
with  politicians.  In  the  winter  of  1898-9 
1898-9  he  assisted  in  securing  an  appropri- 
ation of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to- 
ward the  formation  of  a  new  agricultural 
college  to  be  located  somewhere  in  the  mil- 
itary tract.  His  ideas  on  the  subject  were 
such  as  to  command  the  respect  of  the 
members  of  the  assembly,  resulting  in  the 
appropriation  as  stated.  As  president  of 
the  Farmers'  Institute  he  has  given  the 
subject  of  agricultural  instruction  much 
thought,  and  he  can  clearly  express  what 
he  thinks.  As  a  citizen  of  Ogle  county  he 
at  all  times  has  its  best  interest  at  heart, 
and  freely  gives  of  his  time  and  means  to 
advance  its  interests.  To  such  men  great 
credit  is  due  for  the  proud  position  which 
the  county  occupies  among  the  one  hun- 
dred and  two  counties  of  the  state. 


J 


OSHUA  THOMAS.— Among  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Ogle  county  this  gentle- 
man is  especially  worthy  of  notice  in  a  work 
of  this  kind  for  he  was  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  development  and  prosperity  of 
this  section  of  the  state  for  many  years,  and 
being  possessed  of  a  rare  amount  of  energy, 
proved  a  valued  member  of  the  young  and 
rapidly  growing  community. 

Mr.   Thomas  was   born   in   Washington 


county,  Maryland,  March  8,  181 1,  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Schecter)  Thomas. 
In  their  family  were  eleven  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Susanna,  February  19,  1809;  Joshua,  March 
8,  181 1 ;  Elias,  January  27,  181 3;  Ezra, 
July  21,  1815;  Ruanna,  March  23,  1817; 
Abraham,  April  17,  1819;  Lydia,  March  12, 
1821;  Julian,  June  4,  1823;  Samuel,  August 
26,  1S25;  Elizabeth,  February  10,  1827; 
and  Wilhelmina,  February  27,  1829. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  Joshua 
Thomas  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  a  com- 
mon-school education  and  obtaining  an  ex- 
cellent knowledge  of  every  department  of 
farm  work.  There  he  was  first  married, 
February  7,  1833,  to  Miss  Salina  Landis, 
who  was  born  March  7,  181 2,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Permelia  Margaret,  born  November  30,  « 
1833;  Mary  Catherine,  October  24,  1S36; 
Henry  L. ,  October  24,  1S38;  William  How- 
ard, June  19,  1842,  died  October  28,  1S43; 
Jacob  Oscar,  born  March  3,  1845,  died  Oc- 
tober 21,  1845;  Lewis  Ferdinand,  born 
September  25,  1846;  and  John  Edwin,  born 
January  23,  1849.  The  wife  and  mother 
was  called  to  her  final  rest  September  22, 
1854,  at  the  age  of  forty-two  years,  six 
months  and  fifteen  days. 

For  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Thomas  mar- 
ried Susan  Felker,  who  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Maryland,  August  11,  1832, 
a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Susan  (W'iii- 
gert)  Felker.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1802, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  Felker,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  came  to  America  at  the  age 
of  twelve  years  and  was  bound  out  to  pay  his 
passage.  He  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  but 
most  of  his  life  was  devoted  to  farming, 
his  home   being   in   Franklin  county,  Penn- 


JOSHUA    THOMAS. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


I2S 


sylvania.  He  became  a  loyal  and  devoted 
citizen  of  his  adopted  country  and  as  a  sol- 
dier took  an  active  part  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war  and  the  war  of  1812.  In  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania,  he  married  Cath- 
erine Wilt,  and  to  them  were  born  five 
children:  Barbara,  Catherine,  Abraham, 
Henry  and  Elizabeth.  John  Felker  was  a 
self-made  man  in  every  sense  of  the  word 
and  in  business  affairs  was  remarkably  suc- 
cessful, giving  all  his  children  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  before  his  death. 
At  one  time  he  traveled  from  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Washington  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  where  he  purchased  between 
twelve  and  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  land, 
carrying  the  money  in  silver  and  gold  in  the 
pockets  of  his  saddle,  and  was  unmolested. 
In  addition  to  his  landed  property,  he  also 
owned  many  slaves.  He  died  suddenly  of 
cholera  morbus  and  his  wife  survived  him 
less  than  a  year.  During  his  youth  Abra- 
ham Felker,  father  of  Mrs.  Thomas,  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Maryland,  and  in 
the  subscription  schools  of  that  state  ob- 
tained his  education,  and  when  not  in  school 
aided  his  father  on  the  farm.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  he  married  Susan  Wingert, 
by  whom  he  had  two  children:  Catherine, 
widow  of  F.  M.  Tice,  of  Mt.  Morris,  Illi- 
inois;  and  Susan,  wife  of  our  subject.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  August  16, 
1832,  when  Mrs.  Thomas  was  only  five  days 
old.  In  1S33,  the  father  married  Catherine 
Wingert,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Binkley) 
Wingert,  farming  people,  in  whose  family 
were  eleven  children:  John,  Henry,  Han- 
nah, Susan,  Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Jacob, 
Joseph,  David,  Adam  and  Daniel.  Mr. 
Wingert  died  near  Greencastle,  Pennsyl- 
vania,   about     1S60,    having    visited    Mrs. 


Thomas  a  short  time  before  his  death.  Mr. 
Felker  had  eleven  children  by  his  second 
marriage,  namely:  Sarah  married  Theo- 
dore Hewitt,  of  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, and  after  his  death  wedded  Henry 
Sharer,  a  retired  merchant,  by  whom  she 
had  one  child,  Charles  H.  Her  death  oc- 
curred in  1892.  Hiram  married  Sabina 
Sprong  and  lives  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 
David  married  Delilah  Taylor  and  lives  in 
Nebraska.  John  B.,  a  prominent  physician 
of  Amboy,  Illinois,  married  Jennie  Miller,  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  1888.  Samuel 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  Willoughby 
married  Alice  Buterbaugh  and  lives  in  Leaf 
River  township.  Ogle  county.  Mary  Ellen 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Thomas,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
Noble  F.  married  Alice  Fox  and  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Amboy,  Illi- 
nois. Jennie  is  the  wife  of  J.  O.  Thomas, 
of  Mt.  Morris  township.  Ogle  county.  Alice 
Louisa  is  the  wife  of  Almon  King,  and  lives 
in  Redwood,  Minnesota.  Hannah  Joseph- 
ine died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1880 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  are  as  follows:  Ettie,  born  August 
17,  1863,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  months, 
being  scalded  to  death  by  pulling  over  a  cup 
of  coffee  on  her  face  and  breast.  'Robert 
Lee,  born  August  3,  1861;,  married  May  Mc- 
Guffin  and  has  two  children:  Joshua  Sam- 
uel, born  September  27,  1893,  and  Ralph 
L. ,  born  August  17,  1896.  He  and  his 
brother,  Frank  Felker,  born  May  12,  1867, 
carry  on  the  home  farm  for  their  mother. 
Olin  Madison,  born  October  27,  1872,  was 
paralyzed  at  the  age  of  four  years  by  being 
given  the  wrong  medicine,  the  druggist  hav- 
ing made  a  mistake  in  the  prescription.  At 
the  age  of  twelve  he  received  another  stroke 


126 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  at  sixteen  could  not  speak  for  a  time. 
The  3'oungest  child  died  in  infancy. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Thomas  brought  his  family 
to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where  the  fall  pre- 
vious he  had  purchased  a  tract  of  govern- 
ment land,  and  here  amid  pioneer  scenes  he 
began  life  anew,  carrying  on  operations  as 
an  agriculturist  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred March  18,  1S84.  In  1S50  he  went 
to  California  and  spent  two  years  in  the 
gold  fields  of  that  state,  meeting  with  fair 
success.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  and 
prominent  citizens  of  his  community,  was 
an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  was  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  had 
the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  He  was 
a  director  of  the  Ogle  County  Agricultural 
Society  for  seven  years,  and  served  as  its 
president  for  a  time.  He  was  also  officially 
connected  with  the  schools  of  his  district 
and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  was  found 
true  and  faithful  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
him. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1898,  a  cyclone 
struck  the  Thomas  farm,  tearing  down  the 
barn,  but  did  not  injure  any  of  the  horses. 
It  also  took  the  roof  off  the  house  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  was  unaware  of  what  had  occurred 
until  she  looked  out  and  saw  the  storm  dis- 
appearing. The  farm  consists  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  of  valuable  land  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  is  most  capa- 
bly managed  by  the  sons.  Mrs.  Thomas, 
who  is  a  most  estimable  lady,  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  a 
sincere  and  earnest  Christian,  beloved  by 
all  who  know  her. 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  CARR,  one 
of  the  foremost  and  enterprising  agri- 
culturists of  Rockvale  township,  is  a  native 


of  Pennsylvania,  being  born  in  Fulton 
county,  February  10,  1849.  He  is  the  son 
of  George  W.  and  Margaret  (McLean)  Carr, 
natives  of  Center  and  Huntington  counties, 
respectively.  The  former  was  born  in 
September,  1819,  and  the  latter  in  1823. 
Mr.  Carr  was  a  farmer  in  Center  county, 
where  he  resided  until  his  twenty-third 
year,  when  he  removed  to  Fulton  county, 
where  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  the 
mother  of  our  subject.  In  1884  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carr  moved  to  Ogle  county,  but  being 
dissatisfied  with  the  country,  they  went  still 
further  west  to  Wichita  county,  Kansas, 
where  Mr.  Carr  purchased  three  hundred 
acres.  Ten  children  have  blessed  this  mar- 
riage. James  married  Elizabeth  Row,  who 
died  in  1876.  He  afterward  married  Katie 
Angel,  and  they  reside  in  Ogle  county;  El- 
len is  the  wife  of  James  Stevens.  Their 
home  is  in  Mt.  Morris  township;  George 
W.  is  the  third  child;  Erven  married  Sadie 
Angel,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  James  Carr;  Will- 
iam died  at  the  age  of  thirty,  of  brain  fever, 
the  result  of  typhoid  pneumonia.  He  was 
unmarried;  McClure  resides  in  Wichita 
county,  Kansas;  Mary  died  when  si.\  years 
of  age,  of  diphtheria;  Silvester,  the  eighth 
child,  died  when  eighteen  months  old;  E. 
D.  is  foreman  of  an  electric  car  line  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  the  youngest  child, 
Amanda,  is  the  wife  of  Furd  Avey.  Mr. 
Carr  died  July  18,  1898,  and  his  wife  is  re- 
siding with  Mrs.  Avey. 

Our  subject  bent  all  his  energies  toward 
a  good  education,  and  helped  his  father  un- 
til his  twentieth  year,  when  having  finished 
his  schooling,  he  farmed  with  his  father  for 
two  years,  and  then  came  west  and  settled 
in  Ogle  county.  He  rented  eighty  acres  in 
Mt.  Morris  township  for  a  term  of  three 
years,  and  then  rented  the  farm  of  the  Rev- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


127 


erend  Robert  Hitt,  also  for  three  years. 
After  the  expiration  of  this  lease,  he  re- 
rented  the  land  in  Mt.  Morris  township  for 
a  period  of  four  years,  which  place  he  left 
for  his  present  property  in  Rockvale,  giving 
in  part  payment  eighty  acres  in  Mt.  Morris 
township. 

Mr.  Carr's  first  wife  was  Miss  Ella 
Moats,  who  was  born  in  Ogle  county,  and 
who  was  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mar- 
garet Moats.  By  her  he  had  three  chil- 
dren: Margaret,  born  February  17,  1S77, 
died  in  infancy.  Albert,  born  April  27, 
1878,  is  living  with  his  maternal  grandfa- 
ther. He  received  his  earlier  schooling  at 
the  district  school,  and  is  now  attending  the 
normal  school  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana, 
where  he  is  taking  a  commercial  course,  and 
where  he  e.xpects  to  remain  for  the  next 
two  years.  In  the  summer  he  assists  his 
father  about  the  home  farm.  Maudie,  born 
March  4,  18S2,  died  June  3,  1882,  at  the 
age  of  three  months.  The  mother  of  this 
family  died  January  17,  1884,  of  consump- 
tion, in  her  twenty-eighth  year.  She  was  a 
highly  respected  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church. 

February  8,  1S87,  Mr.  Carr  married 
Miss  Martha  Alexander,  who  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1867.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Randall  Alexander,  a  farmer  of  Huntingdon 
county,  and  his  wife,  Martha  Kuntzman, 
and  was  one  of  twelve  children,  namely: 
George  W.,  William,  Colter,  John,  Mary, 
Rosy,  Katie,  Rachel,  Martha,  Sadie,  Mag- 
gie and  Rosa.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carr  have 
been  born  two  children,  namely:  Nora, 
born  April  9,  1886,  and  Herbert,  born  April 
17,  1887.  Both  are  attending  the  district 
school.  Our  subject  carries  on,  in  addition 
to  general   farming,  the  breeding   of    fancy 


stock.  He  has  at  the  present  writing  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  Berkshire  pigs,  sixty 
head  of  Durham  cattle,  and  fourteen  head 
of  Norman  draft  horses,  from  which  he  fre- 
quently sells  at  handsome  prices  to  the 
Chicago  market. 

Mr.  Carr  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
stoutly  upholds  the  party  to  which  he  be- 
longs. He  has  served  as  school  director  for 
several  years  with  great  credit  to  himself 
and  much  benefit  to  the  community.  He 
is  a  prominent  and  representative  citizen  of 
Rockvale,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all 
who  know  him. 


JAMES  H.  JUDSON,  M.  D., who  resides 
upon  a  fine  farm  in  section  14,  Buffalo 
township,  has  been  a  resident  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty a  half  century,  coming  here  in  May, 
1848,  in  company  with  his  parents.  Bos- 
well  and  Lois  (Perkins)  Judson.  The  fam- 
ily trace  their  ancestry  back  to  William  Jud- 
son, a  native  of  England,  who  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  1634,  settled  in  Massachu- 
setts, and  lived  four  years  near  Concord, and 
then  moved  to  Stratford,  Connecticut. 
Some  of  the  family  later  returned  to  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  there  Samuel  Judson,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  and 
reared.  His  son,  Roswell  Judson,  was  born 
in  Massachusetts,  October  6,  1795.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  country  and 
then  moved  to  Delaware  county.  New 
York,  where  he  married  Lois  Perkins,  a  na- 
tive of  that  state.  They  lived  for  some 
years  on  a  farm  in  Delaware  county,  about 
four  miles  from  Delhi,  but  with  that  lauda- 
ble desire  to  better  himself,  he  determined 
to  make  a  home  on  the  broad  prairies  of  Illi- 
nois. Accordingly,  in  1S48,  he  came  to 
Ogle  county    and    entered   a  tract  of    three 


128 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Buf- 
falo township,  where  our  subject  now  re- 
sides. Erecting  a  good  substantial  dwelling, 
he  commenced  to  otherwise  improve  the 
place,  setting  out  an  orchard,  shade  and 
ornamental  trees,  and  placing  the  land  un- 
der cultivation;  in  due  time  he  had  one  of 
the  best  farms  in  the  county.  On  that 
place  he  continued  to  reside  until  called 
from  this  life.  He  died  in  1883,  his  good 
wife  preceding  him  some  nine  years,  having 
died  in  1874.  Their  remains  were  laid  to 
rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Polo,  where  a  neat 
and  substantial  monument  has  been  erected 
to  their  memory.  They  were  the  parents 
of  three  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  youngest,  the  others  being  Emily  M., 
wife  of  Benjamin  Pierce,  of  Franklin  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  and  Ann  C. ,  wife  of  John  Malone, 
of  Dane  county,  Wisconsin. 

James  H.  Judson  was  born  near  Delhi, 
Delaware  county,  New  York,  August  20, 
1839,  and  was  but  nine  years  of  age  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ogle  county, 
which  has  since  been  his  home.  His  edu- 
cation was  begun  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  state,  and  on  his  arrival  here  he 
entered  the  public  schools  of  Ogle  county. 
Later  he  entered  Rock  River  Seminary,  at 
Mt.  Morris,  where  his  literary  education 
was  completed.  Commencing  the  study  of 
medicine,  in  1863  he  entered  Rush  Medical 
College,  and  finished  his  medical  education 
in  the  session  of  1864  and  1865.  Imme- 
diately after  taking  the  degree  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infant- 
ry, for  one  hundred  days.  He  was  almost 
immediately  transferred  to  hospital  duty 
and  made  assistant  surgeon,  and  as  such 
served  during  his  term  of  enlistment. 

Mustered    out    of   service    in    October, 


1864,  Dr.  Judson  returned  to  his  home  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  connection  with  farming.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  gave  personal  attention  to  every 
detail  of  farm  work,  but  finally  rented  the 
place  and  gave  more  of  his  attention  to 
his  practice.  He  still,  however,  looks  after 
his  farming  interests,  and  professionally 
visits  Polo  every  afternoon.  His  farm  has 
increased  in  area  until  he  now  owns  over 
four  hundred  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  there 
is  in  Buffalo  township. 

Dr.  Judson  was  married  in  Ogle  county, 
June  5,  1866,  to  Miss  Margaret  R.  Myerly, 
a  native  of  Maryland,  born  near  Baltimore, 
and  daughter  of  John  Myerly,  also  a  native 
of  Maryland,  who  came  to  Ogle  county  in 
1844  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  later 
moved  to  Powesheik  county,  Iowa,  where 
his  last  days  were  spent.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Judson  four  children  have  been  born.  Frank 
E.  now  resides  in  Hancock  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming  in  connec- 
tion with  the  practice  of  veterinary  surgery. 
Emma  L.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Hildebrand, 
a  farmer  of  Buffalo  township.  George  D. 
is  a  veterinary  surgeon,  residing  in  Polo. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Spanish-American 
war,  being  a  member  of  Company  D,  Sixth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  de- 
tailed as  brigade  veterinary  surgeon,  and  as 
such  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  be- 
ing with  his  regiment  in  Porto  Rico.  When 
the  war  ended  and  he  received  his  discharge 
he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Polo.  Grace  L.,  the  remaining  member  of 
the  family,  resides  at  home. 

Politically  Dr.  Judson  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. His  first  experience  was  in  the 
e.Nciting  campaign  of  i860,  resulting  in  the 
election  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  followed 
by  the  Civil  war.      His  ballot  has  ever  since 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


129 


been  cast  for  the  presidential  nominees  of 
fiis  party.  While  he  is  strong  in  the  advo- 
cacy of  the  principles  of  his  party,  he  has 
never  been  an  office  seeker,  although  he  has 
served  in  some  local  official  positions.  He 
has  been-  a  member  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors, held  the  office  of  road  commissioner, 
and  for  about  twenty-five  years  was  on  the 
school  board,  a  part  of  which  time  he  was 
president  of  the  district.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Polo.  Fraternally  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows at  Polo,  and  also  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  at  Polo,  being 
surgeon  of  the  post.  As  a  citizen  he  is  pro- 
gressive, ever  ready  to  assist  every  worth)' 
object.  Well  known  throughout  the  coun- 
ty, he  is  held  in  the  highest  respect  by  all. 


JACOB  H.  PRICE,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 13,  Buffalo  township,  is  a  well 
known  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  has  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best  farmers 
in  the  township,  which  is  evident  from  the 
neat  appearance  of  his  place.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ogle  county,  and  was  born  in  Pine 
Greek  township,  June  26,  1S54.  His  father, 
John  W.  Price,  was  born  in  Berkeley  county, 
West  Virginia,  in  1824.  The  family  are  of 
W'elch  descent,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
from  which  state  John  Price,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  removed  to  Berkeley 
county,  West  Virginia.  After  residing  in 
that  county  for  some  years,  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and 
took  up  a  claim  in  Pine  Creek  township, 
where  he  opened  up  a  farm  and  spent  the 
last  years  of  his  life. 

John  W.  Price  came  with  his  father  to 
Ogle  county.      He  was  then  in  his  sixteenth 

14 


year,  strong  and  active,  and  assisted  in  the 
work  of  transforming  the  place  from  its  na- 
tive wilderness  to  a  most  productive  farm. 
His  primary  education  was  received  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  state,  but  on 
coming  to  this  county  he  entered  Rock  River 
Seminary  at  Mt.  Morris,  completing  his 
school  life  in  that  institution.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  teaching  and  was  therefore  one  of 
the  pioneer  teachers  in  the  county.  He 
married  Nancy  Rowland,  a  native  of  Jeffer- 
son township.  West  Virginia,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Rowland,  another  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county.  Purchasing  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Pine  Creek 
township,  he  commencSd  its  cultivation  and 
there  reared  his  family.  On  reaching  his 
three  score  years  and  ten  he  was  called  to 
his  reward,  his  death  occurring  June  7, 
1S94.  His  wife  survived  him  some  two 
years,  passing  away  November  8,  1895. 
They  were  both  devout  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church  and  active  work- 
ers in  the  same.  Their  family  comprised 
eight  children.  Clara  E.  is  now  the  wife 
of  O.  B.  Ringer,  of  Pine  Creek  township. 
Jacob  H.  is  second  in  order  of  birth.  L.  C. 
is  now  a  resident  of  Marshall  county,  Iowa. 
Hattie  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  Heckman,  a 
minister  of  the  Brethren  church,  residing  in 
Buffalo  township.  Oliver  L.  is  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  in  Oregon,  Illinois. 
Gussie  is  the  wile  of  William  Lampin,  a 
farmer  of  Pine  Creek  township.  Collin  C. 
is  also  a  farmer  of  Pine  Creek  township,  and 
a  minister  of  the  Brethren  church.  Henry 
died  when  one  year  old. 

On  his  father's  farm  in  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship, Jacob  H.  Price  grew  to  manhood,  and 
in  the  district  school  of  the  neighborhood 
received  his  education.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  after  he  attained  his 


I30 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


majority,  assisting:;  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm.  He  then  rented  a  farm  and  began 
life  for  himself.  A  little  later  he  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  of  his  present  farm, 
which  was  then  partially  improved,  and  at 
once  commenced  its  further  improvement. 
Subsequently  he  purchased  sixty  acres  more, 
giving  him  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  He  has  lately  erected  a  large 
and  substantial  residence  with  all  the  mod- 
ern improvements,  including  furnace  heat , 
bath  rooms,  hot  and  cold  water  throughout 
the  house.  It  is  one  of  the  best  country 
residences  in  the  county.  His  barn,  gran- 
aries, and  other  outbuildings  are  also  of  the 
best,  thus  showing  him  to  be  a  very  practi- 
cal man  in  all  things,  one  who  believes  that 
a  farmer  should  enjoy  some  of  the  blessings 
of  this  life  as  well  as  others. 

Mr.  Price  was  married  in  Ogle  county, 
February  24,  1881,  to  Miss  Lillie  M.  Spick- 
ler,  a  native  of  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, who  came  to  Ogle  county  in  infancy 
with  her  parents.  Her  father,  C.  B.  Spick- 
ler,  was  also  born  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  in  1830.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  first  wife  dying  in  Maryland,  leav- 
ing one  daughter,  Maggie,  now  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Stauffer,  a  farmer  of  Pine  Creek 
township.  He  later  married  Miss  Ellen 
Newcomer,  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  Mrs. 
Price  is  second  in  their  family  of  four  chil- 
dren. The  others  are  Emma,  residing  with 
her  parents;  Henry,  a  minister  in  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church;  and  Eddie,  a  student 
at  Polo.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price  one  daugh- 
ter has  been  born — Rhoda  Ellen,  born 
October  8,   1898. 

Mr.  Price  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  has  adhered  to 
its  teachings,  believing  them  to  be  in  con- 
formity  with    the    sacred    scriptures.      He 


holds  membership  with  the  church  in  Pine 
Creek  township,  and  has  for  some  years 
been  a  deacon  in  the  same.  His  wife  is  also 
a  member  of  the  same  church. 

In  addition  to  general  farming,  Mr.  Price 
has  made  a  specialty  for  some  years  of  rais- 
ing stock  for  the  markets,  annually  feeding 
and  shipping  from  one  to  six  car  loads  of 
cattle  and  about  three  car  loads  of  hogs.  In 
this  branch  of  his  business  he  has  been  quite 
successful. 

CHARLES  HIRAM  BETEBENNER,  of 
Oregon,  Illinois,  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  old  families  of  Ogle  county,  was 
born  in  Pine  Creek  township,  March  9, 
1851,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Re- 
becca (Strauss)  Betebenner,  and  the  grand- 
son of  John  Betebenner,  a  native  of  Mar}'- 
land  of  German  ancestry.  Samuel  Bete- 
benner was  born  December  15,  1805,  in 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  where  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  were  spent.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  September  15,  1831, 
to  Rebecca  Strauss,  of  Hagerstown,  Mary- 
land. While  reared  to  farm  work,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  he  apprenticed  himself 
to  a  plasterer,  and  in  two  years'  time  he  had 
become  so  proficient  at  the  trade  that  he 
was  recognized  as  a  journeyman.  He  had 
learned  to  play  the  fife,  and  play  it  well, 
and  when  General  LaFayette  visited  this 
country,  in  1825,  he  had  the  high  honor  of 
playing  the  fife  at  a  reception  given  to  the 
noble  French  patriot  when  he  passed 
through  Frederick  City,  Maryland.  In 
1 86 1,  though  too  old  to  be  admitted  into 
the  army  of  the  Union,  yet  he  was  young 
enough  to  play  the  fife  and  its  shrill  notes 
were  heard  at  Polo,  Illinois,  when  the 
muster  roll  was  open  to  help  raise  the  P'if- 
teenth  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


131 


In  1S42,  havinf^  heard  so  much  of  the 
beauty  and  richness  of  the  Rock  river  coun- 
try, Samuel  Betebenner  concluded  to  visit 
it.  He  spent  the  summer  in  Ogle  county, 
and  was  so  much  pleased  with  the  country 
that  he  concluded  to  locate  here  and  made 
some  preparations  to  that  end,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Maryland.  On  the  15th  of 
May,  1844,  with  his  wife  and  three  children, 
he  started  for  his  new  home,  making  the  jour- 
ney overland  with  teams,  being  seven  weeks 
on  the  road.  On  the  way  they  endured 
many  hardships,  but  were  never  discour- 
aged. Arriving  here  Mr.  Betebenner  took 
up  a  claim  in  Pine  Creek  township  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  he  im- 
mediately began  to  improve.  A  part  of 
this  tract  he  owned  through  life,  selling  the 
remainder  to  his  son  John.  In  addition  to 
this  tract,  he  later  purchased  forty  acres  in 
Mt.  Morris  township.  His  trade  was  of 
great  assistance  to  him  in  the  new  country 
and  naturally  aided  him  in  supplying  his 
family  wants  and  advancing  his  farm  inter- 
ests. Deer  and  other  wild  game  were  in 
abundance  when  he  began  to  build  up  a  new 
home  and  these  luxuries  were  almost  daily 
served  at  his  table.  He  was  among  the 
workmen  who  plastered  the  first  state  house 
at  Springfield.  What  a  record  was  his  life, 
connecting  as  it  did  two  generations!  His 
youth  was  spent  with  the  soldiers  of  the 
Revolution  and  the  compatriots  of  Wash- 
ington, and  his  eyes  greeted  the  great  La- 
Fayette,  and  the  clear  notes  of  his  fife 
resounded  in  his  ears.  He  lived  to  see  and 
help  build  up  a  new  civilization  in  the  great 
west  and  become  one  of  its  factors.  He  set 
a  noble  example  to  the  rising  generations, 
and  may  they  emulate  his  virtues.  He  de- 
parted this  life  December  12,  1895,  in  his 
ninetieth  year,  and  the  funeral  services  took 


place  at  the  opera-house  in  Oregon  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday. 

Rebecca  (Strauss)  Betebenner  was  the 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Christy  A.  (Glos- 
brenner)  Strauss,  and  was  born  in  Hagers- 
town,  Maryland,  July  4,  1S08.  Her  father 
was  by  profession  a  physician.  Both  of  her 
parents  lived  and  died  in  Maryland.  Sam- 
uel and  Rebecca  Betebenner  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children.  Thomas  H.  is  a 
farmer  and  land  speculator  residing  in  Car- 
thage, Missouri.  Robert  V.  resides  in  Cal 
ifornia,  where  he  is  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building.  Samuel  C,  a  mason  by 
trade,  resides  in  Polo,  Illinois.  Narcissa, 
now  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Hanna,  is  living 
in  Polo.  Ella,  wife  of  Abner  Newcomer,  is 
living  near  Polo.  John  resides  on  the  old 
homestead.  Eliza,  who  married  Thomas 
Emmert,  now  lives  in  Tarkio,  Missouri. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  completes  the 
family.  Mrs.  Rebecca  Betebenner  survives 
her  husband,  and  resides  at  Polo,  Illinois, 
patiently  waiting  the  day  when  she,  too,  shall 
be  called    up    higher. 

Charles  H.  Betebenner  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm,  and  in  the  home  school  re- 
ceived his  primar}"  education.  After  spend- 
ing some  time  in  Rock  River  Seminary,  he 
entered  Beloit  College,  where  he  spent  two 
seasons  in  study.  Later  he  engaged  in 
merchandizing  at  Dysart,  Iowa,  for  about 
a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  returned  to 
Oregon  and  clerked  for  Artz  &  Ray  for  four 
years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  mail  serv- 
ice, running  from  Chicago  to  Dubuque, 
Iowa.  This  took  up  about  four  years. 
Later  he  was  nominated  on  the  Independ- 
ent ticket  for  sheriff  of  Ogle  county,  and 
was  elected  by  twenty-six  majority,  running 
against  John  Bailey,  the  regular  Republican 
nominee.      This  was  one  of  the  hottest  cam- 


132 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


paigns  in  the  history  of  Ogle  county.  After 
his  term  of  four  years  he  engaged  in  tile 
manufacturing  and  contracting,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Sammis  &  Co. 

Mr.  Betebenner  was  married  March  20, 
1879,  at  Polo,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Inez  Sam- 
mis,  daughter  of  C.  W.  &  Emily  A.  (Helmj 
Sammis.  She  was  born  LaSalle,  Illinois, 
but  came  with  her  parents  to  Ogle  county 
when  she  was  a  child.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  New  York,  coming  to  Illinois  in 
1 84 1,  locating  at  what  was  then  known  as 
Buffalo  Grove,  LaSalle  county.  They  had 
six  children — Fred  H.,  Inez,  Grace,  J. 
Uriah,  E.  Payson  and  Stata.  Grace  mar- 
ried Seward  Woodruff,  and  they  are  living 
in  Oregon.  Stata  is  the  wife  of  A.  F. 
Matthews,  of  Chicago.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bet- 
ebenner are  the  parents  of  three  children — 
E.  Payson,  Ruth  W.  and  Charles  Sammis. 
E.  Payson  died  in  1883. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Betebenner  attend  the 
Presbyterian  church.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat.  PVaternally  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Masons  and  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows.  In  1898  he  was  ap- 
pointed superintendent  of  the  Ogle  county 
almshouse  and  is  now  in  charge  of  that  in- 
stitution. 


JAMES  DONALDSON,  an  honored  pio- 
neer and  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Ogle  county,  has  resided  here  since  Ma}-, 
1839,  and  for  many  years  was  prominently 
and  actively  identified  with  its  agricultural 
interests.  He  bore  his  part  in  the  early 
development  and  prosperity  of  this  region, 
but  is  now  living  retired  upon  his  farm  on 
section  \2,  Eagle  Point  townsliip,  only 
three  miles  northwest  of  Polo. 

A    native    of  New  York,  Mr,   Donaldson 


was  born  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Champlain, 
Washington  county,  January  4,  i82r,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  Donaldson,  who  was 
born  in  Northumberland  county,  England, 
May  5,  1795,  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  there 
grew  to  manhood.  There  he  was  also 
married  to  Miss  Isabella  McDonald,  who 
was  born  at  Berwick  on  the  Tweed,  Eng- 
land, of  Scotch  ancestry.  Being  reared  on 
a  farm,  the  father  early  became  familiar 
with  all  the  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of 
the  agriculturist,  and  engaged  in  farm  work 
in  his  native  land  until  1820,  when  he  emi- 
grated to  America  and  first  located  in 
Washington  county,  New  York,  where  he 
continued  to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits 
for  four  years,  during  which  time  two  of  his 
children  were  born.  His  next  home  was  at 
Little  York,  Ontario,  Canada,  and  there  he 
engaged  in  his  chosen  occupation  for  fifteen 
years.  Coming  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in 
1839,  he  bought  a  claim  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  in  what  is  now  Eagle 
Point  township,  forty  acres  of  which  had 
been  placed  under  cultix'ation  and  a  log 
house  erected  thereon.  In  that  primitive 
residence  the  family  lived  while  the  farm 
was  being  developed  and  improved.  Later 
a  good  frame  house  was  built,  also  a  good  barn 
and  outbuildings,  and  an  orchard  set  out. 
The  father  was  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
and  successful  early  farmers,  and  having 
prospered  in  his  life  work,  he  was  at  length 
able  to  lay  aside  all  business  cares  and 
spend  his  last  years  in  ease  and  retirement. 
He  sold  the  farm  to  his  youngest  son,  and 
upon  a  part  of  the  place  erected  a  residence 
where  he  li\ed  imtil  called  from  this  life  in 
March,  1870,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
3'ears.  His  wife  survived  him  for  some 
time,  passing  away  in  November,  1884,  and 
both    were    buried    in    Fairmont    cemetery, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


where  a  substantial  monument  marks  their 
last  resting  place. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters, 
all  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity. 
Walter,  the  eldest,  was  born  in  England 
and  spent  his  last  days  in  Brookville  town- 
ship. Ogle  county;  James,  our  subject,  is 
the  next  in  order  of  birth;  John  is  now  liv- 
ing retired  in  Morengo,  Illinois;  Margaret  is 
the  wife  of  John  S.  Miller,  an  old  settler 
and  substantial  farmer  of  Eagle  Point  town- 
ship. Ogle  county;  Isabella  is  the  wife  of 
Patterson  Pringle,  of  Morengo;  ^^^illiam 
was  a  resident  of  Ogle  county,  but  is  now 
deceased;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Eber 
Smith,  of  Buffalo  township, thiscounty;Jane 
is  the  wife  of  Alexander  Havvver,  of  Ded- 
ham,  Carroll  county,  Iowa;  and  Flora  W. 
is  the  wife  of  John  Bruce,  of  Dedham, 
Iowa. 

James  Donaldson,  of  this  review,  was 
about  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  accom- 
panied the  farnih-  on  their  removal  to  Ogle 
county,  and  he  was  of  great  assistance  to 
his  father  in  opening  up  and  developing 
the  farm  from  wild  land.  When  his  serv- 
ices were  not  needed  at  home  he  would 
work  for  others  at  farm  labor.  He  and  his 
brother  ^^'alter  were  experts  in  the  use  of 
the  ax  and  in  the  groves  of  this  region  were 
employed  in  getting  out  the  timbers  for 
many  of  the  houses  and  barns  of  the  early 
settlers.  Until  twenty-five  years  of  age  he 
continued  to  aid  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm  and  then  located  upon  a  one- 
hundred-acre  tract  in  Eagle  Point  township 
which  his  father  gave  him.  To  its  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  he  devoted  his  atten- 
tion with  most  gratifying  results  and  made 
his  home  thereon  for  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
during  which  time  he  bought  more  land  ad- 


joining, making  a  valuable  tract  of  four 
hundred  and  eighteen  acres.  Later  he 
built  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  and 
now  has  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  of 
the  township.  There  is  a  large  and  sub- 
stantial residence  ami  good  outbuildings. 
Mr. Donaldson  met  with  most  excellent  suc- 
cess in  his  farming  operations  but  for  the 
past  ten  years  has  lived  retired,  enjoying  a 
well  earned  rest. 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1S4S,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Donaldson  and 
Miss  Locada  J.  Seavey,  who  was  born  in 
Sandwich,  New  Hampshire,  January  8, 
I  S3 1.  Her  father,  Joshua  Seavey,  was  a 
native  of  Rye  Beach,  the  same  state,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Miss 
Betsy  Webster,  a  cousin  of  the  great  states- 
man, Daniel  Webster.  In  1840  Mr.  Seavey 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Dixon,  in 
Lee  county,  where  Mrs.  Donaldson  was 
reared.  To  our  subject  and  his  wife  were 
born  nine  children,  namely:  Elizabeth 
Isabel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years; 
Mary  Josephine,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen;  Walter  Atwood,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  fifteen;  John  James,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six;  Alice,  who  married  M.  P.  Strall 
and  lived  in  Iowa,  where  she  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1S91,  leaving  ten  children;  Emma 
Frances,  who  married  Zelus  L.  Shafer  and 
also  lived  in  Iowa,  where  she  died  in  Octo- 
ber, 1891,  leaving  an  infant  daughter,  Emma 
Frances,  who  now  lives  with  our  subject  and 
is  attending  the  home  school;  William,  who 
is  married,  and  he  and  his  brother  carry  on 
the  home  farm;  Gertie,  wife  of  Nelson  B. 
Sweet,  a  farmer  of  Eagle  Point  township; 
and  Sherman  B.,  who  owns  and  operates  a 
farm  in  Buffalo  township,  this  count}'. 
There  are  now  fourteen  grandchildren  and 
two   great-grandchildren.      On   the   31st    of 


134 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


May,  189S,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donaldson  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding,  at  which  time 
all  of  their  living  children  and  grandchildren 
in  this  vicinity  were  present,  and  a  most 
enjoyable  time  was  passed. 

Politically,  Mr.  Donaldson  is  a  Jeffer- 
sonian  Democrat,  having  cast  his  first  presi- 
nential  ballot  for  James  K.  Polk  in  1844, 
and  for  each  succeeding  candidate  of  his 
party  but  two.  In  1896  he  supported 
Palmer  and  Buckner  on  the  gold  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  He  has  never  desired  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  attention  to  his  own 
interests.  For  si.xty  years  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Ogle  county  and  has  watched 
with  interest  almost  its  entire  growth  and 
development.  He  has  seen  the  wolves  and 
deer  disappear,  town  and  villages  spring  up, 
the  railroads  and  telegraphs  introduced,  and 
the  wild  land  transformed  into  fine  farms 
and  good  homes.  He  has  borne  his  part  in 
the  work,  and  has  ever  been  recognized  as 
one  of  the  valued  and  useful  citizens  of  his 
community,  one  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  know  him. 


JAMES  WESLEY  CARR,  a  skillful  and 
thorough  farmer  residing  on  section  19, 
Rockvale  township,  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  in  Fulton  county,  September  4, 
1845,  and  is  a  representative  of  an  old  fam- 
ily of  that  state.  His  grandfather,  George 
Carr,  was  probably  a  native  of  Center  coun- 
ty, that  state,  as  it  was  there  he  made  his 
home  from  early  life,  his  time  and  attention 
being  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
married  Louise  Sanders  and  to  them  were 
born  three  children:  Samuel,  a  laborer, 
resided  in  Blair  county,  Pennsylvania,  until 
his  death  in  1846;  George  \\'. ,  our  subject's 
father;   and  William,  a  carpenter,  who  was 


residing  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  at  the 
time  of  his  death. 

George  W.  'Carr  was  born  in  Center 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  there 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  twenty-two,  at- 
tending the  common  schools  during  the 
winter  months  and  aiding  his  father  in  the 
work  of  the  farm  through  the  summer  sea- 
son. On  leaving  home  he  came  to  Fulton 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  continued 
to  engage  in  the  occupation  to  which  he  had 
been  reared.  He  wedded  Miss  Margaret 
McLean,  who  was  born  in  Huntingdon 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1823,  a  daughter 
of  Eli  McLean,  and  to  them  were  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
eldest.  Ella,  the  ne.xt  in  order  of  birth,  is 
now  the  wife  of  James.H.  Stevens,  a  farmer 
of  Mt.  Morris  township.  Ogle  county;  George 
W.  is  represented  on  another  page  of  this 
work;  John  Ervin  married  Sarah  Angel  and 
lives  in  Rockvale  township.  Ogle  county; 
William  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years; 
McClure  married  Annie  Beard  and  lives  in 
Wichita  county,  Kansas;  Elliot  Duffield 
married,  and  is  foreman  for  an  elec- 
tric line  at  Omaha,  Nebraska;  Mary  Jane 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  Sylvester  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years;  and  Amanda  and 
Ferdinand  Avery,  of  Rockvale  township, 
Ogle  county. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  James 
W.  Carr  pursued  his  studies  in  the  district 
schools  near  the  old  home  farm  in  Fulton 
county,  and  aided  in  the  labors  of  the  fields. 
After  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  nineteen, 
he  devoted  his  entire  time  to  the  work  of 
the  farm  until  attaining  his  majority.  Dur- 
ing the  following  two  years  he  was  employed 
by  Reuben  Faust  in  Franklin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. He  then  came  west  and  settled 
in   Mt.    Morris  township.  Ogle   county,  lUi- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


135 


nois,  where  he  worked  by  the  month  for  a 
year,  but  in  1870  located  upon  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  which  he  rented 
for  three  years.  The  following  three  years 
were  spent  on  Mr.  Phelps'  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-nine  acres,  and  for  the 
same  length  of  time  he  lived  on  the  David 
Gloss  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
In  1876  he  bought  one  hundred  and  eight 
acres,  lying  partly  in  Mt.  Morris  and  partly  in 
Rockvale  townships.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources have  increased  he  has  kept  adding 
to  his  property,  purchasing  eighty  acres  in 

1878,  and  since  then  two  tracts  of  forty 
acres,  one  of  which  was  timber  land,  and 
in  1894  purchased  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  making  three 
hundred  and  ninety-eight  acres  in  all.  This 
property  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  improved  until  it  is  now 
one  of  the  best   farms  in  the  community. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  186S,  Mr. 
Carr  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Liz- 
zie Rowe,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Rowe,  of 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  She  was 
born  in  Maryland,  in  1840,  and  died  Octo- 
ber 10,  1877.  Four  children  were  born  of 
that  union:  Alice,  born  July  10,  1869, 
died  September  4,  1S89,  from  dropsy 
brought  on  by  catching  cold  while  attend- 
ing college.  Charlie,  born  October  6,  1871, 
was  married,  in  June,  1894,  to  Belle  Good- 
rich, a  daughter  of  George  and  Fidelia 
Goodrich,  and  they  now  have  one  child, 
Charlie  Guy,  born  in  March,  1898.  Char- 
lotte, born  November  4,  1S73,  died  with 
measles  in  April,  1877.  Harvey,  born  Sep- 
tember 4,  1876,  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  and  Mount  Morris  College,  and  now 
assists  his  father  on  the  farm. 

Mr.  Carr  was  again  married,    March  4, 

1879,  his   second    union    being    with   Miss 


Katie  S.  Angel,  who  was  born  in  Maryland, 
October  19,  1855,  and  is  the  second  child 
in  the  family  of  Uriah  and  Mahala  (Koontz) 
Angel,  who  brought  their  family  to  Illinois 
in  1878.  By  the  second  marriage  six  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  namely:  Orville  B. , 
born  December  23,  1879,  died  February  20, 
1880;  Elmer  B.,  born  July  20,  1881,  died 
January  29,  18S2;  Mina  Pearl,  born  Sep- 
tember 12,  1883,  is  at  present  attending  the 
home  school;  Wilbur  J.,  born  September 
12,  1885,  died  of  diphtheria  September  19, 
1S94;  Alva  Harrison,  born  February  13, 
1887,  died  August  25,  18S9;  and  Vernie 
May,  born  May  2,  1890,  is  attending  the 
district  school.  The  wife  and  mother  is  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
The  Republican  party  always  finds  in 
Mr.  Carr  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  princi- 
ples, but  he  has  never  cared  for  the  honors 
or  emoluments  of  public  office,  preferring  to 
devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  interests.  He  has,  however,  served 
as  school  director  for  three  years.  On  com- 
ing to  Ogle  county  he  had  but  one  hundred 
and  ninety  dollars,  and  the  success  that  he 
has  achieved  in  life  has  been  due  to  his  own 
industry  and  well-directed  efforts. 


SQUIRE  ROLFE.— Prominent  among 
the  successful  and  energetic  farmers  of 
Marion  township  may  be  found  the  subject 
of  this  biographical  notice,  whose  home  is 
pleasantly  located  on  section  15,  and  who 
is  considered  one  of  the  most  industrious 
and  worthy  citizens  of  Ogle  county.  Be- 
sides his  home  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  he  owns  another  valuable  place 
of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  in  the  same 
township,  known  as  the  old  Blye  homestead. 


i.s6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


This  he  purchased  in  1895,  has  made  some 
substantial  improvements  upon  it,  and  now 
has  two  valuable  and  desirable  farms. 

Mr.  Rolfe  was  born  in  Tompkins  coun- 
ty, New  York,  September  21,  1829,  and  is 
a  son  of  Chester  I\olfe,  a  nati\'e  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  a  grandson  of  Samuel  Rolfe,  also 
a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  a  pioneer  settler 
of  Tompkins  county,  New  York,  where  the 
father  grew  to  manhood.  There  he  mar- 
ried Matilda  Kirkendall,  a  native  of  New 
York,  and  in  Tompkins  county  they  made 
their  home  throughout  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  He  died  in  Rockford,  Illinois, 
at  the  home  of  his  son,  Henry,  while  on  a 
visit  to  his  son,  but  his  remains  were  taken 
back  to  New  York  and  interred  by  the  side 
of  his  wife,  who  had  passed  away  several 
3ears  previously.  Their  family  consisted 
of  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  man  and  womanhood,  but  only  our 
subject  and  three  sisters  are  now  living. 
Henry  came  west  and  located  in  Ogle  coun- 
ty, but  later  removed  to  Rockford,  where 
he  spent  his  last  3'ears.  Levi,  the  oldest 
son,  was  a  pioneer  of  \\'aukesha  county, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  opened  up  a  farm  and 
continued  to  live  until  his  death.  Edgar 
and  Frank  both  died  on  the  old  homestead 
in  New  York  in  early  manhood. 

Squire  Rolfe  obtained  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  eighteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  Enfield  Center,  New  York, 
to  learn  the  carriagemaker's  trade,  serving 
a  three-years'  apprenticeship.  For  a  year 
or  two  he  worked  as  a  journejinan,  but  in 
the  fall  of  1S54  he  and  his  brother  Henry 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Ogle  coun- 
ty, where  he  continued  to  follow  his  trade 
for  four  j'ears.  The  brothers  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Marion  township,  in 


1855,  which  they  at  once  commenced  to  im- 
prove and  cultivate,  it  being  operated  by 
Henry  for  two  or  three  years,  when  he  went 
to  California.  During  the  war  Squire  Rolfe 
engaged  in  carriage  making  and  also  had 
charge  of  the  farm,  and  when  his  brother 
returned  they  carried  it  on  together  for  a 
few  years.  They  finally  sold  and  bought  a 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Scott  township,  to  the  further  development 
and  cultivation  of  which  they  devoted  their 
time  and  attention  for  five  years.  They 
erected  thereon  a  good  house  and  barn  and 
made  many  other  useful  and  valuable  im- 
provements. Selling  out  at  the  end  of  that 
time  Squire  Rolfe  purchased  his  present 
home  farm  in  1873,  and  has  converted  it 
into  one  of  the  best  and  most  attractive 
places  in  Marion  township.  In  connection 
with  general  farming  he  is  also  interested  in 
breeding  and  dealing  in  a  good  grade  of 
horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

On  the  I  ith  of  March,  1874,  in  Marion 
township,  Mr.  Rolfe  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  A.  Comstock,  daughter  of  Hi- 
ram and  Jane  (Lamphier)  Comstock.  She  is 
anative  of  Herkimer  county, New  York, born 
November  22,  1847,  and  came  west  with 
her  step-father,  Nathan  Bly,  in  1854,  and 
located  in  that  township,  where  she  was 
principally  reared  and  educated.  Mr.  Rolfe 
cast  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  General 
\\'infield  Scott,  four  years  later  supported 
John  C.  Fremont,  and  for  many  years  was 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  but  in 
1896  supported  the  Democratic  nominee. 
For  forty-four  years  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  interests  of  this  county,  and  in  all 
enterprises  tending  to  benefit  the  people  of 
the  community,  morally,  socially  or  finan- 
cially, he  has  been  an  earnest  and  cheerful 
worker,  and   now  while  traveling   down  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


137 


sunset  hill  of  life  he  has  reason  to  be  com- 
forted that  his  3'ears  and  labors  have  not 
been  in  vain. 


DAVID  NEWCOMER,  M.  D. ,  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  acentur}'  has  been  a 
resident  of  Mount  Morris,  where  he  has  been 
actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  is  a  native  of  Franklin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  born  near  Greencastle,  July 
26,  1830,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Bar- 
bara (Stoner)  Newcomer,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Maryland,  the  former  born 
in  November,  1800,  near  Hagerstown,  Wash- 
ington county,  and  the  latter  in  June,  iSoi, 
near  Lightersburg,  inthe  samecounty.  Dan- 
iel Newcomer  was  the  son  of  Peter  New- 
comer, also  a  native  of  Maryland  and  a  farm- 
er and  miller  by  occupation.  On  both  the 
paternal  and  maternal  sides  the  family  trace 
their  ancestr}'  to  Switzerland. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four  Daniel  New- 
comer inarried  Barbara  Stoner,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as 
follows:  Elizabeth,  born  in  1822,  married 
John  Brandt  and  they  had  seven  children. 
They  removed  to  this  county  at  an  early 
day,  but  both  are  now  deceased.  John, 
born  in  1S26,  married  Catherine  Middour, 
and  they  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  are 
living.  He  died  October  2,  1872,  but  his 
widow  is  yet  living  and  makes  her  home  in 
Chicago.  Cyrus  B.,  born  in  1828,  married 
Elizabeth  Haws,  and  to  them  were  born 
seven  children.  He  died  in  1896,  but  his 
widow  is  yet  living  in  Mount  Morris  town- 
ship. David,  next  in  order  of  birth,  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Daniel  W. ,  born  in 
1832,  married  Margaret  Walter,  and  to 
them  were    born   five  children.      They    now 

15 


reside  in  Polo,  where  he  is  living  a  retired 
life.  Martin  S.,  born  in  1838,  married 
Anna  C.  Funk,  and  si.x  children  were  born 
of  this  union.  His  wife  dying,  he  later 
married  Miss  Bergstrum.  They  now  reside 
in  Decatur,  Illinois.  He  is  a  minister  of  the 
Church  of  God.  Barbara,  born  in  1835, 
married  Abram  Miller,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  eleven  children.  Mr.  Miller  is 
deceased,  and  his  widow  now  resides  near 
Freeport.   Illinois, 

Shortly  after  his  marriage,  Daniel  New- 
comer moved  to  Franklin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, reared  his  family,  and  there  continued 
to  reside  until  1S65,  when  he  came  to  Ogle 
county  and  located  in  Buffalo  township, 
where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed. 
He  died  in  1875,  his  wife  preceding  him 
some  years,  dying  in  1873.  In  early  life  he 
was  an  old  two  line  Whig,  with  which  party 
he  continued  to  act  until  it  ceased  to  e.xist. 
Having  a  dislike  for  slavery,  he  naturally  be- 
came a  Republican  on  the  organization  of 
that  party.  He  lived  to  see  slavery  abol- 
ished and  the  union  of  states  restored.  With 
the  Republican  party  he  continued  to  affil- 
iate until  his  death.  Religiously,  he  was 
identified  with  the  River  Brethren,  as  was 
also  his  wife.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  re- 
ligious convictions  and  endeavored  to  walk 
in  the  footsteps  of  the  Master. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained 
at  home  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
His  primary  education  was  obtained  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  which 
was  supplemented  by  attending  Shady  Grove 
Academy,  in  Perry  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  remained  one  year.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  farming,  continuing  in  that  line  for 
three  years.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he 
entered  the  office  of  Dr.  James  Brotherton, 


i38 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


of  Waynesboro,  Pennsylvania,  and  read 
medicine  under  iiis  instruction  for  a  time, 
and  later  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  taking  the  regular  course,  and 
graduating  therefrom  in  1859.  On  receiv- 
ing his  diploma,  he  went  to  Upton,  in  his 
native  state,  opened  an  office  and  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
was  building  up  a  good  practice  at  that 
place  when  the  war  for  the  union  com- 
menced. Offering  his  services  to  his  coun- 
try, he  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  immediately  went 
to  the  front.  His  service  began  in  May, 
1862,  being  mustered  in  at  Camp  Curtin, 
near  Harrisburg.  From  Camp  Curtin  he 
was  sent  to  St.  Joseph  hospital,  a  military 
hospital  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained 
two  months,  and  then  joined  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  under  McClellan,  taking  part  in 
the  campaign  in  the  Chickahominy  valley, 
being  in  the  seven^days'  fight  in  the  Wilder- 
ness. While  in  this  campaign  he  was  taken 
quite  sick  and  resigned  his  commission.  Re- 
turning home  he  resumed  his  practice  as 
soon  as  his  health  would  admit.  He  re- 
mained at  home  about  a  year  and  a  half 
and  again  went  into  the  service  as  acting 
assistant  surgeon,  being  stationed  at  Bever- 
ly hospital,  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  re- 
mained until  about  the  close  of  the  war, 
when  he  again  returned  to  Upton.  From 
that  place  he  later  removed  to  Martinsburg, 
West  Virginia,  where  he  remained  four  and 
a  half  years,  in  the  meantime  building  up  a 
fair  practice.  In  March,  1871,  he  came  to 
Mt.  Morris,  and  for  twenty-eight  years  has 
attended  to  the  ills  of  the  people  of  that 
city  and  vicinity,  meeting  with  very  grati- 
fying success. 

On  the  1 8th   of    November,    1851,    Dr. 


Newcomer  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Shelley  Funk,  a  native  of  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  born  April  30,  1S31, 
and  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
(Shelley)  Funk,  both  of  whom  were  also 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  born  in 
1803,  and  the  latter  in  1806.  By  occupa- 
tion Jacob  Funk  was  a  farmer.  He  never 
came  west,  but  died  in  his  native  state 
February  6,  1850.  His  wife  survived  him 
many  years,  dying  March  27,  1891.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children — Henry, 
Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  David,  Mary,  Christian, 
Cyrus,  Susan,  Joseph,  Annie  C. ,  Martin  S. 
and  Jacob.  Catherine  Funk  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Christian  and  Madeline  (Hershey) 
Shelley,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
both  born  in  1769. 

To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Newcomer  si.x  children 
were  born,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  living  are;  (i)  Catherine,  born  May  30, 
1855,  married  N.  W.  Sollenberger,  and  they 
have  three  children — Harry  C,  Hugh  Hale 
and  Earl.  Mr.  Sollenberger  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  North  Dakota.  (2)  Barbara 
Alice,  born  June  18,  1856,  married  Rev.  J. 
W.  Thomas,  a  minister  of  the  general  synod 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  recently  located  at 
Lanark,  but  now  residing  at  Mt.  Morris. 
(3)  David  W.,  born  November  20,  1858, 
married  Nellie  McFadden,  and  they  have 
six  children — Henry,  Edward,  David,  Frank, 
Minnie  and  Earl.  They  reside  in  Kansas 
City,  Missouri,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
undertaking  and  livery  business.  (4)  H.  C, 
born  April  30,  1861,  married  Rebecca 
Rosier,  and  they  have  two  children — Sidney 
and  Francis.  They  reside  in  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  where  he  has  charge  of  an  engin- 
eering corps.  He  is  a  graduate  of  \\'est 
Point,  in  the  class  of  1886,  graduating  at 
the    head  of  his  class.      He  holds  the  com- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


139 


mission  of  captain  in  the  regular  army,    but 
is  now  attached  to  the  engineering  corps. 

Politically  Dr.  Newcomer  is  a  Republic- 
an, but  his  professional  duties  have  always 
been  such  as  to  prevent  him  from  taking  a 
very  active  part  in  political  affairs.  While 
preferring  to  give  his  time  to  his  profession 
he  served  as  president  of  the  village  board 
in  a  commendable  manner.  For  years  he 
has  been  connected  with  the  Ogle  County 
Medical  Society,  and  for  several  years  was 
its  president.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  Order,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  John  Smith  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Mt. 
Morris.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  for  two  years  served  as  deacon. 
He  is  very  popular  in  the  county  of  his 
adoption,  not  only  as  a  physician,  but  as 
a  citizen,  and  his  friends  are  numerous  in- 
deed. 


JAMES  MYERS  is  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative pioneers  and  honored  citizens 
of  Ogle  county,  where  he  first  located  in 
the  spring  of  1S37.  For  many  years  he 
was  actively  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  this  section  of  the  state,  but 
is  now  living  retired  in  the  village  of  Leaf 
River,  enjoying  the  rest  which  should  al- 
ways follow  a  long  and  busy  career. 

Mr.  Myers  is  a  native  of  Maryland, 
born  in  Washington  county,  July  22,  1829, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Muers,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  the  same  state  in  1800.  On 
reaching  manhood  the  latter  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Her,  also  a  native  of  Maryland. 
The  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1837,  driving 
to  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  and  thence 
proceeding  down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi  and    Illinois    rivers    to    Peru,    this 


state.  From  that  place  he  drove  across 
the  country  to  Ogle  county  and  in  Leaf 
River  township  laid  claim  to  four  hundred 
and  twenty-four  acres,  which  he  later  en- 
tered from  the  government.  At  that  time 
the  country  was  all  wild  and  unimproved, 
no  roads  constructed  or  bridges  built.  Mr. 
Myers  was  compelled  to  go  to  Peru  to  mill, 
and  would  haul  part  of  his  grain  and  pork 
to  Chicago,  where  he  bought  most  of  his 
supplies,  while  at  times  he  did  his  market- 
ing at  Mt.  Carroll  and  Grand  Detour.  In 
crossing  sloughs  his  wagon  would  often 
stick  fast  in  the  mud  and  he  was  obliged  to 
take  the  load  off  and  carry  it  to  firmer 
ground.  On  hills  or  elevations  he  put  up 
stakes  as  land  marks  to  guide  him  across 
the  open  prairies.  He  had  two  plows  with 
wooden  moll  board,  and  his  harrows  had 
wooden  teeth,  and  with  these  rude  imple- 
ments he  managed,  however,  to  break  and 
cultivate  his  place.  He  located  first  in 
Maryland  township,  where  he  built  a  log 
house  with  a  mud  and  stick  chimney,  but 
after  living  there  two  or  three  years  he 
elected  a  more  substantial  residence  of 
hewed  logs  upon  his  claim  in  Leaf  River 
township.  He  also  built  a  separate  kitchen 
and  good  outbuildings,  which  in  later  years 
were  replaced  b}'  modern  frame  structures. 
Upon  his  farm  he  passed  away  in  the 
spring  of  1876  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years,  and  his  wife  died  in  1892,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two. 

Fifteen  children  were  born  to  this  worthy 
couple,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  all 
reached  man  and  womanhood,  and  five 
sons  and  five  daughters  are  now  living. 
William,  who  married  and  settled  in  Winne- 
bago county,  Illinois,  is  now  deceased; 
James  is  the  second  eldest  son;  Henry  is  a 
farmer  of  Linn  county,    Iowa;    Jacob   i?  a 


140 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


farmer  of  Stephenson  count}-,  Illinois;  and 
John  and  David  are  both  farmers  in  Ogle 
county.  The  sisters  are  Amanda,  wife  of 
Silas  Snyder,  both  now  deceased;  Mary, 
deceased  wife  of  John  Piper;  Susan,  wife  of 
John  L.  Smith;  Adaline,  wife  of  Joseph 
Kendall,  a  farmer  of  Ogle  county;  Sarah, 
wife  of  Joseph  Folder,  of  Ogle  county; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Jacob  Shriver,  of  Ogle 
county;  and  Martha,  wife  of  George  Grove, 
of  Ogle  county. 

James  Myers  was  a  lad  of  eight  years 
when  he  came  with  the  family  to  Ogle 
county,  and  here  he  grew  to  manhood, 
assisting  in  opening  up  and  developing  the 
home  farm.  After  attaining  his  majority  he 
operated  the  place  for  four  years,  and  then 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Ridott  town- 
ship, Stephenson  county,  which  he  con- 
verted into  a  fine  farm,  it  being  one  of  the 
best  improved  places  in  the  township.  He 
erected  thereon  a  commodious  frame  resi- 
dence, a  good  barn,  granary  and  other  out- 
buildings, and  placed  the  land  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  For  twenty-four  years 
he  was  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in 
farming  upon  that  place,  but  now  rents  the 
farm  and  lives  retired  in  Leaf  River,  where 
he  bought  a  lot  and  built  a  comfortable 
residence. 

At  Freeport,  Illinois,  September  30, 
1857,  Mr.  Myers  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Caroline  Matilda  Allen,  who  was  born 
in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  12, 
1838.  Her  parents,  Peter  and  Sarah  Allen, 
also  natives  of  that  county,  came  to  Illinois 
in  1854,  and  bought  an  improved  farm  in 
Ogle  county,  where  they  spent  their  last 
years. 

On  national  issues,  Mr.  Myers  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  but  at  local 
elections  he  votes  independently,  supporting 


the  man  whom  he  believes  best  qualified 
to  fill  the  ofSce.  He  and  his  wife  are 
earnest  and  faithful  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  assisted  in  its  organization,  and  he 
has  served  as  deacon  and  trustee  since  it 
was  started,  while  Mrs.  Myers  gave  the  lot, 
adjoining  their  own  home,  on  which  the 
church  was  built.  Their  many  sterling 
traits  of  character  have  endeared  them  to 
all,  and  it  is  sate  to  say  that  no  couple  in 
the  community  have  more  or  warmer  friends 
than  Mr.  and  Mrs.   Myers. 


AMOS  A.  SHEFFIELD,  deceased,  was 
a  well-known  farmer  of  Grand  Detour 
township,  and  the  proprietor  of  the  Sheffield 
House,  in  the  village  of  Grand  Detour.  He 
was  born  September  5,  1S28,  in  North 
Stonington,  Connecticut,  and  was  the  son 
of  Amos  and  Nancy  ( Baldwin)  Sheffield,  both 
of  whom  were  also  natives  of  the  Nutmeg 
state.  In  his  native  state  he  remained  until 
he  was  seventeen  years  old,  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Otsego  county. 
New  York,  where  they  made  a  permanent 
home.  His  father  was  a  wheelwright  by 
trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  almost 
exclusively  in  Connecticut,  but  on  his  re- 
moval to  New  York  he  engaged  in  fanning, 
only  occasionally  working  at  his  trade. 
His  last  days  were  spent  in  Otsego  county, 
his  death  occurring  many  years  ago. 

In  his  native  state  our  subject  received 
a  limited  education,  but  his  native  shrewd- 
ness served  him  instead  of  the  thorough 
school  training  that  he  would  have  been 
pleased  to  have  had.  He  remained  at  home 
and  assisted  his  father  until  after  attaining 
his  majority.  His  marriage  was  celebrated 
October  9,  1852,  when  Miss  Elizabeth  Sco- 
field    became   his    wife.      She   was    born    in 


AMOS    A.   SHEFFIELD. 


MRS.  A.  A.   SHEFFIELD. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


'45 


Otsego  county,  New  York,  March  5,  1833,  making  it  the  commodious  house  as  it  now 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Hezekiah  and  Vashti  exists.  \Mien  the  repairs  on  the  house 
(Cole)  Scofield,  both  of  whom  were  natives  were  all  completed,  it  was  opened  as  a  hotel, 
of  New  York.  Before  leaving  New  York,  which  he  named  after  himself,  the  Sheffield 
one  son,  William  Eugene,  was  born.  In  House.  His  attention  ever  after  was  divided 
mfanc}'  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illi-  between  his  hotel  and  farm,  and  on  the 
nois,  and  here  grew  to  manhood,  and  March  latter  he  raised  a  good  grade  of  stock  in 
6,  1S79,  married  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  J.  Fox-  which  he  took  considerable  pride. 
\ey,  born  January  15,  1S55,  and  a  daughter  After  coming  to  Illinois,  four  more  chil- 
of  John  and  Jane  (Reynolds)  Foxley,  her  dren  were  born:  May  U.,  now  the  wife  of 
father  being  a  farmer  in  Grand  Detour  town-  Dr.  James  Parkhurst,  of  Grand  Detour; 
ship.  By  this  union  two  sons  were  born —  Charles  A.,  of  whom  mention  is  made  further 
Arthur  E.,  born  April  9,  1S87,  and  Nelson  along  in  this  sketch;  Mark  S.  and  Amos  H., 
F. ,  born  January  30,  i  S90.  In  politics  who  are  carrying  on  the  home  farm. 
William  E.  Sheffield  is  a  Republican,  and  Charles  A.  Sheffield  was  born  October 
has  served  as  supervisor  of  his  township  one  i^,  1S62,  in  the  village  of  Grand  Detour, 
term,  six  terms  as  township  clerk,  three  years  and  was  educated  in  its  public  schools.  His 
as  school  director,  twelve  j'ears  as  notary  life  has  mainly  been  spent  on  the  home 
public,  and  is  at  present  justice  of  the  peace.  farm,  but  he  has  on  occasions  engaged  in 
He  is  a  member  of  Grand  Detour  Camp,  other  lines  of  business.  In  188S  he  took 
No.  3683,  M.  W.  A.,  Ulysses  Grant  Garri-  charge  of  the  butter  making  in  the  cream- 
son.  No.  II,  K.  G.  Forsome  years  he  has  ery  of  Buell  Brothers,  Rock  Falls,  Illinois, 
been  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  busi-  In  1882  he  took  a  position  with  an  engin- 
ness  in  Grand  Detour,  and  has  a  very  eering  corps  at  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  engaged 
satisfactory  trade.  All  four  of  the  brothers  in  surveying  a  road  through  Iowa,  and  was 
belong  to  the  same  camp  of  M.  W.  A.  36S3.  with  the  corps  for  sometime.  In  politics 
Upon  coming  to  Illinois  about  1S55,  Mr.  he  is  independent  in  local  elections,  but  on 
Sheffield  first  located  in  Lee  county,  near  general  issues  he  affiliates  with  the  Democ- 
Dixon,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  racy.  In  1S94  he  was  elected  constable  of 
hundred  acres,  which  was  their  horn;  for  his  township  and  served  four  years.  In 
two  3'ear3.  Selling  that  farm,  he  moved  1S96  he  was  elected  highway  commissioner, 
into  D  xon,  where  he  remained  two  years.  which  position  he  \'et  fills.  On  the  20th  of 
In  November,  1S61,  lie  moved  to  Grand  June,  1895,  at  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  he 
Detour,  and  for  tsvo  or  three  years  culti-  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lottie 
vated  a  rented  farm,  and  then  bought  a  farm  Burhyte,  daughter  of  John  and  Matilda 
in  the  towmship,  about  two  miles  north  of  (Mclntyre)  Burhyte,  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis- 
the  village,    of   six    hundred    and  seventeen  consin. 

acres.      However,   he  made  his  home  in  the  Amos  A.  Sheffield  departed  this  life  jan- 

village    where    the    faii:ily    still    reside.      In  uary  22,    189S.      Three    brothers    and    one 

1S64,  he  purchased  the  present  home  of  the  sister  yet  survive   him,  as  follows;      George 

family  in  the  village,  and  soon  after  remod-  H.,  a  merchant  of  Holley,  New  York;   Rev. 

eled    the   house,   adding   to    its  dimensions,  Charles  A. ,  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  church, 


146 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


of  Topeka,  Kansas;  Dr.  D.  A.,  an  old  prac- 
titioner, of  Dixon,  Illinois;  and  Mrs.  Julia 
Lyon,  of  Gilbertsville,  New  York. 

Mr.  Sheffield  was  reared  in  tfie  Baptist 
faith,  in  which  in  early  life  he  was  a  mem- 
ber. Fraternally  he  was  a  member  of  Grand 
Detour  lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school,  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
party.  He  filled  a  number  of  local  positions 
of  honor  and  trust,  including  commissioner 
of  highways,  constable,  school  director, 
and  was  also  postmaster  of  Grand  Detour 
for  two  terms  under  Cleveland,  and  was  re- 
appointed by  McKinley.  After  his  death 
Mrs.  Sheffield  received  the  appointment, 
and  is  now  discharging  the  duties  of  the 
office.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  character 
and  worth,  thoroughly  honest,  of  good  busi- 
ness ability,  and  his  death  was  mourned  not 
alone  by  his  faithful  wife  and  family,  but 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. 


STEPHEN  B.  SHUART,  president  of 
the  Byron  Bank,  of  Byron,  Illinois,  has 
a  wide  reputation  as  a  most  capable  finan- 
cier and  occupies  a  position  of  no  little 
prominence  in  business  circles  in  Ogle 
county.  His  life  demonstrates  what  can 
be  accomplished  through  energy,  careful 
management,  keen  foresight  and  the  utili- 
zation of  powers  with  which  nature  has  en- 
dowed one,  and  the  opportunities  with 
which  the  times  surround  him. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Shuart  was  born 
in  Ashtabula  county.  May  15,  1837,  ^"d  '^ 
a  son  of  Stephen  Shuart,  who  was  born  in 
New  Jersey,  of  German  ancestry,  the  fam- 
ily having  been  founded  in  that  state  at  an 
early  day.      The   father   was  reared,   how- 


ever, in  New  York  and  there  married  Miss 
Mary  Beckwith,  a  native  of  Allegany  coun- 
ty. New  York.  About  1836  he  removed  to 
Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  but  spent  his  last 
years  in  Gerard,  Pennsylvania,  where  his 
death  occurred. 

When  a  lad  of  thirteen  years  Stephen 
B.  Shuart  left  home  to  begin  the  battle  of 
life  for  himself  as  a  farm  hand.  His  early 
school  privileges  were  limited  and  he  is 
mainly  self-educated,  having  devoted  con- 
siderable time  to  reading  and  study  in  later 
years.  Coming  west  in  1S57,  he  spent  the 
first  winter  in  work  upon  a  farm  near  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois,  but  the  following  spring  wit- 
nessed his  arrival  in  Ogle  county,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  Here  he  also 
worked  on  a  farm  during  the  summer  season 
and  the  first  winter  attended  a  country 
school,  but  during  the  winter  of  i860  pur- 
sued his  studies  in  the  high  school  at  Mt. 
Morris. 

His  patriotism  and  loyalty  to  country 
were  manifest  May  24,  1861,  by  his  enlist- 
ment in  Company  H,  Fifteenth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  as  a  private.  The  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  Western  Army,  and  was 
first  under  General  Fremont  in  Missouri. 
Later  they  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh,  Corinth,  Hatchie's  Run,  the  second 
battle  of  Corinth;  was  in  a  number  of  en- 
gagements around  Vicksburg,  and  helped  to 
take  that  stronghold.  Then  followed  the 
battles  of  Big  Black  and  Jackson,  after 
which  they  returned  to  Vicksburg,  and  from 
there  went  to  Natchez,  Mississippi.  Mr. 
Shuart  veteranized  and  returned  home  on  a 
si.xty  days'  furlough,  rejoining  his  regiment 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  He  was  then 
with  Sherman  on  the  memorable  march  to 
the  sea.  WHiile  his  company  was  acting  as 
rear   guard  at    Ackworth,    Georgia,    about 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


147 


two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  regiment,  in- 
cluding our  subject,  were  taken  prisoners 
by  Hood  and  sent  to  Andersonville,  where 
they  were  incarcerated  until  the  spring  of 
1865.  They  were  then  taken  to  Vicksburg, 
where  they  were  deserted  by  their  guard 
after  hearing  of  the  assassination  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln.  Mr.  Shuart  soon  returned 
north,  and  at  Springfield  was  honorably 
discharged  in  May,  1S65,  and  reached 
home  on  the  4th  of  July. 

The  following  year  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Marion  township.  Ogle  county, where 
he  first  purchased  forty  acres  of  wild  land, 
which  he  soon  converted  into  highly  culti- 
vated fields.  He  bought  more  land  from 
time  to  time  until  he  had  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres,  on  which  he  erected 
a  good  residence  and  made  many  other  im- 
provements which  added  to  its  value  and 
attractive  appearance.  Renting  his  farm 
in  1887,  he  removed  to  Byron,  where  he 
was  first  engaged  in  buying,  selling  and 
shipping  stock,  and  also  conducted  a 
butcher  shop  for  a  few  years  and  then  sold. 
In  1892,  in  partnership  with  other  gentle- 
men, he  purchased  the  Byron  Bank,  was 
elected  president  and  is  still  filling  th  it  posi- 
tion. They  do  a  general  banking  business 
and  their  patronage  extends  throughout  the 
county.  Besides  his  own  comfortable  home 
in  East  Byron,  Mr.  Stewart  has  other  resi- 
dence property,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the 
substantial  and  prosperous  citizens  of  the 
community. 

In  Ogle  county,  Mr.  Shuart  was  married 
in  1 866,  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Whittaker,  a  na- 
tive of  the  county  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Whiitaker,  one  of  its  first  settlers.  She 
died  in  1887,  leaving  one  daughter,  Emily, 
now  the  wife  of  Albert  Rosier,  of  Byron. 
Mr.  Shuart  was    again  married,  in  Allegany 


county.  New  York,  in  1888,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Cynthia  Londesberry, 
who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  that 
state. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Shuart  is  a 
pronunced  Republican,  casting  his  first  pres- 
idential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860, 
and  he  has  rendered  his  party  effective  ser- 
vice as  a  delegate  to  state  and  county  con- 
ventions. Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
Byron  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  with  which  he 
has  been  officially  connected  for  several 
years,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Eastern  Star,  in  which  she  is 
serving  as  treasurer  and  Mr.  Shuart  as 
worthy  patron.  He  is  a  courteous,  affable 
gentleman,  and,  above  all,  wherever  he  is 
found,  whether  in  public  or  private  life,  his 
integrity  is  above  question  and  his  honor 
above  reproach.  Byron  owes  much  to  him 
and  numbers  him  among  her  valued  citizens. 


HON.  FRANCIS  BACON,  one  of  the 
leading  attorneys  of  Oregon,  Illinois, 
is  well  known,  not  only  throughout  the 
county  of  Ogle,  but  throughout  the  state. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  city,  and  was  born 
August  21,  1858,  his  parents  being  Cap- 
tain Bowman  \V.  and  Almira  M.  (Robert- 
son) Bacon.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Huntington  Mills,  Luzerne  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, born  October  5,  1823,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1839,  locating 
in  Sterling,  Whiteside  county.  His  educa- 
tion, begun  in  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive state,  and  continued  in  the  schools  of 
Sterling,  was  completed  in  Rock  Ri\er 
Seminary,  quite  a  noted  institution  in  the 
early  days,  and  which  he  entered  in  1S46. 
After  completing  his  literary  studies  he  went 


148 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  Oregon,  and  entered   the  office  of  Henry 
A.  Mix  and   commenced   the  study  of  law. 

A  strong  union  man,  B.  W.  Bacon  of- 
fered his  services  to  his  country  in  the  hour 
of  its  peril,  and  on  the  15th  of  August, 
1S62,  entered  the  army,  receiving  a  com- 
mission as  captain  of  Company  C,  Seventy- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteerlnfantry.  His  regi- 
ment was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland under  General  Buell.  With  his 
regiment  and  company.  Captain  Bacon  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Kentucky, 
and  was  in  various  skirmishes  in  pursuit  of 
Bragg.  He  was  also  in  the  battles  of  Stone 
River,  Liberty  Gap,  and  was  in  the  Tulla- 
homa  e.xpedition.  Following  this  he  was 
in  the  fight  at  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge, 
Buzzard  Roost,  Calhoun,  Adairsville,  Dal- 
las, Lost  Mountain,  and  the  battle  of  Ken- 
saw  Mountain,  in  v.'hich  he  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  right  and  left  arms,  causing 
the  amputation  of  the  right  arm  July  12, 
and  of  the  left  a  week  later.  Too  weak 
to  stand  these  operations  ho  died  July  21, 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  with  his  devoted 
wife  at  his  side.  He  was  a  brave  and  gal- 
lant officer,  cool  and  self-possessed  in  the 
hottest  of  battle,  and  always  at  his  post  of 
duty.  He  was  patient  and  cheerful  through- 
out his  severe  sufferings  to  the  end.  For  gal- 
lant and  meritorious  service  a  commission  as 
colonel  was  sent  him  from  the  war  depart- 
ment, but  his  death  occurred  before  it  was 
received. 

Captain  Bacon  was  married  February  i, 
1852,  to  Mrs.  Almira  M.  Fuller,  ncc  Robert- 
son, widow  of  William  W.  Fuller,  in  his  day 
one  of  the  most  prominent  attorneys  of 
Oregon,  and  an  uncle  of  Margaret  Fuller. 
She  was  born  in  Ripley,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  November  27,  1S24,  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  1S40  in  company  with  her  pa- 


rents. In  1 84 1  she  entered  Rock  River 
Seminary,  from  which  she  was  later  gradu- 
ated. She  then  became  preceptress  in  that 
institution,  a  position  she  held  until  her 
marriage  with  Mr.  Fuller,  which  took  place 
March  3,  1S47.  Mr.  Fuller  died  August  17, 
1S49.  After  the  death  of  her  husband, 
Mrs.  Fuller  lived  in  widowhood  about  two 
and  a  half  years  and  then  married  Captain 
Bacon,  with  whom  she  spent  twelve  happy 
years.  Partly  to  divert  her  mind  and  to  be 
the  better  fitted  to  superintend  the  educa- 
tion of  her  only  son,  Francis,  she  entered 
the  Illinois  Normal  University  in  1866,  from 
which  she  was  graduated  in  1S70.  She  died 
in  May,  1896,  at  Oregon,  where  she  was 
held  in  high  esteem  for  her  mental  at- 
tainments as  well  as  for  her  estimable  quali- 
ties as  a  Christian  woman. 

Francis  Bacon,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  city, 
and  after  attending  the  public  schools  en- 
tered the  Highland  Military  Academy,  at 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  June,  1S77.  He  then  took  a 
regular  law  course  in  the  Columbian  Law 
School,  Washington,  District  of  Columbia, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  district  bar  in 
April,  1879,  being  the  youngest  person  ad- 
mitted at  that  time,  not  yet  having  reached 
his  twenty-first  year.  From  the  law  school 
he  graduated  the  following  June.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1880,  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Oregon,  and  soon  acquired 
a  prominent  position  and  recognition  as  an 
able  attorney.  In  1881  he  was  elected  city 
attorney  of  Oregon,  and  re-elected  in  18S3, 
but  later  resigned.  In  1887  he  was  elected 
mayor  of  Oregon,  and  re-elected  in  18S9. 
During  his  last  term  as  mayor,  the  city  was 
run  and  maintained,  and  various  improve- 
ments made,  without   levying  any  city  tax. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


149 


This  was  probably  the  only  case  of  the  kind 
in  a  city  the  size  of  Oregon. 

Mr.  Bacon  was  married  at  Dixon,  Illi- 
nois, June  23,  1881,  to  Kizzie  H.  Kennedy, 
a  daughter  of  William  Kennedy,  and  niece 
of  Mr.  Oliver  Ernest.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them — Francis  Everett  and 
Marion  Eugene. 

In  addition  to  carrying  on  a  very  lucra- 
tive law  practice,  Mr.  Bacon  conducts  a 
large  stock  farm  of  nearly  four  hundred 
acres  near  the  city  limits,  giving  it  his  per- 
sonal superintendence.  He  makes  a  spec- 
ialty of  breeding  Aberdeen-Angus  cattle,  in 
which  he  has  been  quite  successful.  He  is 
also  a  large  feeder,  and  ships  annually  sev- 
eral car  loads  of  cattle.  For  some  years 
he  has  taken  considerable  interest  in  mili- 
tary affairs,  and  is  now  captain  of  Company 
C,  Sons  of  Veterans  Regiment  Illinois  State 
Militia.  The  services  of  his  company  were 
offered  to  the  general  government  during 
the  war  with  Spain,  but  were  not  accepted, 
but  the  company  was  afterwards  on  duty 
at  Virden,  Illinois,  during  the  coal  strike  of 
1898. 

Mr.  Bacon  has  an  established  reputa- 
tion as  a  trial  lawyer,  and  is  engaged  in 
nearly  all  of  the  jury  cases.  Perhaps  his  grea- 
test successes  have  been  in  criminal  cases, 
and  but  two  or  three  criminals  defended  by 
him  have  been  committed  to  Joliet.  While 
serving  as  mayor  all  indebtedness  against 
the  city  was  cancelled  and  many  material 
improvements  were  made,  among  which 
was  the  extension  of  the  city  water  works, 
and  beneficial  changes  at  the  pumping  sta- 
tion and  in  the  fire  department.  The 
streets  were  carefully  attended  to,  stone 
crossings  being  laid  upon  all  the  principal 
thoroughfares,    and   the  streets  of  the   city 

were  lit  by  electricity.      Mr.    Bacon   has  al- 
io 


ways  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party 
and  his  services  have  been  in  demand  in  the 
various  campaigns  in  the  discussion  of  the 
principles  of  the  party.  Mr.  Bacon  is  a 
man  of  fine  physique,  with  a  corresponding 
heart,  and  either  as  a  private  citizen,  in  a 
professional  capacity,  or  in  his  officialduties, 
is  one  of  the  most  approachable  and  genial 
of  gentlemen,  and  well  deserves  the  high 
honor  bestowed  upon  him  by  his  fellow 
citizens. 


JOHN  H.  DAVIS,  a  retired  farmer,  resid- 
ing on  section  14,  Buffalo  township,  one 
mile  east  of  the  city  of  Polo,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Ogle  county  since  1864.  He 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
May  18,  1846.  His  father,  William  Davis, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county  and  state, 
born  about  1824.  He  there  married  Mar- 
garet Rohrer,  likewise  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  five  children,  as  follows:  John  H.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  William,  a  farmer  of 
Pine  Creek  township;  Martha,  wife  of  Hugh 
L.  Henry,  of  Johnson  county,  Kansas; 
James,  living  in  Buffalo  township;  and  Mary 
L. ,  wife  of  Columbus  Sheeley,  of  Pine 
Creek  township.  The  father  died  in  1856, 
a  young  man  of  thirty-two  years,  leaving  a 
widow  and  five  children.  With  true  moth- 
erly devotion  she  determined  to  do  the  best 
she  could  by  the  fatherless  ones.  In  1864 
she  came  with  the  family  to  Ogle  county 
and  made  a  permanent  location  in  Pine 
Creek  township,  and  there  she  still  resides, 
making  her  home  with  her  daughter. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  ten 
years  old  when  his  father  died,  and  but 
eighteen  when  he  accompanied  his  mother 
to   Ogle    county.     The  oldest    born,  much 


ISO 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


depended  upon  him  in  the  care  and  improve- 
ment of  the  farm,  and  his  opportunities  for 
obtaining  an  education  were  very  hmited. 
It  maybe  said  that  he  is  almost  wholly  self- 
educated,  the  knowledf^e  acquired  being 
principally  obtained  in  the  school  of  experi- 
ence. Soon  after  his  coming  to  the  county 
he  bought  an  interest  in  a  threshing  ma- 
chine, and  for  several  seasons  engaged  in 
threshing  grain  for  farmers  throughout  the 
county. 

Mr.  Davis  was  married  in  Pine  Creek 
township  in  February,  1870,  to  Miss  Maria 
C.  Powell,  also  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  but  who  came  to  Ogle 
county  in  childhood.  In  the  public  schools 
of  this  county  she  received  the  greater  part 
of  her  education.  She  is  a  sister  of  Sam- 
uel C.  Powell,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  on 
another  page  of  this  work.  By  this  union 
six  children  were  born,  two  of  whom  are 
now  living — Gertie  B. ,  a  young  lady,  at 
home;  and  C.  O.,  a  student  of  Eureka  Col- 
lege, of  the  class  of  1899.  The  deceased 
are  Carrie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years; 
Anna,  who  died  when  eighteen  years  old; 
Ray,  at  eight  months;  and  Minnie  Lee,  when 
about  five  months  old. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Davis  rented  a 
farm  in  Pine  Creek  township  a  few  years, 
and  then  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  the  same  township,  on 
which  he  resided  for  twenty-seven  years. 
In  1885  he  purchased  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides  and  which  he  rented  until  the 
spring  of  1897.  He  then  came  to  the  place 
and  has  since  made  it  his  home,  although  he 
rents  out  the  land  and  is  practically  living 
retired.  Since  coming  to  this  farm  he  has 
built  a  good  house  and  barn,  and  otherwise 
improved  the  place.  He  still  owns  the 
Pine  Creek  farm,  and  in  addition  has  seventy- 


eight  acres  in  another  locality,  and  sixty-two 
acres  in  still  another  locality.  Success  has 
crowned  his  efforts,  having  commenced  life 
almost  empty-handed,  but  he  has  been  in- 
dustrious and  persevering,  and  the  result  is 
seen  in  the  property  which  he  has  accum- 
mulated  and  his  well-tilled  fields. 

Politically  Mr.  Davis  is  a  Republican, 
and  he  has  been  identified  with  that  party 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
General  Grant  in  1S6S.  From  that  time 
to  the  present  he  has  supported  every  presi- 
dential nominee  of  the  party.  While  resid- 
ing in  Pine  Creek  township,  he  served  as 
road  commissioner  for  several  years,  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  two 
terms,  and  for  years  was  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  Both  he  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Pennsylvania  Corners 
Christian  church  in  Pine  Creek  township, 
and  are  earnest  Christian  people. 

For  thirty-five  years  Mr.  Davis  has  been 
a  resident  of  Ogle  county,  coming  here  in 
his  early  manhood.  He  has  been  an  active 
factor  in  the  development  of  the  county, 
especially  of  Pine  Creek  township.  Modest 
in  his  bearing,  he  has  calmly  gone  on  his 
way  doing  that  which  seemed  to  him  best, 
and  enjoying  the  respect  and  esteem  of  those 
with  whom  he  was  brought  in  contact. 
While  still  in  his  prime  he  has  accumulat- 
ed a  competency  and  believes  in  enjoj'ing 
life  while  he  can. 


LEWIS  MOKING  is  one  of  the  progress- 
ive and  enterprising  farmers  of  For- 
reston  township,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres  on 
section  i,  which  has  been  transformed  into 
one  of  the  best  and  most  desirable  home- 
steads of  the  locality.      The   land  has  been 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


151 


brought  to  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
and  is  embellished  by  a  good  and  substan- 
tial set  of  farm  buildings.  A  flourishing  or- 
chard serves  to  add  to  the  comfortable  ap- 
pearance of  the  premises,  and  supplies  the 
household  with  the  luxuries  of   the    season. 

Mr.  Moring  was  born  in  Forreston  town- 
ship, November  27,  1S57,  and  is  a  son  of 
Frederick  Moring,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  181 1,  and  there  married  Dorothea 
Foshea,  also  of  German  birth.  In  1S48 
they  emigrated  to  America  and  joined  some 
friends  from  their  native  land  who  had 
previously  located  in  Ogle  county.  In 
Maryland  township  the  father  bought  a 
tract  of  eighty  acres,  built  a  little  house 
thereon,  and  continued  the  improvement 
and  cultivation  of  the  land  for  several  years. 
He  finally  sold  the  place  and  came  to  For- 
reston township,  where  he  purchased  about 
six  hundred  acres  in  three  different  tracts. 
He  located  on  section  18,  when  he  opened  up 
a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
which  he  improved  with  good  buildings. 
Upon  that  place  he  died  January  19,  1889, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  December  23, 
1890,  the  remains  of  both  being  interred  in 
the  Prairie  Dell  cemetery.  Lewis  is  the 
youngest  in  their  family  of  eight  children, 
three  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom 
are  still  living  and  are  heads  of  families. 
The  others  are  Mrs.  Dorothea  Bower,  of 
Ogle  county;  Mrs.  Mary  Timmer;  Mrs. 
Louisa  Dorman;  Mrs.  Lizzie  Hodger;  Fred- 
erick; Mrs.  Ella  Garles;   and  Henry. 

Lewis  Moring  was  reared  in  much  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  boys,  attending 
school  in  winter,  and  assisting  in  the  work 
of  the  farm  during  the  summer  months,  and 
he  remained  with  his  father  until  he  reached 
man's  estate.  He  then  rented  a  part  of  the 
farm,  which   he   operated  for  a  number  of 


jears.  He  was  married  in  Forreston  town- 
ship, March  8,  1883,  to  Miss  Caroline  Zun- 
dahl,  a  native  of  Maryland  township,  Ogle 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  Christopher  Zun- 
dahl,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county. 
Nine  children  bless  this  union,  namely: 
Lizzie,  Alvin,  Anna,  Ida,  Clara,  Mabel,  Es- 
ther, Ruth  and  Laura. 

In  the  spring  of  1883,  Mr.  Moring  locat- 
ed upon  his  present  farm,  to  the  further  de- 
velopment and  improvement  of  which  he 
has  since  devoted  his  energies  with  most 
gratifying  results,  converting  it  into  one  of 
the  most  desirable  farms  of  the  township. 
He  has  been  a  life-long  Republican,  casting 
his  first  vote  for  James  A.  Garfield,  and  he 
is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  school  di- 
rector. He  and  his  wife  are  active  and 
prominent  members  of  the  Prairie  Dell 
Presbyterian  church,  with  which  he  is  offi- 
cially connected,  serving  as  deacon,  and 
both  are  workers  in  the  Sunday  school.  So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  Florence  Lodge, 
M.  W.  A.  He  is  well  known  in  his  part  of 
the  county  as  a  man  of  exemplary  habits, 
of  upright  character  and  sterling  worth,  and 
he  and  his  estimable  wife  have  the  respect 
of  the  entire  community. 


PROF.  JOHN  G.  ROYER,  president  of 
Mt.  Morris  College,  has  an  excellent 
reputation  as  an  educator,  and  is  well 
known  throughout  the  United  States.  He 
was  born  in  Hartleton,  Union  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  22,  1838,  and  is  the  son  of 
Jacob  and  Susan  (Myers)  Royer,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
former  born  in  October,  1797,  and  the  lat- 
ter in  1 801.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
John  Royer,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Penn- 
sylvania,     He  married  Anna  Grove,  a  na- 


'52 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


tive  of  the  same  state.  He  was  a  minister 
of  the  German  Baptist  church,  preaching 
the  gospel  as  the  opportunity  was  afforded 
him,  and  also  attending  to  the  duties  of  his 
farm.  Jacob  Royer  also  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  following  that  vocation 
during  his  entire  life.  He  was  an  earnest 
and  devoted  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  of  which  body  his  wife  was  also  a 
member.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children.  Isaac,  born  October  25,  1821, 
married  Anna  Shellenberger,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  four  children.  Both 
are  now  deceased.  Abraham,  born  October 
11,1824,  married  Sarah  Kleckner,  and  three 
children  blessed  their  union.  He  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  lost 
his  life  in  the  battle  of  Petersburg,  in  May, 
1864.  His  widow  is  yet  living  in  Wiscon- 
sin. Jacob,  born  October  17,  1827,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Strickler,  and  to  them  were 
born  seven  children.  Both  are  living  in 
Union  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  farming.  Elizabeth,  born  Oc- 
tober 17,1829,  married  William  Royer,  and 
they  also  reside  in  Union  county.  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  is  farming.  Mary,  born 
February  19,  1832,  died  April  18,  1858. 
John  G.,  our  subject,  was  ne.xt  in  order  of 
birth.  Samuel,  born  June  3,1840,  married 
Mary  Mumert,  and  they  have  one  child. 
They  reside  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  in  August,  1868.  In 
early  life  Jacob  Royer  was  a  Whig,  but 
voted  for  Buchanan  in  1856,  on  account  of 
the  fact  that  he  was  a  former  schoolmate  of 
Buchanan.  After  that  he  voted  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  April,   187C. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 


a  farm,  and  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  common  schools.  He  later  attended 
the  academy  at  Mifflinsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
but  completed  his  literary  course  at  Union 
Seminary,  New  Berlin,  Pennsylvania.  Be- 
fore completing  his  education,  however,  he 
taught  several  terms  of  school,  commencing 
at  the  age  of  si.xteen  years.  He  was  but 
twenty  years  old  when  he  left  the  seminary. 
He  then  determined  to  make  teaching  his 
life  work,  and  in  connection  with  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel,  has  since  engaged  in  that 
profession.  Commencing  in  the  graded 
schools  of  his  native  state,  he  taught  for 
about  five  years,  and  then,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five,  went  to  Darke  count}-,  Ohio, 
and  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  graded 
schools  until  1871,  the  last  si.x  years  of 
which  time  he  was  principal  of  the  schools 
at  Webster  and  Versailles.  In  1871  he 
went  to  Burnettsville,  White  county,  Indi- 
ana, and  for  four  years  was  principal  of  the 
high  school  at  that  place.  He  then  ac- 
cepted the  superintendency  of  the  high 
school  at  Monticello,  Indiana,  and  was 
there  eight  years.  From  Monticello  he 
came  to  Mt.  Morris  and  was  assigned  the 
chair  of  English  literature  in  Mt.  Morris 
College.  One  year  later  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  college,  since  which  time  it 
has  been  under  his  control.  Since  taking 
active  charge  the  college  has  met  with  a 
fair  degree  of  success  and  gained  in  popu- 
larity with  the   people. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  i860.  Prof. 
Ivoyer  was  united  in  marriage  with  ^^iss 
Lizzie  Reiff,  born  November  30,  1S38,  a 
native  of  Union  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
a  daughter  of  Christian  H.  and  Susan  (Tit- 
low)  Reiff,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  Both  are  now  deceased, 
the  latter  dying  in  1870,  and   the  former  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


153 


1896  He  was  a  manufacturer  of  agricult- 
ural machines,  including  threshers  and  hul- 
lers,  being  the  inventor  of  a  clover  sep- 
arator. They  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Royer  was  sixth  in  or- 
der of  birth.  Religiously  they  were  members 
of  the  German  Baptist  church.  Politically 
he  was  first  a  Whig  and  then  a  Ivepublican. 
To  Prof,  and  Mrs.  Royer  eight  children 
were  born,  (i)  Galen,  born  Septembers, 
1S62,  married  Anna  Miller,  of  Mt.  Morris, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  five  children — 
Bessie,  Daniel,  Catherine,  Ruth  and  Anna. 
They  reside  in  Mt.  Morris,  and  he  is  secre- 
tary of  the  General  Mission  Board  of  the 
Brethren  church.  He  is  also  connected 
with  the  Brethren  Publishing  Company.  (2) 
Susan,  born  July  10,  1S65,  married  Prof. 
E.  S.  Young,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  and  they 
have  five  children — Katie,  Vinna,  Marguer- 
ite, Ida  May  and  Paul.  Prof.  Young  is 
now  president  of  Manchester  College,  North 
Manchester,  Indiana.  (3)  Mary,  born  June 
16,  1S67,  is  at  home.  (4)  Ida,  born  Octo- 
ber 27,  1868,  married  J.  M.  Myers,  and 
they  have  one  child.  Galena.  They  reside 
at  Cando,  North  Dakota,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business.  (5)  Net- 
tie, born  March  31,  1870,  tnarried  J.  A. 
Brubaker,  and  they  have  four  children — 
Madge,  Ralph,  Bernice  and  Nellie.  He  is 
secretary  and  general  manager  of  the  Chain 
Stay  Fence  Company,  of  Sterling,  Illinois. 
(6)  Lillie,  born  November  18,  1S72,  is  a 
teacher  in  the  high  school  at  Cando,  North 
Dakota,  and  she  owns  one-half  section  of 
land  near  that  place.  (7)  Josephine,  born 
October  9,  1875,  is  also  residing  at  Cando, 
North  Dakota,  where  she  is  the  owner  of  a 
quarter  section  of  land.  (8)  Myrtle,  born 
July  18,  1880,  is  a  student  in  Mt.  Morris 
College.    All  but  Mary  are  graduates  of  Mt. 


Morris  College.  Galen  is  also  a  graduate 
of  Juniata  College,  of  Huntingdon,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Politically  Prof.  Royer  is  a  Republican, 
but  gives  little  time  to  political  affairs,  his 
college  work  commanding  his  entire  time, 
except  that  given  to  ministerial  labors.  He 
is  a  logical  and  convincing  speaker,  a  thor- 
ough student  of  the  word  of  God,  and  a 
firm  believer  in  the  inspiration  of  the  Bible. 
For  forty  years  he  has  given  his  time  to 
teaching  the  youth  of  the  land,  and  his  in- 
struction has  always  been  of  a  nature  to 
make  better  citizens,  to  fit  them  not  only 
for  their  proper  station  in  this  life,  but  pre- 
pare them  for  the  life  to  come.  The  world 
is  always  the  better  for  such  men. 


JAMES  CAMPBELL,  a  retired  farmer 
who  now  makes  his  home  in  Byron, 
Illinois,  is  oi  sturdy  Scotch  ancestry,  and 
has  inherited  the  traits  of  industry,  thrift 
and  economy  peculiar  to  that  people,  that 
always  bring  to  them  success  in  their  vari- 
ous occupations.  He  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Forfar,  near  Dundee,  Scotland,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1829,  a  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Fair- 
weather)  Campbell,  also  natives  of  that 
country.  The  father,  whj  was  a  tobacconist 
by  trade,  emigrated  to  the  New  World  in 
1 83 1  and  first  settled  in  Philadelphia,  but 
later  removed  to  Miami  county,  Ohio.  He 
sent  for  his  family  who  joined  him  in  Phila- 
delphia. In  Miami  county,  he  first  lived  on 
a  farm  but  later  removed  to  the  cit}-  of 
Piqua.  In  his  family  were  five  children, 
four  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  of  whom 
reached  years  of  maturity.  In  order  of 
birth  they  were  as  follows:  Robert  and 
\\'illiam,  now  deceased;  James,  our  subject; 
David  Angus,   who    was  a   soldier   of     the 


154 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Civil  war  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Pickaway, 
Ohio;  and  Ann,    deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  reared 
on  a  farm  in  his  native  land  and  had  good 
common- school  advantages  in  early  life. 
Coming  to  America  in  1S53,  he  joined  his 
parents  in  Ohio,  and  remained  with  them 
a  few  years,  assisting  in  the  operation  of 
the  home  farm.  He  was  married  in  Miami 
county,  August  23,  i860,  to  Miss  Margaret 
A.  Linn,  a  native  of  that  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  William  Linn,  who  removed 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day, 
settling  in  Pickaway  about  1822.  Mrs. 
Campbell  was  provided  with  excellent 
school  privileges,  supplementing  the  edu- 
cation acquired  in  the  common  schools  by 
a  course  in  the  Troy  high  school  and  the 
O.xford  Female  College,  and  for  six  years 
she  successfully  engaged  in  teaching.  By 
her  marriage  to  our  subject  she  has  become 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  namely:  John, 
a  resident  of  Storm  Lake,  Iowa;  Jane  A., 
wife  of  C.  E.  Johnson,  who  lives  near 
Bridgewater,  South  Dakota;  Margaret  M., 
wife  of  Charles  Bowie,  ofTacoma,  Washing- 
ton; Mary  G. ,  a  trained  nurse  of  Chicago; 
Belle,  wife  of  William  Kelly,  of  Chicago; 
William  L. ,  a  druggist  and  business  man  of 
Byron;  and  Elizabeth  Ada,  who  is  now  a 
student  in  a  business  college  in  Rockford, 
Illinois. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Campbell  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Ohio  for  five  years,  but 
in  1865  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and 
purchased  an  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres 
in  Byron  township  about  five  miles  from 
the  village  of  Byron.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  he  added  to  the  original 
purchase  until  he  had  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  valuable  land,  on  which  he 
made  many  excellent  iinprovements,  includ- 


ing the  erection  of  a  pleasant  residence  and 
good  barns  and  outbuildings.  He  success- 
fully engaged  in  the  operation  of  his  farm 
until  1897,  when  he  rented  the  place  and 
removed  to  Bjron,  where  he  has  since 
lived  retired  from  active  labor  in  a  comfort- 
able home  of  his  own. 

Politically  Mr.  Campbell  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party  since  casting 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln in  i860,  and  he  has  been  honored  with 
a  number  of  responsible  positions  in  his 
township,  being  treasurer  for  the  long 
period  of  twenty-six  years,  supervisor  for 
four  consecutive  years,  during  which  time 
he  was  a  member  of  several  important  com- 
mittees. He  has  also  served  as  highway 
commissioner  and  a  member  of  the  board 
of  education,  besides  being  a  delegate  to  a 
number  of  county  conventions  of  his  party. 
He  and  his  wife  are  now  connected  with 
the  Congregational  church  of  Byron,  and 
previously  were  for  thirty-two  years  active 
and  prominent  members  of  the  Middle  Creek 
Presbyterian  church.  They  are  esteemed 
residents  of  Byron  and  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  welfare  of  the  community,  aid- 
ing all  beneficial  schemes  tending  to  im- 
prove its  moral,  educational  or  social  status. 


JOHN  BECK,  a  retired  farmer  living  on 
section  33,  Woosung  township,  is  a 
well-known  German  farmer  who  has  made 
a  success  in  life.  He  was  born  'in  Hessen, 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  in  1822,  and  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Beck,  both  na- 
tives of  the  same  country.  They  were  the 
parents  of  one  son,  our  subject,  and  one 
daughter,  Katherine,  who  is  now  deceased. 
The  wife  and  mother  dying,  he  was  again 
married,  and    by    the    second    union    there 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


155 


were  five  children,  of  whom  two  are  yet 
living — Leonard,  on  the  old  home  farm  in 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  and  Elizabeth, 
now  the  wife  of  Jacob  Meyers,  a  retired 
farmer  of  Pekin,  Illinois. 

John  Beck,  Sr.,  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  which  occupation  he  followed  in  his 
native  land.  In  1S32  he  came  to  the 
United  States  and  first  located  in  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained 
until  1845,  working  at  his  trade.  Saving 
some  money,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled 
in  Tazewell  county,  where  he  secured  one 
hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  land  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  as  a  farmer.  He 
died  in  1S81  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  ten 
years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  fa- 
ther to  the  United  States.  In  his  native 
land  he  commenced  to  acquire  an  education 
in  the  parochial  schools,  but  on  coming  to 
this  country  the  opportunity  was  not  given 
him  to  attend  the  public  schools  here  but  a 
comparatively  short  time.  As  soon  as  he 
was  old  and  large  enough  he  engaged  in 
farm  work  in  Pennsylvania,  at  which  he 
continued  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old, 
when  he  took  up  the  tanner's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  until  he  came  to  Illinois 
in  185G.  Four  years  previous  to  his  com- 
ing he  had  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
through  the  agency  of  his  father  in  Taze- 
well count}'.  On  his  arrival  he  settled  on 
his  farm  and  at  once  commenced  its  im- 
provement. He  there  remained  until  1867, 
when  he  sold  the  place  and  came  to  Ogle 
county  and  purchased  his  present  farm  in 
Woosung  township,  comprising  two  hun- 
dred acres. 

Mr.  Beck  was  married  in  Pennsylvania 
to  Margaret  Hanstein,  and  to  them  have 
been    born    five    children:     John    F. ,    who 


married  Margaret  Coon,  of  Frederick 
county,  Maryland;  William,  who  is  in  the 
west;  Alfred,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Buffa- 
lo township,  now  residing  in  Polo;  Clara, 
who  remains  at  home  with  her  father,  and 
Amos,  a  farmer  of  Nemaha  county,  Kan- 
sas. 

Mr.  Beck  has  followed  general  farming,  the 
raising  of  grain  and  stock,  and  is  one  of  the 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  county.  All 
that  he  has  has  been  acquired  by  his  own 
industry  and  good  management.  Com- 
mencing life  a  poor  boy,  working  for  small 
wages,  he  has  persevered,  toiling  early  and 
late,  and  success  has  come  to  him,  and  he 
is  now  enabled  to  lay  aside  business  cares 
and  take  life  easy  during  the  remainder  of 
his  days.      His  good  wife  died  in  1S73. 


ANDREW  F.  LONG,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 15,  Lincoln  township,  owns  and 
operates  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  two  miles  from  Haldane.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  since 
1845,  a  period  of  fifty-four  years,  coming 
here  a  lad  of  eleven  years.  He  was  born 
near  Hagerstown,  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, June  20,  1834,  and  is  the  son  of  Rev. 
Jacob  Long,  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  born  in  1784,  and  who  was  the 
son  of  Isaac  Long,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
of  German  ancestry.  Isaac  Long  removed 
from  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  to 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  at  a  very 
early  day.  Jacob  Long  grew  to  manhood 
in  his  native  county  and  there  married 
Catherine  Friedley,  a  native  of  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of 
Andrew  Friedley,  born  in  Pennsylvania  of 
Swiss  descent. 


156 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Jacob  Long  was  a  minister  in  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  but  as  a  means  of  Hve- 
lihood  engaged  in  farming  during  his  entire 
life.  In  1845,  in  company  with  about  a 
dozen  families,  he  left  his  native  state  and 
came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  being  about 
five  weeks  cii  route.  He  settled  on  the 
farm  where  our  subject  now  lives,  entermg 
a  tract  of  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and 
at  once  commencing  its  improvement.  He 
was  very  prosperous,  being  as  industrious  as 
the  day  was  long.  As  a  minister  of  the 
Brethren  he  established  what  is  known  as 
the  west  branch  of  the  Brethren  church, 
and  during  his  life  was  very  active  in  its 
work.  He  was  a  good  man  and  accom- 
plished much  good  in  the  community  in 
which  he  lived.  His  death  occurred  Feb- 
ruary 17,  18GS.  His  wife  survived  him 
some  years,  dying  May  3,  1879,  when  nearly 
ninety  years  old.  They  were  the  parents 
of  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom  grew  to 
mature  years,  and  four  yet  surviving.  Han- 
nah is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Singer,  of  Mary- 
land Station,  Ogle  county.  Samuel  is  a 
retired  farmer  of  Gove  county,  Kansas. 
Rebecca  is  the  widow  of  Jonathan  Smith, 
of  Pawnee  county,  Nebraska.  Andrew  F. 
is  the  subject  of  this  review. 

Andrew  F.  Long  came  with  his  parents 
to  Ogle  county,  and  on  the  home  farm  grew 
to  manhood,  in  the  meantime  attending  the 
common  schools  and  assisting  in  the  work 
of  the  farm.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  the  father's  death,  when  he  succeeded 
to  the  home  place.  He  was  married  in  Lin- 
coln township,  February  26,  1857,  to  Miss 
Ann  Maria  Wallace,  a  native  of  Washing- 
ton county,  Maryland,  and  daughter  of 
James  Wallace,  a  native  of  the  same  coun- 
ty and  state,  who  moved  west  with  his  fam- 
ily   in  1845,    settling   in    Lincoln   township, 


where  he  opened  up  a  farm  and  reared 
his  family.  By  this  union  nine  children 
have  been  born.  Isadora  died  at  the  age 
of  nine  years  and  six  months.  Laura  Alice 
grew  to  womanhood,  married  Hiram  Goode, 
and  after  his  decease  she  wedded  Henry 
Davidson.  She  died  in  July,  1896,  leaving 
four  children,  of  whom  one  was  by  the  first 
marriage,  and  three  by  the  last  one.  The 
youngest  born,  Vinna  P.  Davidson,  is  now 
an  inmate  of  our  subject's  home.  Grace  A. 
is  the  wife  of  B.  F.  Miller,  of  Wright  coun- 
ty, Iowa.  Cora  Edna  is  the  wife  of  D.  H. 
Newcomer,  a  farmer  of  Mt.  Morris  town- 
ship. Mary  Esther  is  the  wife  of  J.  C. 
Muller,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  who  owns 
a  nice  farm  in  Mt.  Morris  township.  O.  C. 
A.  is  a  farmer  in  Lincoln  township.  Ro- 
sella  L.  P.  is  living  at  home.  Arthur  J.,  a 
well  educated  young  man,  is  a  successful 
teacher  in  his  native  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long  commenced  their 
domestic  life  on  the  farm  where  they  yet 
reside,  and  which  has  been  their  home  for 
forty-two  years,  and  his  home  for  fifty-four 
years.  They  are  well  known,  especially  in 
the  western  part  of  the  county,  and  by  all 
who  know  them  are  held  in  the  highest  es- 
teem. The  only  official  position  held  by 
him  has  been  in  connection  with  the  public 
schools,  serving  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  clerk  of  the  same.  His  first  po- 
litical views  were  those  held  by  the  Whig 
party,  the  party  with  which  his  father  was 
identified.  He  attained  his  majority  at  the 
time  of  the  birth  of  the  Republican  party,  to 
which  he  has  since  gave  adhesion.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  earnest  and  devoted 
members  of  the  west  branch  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  and  in  the  simple  and  Ap- 
ostolic teachings  have  the  utmost  faith.  As 
a  citizen   he   has  always   endeavored   to  be 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


157 


true  and  loyal,  doing  his  duty  faithfully  and 
well.  In  the  development  of  the  count}'  he 
has  done  his  part. 


HENRY  J.  SCHRADER  is  one  of  Ogle 
county's  honored  sons  and  most  active 
and  progressive  business  men.  Through- 
out his  career  of  continued  and  far-reaching 
usefulness  his  duties  have  been  performed 
with  the  greatest  care,  and  business  inter- 
ests have  been  so  managed  as  to  win  him 
the  confidence  of  the  public  and  the  pros- 
perity which  should  always  attend  honor- 
able effort. 

Mr.  Schrader  was  born  in  Leaf  River 
township,  January  11,  1S44,  a  son  of  Will- 
iam Schrader,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  in 
1812,  and  came  to  Ogle  county  about  1842. 
He  took  up  land  in  Leaf  River  township 
and  developed  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  upon  which  he  success- 
fully engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
life's  labors  were  ended,  passing  away  in 
1875.  Here  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  Myers, 
ncc  Her,  a  native  of  Maryland,  who  came  to 
this  state  with  her  father,  David  Her,  a  pio- 
neer of  Ogle  county  of  1837.  She  first 
married  Peter  Myers,  by  whom  she  had  two 
children,  and  by  the  second  union  there 
were  three  children,  of  whom  Henry  J.,  our 
subject,  is  the  eldest;  Samuel  is  a  farmer  of 
Ogle  county;  and  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Beebe,  also  of  this  county.  The  chil- 
dren by  the  first  marriage  were  Peter  L. 
Myers,  of  Ogle  county,  and  Hettie,  wife  of 
Wilson  Hubble,  both  now  deceased.  The 
mother  died  some  years  before  her  second 
husband. 

On  the  home  farm  Henry  J.  Schrader 
passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  much  the 
usual   manner   of  farmer    bo\s,  assisting  in 

17 


the  labors  of  the  fields  during  the  summer 
season  and  attending  the  district  schools 
during  the  winter  months.  He  remained 
with  his  father  and  operated  a  part  of  the 
farm  until  twenty-four  years  of  age.  On 
the  13th  of  February,  1868,  in  Ogle  county, 
was  celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss  Tena 
Light,  a  daughter  of  John  Light,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Three  children  bless  this  union:  Joseph, 
who  died  February  15,  1875,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  months;  Mary,  who  was  well  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Leaf  River  and 
Mt.  Morris,  November  2,  1898,  married 
Charles  T.  Schelling,  of  Leaf  River;  and 
Lewis  M. ,  a  graduate  of  the  Leaf  River 
schools,  also  attended  the  United  Breth- 
ren College  at  Huntington,  Indiana,  for  one 
year,  and  is  now  learning  telegraphy  at  Still- 
man  Valley. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Schrader  located 
on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
near  Egan,  to  the  further  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  his  ener- 
gies with  marked  success.  He  built  a  good 
residence,  barn,  granary,  cribs  and  other 
outbuildings,  and  later  bought  another  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  in  the  same 
locality,  making  his  home  there  for  three 
or  four  years.  He  then  bought  seventy- 
seven  acres  on  the  northern  line  of  the 
county  in  Leaf  River  township,  and  to-day 
owns  three  valuable  farms  aggregating  four 
hundred  acres,  which  he  has  placed  under 
excellent  cultivation.  In  March,  1889,  he 
rented  his  farms  and  moved  to  the  village 
of  Leaf  River,  where  he  bought  a  lot  and 
built  a  pleasant  residence  that  is  now  his 
home.  His  time  is  now  devoted  to  the 
management  of  his  estate,  and  he  is  still 
one  of  the  most  active,  energetic  and  en- 
terprising men  of  the  community. 


158 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Mr.  Schrader  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  General  U.  S.  Grant  in  1868,  and 
continued  to  affiliate  with  the  Republican 
party  for  some  years,  but  now  gives  his  sup- 
port to  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Pro- 
hibition party,  and  is  an  earnest  advocate 
of  the  cause  of  temperance.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  he  is  acceptably  serving  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  town  board,  but  has  never  been 
an  aspirant  for  political  honors.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
and  hold  an  enviable  position  in  the  social 
circle  of  the  community  in  which  they  make 
their  home. 


JAMES  I.  MASON,  residing  on  section 
22,  Buffalo  township,  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Ogle  county.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  county,  and  was  born  in  Buf- 
falo township,  November  12,  1843.  He 
traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Sampson  Mason, 
who  was  an  officer  in  Cromwell's  army,  and 
who  emigrated  to  America  in  1650,  locating 
in  Massachusetts.  James  Mason,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  his  son,  Edward  Mason,  was  a 
native  of  the  same  state,  born  November  12, 
1 8 10.  The  family  emigrated  to  New  York, 
settling  in  Cayuga  county,  when  Edward 
was  a  lad  of  ten  years.  In  that  county 
James  Mason  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life. 

Edward  Mason  grew  to  manhood  in 
Cayuga  county,  and  received  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  its  common  schools.  When  he 
arrived  at  man's  estate  he  determined  to 
come  west  with  a  view  of  bettering  his  con- 
dition in  life.  In  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Debra 
Van  Wormer,  a  native  of  Onondaga  county, 


New  York,  and  daughter  of  Isaac  Van 
Wormer,  and  immediately  after  he  came 
with  his  bride  to  Ogle  county  and  located 
in  Buffalo  Grove,  where  he  had  previously 
made  a  claim.  This  was  in  1837,  and  he, 
therefore,  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  county. 

On  making  the  county  his  permanent 
home,  Edward  Mason  immediately  com- 
menced to  improve  his  claim,  and  as  soon 
as  the  land  came  into  market  he  purchased 
the  same  from  the  government.  He  be- 
came a  very  prosperous  farmer  and  opened 
up  three  different  farms,  among  which  was 
the  one  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  On 
this  farm  he  later  located  and  spent  the  last 
years  of  his  life.  He  died  September  3, 
1 886,  while  his  wife  preceded  him,  passing 
away  in  October,  1881.  Their  remains 
were  laid  to  rest  in  the  Fairmont  cemetery, 
where  a  neat  monument  has  been  erected 
to  their  memory. 

James  I.  Mason  is  the  only  child  living 
of  Edward  and  Debra  Mason.  He  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  home  farm,  and  in  the 
common  schools  received  his  primary  edu- 
cation. He  later  entered  Mt.  Carroll  Sem- 
inary, which  he  attended  for  a  time,  and 
then  went  to  Aurora,  completing  his  school 
life  in  Jennings  Seminary,  at  that  place. 
Choosing  farming  as  his  life  calling,  he  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  the  latter's 
death,  when  he  succeeded  to  the  old  home- 
stead, and  has  since  been  successfully  en- 
gaged in  general  farming.  In  addition  he 
has  for  about  twenty  years  engaged  in  feed- 
ing and  dealing  in  pure  blood  shorthorn 
cattle,  and  also  a  good  grade  of  horses.  In 
all  that  he  has  done  he  has  met  with  a  fair 
degree  of  success.  His  fine  farm  of  three 
hundred  and  ten  acres,  lying  two  and  a  half 
miles  southeast  of  Polo,  is  always  kept  un- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


159 


der  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  always 
attractive  to  the  eye.  By  birth  and  train- 
ing a  farmer,  everything  about  the  place 
gives  evidence  of  the  fact. 

On  national  issues  Mr.  Mason  always 
votes  the  Republican  ticket,  but  on  local 
issues,  he  votes  for  the  man  he  considers 
the  best  qualified  for  the  office.  For  him- 
self he  never  cared  for,  nor  would  he  accept 
any  office.  Born  in  Ogle  county  before  it 
had  taken  any  advanced  steps  in  general 
progress,  his  growth  has  been  cotemporane- 
ous,  and  he  has  been  an  eye  witness  of 
nearly  everj'thing  that  has  changed  for  the 
better,  and  he  takes  a  just  pride  in  the 
achievements  of  the  past  while  having  a 
lively  hope  for  the  future. 


SOLOMON  DAVIS,  deceased,  was  one 
of  the  large  number  of  persons  to  come 
to  Ogle  county  from  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  and  who  became  the  most  sub- 
stantial citizens,  making  of  the  county  of 
their  adoption  one  of  the  best  in  the  great 
state  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Boones- 
borough,  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
December  28,  1825,  and  in  his  native  county 
grew  to  manhood  and  received  a  common- 
school  education.  In  his  youth  he  learned 
the  trade  of  tailor,  and  followed  that  occu- 
pation for  some  years.  He  was  the  son  of 
Edward  and  Mary  (Smith)  Davis,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 

On  the  loth  of  August,  1848,  our  sub- 
ject was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Re- 
becca Fletcher,  daughter  of  Louis  and  Dela 
(Shafer)  Fletcher,  who  were  natives  of 
Maryland,  of  which  state  she  was  also  a  na- 
tive. In  the  fall  of  1855  he  came  with  his 
family  to  Ogle  county,  where  he  worked  at 
his    trade  until    1861,    when  he   opened   a 


restaurant  and  grocery  store  in  Mt.  Morris, 
in  which  line  he  was  fairly  successful.  He 
continued  in  that  trade  until  his  death, 
October  3,  1897.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  while  a  strong  union  man  he 
did  not  enter  the  service  in  the  Civil  war, 
but  had  one  brother,  John  Davis,  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  His  father  and 
mother  came  to  Ogle  county  in  the  same 
year  that  he  made  settlement,  in  1855. 
The  father  served  as  postmaster  of  Mt. 
Morris  for  a  time,  as  did  our  subject. 

To  Solomon  and  Rebecca  Davis  twelve 
children  were  born.  Laura  J.,  born  July 
22,  1849,  married  Thomas  Avey,  and  they 
made  their  home  in  Mt.  Morris.  She  died 
leaving  two  sons.  Louis  D.  married  Miss 
Ella  White,  and  was  living  at  Marshall- 
town,  Iowa,  when  he  met  his  death  by  ac- 
cident. He  left  a  wife  and  si,\  children. 
Otho  F.  married  Kittie  McMullen,  of  Lin- 
coln, Illinois,  where  they  now  reside,  and 
where  he  follows  his  trade  of  carpentering. 
Anna  F.,  born  February  22,  1855,  married 
December  28,  1873,  James  H.  Depue,  and 
they  live  in  Chicago,  where  he  is  employed 
as  car  inspector.  Mary  D. ,  born  April  12, 
1857,  married  Albert  Lookabaugh,  a  black- 
smith of  Mt.  Morris,  where  they  now  reside. 
Charles  V.,  born  August  27,  1858,  died  of 
paralysis  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years. 
He  was  a  printer  by  trade.  Eva  C. ,  born 
October  30,  i860,  married  Fred  Petrie,  and 
they  live  in  Clinton,  Iowa,  where  he  is  em- 
ployed on  the  police  force.  Ida  E.,  born 
October  31,  1862,  died  in  childhood.  Hat- 
tie  M.,  born  May  9,  1864,  married  James 
Miller,  and  they  now  reside  in  Clinton, 
Iowa,  where  he  has  a  position  with  a  whole- 
sale drug  house.  Benjamin  S.,  born  May 
24,  1866,  married  Annie  Sharp,  and  they 
live  in   Washington,  District   of  Columbia, 


i6o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


where  he  has  a  position  in  the  war  depart- 
ment, a  position  that  he  has  held  since 
1888.  Seymour  S.,  born  May  29,  1868, 
married  Elizabeth  O'Leary,  and  they  reside 
in  Chicago,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  milk 
business.  Florence  R.,  is  living  at  home. 
Mrs.  Davis  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  since  she  was 
ten  years  old,  and  has  always  taken  an  act- 
ive interest  in  the  work  of  the  church,  en- 
deavoring to  do  her  full  duty  in  the  Master's 
service.  She  was  born  in  Boonsborough, 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  April  9, 
1830.  Of  her  seven  brothers,  two  were 
killed  in  the  war  for  the  union,  Robert  be- 
ing killed  at  the  battle  of  Bull's  Run,  and 
Charles  at  the  battle  of  Liberty  Gap.  Her 
parents  also  came  to  Mt.  Morris  in  1855, 
her  father  following  the  calling  of  an  auc- 
tioneer. He  served  in  the  war  of  18 12,  and 
the  sword  that  he  carried  in  that  war  is  yet 
in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  Davis.  When  the 
Masons  of  Mt.  Morris  have  a  gathering  or  a 
funeral  to  attend  they  borrow  that  sword, 
Mr.  Fletcher  having  been  a  prominent 
Mason.  He  was  also  a  m.ember  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Sons  of  Temperance.  In 
the  latter  organization  he  was  quite  promi- 
nent, being  a  stanch  temperance  advocate. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church  for 
many  years  in  Maryland  and  served  as  Sun- 
day school  superintendent  for  about  thirty 
years,  also  served  as  magistrate  in  Mary- 
land for  a  number  of  years.  Politically  he 
was  a  Whig.  He  died  in  Mt.  Morris  in 
1857. 


WILLIAM  L.  PALMER. —The  world 
instinctively  pays  deference  to  the 
man  whose  success  has  been  worthily 
achieved,  and  who  has  fought  his  way  un- 


aided from  an  humble  to  an  e.xalted  position 
in  the  business  and  social  world.  Self- 
reliance,  conscientiousness,  energy,  hon- 
esty— these  are  the  traits  of  character  which 
insure  the  highest  emoluments  and  greatest 
success,  and  to  these  may  be  attributed  the 
success  that  has  crowned  the  efforts  of  Mr. 
Palmer.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  Ogle  county,  carrying  on  opera- 
tions as  an  agriculturist  on  section  17,  Leaf 
River  township,  and  as  a  merchant,  grain 
dealer,  etc.,  at  Myrtle. 

Like  many  of  the  most  enterprising  and 
progressive  citizens  of  the  county,  Mr.  Palmer 
is  a  native  of  Maryland,  born  in  \\'ashington 
county,  October  22,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Wetty)  Palmer,  who 
were  born,  reared  and  married  in  the  same 
county.  In  1847  the  family  started  for 
Illinois  by  team,  and  finally  arrived  in  Ogle 
county  on  the  2d  of  June,  of  that  year. 
The  father  bought  a  farm  in  Mt.  Morris 
township,  opened  up  a  claim,  and  continued 
its  further  improvement  and  cultivation 
until  called  from  this  life  in  the  fall  of  1865. 
His  estimable  wife  died  two  years  later. 
In  their  family  were  ten  children,  five  sons 
and  five  daughters,  of  whom  only  four  are 
now  living. 

Being  a  lad  of  thirteen  years  when  he 
came  to  the  county  with  his  parents,  William 
L.  Palmer  was  of  great  assistance  to  his 
father  in  the  development  and  improvement 
of  the  farm.  After  reaching  man's  estate 
he  continued  its  operation  for  some  years, 
but  in  1864  removed  to  Leaf  River  town- 
ship, where  he  bought  four  hundred  acres, 
the  only  improvements  on  the  same  being 
an  old  house  and  frame  barn.  He  has 
added  to  the  original  purchase  until  he  now 
has  five  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  in 


W.   L.   PALMER. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


l6: 


the  home  place,  has  erected  thereon  a  com- 
modious brick  residence,  a  large  and  sub- 
stantial barn  with  a  basement,  and  other 
buildings,  making  it  one  of  the  best  improved 
farms  of  the  locality.  Mr.  Palmer  has  not 
confined  his  attention  alone  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  has  branched  out  into  other 
lines  of  business.  As  the  Great  Western 
railroad  runs  through  his  land  near  his 
home,  he  secured  the  establishment  of  a 
station  upon  his  place,  and  to  it  was  given 
the  name  of  Myrtle.  He  has  been  a  most 
prominent  and  active  factor  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  village,  built  an 
elevator  there,  established  a  store  and  also 
a  creamery.  The  first  and  last  of  these  are 
carried  on  by  a  stock  company,  of  which  he 
is  president  and  the  largest  shareholder. 
He  erected  the  store  building,  donated  a  lot 
for  the  church,  and  in  every  possible  way 
has  advanced  the  interests  of  the  village. 
Besides  the  property  already  mentioned  he 
owns  eighty  acres  of  good  timber  land  in 
Byron  township. 

On  September  20,  i860,  in  Rockford, 
Illinois,  Mr.  Palmer  married  Delana  Kate 
Hammond,  who  was  also  born  and  reared 
in  Washington  county,  Maryland,  and  they 
have  become  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  si.x  are  now  living,  namely:  Al- 
fred, who  runs  the  elevator  at  M}rtle  and 
is  engaged  in  the  grain  and  stock  business 
at  that  place;  Anna  E. ,  wife  of  David  Rowe, 
a  farmer  of  Leaf  River  township;  Louisa, 
wife  of  W.  H.  Wagoner,  of  the  same  town- 
ship; Ella,  wife  of  Daniel  Emory,  of  Byron 
township;  Kate,  wife  of  Alva  Stine,  of  Leaf 
River  township;  Ouimby,  who  is  married 
and  engaged  in  farming  on  the  home  place; 
Elson  and  Bertha  May,  both  at   home. 

Mr.  Palmer  has  been  a  life-long  sup- 
porter of  the   Republican   party,  casting  his 


first  presidential  ballot  for  John  C.  Fremont 
in  1856,  and  for  every  nominee  of  the  party 
since  that  time.  Being  a  warm  friend  of 
our  public  school  system  he  has  efficiently 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
a  number  of  years,  but  has  never  cared  for 
the  honors  or  emoluments  of  political  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  undivided  attention  to 
his  extensive  business  interests.  As  a  pub- 
lic spirited  and  enterprising  citizen,  how- 
ever, he  gives  his  support  to  all  objects 
tending  to  advance  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity along  any  line,  and  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  most  useful  and  valued  residents 
of  the  county. 


CLARK  K.  MATTESON,  a  representa- 
tive and  prominent  farmer  of  Ogle 
county,  owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  forty-four  acres  on  sec- 
tions 21  and  22,  Rockvale  township.  He 
was  born  in  Green  Island,  Schenectady 
county.  New  York,  September  29,  1836, 
and  is  descended  from  good  old  colonial 
stock.  His  parents,  Spink  and  Tabitha 
(Waite)  Matteson,  were  both  natives  of 
Rensselaer  county.  New  York,  the  former 
born  June  27,  1802,  the  latter  April  18, 
1797.  The  paternal  grandparents,  Moses 
and  Amy  (Matteson)  Matteson,  were  both 
born  in  the  town  of  Westerly,  Rhode  Isl- 
and, but  were  not  related  prior  to  their 
marriage.  The  grandfather  was  a  sleigh- 
maker  by  trade,  but  after  his  removal  to 
Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  was  engaged 
in  farming.  In  his  family  were  twelve 
children,  of  whom  nine  reached  years  of 
maturity,  namely:  Spink,  Laura,  Gorah, 
William,  Abel,  Almeron,  Horatio  and  Dan- 
iel. Amy  Matteson  was  a  daughter  of 
David  and   Sarah   Matteson,  who  removed 


1 64 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


from  Rhode  Island  to  Rensselaer  county, 
New  York,  in  1789,  and  settled  in  the  town 
of  Berlin.  Their  children  were  Lydia, 
Gideon,  Ishmiel,  Deborah,  Titus,  Job, 
Phebe,  Sarah,  Daniel  and  Amy. 

Spink  Matteson  grew  to  manhood  in 
Berlin  and  Petersburg,  Rensselaer  county, 
but  never  went  to  school  only  three  days  in 
his  life,  the  teacher  having  struck  him  with 
a  whip  over  the  eye,  producing  a  scar  which 
he  carried  to  his  grave.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two,  he  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  three  years, 
then  followed  market  gardening  for  fifteen 
years,  and  subsequently  engaged  in  general 
farming  on  rented  land.  He  married  Tabi- 
tha  Waite,  who  was  born  April  18,  1797,  a 
daughter  of  Peleg  G.  and  Mary  (Greene) 
Waite,  the  former  born  October  23.  1761, 
the  latter  March  24,  1766.  Mrs.  Waite 
was  a  niece  of  General  Greene,  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  She  and  her  husband  also 
removed  from  Rhode  Island  to  Rensselaer 
county.  New  York,  at  an  early  day,  going 
by  waj-  of  the  marked  trees  along  the  regu- 
lar Indian  trail.  In  their  family  were  ten 
children,  whose  names  and  dates  of  birth 
were  as  follows;  Greene,  September  26, 
1784;  Clark  G.,  April  3,  1787;  Marcey, 
April  4,  1789;  Thomas,  May  i,  1791; 
Benjamin,  April  27,  1793;  Alice,  July  6, 
1795;  Tabitha,  April  18,  1797;  Mary,  April 
30,  1799;  Lois,  December  8,  1801;  and 
Laura,  November  4,  1804.  All  reached 
years  of  maturity,  and  in  their  younger 
days  were  dressed  in  clothes  spun  and 
woven  by  the  mother.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  the  older  of  the  two  children  born 
to  Spink  and  Tabitha  (Waite)  Matteson. 
The  other,  Harlow  L.  Matteson,  was  born 
in  Petersburg,  Rensselaer  county,  August 
2,   1840,  and  is  now  living  in  Clark  county, 


Illinois.  He  wedded  Mary  Etta  Odell,  who 
was  born  in  the  same  place  and  died  in 
1879,  leaving  two  children,  Giles  B.  and 
Oren.  Subsequently  he  married  Henrietta 
Eager,  of  Forreston,  Ogle  county,  Illinois, 
by  whom  he  has  three  children:  Laura 
Winnifred,  Harrison  Pager  and  Glenn  Har- 
low. He  owns  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Clark  county. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  twenty-two 
years  of  his  life  in  the  county  of  his  nativity, 
attending  school  in  winter  until  seventeen 
and  assisting  in  the  farm  work  during  the 
summer.  When  fourteen  his  parents  moved 
to  the  town  of  Petersburg,  where  he  was 
sent  to  school.  Under  the  old  rate  bill  at 
that  time  those  who  paid  the  school  tax  on 
all  ta.xable  property  were  allowed  to  send 
their  children  to  school  during  the  winter, 
while  those  who  refused  were  not.  In  the 
summer  there  was  generally  enough  public 
money  to  carry  on  the  schools  without  the 
special  ta.x.  After  leaving  school  he  worked 
at  odd  jobs  of  various  kinds,  but  principally 
farming.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  went 
to  Granville  township,  Washington  county. 
New  York,  where  he  worked  by  the  month 
for  two  years.  There  he  was  married  and 
subsequently  engaged  in  farming  on  rented 
land  for  eight  years.  Coming  to  Illinois  in 
March,  1868,  he  purchased  his  present  farm 
in  Kockvale  township.  Ogle  county,  of  E.  J. 
Waite,  of  South  Oregon,  and  here  has  since 
made  his  home  while  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits. 

On  the  20th  of  November,  1859,  Mr. 
NLitteson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  M.  Northrup,  who  was  born  in  Gran- 
ville township,  Washington  county.  New 
York,  October  13,  1842,  a  daughter  of  John 
H.  and  Elvira  (Eldred)  Northrup,  also  na- 
tives of  that  place,  the  former  born  in  1813, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


165 


the  latter  in  1828.  The  father,  who  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  was  a  son  of  Clark 
and  Mary  (Holmes)  Northrup,  natives  of 
Londonderry,  New  Hampshire,  and  New 
York,  respectively.  Their  children  were 
Reynolds,  Carr,  Sarah,  Mary,  Penelope, 
Elizabeth,  Annie,  Emeline,  John  H.  and 
Ephraim.  Mrs.  Matteson  is  the  second  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children, 
the  others  being  Josephine,  James  C,  Pen- 
elope H.,  Mary  Elizabeth,  Chloe  E. ,  Addie 
and  Emma,  twins,  John  Carr  and  William 
R.  The  father  of  these  children  died  in 
June,  1894,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years, 
and  the  mother  passed  away  in  May,  i88g, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-one. 

Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Matteson.  John  C,  born  in  Gran- 
ville, Washington  county.  New  York,  April 
9,  1862,  was  married  February  20,  1886, 
to  Katherine  Elizabeth  Taylor,  who  was 
born  in  Racine  county,  Wisconsin,  Septem- 
ber 16,  1864,  a  daughter  of  T.  D.  and  Mary 
(Kirkham)  Taylor,  natives  of  Massachusetts 
and  England,  respectively.  To  John  C. 
Matteson  and  wife  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren: Charles  Edward,  born  November 
27,  1S86,  died  at  the  age  of  three  months; 
Clark  Valentine,  born  February  14,  188S, 
and  Mary  Permelia,  born  J(me  3,  1890,  are 
attending  the  district  schools;  John  Dwight, 
born  February  27,  1893,  and  Henry  Albert, 
born  May  31,  1896,  are  both  at  home. 
Charles  Ferdinand,  the  second  child  of  our 
subject,  was  born  September  17,  1864,  and 
died  of  measles  March  21,  1877.  The  third 
died  in  infanc}'.  Emma  E.,  born  October 
25,  1869,  died  July  8,  1870.  The  fifth  died 
in  infancy. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Matteson  is  a 
pronounced  Republican,  and  he  has  been 
honored  with  a  number  of  important  official 


positions  in  his  township,  being  clerk  for 
fourteen  years,  school  treasurer  nine  years, 
school  director  a  short  time,  road  commis- 
sioner one  term,  pathmaster  a  number  of 
years,  and  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  past 
seven  years.  His  official  duties  are  always 
most  faithfully  and  conscientiously  per- 
formed. Socially  he  belongs  to  Oregon 
Lodge,  No.  420,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Rock  River 
Chapter,  No.  151,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Economy 
Camp,  No.  131,  M.  W.  A.,  in  which  he  has 
passed  through  the  various  chairs.  He  has 
also  been  vice-president  of  the  Old  Settlers 
Association,  and  a  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican county  central  connnittee.  His  esti- 
mable wife  holds  membership  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  of  Oregon. 

Mr.  Matteson  can  relate  many  interest- 
ing incidents  of  early  pioneer  days  and  of 
life  in  the  east.  He  was  in  the  midst  of 
the  Anti-Rent  Indian  troubles  of  Rensselaer 
county.  New  York.  This  land  was  owned 
by  the  heirs  of  Rensselaer,  and  they  re- 
fused to  sell  any  of  the  land  to  the  settlers, 
preferring  to  rent  at  high  rates.  The  set- 
tlers finally  took  the  law  into  their  own 
hands,  and,  dressed  as  Indians,  they  would 
haress  and  bother  the  collectors  and  agents, 
sometimes  tarring  and  feathering  them  until 
they  had  secured  their  demands  to  be  per- 
mitted to  purchase  the  land  upon  which 
they  lived.  He  also  lived  there  when  Mill- 
erism  was  at  its  height,  when  the  people  of 
that  denomination  tore  down  their  churches, 
expecting  Christ  to  come  October  22,  1843. 
Mr.  Matteson  also  has  a  very  clear  reciillec- 
tion  of  the  old  training  days  of  the  state 
militia.  One  company  had  a  brass  cannon, 
captured  when  General  Burgoyne  surren- 
dered. His  great-grandfather,  Warren  Mat- 
teson, was  a  gunner  in  the  Revolution.  Our 
subject  has  one  of  the  first  geographies  pub- 


1 66 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


lished  in  the  United  States,  containing  only 
a  map  of  New  England.  He  still  has  in  his 
possession  Noah  Webster's  Third  Reader, 
published  in  1802;  The  Principles  of  the 
Government  of  the  United  States,  by  Par- 
don Davis,  in  1823;  an  old  campmeeting 
songster,  1S36;  a  rhetoric  reader,  1835; 
a  Bible  which  belonged  to  his  grandfather 
Waite,  printed  in  Edinburg,  Scotland,  in 
I79i;and  Bunyan's  Holy  War,  printed  by 
John  Melcher,  in  1794.  Besides  these 
cherished  possessions  he  has  a  pewter  plat- 
ter, which  his  paternal  grandmother  owned, 
also  a  cup  and  saucer,  soup  tureen,  neck- 
erchiefs, and  thread  that  she  spun.  He 
also  has  the  Masonic  apron  and  sash  which 
belonged  to  his  father  over  sixty  years  ago, 
and  many  other  interesting  relics  relative  to 
the  early  pioneer  and  Revolutionary  days. 


HARVEY  M.  SHOEMAKER.— The  fine 
farm  belonging  to  this  gentleman  on 
section  15,  Eagle  Point  township,  invariably 
attracts  the  eye  of  the  passing  traveler  as 
being  under  the  supervision  of  a  thorough 
and  skillful  agriculturist,  and  a  man  of  good 
business  qualifications.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  extensive  stock  dealers  and  shippers 
in  Ogle  count}',  and  always  carries  forward 
to  successful  completion  whatever  he  under- 
takes. He  was  born  November  27,  1839, 
on  the  farm  where  he  still  resides  and  has 
borne  his  part  in  the  development  and  up- 
building of  this  region. 

Pierson  Shoemaker,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
January  16,  1 809,  and  was  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Elizabeth  (Long)  Shoemaker,  the  former 
of  German,  the  latter  of  English  descent. 
The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  on  the 
paternal  side  was   an    early   settler  of   New 


Jersey,  where  Michael  Shoemaker  was  born, 
but  at  an  early  day  the  latter  removed  to 
Ohio  and  later  to  Indiana,  becoming  pio- 
neers of  both  states.  During  his  youth 
Pierson  Shoemaker  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  early  life.  In 
1828  he  removed  to  Union  county,  Indiana, 
and  later  to  Sullivan  county,  that  state, 
where  he  was  married,  November  20,  1833, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Parker,  who  was  born  on 
the  Blue  Ridge  mountains  in  Grayson 
county,  Virginia,  February  18,  1S09.  Her 
father,  Lemuel  Parker,  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Sullivan  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  removed  from  Tennessee  on  horseback. 
Soon  after  his  marriage,  in  1833,  Mr.  Shoe- 
maker came  to  Illinois,  and  after  spending 
the  winter  in  the  vicinity  of  Peoria,  in  the 
spring  of  1834,  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Ogle  county.  At  that  time  the  country  be- 
tween his  home  and  Galena  and  Dixon  was 
almost  an  unbroken  wilderness,  and  the  In- 
dians, who  were  still  quite  numerous  here, 
stole  his  team  of  horses,  leaving  him  only 
a  yoke  of  oxen  to  break  and  improve  his 
land.  He  was  the  first  settler  in  his  part  of 
the  country,  and  his  nearest  neighbor 
was  a  Mr.  Kellogg,  of  Buffalo  Grove, 
who  located  there  in  1833.  Mr.  Shoe- 
maker secured  a  claim  of  about  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  Eagle  Point  town- 
ship, built  a  log  house,  and  at  once  turned 
his  attention  to  the  improvement  and  cul- 
tivation of  his  land.  He  entered  a  half- 
section  and  when  the  land  came  into  market 
he  purchased  it  from  the  government.  La- 
ter he  built  a  commodious  residence,  haul- 
ing the  pine  lumber,  doors  and  windows 
from  Chicago,  and  all  of  his  marketing  in 
early  days  was  done  either  in  that  city  or 
Galena,  it  requiring  fourteen  days  to  make 
the   round   trip   to    Chicago.      Although    he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


16; 


came  to  the  county  empty-handed,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  accumulating  a  handsome  prop- 
erty by  his  own  labor,  enterprise  and  good 
management.  He  was  a  successful  farmer, 
a  substantial  and  reliable  citizen,  and  be- 
sides his  farm  owned  good  business  property 
in  Polo.  From  his  farm,  he  removed  to 
that  place  and  erected  the  Orient  House, 
which  he  successfully  conducted  for  twenty- 
five  years.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  brick  United  Brethren 
church,  which  was  located  on  his  land,  hav- 
ing deeded  it  to  the  church  for  their  house 
of  worship  and  cemetery.  He  was  a  con- 
sistent Christian  and  an  active  church  work- 
er. He  died  in  Polo,  July  3,  1890,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years,  his  wife  October 
19,  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three,  and 
both  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  brick  Church 
cemetery,  Eagle  Point  township,  where  a 
monumenthas  been  erected  to  their  memory. 

In  their  family  were  the  following  chil- 
dren who  reached  years  of  maturity:  El- 
mer, deceased,  was  married  and  lived  in 
Eagle  Point;  Mary  wedded  Dr.  M.  C.  Mc- 
Pherson,  who  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  Eagle  Point,  but  both  are 
now  deceased;  Joseph  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years;  Harvey  M.  is  the  ne.xt  of 
the  family;  J.  M.  is  a  resident  of  Califor- 
nia; Laura  is  the  wife  of  Joel  B.  Busvvell, 
of  Elk  Horn  township;  Sarah  is  a  resident 
of  Polo;  Lemuel  died  in  Florida,  January 
30,  1899;  and  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  E. 
C.  Williams,  of  Polo. 

Amid  pioneer  scenes,  Harvey  M.  Shoe- 
maker passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on 
the  old  home  farm  and  is  mostly  self-edu- 
cated as  his  early  school  privileges  were 
limited.  He  and  his  brothers  helped  to 
operate  the  farm,  and  after  his  father's  re- 
moval to  Polo,  he  took  charge  of  the  same, 

18 


which  he  later  purchased.  To  its  further 
improvement  and  cultivation  he  has  since 
devoted  his  attention  in  connection  with 
stock  feeding  and  dealing.  He  feeds  from 
one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  eighty 
head  of  steers  for  the  market  and  about 
two  hundred  head  of  hogs  annually,  and 
ships  his  own  stock.  So  successful  has  he 
been  in  his  life  work,  that  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  seven  hundred  acres  in  one  body 
and  improved  with  two  sets  of  farm  build- 
ings. 

In  Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  April  6, 
1865,  Mr.  Shoemaker  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Marian  P.  Rowand,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Ogle  county. 
Her  father,  Andrew  Rowand,  was  a  native 
of  Scotland,  born  near  Paisley,  and  when 
a  young  man  came  to  America  in  1832,  lo- 
cating first  in  Canada,  where  he  partici- 
pated in  the  Rebellion.  There  he  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Losson,  a  Scotch  lady,  who 
came  to  the  new  world  on  the  same  vessel 
as  her  future  husband.  In  the  fall  of  1838 
they  went  to  New  York,  and  the  following 
spring  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  Mr. 
Rowand  buying  land  and  developing  a  farm 
in  Eagle  Point  township.  There  he  passed 
away  in  the  winter  of  1887,  and  Mrs.  Shoe- 
maker's mother  died  in  1 8  54.  To  our  subject 
and  his  wife  have  been  born  three  children: 
Andrew  P. ,  residing  on  the  home  farm  with 
his  father,  married  Nellie  Smith,  who  died 
leaving  one  son,  Harvey  B.  Elizabeth  W. 
and  Marian  P.  are  also  at  home. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  Mr.  Shoemaker  has 
been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  never  cared  for  the  honors 
or  emoluments  of  public  office,  though  he 
most  efficiently  served  as  highway  commis- 
sioner for  about  fifteen  years.    His  wife  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


daughters  are  members  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  and  the  family  is  one  of  prom- 
inence socially  in  their  community.  Mr. 
Shoemaker  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
as  an  upright,  reliable  business  man  whose 
word  is  considered  as  good  as  his  bond. 


JOHN  E.  KINDELL,  a  most  progressive 
and  successful  agriculturist,  is  the  owner 
of  a  beautiful  farm  on  section  ii,  Byron 
township.  Ogle  county.  His  methods  of 
farm  management  show  deep  scientific 
knowledge  combined  with  sound  practical 
judgment  that  the  results  show  that  "high 
class "  farming  as  an  occupation  can  be 
made  profitable  as  well  as  pleasant. 

Mr.  Kindell  was  born  on  the  15th  of 
April,  1835,  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  is 
a  son  of  Joseph  Kindell,  who  was  born  on 
Sherman  creek,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  there 
grew  to  manhood.  The  grandfather,  Jos- 
eph Hunter,  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Miami  county,  Ohio.  The  father,  with  two 
brothers,  John  and  William  Kindell,  cleared 
farms  in  that  county,  and  all  became  quite 
well-to-do.  Joseph  Kindell's  place  com- 
prised three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  rich 
and  arable  land,  and  to  its  development  and 
cultivation  he  devoted  his  energies  until 
called  to  his  final  rest  in  1851.  In  Miami 
county,  he  married  Miss  Martha  Hunter, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  state 
and  removed  to  Ohio  with  her  father. 
Eleven  children  blessed  this  union,  seven 
sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  si.x  sons 
and  three  daughters  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity. James,  the  eldest,  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Civil  war  and  after  that  struggle  re- 
moved to  Iowa,  later  to  Kansas  and  finally 
settled   in  Arkansas.      Rev.  William  was  a 


minister  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  la- 
bored earnestly  for  its  interests  and  died  in 
Mercer  county,  Ohio.  David  was  also  a 
soldier  of  the  Civil  war  and  now  resides  in 
Iowa.  John  E.,  of  this  review,  is  the  ne.xt 
of  the  family.  Martha  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Manchester,  a  veteran  ot  the  Civil  war 
residing  in  Iowa.  Joseph  is  living  in  Lima, 
Ohio.  Baxter  is  a  farmer  in  Iowa.  Alexan- 
der is  a  farmer  in  Ohio.  Samuel  also  makes 
his  home  in  Iowa.  Mary  E.  died  at  the 
age  of  ten  years.  Priscilla  died  in  Mercer 
county,   Ohio. 

On  the  home  farm  in  Ohio,  John  E. 
Kindell  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  and 
was  given  fair  common-school  advantages, 
attending  school  during  the  winter  months 
and  aiding  in  the  farm  work  during  the 
summer  season.  He  was  married  in  Pick- 
away, Miami  county,  Ohio,  August  27, 
1857,  to  Miss  Jenet  Stuart,  who  was  born 
near  Edinburg,  Scotland,  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Ellen  (Simpson)  Stewart,  na- 
tives of  the  same  country.  Mrs.  Kindell's 
paternal  grandfather  was  quite  wealthy  and 
belonged  to  the  nobility.  The  father  was 
given  good  school  privileges,  being  educated 
in  Edinburg  for  the  ministry,  but  after  his 
marriage  he  located  on  a  farm  in  his  native 
land  and  devoted  his  attention  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits  for  a  few  years.  In  1842  he 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  at  Paris, 
Illinois,  where  he  took  up  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  and  built  thereon  a  large  frame 
house  and  had  it  well  furnished,  but  after 
residing  there  for  about  three  years,  he 
rented  the  place  and  located  near  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio.  Being  in  poor  health  he  con- 
templated returning  to  Scotland,  but  died 
near  Cincinnati.  Mrs.  Kindell,  who  was 
principally  reared  and  educated  in  Ohio,  was 
one  of  a  family  of   six   children,  all  born  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


169 


Scotland.  Ellen  Sprong,  the  eldest,  is  still 
a  resident  of  Ohio.  Elizabeth  married  a 
Mr.  Zider,  a  noted  educator,  who  died  in 
St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Flummer,  of  Braymer,  Caldwell 
county,  Missouri.  John  enlisted  in  an  Ohio 
regiment  during  the  Civil  war  and  served 
for  six  months.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he  came 
to  Illinois  with  our  subject  and  his  wife  and 
after  being  here  for  about  a  year  he  re-en- 
listed in  Company  C,  Seventy-fourth  Illi- 
nois Infantry.  He  was  wounded  at  Spring 
Hill  and  Franklin,  Tennessee,  and  died 
from  the  effects  of  the  same. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kindell  have  become  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  Walter, 
a  railroad  man,  is  married  and  resides  in 
Farmland,  Indiana;  William  L.  married' 
and  located  in  Elgin,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  in  the  watch  factory,  but  died  at 
home  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years; 
Augustus  E.,  who  is  now  in  the  Klondike,  is 
married  and  owns  a  place  near  Tacoma, 
Washington;  John  Stewart  is  married  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  Byron  township. 
Ogle  county;  Ida  Jenette  is  the  wife  of  Rob- 
ert Hench,  railroad  agent  at  Kent,  Stephen- 
son county,  Illinois;  Rosa  Florence  is  at 
home;  Lillie  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Lowe, 
telegraph  operator  at  Byron,  on  the  Great 
Western  railroad;  and  Mary  Ellen,  at  home. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Kindell  operated  the  old  home  farm  in  Ohio, 
but  in  the  fall  of  1S61  we  find  him  a  resi- 
dent of  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where  he  rented 
land  the  first  year.  In  the  spring  of  1862 
he  bought  eighty  acres,  of  which  thirty-seven 
acres  had  been  placed  under  cultivation, 
fenced  and  a  little  frame  house  erected  there- 
on. To  the  further  development  and  im- 
provement of  his  place  he  at  once  turned  his 
attention,  and  later  added  forty  acres  adjoin- 


ing, making  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  on  which  he  has  erected  a 
large  and  well  appointed  house,  also  good 
barns  and  outbuildings,  has  set  out  forest 
and  ornamental  trees,  and  the  neat  and 
thrifty  appearance  of  the  place  testifies  to 
his  careful  supervision  and  his  skill  in  his 
chosen  calling. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  Kindell  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  prin- 
ciples, but  he  is  not  a  politician  in  the 
sense  of  office  seeking,  his  time  and  atten- 
tion being  wholly  occupied  by  his  business  in- 
terest. He  has,  however,  most  efficiently  and 
satisfactorily  served  as  member  of  the  school 
board  for  several  years.  He  and  his  family 
hold  membership  in  the  Middle  Creek  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  in  the  best  social 
circles  of  the  community  they  occupy  an 
enviable  position,  while  their  many  friends 
are  always  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome  at  their 
hospitable  home. 


J 


OHN  H.  PHILLIPS,  an  active  and  en- 
terprising farmer  residing  on  section 
16,  Lincoln  township,  is  a  native-born  citi- 
zen of  Ogle  county,  the  date  of  his  birth 
being  April  13,  1852.  His  father,  Jacob 
Phillips,  was  a  native  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  born  in  1822,  while  his  grand- 
father, William  Phillips,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  who  later  settled  in  Mary- 
land. They  both  came  to  Ogle  county  in 
1844  and  together  entered  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section  15, 
Lincoln  township,  and  at  once  commenced 
the  improvement  of  the  tract,  and  in  due 
time  had  as  fine  a  farm  as  one  would  wish 
to  see.  The  grandfather  died  some  years 
after  locating  here.  Jacob  Phillips  was 
married,  November  25,  1847,  to  Miss  Mary 


I/O 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


E.  Brantner,  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
who  grew  to  womanhood  in  her  native 
state.  By  this  union  there  were  six  chil- 
dren that  grew  to  mature  years.  Lucinda 
is  now  the  wife  of  Jacob  Waltermire,  and 
they  reside  in  Marshall  county,  Iowa.  John 
H.,  of  this  review,  is  next  in  order  of  birth. 
George  W.  resides  in  Gage  county,  Nebras- 
ka, where  hs  is  engaged  in  farming.  Effie 
Irene  is  the  wife  of  Elias  Henshaw,  of  Han- 
cock county,  Iowa.  Lewis  A.  resides  in 
Brown  county,  Kansas.  Samuel  C.  is  liv- 
ing in  Nebraska.  On  the  old  home  place 
the  father  passed  the  last  days  of  his  life, 
his  death  occurring  July  27,  1887.  The 
mother  yet  resides  on  the  old  farm,  en- 
joying the  love  of  her  children  and  many 
friends. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  township  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  home  schools.  He  remained 
with  his  father  and  assisted  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  farm  until  the  father's  death. 
He  later  bought  the  interest  of  the  other 
heirs  and  succeeded  to  the  home  farm, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  live.  He 
was  married  in  Freeport,  Illinois,  February 
21,  1883,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  McCoy,  a 
native  of  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  Mt.  Morris,  and  a  daughter 
of  Walter  Bond  McCoy,  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county.  Maryland,  born  in  18 16,  and 
who  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county, 
and  there  married  Mary  Ann  Huyett,  a  native 
of  the  same  county  and  state.  They  moved 
to  Ogle  county  in  1840,  and  settled  in  Mt. 
Morris  township,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  where  they  reared  their  family. 
Later  they  moved  to  Eagle  Point,  where 
the  father  died  March  30,  1879.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1878.  They  had  a  family 
of  eight  children,    seven   of  whom  grew  to 


mature  years.  Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  Abra- 
ham South,  and  they  reside  in  Quitman, 
Nodaway  county,  Missouri.  David  is  now 
residing  with  our  subject.  Mrs.  Nancy 
Taylor  is  now  living  in  Hardin  county,  Iowa. 
Archibald  Franklin  resides  in  Wright  coun- 
ty, Iowa.  The  next  living  one  is  Mrs. 
Phillips,  wife  of  our  subject.  Mary  Ann 
married  Walter  Hedrick,  but  is  now  de- 
ceased. Edward  died  in  California,  and 
Charles  in  infancy. 

Immediately  after  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Phillips  took  up  their  residence  on  the 
farm  where  they  yet  reside,  and  on  which 
he  has  made  some  substantial  improve- 
ments, including  the  remodeling  of  the  res- 
idence, and  the  erection  of  a  large  barn  and 
various  outbuildings.  Two  children  have 
come  to  bless  their  union — Clarence  O.  and 
Sylvia  N.,  both  of  whom  are  in  attendance 
at  the  home  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, having  given  adhesion  to  that 
party  since  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  in  1876.  He 
was  elected  and  served  six  years  as  consta- 
ble of  Lincoln  township.  He  has  also 
served  as  director  of  his  school  district,  and 
as  a  delegate  to  various  conventions  of  his 
party.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
camp  of  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  at 
Haldane.  Life-long  residents  of  the  county, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  take  a  lively  interest 
in  all  that  concerns  its  well  being.  Their 
friends  are  many  and  they  are  worthy  of  the 
esteem  in  which  they  are  held. 


ELMER  E.  BAER.— Like  many  other 
residents  within  the  bounds  of  Ogle 
county  who  started  out  in  life  with  naught 
but  an  abundance  of  determination  and  in- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


171 


defatigable  industry,  and  who  have  succeed- 
ed through  their  own  diligence,  energy  and 
economy,  we  classify  the  gentleman  whose 
name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  shetch. 
He  was  born  in  Berlin  township,  Somerset 
county,  Pennsylvania,  February  26,  1876, 
and  the  following  April  his  parents  removed 
to  Carroll  county,  where  our  subject  was 
reared.  He  attended  the  public  school  at 
Millidgeville,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  pro- 
ceeded to  learn  the  printer's  trade.  When 
he  was  fourteen  years  old  he  ended  his 
school  days  and  devoted  his  entire  time  to 
his  trade  in  the  Free  Press  of  Millidgeville. 
This  required  a  period  of  four  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to  Ro- 
chelle  where  he  worked  from  the  fall  of 
1892  until  the  following  spring.  He  then 
removed  to  Waterloo,  Iowa,  and  shortly  aft- 
erward returned  to  Illinois,  and  resided  at 
Marseilles  until  August,  1893.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  spent  in  Millidgeville,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  August,  1894,  he  entered  the 
office  of  the  Register  at  Rochelle.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Spanish-American  war, 
the  editor,  G.  W.  Dicus,  lieutenant  of  the 
militia,  was  called  to  Porto  Rico,  and  Mr. 
Baer  leased  the  business  for  the  following 
year.  Although  it  has  been  under  his  su- 
pervision but  a  few  months,  it  already  shows 
the  result  of  his  good  judgment  and  man- 
agement. 

Mr.  Baer  is  the  youngest  of  three  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  second  child,  Susie  M.,  is  the  wife  of 
A.  L.  Poffenberger,  and  resides  at  Kastota, 
Minnesota.  The  parents  of  this  family  are 
Jacob  H.  and  Mary  (Blough)  Baer,  both  of 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  came 
west  in  1876  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Car- 
roll county.  Mr.  Baer  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  management   of  this   property 


till  1885,  when  he  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness life.  Six  months  previous  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1887,  he  was  manager  of 
a  hotel  in  Millidgeville,  in  which  town  his 
wife  still  resides. 

On  the  3rd  of  October,  1898,  our  sub- 
ject was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma  E. 
Beck,  a  daughter  of  John  Beck.  In  politics 
our  subject  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  al- 
ways giving  his  support  to  the  principles  of 
his  party.  He  has  never  cared  for  position 
in  public  office,  referring  to  give  his  undi- 
vided attention  to  his  business  interests. 
He  is  a  keen-sighted  and  honorable  man  of 
business,  and  possesses  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  the  community. 


CYRUS  NICODEMUS,  an  enterprising 
groceryman,  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  the  business  affairs  of  Polo  for  a 
number  of  years  and  his  popularity  is  well 
deserved,  as  in  him  are  embraced  the 
characteristics  of  an  unbending  integrity, 
unabated  energy  and  industry  that  never 
flags.  He  is  a  leading  merchant  of  the 
city,  and  as  a  public-sprited  citizen  is 
thoroughly  interested  in  whatever  tends  to 
promote  the  moral,  intellectual  and  materl 
welfare  of  the  community. 

A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Nicode- 
mus  was  born  in  Woodbury  township,  Bed- 
ford county,  October  2,  1846,  a  son  of 
Conrad  Nicodemus  and  grandson  of  Jacob 
Nicodemus.  The  latter  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  was  a  farmer  and  lumber- 
man by  occupation,  owning  and  operating 
a  sawmill.  He  died  about  1856,  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years,  from  the  efforts  of  an  injured 
leg,  which  was  crushed  by  a  timber  falling 
upon  it.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Susan  Allebaugh. 


i;: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Conrad  Nicodemus  was  born  in  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  west  in 
the  fall  of  1S67  after  his  children  had  em- 
igrated to  the  Mississippi  valley.  He  followed 
farming  in  his  native  state  and  continued  to 
engage  in  the  same  occupation  during  the 
nine  years  of  his  residence  in  Ogle  county, 
Illinois.  From  here  he  moved  to  Iowa, 
where  he  lived  until  1896,  and  it  was  there 
that  his  wife  died  December  12,  1881.  In 
her  maidenhood  she  was  Sarah  Hefley,  a 
native  of  Blair  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
1819,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Hefley, 
who  was  born  in  Maryland  and  died  at  the 
age  of  forty-nine  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1896,  Mr.  Nicodemus  went  to  live  with  a 
daughter  in  Appleton,  Minnesota,  where  he 
departed  this  life  November  25,  1898,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years.  Politically  he 
was  a  Democrat,  and  religiously  a  faithful 
and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  In  his  family  were  eight 
children,  of  whom  six  are  living,  our  subject 
being  the  third  in  order  of  birth,  and  with 
the  exception  of  himself  all  reside  either  in 
Iowa  or  Minnesota. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  spent  upon  his  father's  farm  in  Wood- 
bury township,  Bedford  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, until  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  during 
the  winter  months  he  pursued  his  studies  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
In  February,  1865,  he  enlisted  in  the  Ninety- 
ninth  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
at  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania.  The  regi- 
ment was  first  sent  to  City  Point,  Virginia, 
and  later  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Hatchie's 
Run  and  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  and  then 
went  in  pursuit  of  Lee's  fleeing  army,  re- 
turning by  way  of  Berksville  to  Richmond. 
P"or  three  days  during  this  time  they  were 


without  food.  It  required  a  twelve  days' 
march  from  Richmond  to  Washington,  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  and  at  Bailey's  Cross 
Roads  they  were  reviewed  by  General  Han- 
cock. On  reaching  the  capital  they  par- 
ticipated in  the  grand  review,  and  then 
marched  back  to  Arlington  Heights,  being 
finally  mustered  out  at  Philadelphia  June  28, 
1865. 

Mr.  Nicodemus  returned  to  the  old  home 
in  Woodbury  township,  and  continued  to 
work  for  his  father  for  a  year.  On  coming 
to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in  September,  1866, 
he  stopped  first  at  the  Pine  Creek  settle- 
ment, where  he  was  employed  by  an  uncle 
for  eighteen  months.  On  the  7th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1867,  he  was  married  in  Pine  Creek 
township  to  Miss  Sarah  Stauffer,  a  daughter 
of  John  E.  and  Rebecca  (Haight)  Stauffer. 
Her  father  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
is  now  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Polo.  She 
was  born  in  Sandusky  county,  Ohio,  but 
when  a  child  was  taken  by  her  parents  to 
Elkhart,  Indiana,  and  in  1865  became  a 
resident  of  Illinois. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Nicodemus  began 
working  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  also 
rented  a  farm,  which  he  operated  for  six 
years,  and  then  came  to  Polo,  where  he 
clerked  in  a  grocery  store  for  ten  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  embarked  in  the 
same  business  for  himself,  in  partnership 
with  Samuel  Brenner,  who  later  sold  his 
interest  to  W.  W.  Kline,  the  firm  remaining 
Nicodemus  &  Kline  for  seven  years.  They 
then  sold  out  to  Garman  &  Handshaw,  and 
for  the  following  seven  months  Mr.  Nico- 
demus did  nothing  while  looking  around  for 
a  favorable  opening.  In  company  with  Mr. 
Newcomer,  he  bought  the  store  of  Mr. 
Woolsey,  which  they  conducted  under  the 
firm   style   of  Nicodemus  &  Newcomer  for 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


four  years,  or  until  January,  1898,  when  our 
subject  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner.  The 
following  November  he  and  Lester  A.  Brand 
purchased  a  stock  of  groceries  and  opened  a 
store  on  E.xchange  street,  where  he  is  now 
greeting  his  old  friends.  He  has  met  with 
a  well-deserved  success  in  his  business  un- 
dertakings, and  besides  his  mercantile  in- 
terests he  now  owns  a  fine  quarter-section 
of  land  in  Iowa.  He  and  his  wife  attend 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Polo,  and 
have  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know 
them.  Socially  he  affiliates  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights 
of  the  Globe  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  politically  is  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party. 


HON.  JAMES  P.  WILSON,  ex-member 
of  the  general  assembly  of  the  state 
of  Illinois,  resides  on  section  10,  Woosung 
townslrip.  He  was  born  June  7,  1854,  in 
Blair  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  the  son 
of  Franklin  and  Susan  (Dridenbaugh)  Wil- 
son, both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of  the 
Keystone  state.  By  occupation  the  father 
was  a  farmer,  and  in  1856,  when  our  subject 
was  but  two  years  old,  he  came  with  his 
family  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Lee  coun- 
ty. He  later  purchased  land  in  Palmyra 
township,  that  county,  which  he  improved, 
and  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
spent,  dying  there  November  4,  1870.  His 
wife  is  yet  living,  and  now  makes  her  home 
in  Sterling,  Illinois.  In  their  family  were 
five  children,  four  of  whom  lived  to  matur- 
ity, and  three  yet  living.  Theodore  met  his 
death  December  9,  1898,  by  falling  from 
the  tower  of  his  windmill  in  Palmyra  town- 
ship, Lee  county.  Stewart  is  now  living  on 
the  old  homestead    in   Lee    county.      Mary 


F.,  widow  of  C.  C.  Fisk,  is  residing  in 
Sterling,  Illinois,  with  her  aged  mother. 
Rebecca  died  in  childhood.  James  P.,  our 
subject,  was  the  youngest  of  the   family. 

On  the  old  homestead,  in  Lee  county, 
Illinois,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to 
manhood,  and  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  his  township. 
He  subsequently  attended  the  high  school  in 
Dixon,  Illinois;  and  completed  his  school 
life  in  Knox  College,  Galesburg,  Illinois, 
which  he  attended  in  1872-3-4.  Leaving 
school,  he  taught  school  in  Woosung  town- 
ship for  a  time,  and  then,  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  Theodore,  farmed  in  Lee 
county  one  year. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  married,  February  8, 
1877,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Rogers,  of  Palmyra, 
Lee  county,  Illinois,  daughter  of  W.  L.  and 
Hannah  (Fellows)  Rogers,  pioneers  of  Lee 
county.  Her  father,  a  native  of  Canada, 
settled  in  Lee  count}'  in  1839,  while  the 
Fellows  family,  who  were  of  Puritan  stock, 
from  New  Hampshire,  settled  in  the  same 
county  in  1834.  By  this  union  were  born 
two  children — Franklin  B.,  who  was  a 
graduate,  with  honors,  of  the  Dixon  High 
school,  and  who  was  also  a  student  of 
Stienman  Commercial  College,  of  Dixon, 
and  Jay  P. 

In  the  fall  of  1876,  Mr.  Wilson  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Woosung  township,  comprising  a  portion  of 
his  present  farm,  and  soon  after  his  mar- 
riage moved  to  the  place,  making  it  his 
home  to  the  present  time.  To  his  original 
purchase  he  has  added  eighty  acres,  giving 
him  an  excellent  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  Since  coming  into  his  posses- 
sion, he  has  made  many  valuable  improve- 
ments, keeping  up  with  the  times  in  every 
particular.      While  he  has  been  successful, 


1/4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  has  yet  met  with  severe  loss.  On  the 
3d  of  October,  1896,  his  fine  large  barn, 
with  its  contents  of  hay,  grain  and  machin- 
ery, was  totally  consumed  by  fire,  entailing 
a  loss  of  five  thousand  dollars.  He  has  fol- 
lowed general  farming  and  stock  raising, 
and  usually  feeds  from  seventy-five  to  one 
hundred  head  of  cattle  per  year.  He  en- 
deavors to  consume  on  the  place  all  the 
grain  and  hay  that  he  raises. 

In  politics  Mr.  Wilson  is  an  ardent  Dem- 
ocrat, a  stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party.  Since  attaining  his 
majority  he  has  taken  quite  an  active  part 
in  political  affairs  and  has  served  almost 
continuously  in  some  local  office.  In  18S1 
he  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  newly  or- 
ganized township  of  Woosung,  and  his  elec- 
tion was  contested  by  citizens  of  the  old 
township  of  Buffalo,  of  which  Woosung  had 
formed  a  part.  The  contest  was  warmly 
pressed,  but  resulted  in  the  recognition  of 
the  newly  organized  township,  and  con- 
firmed the  validity  of  the  election  of  Mr. 
Wilson.  In  1884  he  was  elected  chairman 
of  the  board  of  supervisors,  a  position  which 
he  filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
In  1886  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
thirty-fifth  general  assembly  of  Illinois,  re- 
elected in  1890  and  again  in  1892.  During 
his  term  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  con- 
test between  Palmer  and  Oglesby  for  the 
United  States  senate,  and  which  resulted  in 
the  election  of  General  Palmer.  He  intro- 
duced a  valuable  bill,  which,  however,  failed 
of  adoption,  making  railroad  and  warehouse 
commissioners  elective,  instead  of  appoint- 
ive. The  measure  was  carried  in  the  house, 
but  defeated  in  the  senate.  In  1891  he  was 
chairman  of  the  appropriation  committee 
and  of  the  revenue  committee  in  1893.  He 
also  served  on   various  special  committees. 


and  was  an  influential  member  of  the  house. 
In  educational  matters  he  has  always  taken 
a  commendable  interest  and  for  years  served 
on  the  school  board.  While  living  in  a  Re- 
publican legislative  district,  he  has  always 
held  the  respect  of  his  political  opponents 
and  usually  polls  a  good  Republican  vote.  In 
his  home  neighborhood  his  popularity  has 
always  been  great. 


J 


AMES  M.  CLAYTON  is  one  of  the 
many  residents  of  Ogle  county  who 
started  out  in  life  with  naught  but  an  abund- 
ance of  determination  and  indefatigable  in- 
dustry, and  a  strong  and  healthy  constitu- 
tion, and  who  have  succeeded  through  their 
own  diligence,  energy  and  economy.  He 
is  now  able  in  his  declining  years  to  lay 
aside  all  business  cares  and  live  retired  at 
his  pleasant  home  in  Stillman  Valley,  where 
he  is  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  and 
many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 

Mr.  Clayton  was  born  in  Brimfield, 
Massachusetts,  November  18,  18 14,  and 
when  a  young  man,  through  the  influence  and 
solicitation  of  an  older  brother,  made  appli- 
cation to  and  had  his  name  changed  by  a  leg- 
islative enactment  from  Crouch  to  Clayton. 
His  paternal  grandfather  was  of  German 
descent  and  a  soldier  in  the  American  Rev- 
olution, while  the  father,  Ephraim  Crouch, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Vermont,  took 
up  arms  against  Great  Britain  in  the  war  of 
1812.  When  a  young  man  the  latter  went 
to  Massachusetts,  where  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  the  butcher  business.  There  he  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Stebbens. 

As  his  parents  were  in  very  limited  cir- 
cumstances, Mr.  Clayton's  educational  priv- 
ileges  were    limited,    being   able  to   attend 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


175 


school  only  a  few  months  during  the  winter. 
His  training  at  farm  work  was  not  so 
meager,  however,  and  during  his  youth  he 
worked  on  the  farm  of  Colonel  Brown  and 
gave  his  wages  to  his  father  until  he  reached 
manhood.  On  the  2nd  of  April,  1837,  in 
company  with  Colonel  Brown,  Hon.  A.  F. 
Brown  and  Samuel  Patrick,  he  started  for 
the  Rock  river  valley,  Illinois,  going  down 
the  Hudson  river  from  Hartford  to  New 
York  city,  by  vessel  to  Philadelphia,  by 
canal  to  Pittsburg,  down  the  Ohio  and  up 
the  Mississippi  rivers  to  St.  Louis,  where 
changed  boats  and  then  proceeded  up  the 
Illinois  river  to  Peoria,  by  team  to  the  Rock 
river  and  by  stage  to  Dixon.  Mr.  Clayton 
arrived  in  Ogle  county  May  2,  and  until  the 
following  August  worked  by  the  day  at  By- 
ron. He  next  worked  by  the  year  for  Joseph 
Sanford,  and  from  that  gentleman  purchased 
a  partially  improved  claim  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  on  which  a  log  house  had 
been  constructed.  His  brother-in-law,  Sol- 
omon Small,  who  arrived  here  in  1838,  lo- 
cated upon  the  place,  while  our  subject  con- 
tinued to  work  for  others  for  a  few  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1841,  in  Byron,  Mr.  Clay- 
ton married  Miss  Harriet  Norton,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  New  York,  and  was  one 
of  a  family  of  ten  children,  five  sons  and 
five  daughters.  Her  father.  Rev.  Isaac 
Norton,  a  Free  Will  Baptist  minister,  set- 
tled in  this  county  in  June,  1837.  The 
young  couple  made  their  home  in  Byron 
until  the  spring  of  1S42,  and  when  Mr. 
Clayton  sold  his  first  place  and  took  a  claim 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  adjoining 
the  village  of  Stillman  \^alley,  which  he 
subsequently  entered  and  still  owns.  After 
erecting  a  log  house  thereon,  he  mo\ed  in 
and  began  to  break  and  improve  his  land. 
In    1868    he    built    a   neat,  substantial    and 


commodious  residence,  and  later  erected 
two  barns  and  other  outbuildings,  set  out 
an  orchard  and  a  number  of  forest  and  or- 
namental trees,  and  transformed  the  wild 
tract  into  a  beautiful  and  attractive  farm. 
His  financial  resources  having  increased  he 
purchased  an  adjoining  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  acres,  making  in  all  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-four  acres  of  valuable  and 
well  improved  land,  which  he  successfully 
operated  for  forty  years,  but  now  leaves  the 
active  management  of  the  farm  to  younger 
hands,  while  he  spends  his  declining  years 
in  that  ease  and  retirement  which  should 
always  follow  a  long  and  useful  career.  He 
has  lived  in  Stillman  Valley  since  1882  and 
there  owns  two  good  residences. 

Mr.  Clayton  has  been  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who 
passed  away  December  12,  1887.  Of  the 
seven  children  born  to  them,  three  are  now 
deceased,  two  having  died  in  childhood. 
Adelaide,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Wallace 
Revell,  a  prominent  business  men  of  Still- 
man Valley,  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume.  Nellie  is  the  widow 
of  Rev.  James  Robertson,  a  minister  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  she  resides 
in  Forreston,  Illinois.  George  is  a  farmer 
residing  in  Stillman  Valley.  Edgar  is  also  a 
farmer  of  Ogle  county.  Hattie  is  the  wife 
of  Eli  Hoysington,  a  farmer  and  dairyman 
of  Ogle  county.  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  William 
Sovereign,  formerly  a  business  man  of  Still- 
man Valley,  where  he  now  resides.  Lena 
died  when  a  young  lady;  Delia  Ann  at  the 
age  of  two  years;  and  William  H.  at  the 
age  of  three  months. 

Politically  Mr.  Clayton  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, having  supported  that  party  ever 
since  its  organization.  He  cast  his  first 
presidential    vote    for    Martin  Van     Buren 


176 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  1836,  and  in  1840  supported  Tippecanoe 
and  Tyler,  too.  He  has  never  sought  or 
cared  for  official  preferment,  but  when  a 
young  man  once  served  as  constable  in  By- 
ron. He  has  ever  used  his  influence  to  se- 
cure good  schools  and  teachers,  and  for 
some  years  was  a  most  efficient  member 
of  the  school  board.  For  si.xty-one  years 
he  has  watched  with  interest  the  wonderful 
changes  that  have  taken  place  in  this  coun- 
ty, has  borne  an  important  part  in  its  up- 
building and  development,  and  his  name 
should  be  among  the  foremost  on  its  roll  of 
honored  pioneers.  He  is  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  Stillman  Valley 
Congregational  church  and  his  life  has  ever 
been  such  as  to  commend  him  to  the  office 
and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come 
in  contact  either   in   business  or  social  life. 


SAMUEL  IvNODLE,  one  of  Forreston's 
esteemed  representative  citizens,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Maryland,  No- 
vember 21,  1827,  where  he  grew  up  and  at- 
tended school  in  the  district  school  in  the 
neighborhood.  In  the  spring  of  1841  he 
came  west  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Mount  Morris.  The  journey  was 
a  long  and  tedious  one,  coming  as  they  did 
by  wagon  through  Cumberland,  Wheeling, 
Virginia,  Zanesville,  Ohio,  Crawfordsville, 
Indiana,  Attica,  Indiana,  and  through  Illi- 
nois by  way  of  Ottawa,  until  they  reached 
their  destination.  Mount  Morris.  Upon 
their  arrival  they  found  but  a  few  settlers, 
among  which  were  the  Hitts,  McCoys  and 
Meyers.  Samuel  Knodle's  father,  Jonathan 
Knodle,  was  a  native  of  Maryland  and  was 
born  in  1795.  His  mother,  Barbara  (King) 
Knodle,  was  born  in  1795  in  Pennsylvania. 
His  father  was  a  successful  mechanic,  and 


in  the  early  days,  at  Mount  Morris,  manu- 
factured cradles  and  Hussey  reapers,  the 
first  built  in  this  country.  He  also  had 
shipped  to  him,  from  the  east,  a  printing 
press  and  brought  his  nephew,  Emanuel 
Knodle,  west  to  run  it.  He  for  a  long  time 
printed  the  Rock  River  Register,  which  was 
first  published  in  1841,  and  was  the  first 
publication  in  Ogle  county.  Jonathan  Kno- 
dle for  a  period  conducted  a  store  in  Mount 
Morris,  but  retired  from  active  business  life, 
and  lived  at  ease  until  his  death  in  1854. 
Mrs.  I\nodle,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
died  in  1882  at  an  advanced  age  and  her  re- 
mains lie  in  Mount  Morris  cemetery  beside 
those  of  her  husband.  The  subject  of  this 
review  had  five  brothers  and  two  sisters. 
Peter,  now  deceased,  a  resident  of  Mount 
Morris;  Jacob,  a  wagonmaker  and  painter, 
residing  at  Mount  Morris;  Jonathan,  a  car- 
penter, deceased;  Samuel,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Joseph,  a  carpenter  residing  at 
Oregon;  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  John  Win- 
ders; William,  a  carpenter,  living  at  Ore- 
gon;  Mary  Catherine  died  in  infancy. 

Such  educational  advantages  as  the 
primitive  settlement  offered  Samuel  ICnodle 
secured  and  after  his  school  days  earned  his 
living  at  farm  work  and  teaming  until  1S50, 
when  with  a  few  companions  he  set  out  for 
the  gold  mines  of  California.  The  party 
consisted  of  Messrs  Lott,  Fink,  Boner, 
Davis,  Fouck  and  Samuel  Ivnodle,  all  living 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Mount  Morris. 
They  set  out  on  their  long  journey  March 
19,  1850,  and  by  tedious  travel  over  land 
arrived  at  their  destination  the  following 
October.  On  their  way  they  stopped  six- 
teen days  at  Salt  Lake  City  to  rest  up,  and 
camped  at  Nevada  City,  when  they  set 
to  work  to  dig  for  gold.  Mr.  Knodle  spent, 
eighteen  3'ears  in  mining  and  prospecting  in 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1/7 


California,  Arizona,  British  Columbia  and 
Washington.  His  perilous  life  as  a  miner 
and  mine-owner  was  terminated  by  an  ac- 
cident sustained  in  defending  his  camp  from 
the  hostile  raids  of  the  Apache  Indians. 
In  the  struggle,  four  of  a  party  of  six  were 
killed  outright,  the  remaining  two,  of  which 
Mr.  Knodle  was  one,  were  severely  injured, 
he  losing  the  entire  use  of  his  right  arm  from 
a  weapon  in  the  hands  of  an  Indian.  After 
the  accident  he  returned  to  Mount  Morris, 
arriving  there  in  1868.  He  remained  at 
Mount  Morris  one  year,  and  in  1869  started 
a  business  in  Forreston,  which  he  has  con- 
ducted ever  since. 

Mr.  Knodle  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
cast  his  first  presidential  ballot  in  1S52,  for 
Winfield  Scott.  It  is  said  that  a  child  is 
unerring  in  its  affections,  and  the  truth  of 
the  saying  is  evinced  in  his  popularity  with 
the  little  folks,  who  greet  him  as  "Uncle 
Sam."  Mr.  Knodle  has  witnessed  the 
growth  of  Ogle  count}',  having  been  a  resi- 
dent since  before  the  era  of  railroads,  when 
as  a  farm  hand  he  was  obliged  to  haul  grain 
to  Chicago,  and  Peru,  and  groceries  from 
Savannah.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  quali- 
ties, of  wide  experience  in  human  affairs,  a 
persistent  reader  and  deep  thinker,  and  be- 
cause of  these  qualifications,  an  entertaining 
companion. 


DANIEL  SIMS,  Sr.,  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  and  highly  esteemed  citizens 
of  Ogle  county,  has  for  the  long  period  of 
sixty  years  successfully  engaged  in  agricult- 
ural pursuits  on  section  12,  Byron  township, 
where  he  has  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  which  he  has  developed 
from  wild  land.  On  coming  to  the  county 
in  1838,  the  greater  part  of  this  region  was 


still  in  its  primitive  condition,  few  settle- 
ments having  been  made  and  the  land  was 
raw  and  unimproved.  He  has  borne  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  transforming 
the  unbroken  wilderness  into  fine  farms  and 
assisted  in  opening  up  the  country  to  civili- 
zation. His  first  crops  he  hauled  to  the 
Chicago  market  with  an  ox-team  and  as 
there  were  no  good  roads  his  team  and 
wagon  often  got  stuck  in  the  mud. 

Mr.  Sims  was  born  in  Luzerne  county, 
Pennsylvania,  August  31,  1S17,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  Sims,  a  native  of  the  same 
count}',  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1 8 12  and  was  stationed  on  Long  Island. 
For  his  services  in  that  struggle  he  received 
a  land  warrant.  In  Luzerne  county  he 
married  Miss  Catherine  Hoover,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  and  in  1838  they  emigrated  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where  the  father 
bought  a  claim  of  about  eighty  acres  and 
opened  up  a  farm  in  B}'ron  township,  mak- 
ing a  number  of  improvements  on  the  same 
and  continuing  its  cultivation  for  some 
years.  Here  his  wife  died,  but  his  death 
occurred  in  Iowa,  where  he  made  his  home 
during  his  last  days.  Daniel  is  the  oldest 
of  their  children,  six  sons  and  five  daughters, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood, but  only  three  sons  and  two  daughters 
are  now  living. 

Daniel  Sims  was  reared  in  Bradford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  had  but  limited 
school  privileges,  so  that  he  is  mostly  self- 
educated.  During  his  youth  he  began 
working  as  a  farm  hand,  and  throughout  life 
has  devoted  his  energies  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. On  coming  to  Ogle  county  in  1838 
he  entered  eighty  acres  of  government  land 
on  section  12,  Byron  township,  and  later 
purchased  an  adjoining  tract  of  eighty  acres, 
which  he  has  converted   into  a  highly  culti.- 


178 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD, 


vated  and  well  improved  farm.  His  first 
home,  which  was  a  little  log  cabin,  has 
long  since  been  replaced  by  a  comfortable 
frame  residence  and  good  and  substantial 
outbuildings  have  also  been  erected. 

Mr.  Sims  was  married  in  Ogle  county, 
in  1S45,  to  Miss  Christina  Bunton, 
a  native  of  Dundee,  Scotland,  where 
she  continued  to  make  her  home  un- 
til eighteen  years  of  age.  Eleven  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  but  only  the  follow- 
ing are  now  living:  Mrs.  Mary  Ferguson,  a 
widow  living  in  Iowa,  Henry,  a  resident  of 
Nebraska;  David  and  Albert,  also  of  Ne- 
braska; Jessie,  wife  of  James  Turner,  of 
Byron  township,  Ogle  county,  and  Daniel 
living  in  Iowa;  Ella  grew  to  womanhood 
and  married,  but  is  now  deceased;  while  the 
others  died  in  childhood. 

Originally  Mr.  Sims  was  an  old-line 
Whig  in  politics,  casting  his  first  vote  for 
William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840,  but  since 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party 
he  has  been  one  of  its  stalwart  supporters. 
Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Middle  Creek  Presbyterian 
church,  and  by  all  who  know  them  they 
are  held  in  high  regard. 


GEORGE  MURRAY.— Canada  has  fur- 
nished to  the  United  States  many 
bright,  enterprising  young  men  who  have 
left  the  Dominion  to  enter  the  business  cir- 
cles of  this  country  with  its  more  progress- 
ive methods,  livelier  competition,  and  ad- 
vancement more  quickly  secured.  Among 
this  number  is  Mr.  Murray,  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  progressive  farmers  and 
stock  breeders  of  Ogle  county,  his  home 
being  on  section  17,  Buffalo  township. 

Mr.  Murray  was  born  near  TorontO)  On- 


tario, Canada,  November  15,  1850,  and  is 
a  son  of  Thomas  Murray,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, born  in  the  city  of  Edinburg,  Septem- 
ber 26,  181S.  When  a  young  man  the 
father  caine  to  the  new  world,  locating  in 
Ontario,  Canada,  in  1836,  and  there  he  fol- 
lowed the  blacksmith's  trade  throughout  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  January  17, 
1 866.  He  was  married  in  Canada,  in  March, 
1848,  to  Miss  Louisa  Graham,  also  a  native 
of  Scotland,  her  birth  occurring  in  Dum- 
frieshire,  June  28,  1826.  She  crossed  the 
Atlantic  with  a  brother  and  also  took  up 
her  residence  in  Ontario.  She  survived  her 
husband  for  thirty  years,  spending  her  last 
days  with  her  son  in  Illinois,  where  she 
passed  away  January  27,  1S96.  She  was 
the  mother  of  eight  children,  five  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  four  sons  and  two 
daughters  are  still  living,  namely:  Mary, 
who  acts  as  housekeeper  for  our  subject; 
George,  of  this  review;  Thomas,  a  farmer 
of  Holcomb,  Ogle  county;  John,  who  is 
married  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Lee 
county,  Illinois;  Robert;  and  Mrs.  Margaret 
Copenhaver,  who  also  resides  with  our  sub- 
ject and  has  two  sons,  George  and  Robert. 
George  Murray  was  reared  in  Ontario, 
Canada,  and  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  which  well  fitted  him  for  life's 
responsible  duties.  As  a  young  man  he 
came  to  Illinois,  in  1S72,  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Taylor  township.  Ogle  county, 
where  for  one  year  he  worked  by  the  month 
as  a  farmhand.  He  then  rented  a  farm,  which 
he  operated  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
Since  then  he  has  given  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  and  attention  to  the  breeding  of  fine 
stock,  in  partnership  with  his  brother  import- 
ing and  dealing  in  pure-blooded  Percheron, 
Clydesdale  and  French  coach  horses.  The 
firm  of  Murray  Brothers  became  well-known 


JOHN   H.   NYE. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


I8l 


among  breeders  and  dealers  in  different 
states  and  they  sold  their  horses  quite  ex- 
tensively throughout  the  west,  doing  a  large 
and  profitable  business.  The  partnership 
was  dissolved  in  iS86,  but  our  subject  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  the  business  until  1893. 
His  first  purchase  of  land  consisted  of 
seventy-five  acres  in  what  is  now  \\'oosung 
township,  but  after  residing  there  for  three 
years,  he  sold  the  place  and  in  1881  located 
upon  his  present  farm,  consisting  at  that 
time  of  one  hundred  and  eight-two  acres. 
Upon  the  place  he  has  made  extensive  im- 
provements, which  add  greatly  to  its  value 
and  attractive  appearance,  making  it  one  of 
the  most  desirable  farms  of  the  locality.  He 
has  enlarged  its  boundaries  so  that  they  now 
contain  two  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  im- 
proved with  a  large  neat  residence,  corn 
cribs,  granaries,  barns,  etc.  He  has  also 
given  considerable  attention  to  the  raising 
of  Galloway  cattle,  and  still  feeds  annually 
from  one  to  four  car  loads  of  cattle  and  a 
car  load  of  hogs  for  the  market.  He  start- 
ed out  in  life  for  himself  with  nothing  but 
his  own  indomitable  energy  and  through  his 
own  efforts  has  acquired  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, being  to-day  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Murray  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Grover  Cleveland  and  continued  to 
affiliate  with  the  Democracy  until  1896, 
when  he  supported  William  McKinley,  the 
Republican  candidate.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  and  has  been  president  of  the 
district.  He  is  also  connected  with  the 
library  association  and  has  served  as  one  of 
its  trustees  and  directors.  He  and  his  sis- 
ters hold  membership  in  the  Independent 
Presbyterian  church  of  Polo,  and  he  is  also 


a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe. 
He  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know 
him,  and  he  has  a  host  of  warm  friends 
throughout  the  county. 


JOHN  H.  NYE,  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  a  well  known  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen  of  Ogle  county.  He  was  a  native  of 
England,  born  near  Dover,  and  was  the 
son  of  James  and  Harriet  Nye,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  the  same  country, 
the  father  there  spending  his  entire  life. 
He  was  a  pipemaker  by  trade.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband,  his  widow  came  to 
the  United  States,  afterwards  marrying  a 
Mr.  Marsh,  her  husband  being  a  farmer  in 
Lincoln  township,  Ogle  county,  where  her 
death  occurred  in  1S76,  when  about  sev- 
enty-eight years  old. 

John  H.  Nye  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  land. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  landing  in  New  York,  where 
he  spent  the  succeeding  three  years  learning 
the  carpenter's  trade,  apprenticing  himself 
to  a  Mr.  Beebe.  He  then  came  to  Ogle 
county  and  located  in  Mt.  Morris.  This 
was  in  1853.  His  first  work  here  was  for  Mr. 
Marston,  who  had  the  contract  for  the  car- 
pentry work  on  the  seminary,  then  in  course 
of  construction.  After  leaving  Mr.  Marston 
he  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  locating 
just  southeast  of  the  village.  He  continued 
contracting  and  building  until  i860, when  he 
commenced  farming  in  Mt.  Morris  township, 
on  a  farm  the  property  of  his  wife,  com- 
prising two  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He 
later  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Lincoln  township,  which  he 
rented,  while  still  continuing  to  remain 
upon  the  farm  in  Mt.  Morris  township.      In 


I  82 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


1867  he  left  the  farm  with  his  family  and 
removing  to  Mt.  Morris  he  lived  a  retired 
life  until   1882. 

On  the  2d  of  October,  i860,  Mr.  Nye 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Catherine 
Coffman,  born  in  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, July  24,  1820,  and  daughter  of  James 
and  Anna  (Palmar)  Coffman,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  By  occupation  he  was  a 
farmer.  In  1S40  he  came  to  Ogle  county 
and  located  in  Pine  Creek  township.  With 
his  family  he  came  through  by  team,  in  a 
large  wagon,  usually  called  a  "prairie 
schooner."  They  passed  through  Virginia, 
Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  were  si.x  weeks  (// 
route,  although  they  stopped  some  two 
weeks  near  Dayton,  Ohio.  The  greater 
portion  of  the  land  was  yet  owned  by  the 
government,  and  believing  there  was  a  great 
future  for  the  country,  Mr.  Coffman  pur- 
chased six  quarter-sections  in  Ogle  county, 
and  nearly  as  much  in  Sangamon  county, 
paying  the  government  price  of  one  dollar 
and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  This  land 
he  at  once  commenced  to  improve,  and  in 
1842  built  a  small  brick  house  for  occu- 
pancy, brick  being  more  easily  obtained 
than  lumber,  as  there  was  a  brick-yard 
within  six  miles,  while  lumber  had  to  be 
hauled  from  Chicago.  The  previous  year, 
however,  he  erected  a  gristmill  on  Pine 
creek.  On  settling  here  their  nearest  neigh- 
bor was  three  miles  away  and  their  market 
was  Chicago.  On  the  present  site  of  Mt. 
Morris  there  was  but  one  solitary  building, 
afterwards  known  as  the  old  seminary  build- 
ing. This  building  remained  until  a  few 
years  ago. 

James  and  Anna  Coffman  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children.  Edward  married 
Catherine  Price,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children.     They  lived   in   Pine 


Creek  township,  where  he  died  in  1889. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  Catherine, 
widow  of  our  subject,  was  next  in  order  of 
birth.  Barbara  married  Daniel  Sprecher 
and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children. 
They  are  both  deceased.  Aaron  died  in 
California  in  1894.  He  was  prospector. 
Sarah  married  David  F'earer,  who  is  now 
deceased.  She  is  the  mother  of  six  chil- 
dren and  now  resides  in  Kansas.  Susan 
married  John  Widney,  and  to  them  were 
born  three  children.  They  are  living  in 
Ohio,  where  he  is  farming.  David  mar- 
ried Susan  DePue,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children.  He  died  many  years  ago.  James 
Coffman,  the  father,  was  not  permitted  to 
live  to  see  the  great  changes  that  have 
since  taken  place  in  Ogle  county,  his  death 
occurring  in  April,  1847,  while  yet  in  the 
prime  of  life.  His  wife  survived  him  sev- 
eral years.  Both  were  highly  esteemed, 
and  their  death  was  a  sad  loss  to  the  new 
country  in  which  they  had  cast  their  lot. 

To  our  subject  and  wife  two  children 
were  born.  Frank  Coffman,  born  Novem- 
ber 21,  1 86 1,  was  a  young  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability,  a  graduate  of  Mt. 
Morris  College.  He  died  in  Dakota,  June 
3,  1886,  greatly  lamented  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends.  Ulysses,  born  April  12,  1864, 
married  Ella  Green,  of  Chicago,  who  died 
in  Califcjrnia  in  1896.  He  received  his  lit- 
erary education  in  Mt.  Morris  College,  and 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Chicago  Musical  Col- 
lege. He  is  a  teacher  of  music  of  marked 
ability.  At  present  he  is  employed  in  the 
postoffice  at  Mt.  Morris.  Our  subject  first 
married  Miss  Maria  Beebe,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children — Sarah,  Harriet,  Emma  and 
Anna. 

In    November,    1882,    Mr.    Nye    moved 
with   his  family   to    Beadle   county,   South 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


183 


Dakota,  and  entered  a  homestead  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  a  tree  claim 
of  one  hundred  and  sixt}'  acres.  In  1S93 
they  left  Dakota  and  returning  to  Illinois, 
located  in  Mayvvood,  a  suburb  of  Chicago, 
where  they  remained  until  January,  1896, 
when  they  went  to  Los  Angeles,  California. 
In  that  beautiful  city,  on  the  28th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1 898,  Mr.  Nye  passed  to  his  reward. 
He  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  died  in  the  hope  of 
the  resurrection.  Fraternally  he  was  a 
Mason,  and  politically  a  Republican. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  death  of  her 
husband,  Mrs.  Nye  left  Los  Angeles,  and 
after  visiting  relatives  in  Douglas  county, 
Kansas,  in  April,  following,  returned  to  her 
old  home  in  Mt.  Morris,  where  she  is  sur- 
rounded by  many  of  her  old  friends,  and 
where  she  can  make  the  most  of  this  life. 
Like  her  husband,  she  is  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  a 
true  Christian  woman. 


ORLO  W.  NORTON.— When  after  years 
of  long  and  earnest  labor  in  some  hon- 
orable field  of  business,  a  man  puts  aside  all 
cares  to  spend  his  remaining  years  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil,  it 
is  certainly  a  well  deserved  reward  of  his 
industry. 

"How  blest  is  he  who  crowns  in  shades  like 
these 
A  youth  of  labor  with  an  age  of  ease,  " 
wrote  the  poet,  and  the  world  everywhere 
recognizes  the  justice  of  a  season  of  rest  fol- 
lowing an  active  period  of  business.  Mr. 
Norton  spent  his  last  years  living  retired  at 
his  pleasant  home  in  Stillman  Valley  and 
his  history  is  one  that  shows  the  accomplish  - 
ment  of  well  directed  labor. 


He  was  born  in  Genesee  county.  New 
York,  June  18,  1835,  and  was  of  a  family 
of  English  extraction  which  was  founded  in 
Massachusetts  as  early  as  1640.  His  grand- 
father, Henry  Norton,  was  born  in  Guilford, 
Connecticut,  in  1753,  and  was  one  of  the 
heroes  of  the  Revolutionary  war  who  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Lexington,  where 
the  colonial  troops  won  their  first  victory. 
Gould  G.  Norton,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Vermont,  in  1800,  and  was  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  six  children,  five  sons 
and  one  daughter.  In  1805  the  family  re- 
moved to  Essex  county.  New  York,  and  in 
1 816  settled  in  Genesee  county,  that  state, 
where  Gould  G.  Norton  grew  to  manhood 
and  married  Mary  H}de,  a  native  of  the 
Empire  state,  whither  her  father,  Jesse 
Hyde,  had  removed  from  Vermont  at  an 
early  day.  Her  grandfather  was  Captain 
Thomas  Hyde,  of  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
who  held  a  captain's  commission  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war. 

The  father  of  our  subject  successfully 
engaged  in  merchandising  and  also  in  farm- 
ing in  Genesee  county.  New  York,  until  1830, 
when  he  removed  to  Orleans  county,  that 
same  state,  but  seven  years  later  returned 
to  the  former  county,  locating  in  the  part 
which  afterward  became  Wyoming  county. 
In  1846  he  came  west  and  settled  in  Hart- 
land,  Waukesha  county,  Wisconsin,  where 
he  resided  for  two  years  while  traveling  for 
a  mercantile  house.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  brought  his  family  to  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  and  entered  on  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Scott  township,  where  he 
developed  a  good  farm.  On  their  arrival 
here  of  most  the  land  was  still  in  its  primi- 
tive condition,  deer  and  other  wild  game 
was  plentiful,  and  the  few  settlers  were 
widely  scattered,  their  nearest   neighbor  on 


1 84 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


the  east  being  nine  miles  distant.  The 
father  erected  a  stone  house  which  is  still 
standing  and  to  the  improvement  and  culti- 
vation of  his  land  at  once  turned  his  atten- 
tion. Here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  June  22, 1886,  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty-six  years.  His  worthy  wife  passed 
away  in  April,  1877.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
his  community,  was  a  friend  of  education 
and  a  stanch  supporter  of  our  public  schools. 
He  was  a  self-educated  as  well  as  a  self- 
made  man,  but  by  hard  study  and  close 
application  he  fitted  himself  for  a  teacher 
and  successfully  followed  that  profession  for 
a  number  of  terms.  He  was  supervisor  of 
his  township  ten  years,  and  township  trustee 
for  a  number  of  years. 

Orlo  W.  Norton  was  the  oldest  in  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  years  of 
maturity.  Emma  C.  married  Hon.  O.  B. 
Young,  of  Stillman  Valley.  Mary  E.  B.,  a 
resident  of  Oakland,  California,  is  a  lady  of 
superior  education  and  excellent  business 
ability.  She  taught  for  twenty-five  years  in 
the  Rockford,  Illinois,  Seminary,  and  the  State 
Normal  of  California,  and  is  now  secretary 
of  the  Social  Settlement  in  West  Oakland. 
Henry  B.  was  educated  at  the  Illinois  State 
Normal  and  was  also  a  teacher  by  profes- 
sion, being  employed  in  the  State  Normal  at 
Emporia,  Kansas,  for  five  years.  As  his 
health  failed  he  spent  two  years  among  the 
Indians  and  then  went  to  California,  where 
he  followed  his  chosen  profession  for  a  time. 
He  was  an  ordained  minister  of  the  Congre- 
gational church,  and  often  lectured  on  sci- 
entific subjects.  His  death  occurred  June22, 
1885.  Gould  Hyde  Norton,  now  a  resident 
of  Eustis,  F"lorida,  was  also  engaged  at  the 
Illinois  State  Normal,  and  in    1861    enlisted 


as  lieutenant  in  the  Thirty-third  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  largely  com- 
posed of  teachers  and  pupils  belonging  to 
that  school  and  was  commanded  by  the 
president,  Colonel  Hovey.  Mr.  Norton 
was  wounded  by  a  ball  in  the  breast  at  the 
battle  of  \'icksburg,  and  being  unfit  for 
further  duty  he  was  discharged  with  the 
rank  of  captain.  Later  he  moved  to  Vicks- 
burg  and  served  as  captain  of  police  in  that 
city.  He  was  the  first  man  to  build  a 
house  at  Arkansas  City,  Kansas,  where  he 
traded  with  the  Indians  on  Buffalo  range 
for  three  years.  Later  he  was  colonel  of 
the  First  Kansas  Cavalry  and  participated  in 
the  Indian  wars  on  the  frontier.  In  1876 
he  removed  to  Florida  and  has  since  en- 
gaged in  the  nursery  and  orange-growing  busi- 
ness. He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  at  one 
time  was  in  command  of  the  department  of 
Florida.  He  had  a  family  of  five  children, 
four  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  three 
sons  were  in  the  Cuban  war  and  one  was 
killed  when  fighting  with  Colonel  Roosevelt's 
rough  riders. 

Reared  in  New  York,  Orlo  W.  Norton 
obtained  a  good  practical  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  locality  and  the  high 
school  of  Varysburg  and  in  early  life  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  teaching  in  that  state. 
In  1845  he  accompanied  his  father  on  his 
removal  to  Waukesha  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  three  years  later  became  a  resident  of 
Ogle  county,  Illinois.  He  opened  up  a  farm 
in  Scott  township  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  road  from  his  father's  place,  and  there 
successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
for  forty-five  years,  being  recognized  as  one 
of  the  most  industrious  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  the  locality. 

On  the  25th  of  January,   1853,  Mr.  Nor- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


185 


ton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mar- 
garet Lanckton,  who  was  born,  reared  and 
educated  in  Genesee  county,  New  York,  and 
engaged  in  teaching  in  that  state  and  in 
IlHnois  prior  to  her  marriage.  Her  father 
was  Aaron  Lanckton,  of  Wheatville,  New 
York.  She  died  in  1862,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren, namely:  Ada  C,  now  the  wife  of  Mal- 
colmb  D.Norton, of  Eustis,  Florida;  Mary  L. , 
wife  of  Charles  H.  Tallmage,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio;  and  Charles  H.,  who  died  unmarried 
in  Dakota,  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  years.  Mr.  Norton  was  again  married 
at  Laporte,  Indiana,  September  21,  1863, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Elmira  L. 
Carruth,  widow  of  Amos  Carruth,  and 
daughter  of  Frederick  Palmer,  who  moved 
to  Michigan  at  an  early  day.  She  is  also  a 
native  of  Genesee  county,  New  York,  and 
was  there  reared.  By  the  second  mar- 
riage there  are  three  children:  Harriet 
M.  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Johnston  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa;  Arthur  A.  completed  the  reg- 
ular course  and  graduated  from  Harvard 
University  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  1898, 
and  after  taking  the  post-graduate  course  at 
that  famous  institution  of  learning,  had  the 
title  B.  S.  conferred  upon  him,  and  Edna 
R.  is  the  wife  of  Harvey  Watson,  of  Nor- 
mal, Illinois. 

In  1893  Mr.  Norton  rented  his  farm  and 
removed  to  Stillman  Valley,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  cottage.  Politically  he  first  affili- 
ated with  the  Free  Soil  party,  but  was  a 
Republican  from  the  organization  of  that 
party.  His  first  vote  was  for  Martin  Van 
Buren,  and  in  1856  for  John  C.  Fremont. 
He  took  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
public  affairs,  especially  along  the  lines  of 
education,  and  for  years  was  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  also  served  as  town- 
ship clerk  eight  years,  justice  of  the  peace 
20 


the  same  length  of  time  and  supervisor  two 
years,  his  labors  in  behalf  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens giving  the  utmost  satisfaction.  He 
with  his  wife  held  membership  in  the  Con- 
gregational church  and  stood  high  in  social 
circles  of  the  community.  Those  who  knew 
him  best  numbered  him  among  their  warm- 
est friends,  and  no  citizen  in  Stillman  Val- 
ley was  more  honored  hor  highly  respected. 
Mr.  Norton  died  October  31,   1898. 


JACOB  KAPPMAN.— It  is  said  that  biog- 
raphy yields  to  no  other  subject  in  point 
of  interest  and  profit,  and  it  is  especially 
interesting  to  note  the  progress  that  has 
been  made  along  various  lines  of  business  by 
those  of  foreign  birth  who  have  sought  homes 
in  America — the  readiness  with  which  they 
adapt  themselves  to  the  different  methods 
and  customs  of  America,  recognize  the  ad- 
vantages offered  and  utilize  the  opportunities 
which  the  new  world  affords.  Such  a  man 
is  Mr.  Kappman,  who  is  now  one  of  the 
wealthiest  and  most  prosperous  farmers  of 
Ogle  count}-,  his  home  being  on  section  20, 
Leaf  River  township. 

He  was  born  in  Hohenzollern,  Prussia, 
February  29,  1828,  and  was  there  reared  to 
manhood,  but  is  self-educated  in  German  as 
well  as  in  the  English  language.  Before  leav- 
ing the  faiherland  he  was  married,  in  1856, 
to  Miss  Mary  Schetter,  who  was  also  of 
German  birth.  In  his  native  land  he  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  farming  until  1S58,  when 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  came  direct  to 
Illinois,  joining  his  brother,  John  Kappman, 
who  had  located  here  a  few  years  before, 
but  later  removed  to  South  Dakota.  Our 
subject  arrived  in  Ogle  county  in  October, 
1858,  and  at  first  rented  land,  which  he 
operated  for  one  year.      He  then  purchased 


1 86 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


a  tract  of  forty  acres,  on  which  he  now 
resides.  The  land  had  been  broken,  but  no 
building  erected,  and  his  first  home  here  was 
a  small  house  which  he  erected.  To  the 
further  improvement  and  cultivation  of  the 
land  he  devoted  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion, but  for  a  few  years  it  was  a  hard 
struggle  to  support  himself  and  family.  As 
his  financial  resources  have  increased,  how- 
ever, he  has  bought  more  land  from  time  to 
time,  until  he  now  owns  seven  hundred  and 
forty-seven  acres.  His  home  farm,  com- 
prising two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  is 
improved  with  a  commodious  and  comforta- 
ble residence,  supplied  with  luxuries.  Good 
barns  and  outbuildings  have  also  been 
erected,  and  the  place  is  now  one  of  the 
most  desirable  in  the  locality. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kappman  have  a  family 
of  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, namely:  Adolph,  who  is  married  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  Leaf  River  township; 
Christian,  at  home;  Joseph,  who  is  married 
and  also  carries  on  operations  as  an  agricult- 
urist in  Leaf  River  township,  and  William, 
who  assists  his  brother  Christian  in  the  op- 
eration of  the  home  farm;  Mary,  wife  of 
William  Betz,  of  Winnebago  county,  Illi- 
nois; Susan  and  Anna,  both  at  home. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Kappman  is  a 
strong  Republican,  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860. 
He  served  as  school  director  in  his  district 
for  several  years,  but  has  never  cared  for 
official  honors.  In  religious  faith  he  and 
his  wife  are  devout  Catholics,  and  helped  to 
build  the  church  of  that  denomination  at 
Seward.  He  is  now  the  possessor  of  a 
handsome  property  which  now  enables  him 
to  spend  his  declining  years  in  the  pleasur- 
able enjoyment  of  his  accumulations.  He 
came    to    this    country    in    limited    circum- 


stances, and  with  no  capital  started  out  in 
a  strange  land  to  overcome  the  difficulties 
and  obstacles  in  the  path  to  prosperity. 
His  youth  dreams  have  been  more  than 
realized,  and  in  their  happy  fulfillment  he 
sees  the  fitting  reward  of  his  earnest  toil. 


JAMES  H.  MAGNE,  of  Haldane,  has 
spent  more  than  a  half  century  of  his 
life  in  Ogle  county.  He  was  born  in  Roch- 
ester, New  York,  March  30,  1835,  and  is  a 
son  of  Charles  Magne,  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut. The  family  are  of  French  extraction, 
the  first  of  the  name  settling  in  Connecticut 
in  a  very  early  day,  and  there  Charles 
Magne,  Sr. ,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born.  He  later  removed  to  New  York 
and  settled  near  the  city  of  Rochester.  Dur- 
ing the  second  war  with  Great  Britain  he 
served  his  country  faithfully,  and  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Oueenstown 
Heights.      His  death  occurred  in  1835. 

Charles  Magne,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, grew  to  manhood  in  New  York,  but 
returned  to  Connecticut  and  there  married 
Mary  A.  L.  Noble,  a  native  of  that  state. 
He  was  a  ship  carpenter  by  trade,  and  soon 
after  his  marriage  moved  to  New  York  city, 
where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade.  In 
1847  he  came  west  with  his  family  and  lo- 
cated at  Buffalo  Grove,  Ogle  county,  where 
he  remained  two  years  engaged  in  carpentry 
work  and  in  farming.  He  then  moved  to 
what  is  now  Lincoln  township,  bought  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  near  the 
present  village  of  Haldane  and  opened  up  a 
farm.  He  later  added  eighty  acres  to  his 
tract,  giving  him  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  which  he  improved.  He 
there  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life,  dying 
in  February,    1857,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


187 


years.  His  wife  survived  him  and  reared 
the  family,  passing  to  her  reward  in  1S95, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  They  had 
a  family  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
who  grew  to  mature  years,  our  subject  be- 
ing the  eldest.  The  others  were  Charles 
A.,  living  retired  in  Haldane;  Lucretia  E. 
Mantle,  of  Brookville  township;  Horace, 
living  retired  in  Polo;  Abalena,  who  died  a 
single  lady;  and  Adaline,  now  deceased,  who 
married  Gavin  R.  Cross,  of  Ogle  county. 

James  H.  Magne  came  to  Ogle  county 
with  his  parents  when  a  lad  of  thirteen  years 
and  here  grew  to  manhood,  assisting  his 
father  in  opening  up  and  operating  the  home 
farm.  Before  leaving  his  native  state  he 
secured  a  fair  education  in  the  common 
schools,  but  the  greater  part  of  his  knowl- 
edge has  been  obtained  since  attaining  his 
majority  by  reading  and  observation.  After 
his  father's  death  he  remained  with  his 
mother  and  carried  on  the  farm,  and  cared 
for  her  in  her  declining  years.  He  later 
sold  his  interest  in  the  farm  to  the  other 
heirs  and  then  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  between  Maryland  and  Haldane,  to 
which  he  removed  and  further  improved  the 
place.  He  remained  on  that  farm  until  his 
removal  to  the  village  of  Haldane,  in  1894. 
While  on  the  farm  he  was  engaged  to  some 
extent  in  buying  and  selling  stock  for  a  few 
years.  Purchasing  residence  property  in 
Haldane,  he  rebuilt  and  remodeled  the 
house  and  now  has  a  very  neat  and  com- 
fortable home. 

Mr.  Magne  returned  east,  and,  in  Clin- 
ton county,  Penns}'lvania,  January  27,  18S1, 
married  Miss  Emma  J.  Wilson,  a  native  of 
that  county  and  state,  where  she  was 
reared  and  educated.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Joseph  B.  Wilson,  a  stonemason  by 
trade  and  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.      He  is 


now  deceased,  but  his  widow  is  now  living 
with  Mrs.  Magne.  By  this  union  there  was 
one  child,  Linus  E. ,  a  student  of  the  home 
school. 

Politically  Mr.  Magne  is  a  Prohibition- 
ist, but  was  originally  a  Democrat,  casting 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  James  Buch- 
anan, in  1856.  From  the  fact  that  he  con- 
siders the  liquor  traffic  the  worst  foe  to 
society,  he  has  given  his  adhesion  to  the 
Prohibition  party,  the  only  party  that  is 
fighting  the  gigantic  evil.  By  casting  his 
vote  with  that  party  he  believes  that  he  is 
at  least  registering  his  will,  and  that  the 
party  is  e.xercising  an  educational  influence. 
Mrs.  Magne  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church  of  Haldane.  When  he  came  to 
Ogle  county  there  was  little  to  give  promise 
of  the  great  future  before  this  section  of 
the  country.  There  was  not  a  railroad  in 
the  state,  and  very  few  towns  of  any  im- 
portance. Farm  houses  were  few  and  far 
between,  and  the  whole  country  was  almost 
in  its  virgin  state.  He  has  lived  to  see  a 
change  that  the  most  optimistic  person 
could  not  have  conceived,  and  while  his 
part  may  have  been  a  humble  one  he  has 
done  what  he  could  in  the  change  that  has 
been  accomplished. 


ISAAC  SPENCER,  who  resides  on  section 
10,  Eagle  Point  township,  is  a  well- 
known  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  one  who  is 
numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  northern 
Illinois,  having  been  a  resident  of  this  sec- 
tion since  1839.  He  was  born  near  Collins- 
ville,  Connecticut,  January  31,  1832,  and 
is  the  son  of  Naaman  and  Diantha  (Ben- 
ham)  Spencer,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  Nutmeg  state.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, John  Spencer,  was  also  a  native   of 


iS8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


the  same  state,  but  the  family  is  of  Enghsh 
origin. 

Naaman  Spencer  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  state,  and  his  marriage  with 
Diantha  Benhim  was  celebrated  July  i6, 
i8i  I.  In  early  life  he  learned  the  cooper's 
trade,  and  also  the  trade  of  a  miller,  follow- 
ing one  or  the  other  occupations  while  yet 
residing  in  the  east.  In  1833  he  moved 
with  his  family  to  Bradford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, cleared  and  opened  up  a  little 
farm,  and  there  remained  until  1839,  when 
became  to  Illinois,  and  settled  on  the  north 
side  of  Elkhorn  grove,  in  Carroll  county, 
where  he  rented  a  small  place,  and  there 
resided  for  some  five  or  si.x  years.  He  then 
purchased  a  claim  of  forty  acres,  where  his 
son  now  resides,  on  which  was  a  log  house, 
and  about  thirty  acres  of  the  land  having 
been  broken.  He  there  began  to  farm,  and 
at  the  same  time  worked  at  the  cooper's 
trade,  erecting  a  small  shop,  where  he  made 
flour  barrels,  and  carried  on  quite  a  busi- 
ness. The  product  of  his  shop  he  would 
haul  principally  to  some  river  point  and  sell 
the  same.  When  the  land  came  into  mar- 
ket he  made  his  entries  and  secured  his 
title.  On  that  farm  he  spent  the  last  years 
of  his  life,  dying  January  3,  1873,  when 
nearly  eighty-five  years  old.  His  wife 
passed  away  September  11,  1861.  They 
had  a  family  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters 
that  grew  to  mature  years.  William  mar- 
ried and  settled  in  Stephenson  county,  but 
is  now  deceased.  Fanny  married  Elias 
Woodin,  but  is  now  deceased.  Alanson 
settled  at  Elkhorn  Grove,  but  is  now  de- 
ceased. Allen  is  a  resident  of  Eagle  Point 
township.  Mrs.  Lucinda  Jenkins  is  a 
widow,  residing  in  Iowa.  Naaman  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Milledgeville,  Illinois.  Diantha 
married  Lewis  Porter,  but  both  are  now  d?' 


ceased.  Mrs.  Clarinda  Case,  a  widow,  re- 
siding in  Eagle  Point  township.  Isaac,  the 
subject  of  this  review,  is  the  last  in  order  of 
birth. 

Isaac  Spencer  was  but  nine  years  of  age 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois, and  but  fourteen  when  his  father  set- 
tled on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  His 
education  was  obtained  in  the  pioneer 
schools  of  Carroll  and  Ogle  counties,  but 
his  attendance  in  the  school  room  was  not 
of  long  duration.  He  remained  at  home 
and  assisted  his  father  in  the  shop  and  on 
the  farm  until  after  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jority. He  was  married  on  the  26th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1 86 1,  to  Romelia  Maxwell  who, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Delhi,  Delaware 
county.  New  York,  February  25,  1832,  and 
daughter  of  Heman  and  Paulina  (Ballard) 
Maxwell,  the  former  a  native  of  Delhi,  Del- 
aware county.  New  York,  and  the  latter  of 
Bridgeport,  Connecticut.  In  1S40,  Henry 
Maxwell  moved  with  his  family  to  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  where  they  lived  a 
few  years,  and  then  moved  to  Pennsylvania. 
In  1850  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  located 
in  Eagle  Point.  He  was  a  wagon-maker  by 
trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  at 
Eagle  Point  for  some  years.  He  lost  his 
wife  in  1875,  and  later  moved  to  Red  Oak, 
Montgomery  county,  Iowa,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  i  S83. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Spencer  took 
charge  of  the  home  farm,  and  has  since 
made  many  valuable  improvements  to  it  in 
the  way  of  a  new  dwelling,  barn,  storehouse, 
etc.,  and  has  now  a  well  improved  and  val- 
uable place.  In  addition  to  general  farm- 
ing, he  has  given  attention  to  raising  good 
graded  stock,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the 
successful  farmers  of  the  township. 

Politically  Mr.  Spencer  is  a  stanch  Re- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


189 


publican,  having  been  an  advocate  of  the 
principles  of  the  party  since  its  organization. 
He  has  never  wanted  nor  would  accept  any 
office,  willing  at  all  times  that  others  should 
have  the  honors  and  emoluments  attached 
to  office  holding.  W'hen  he  came  to  north- 
ern Illinois,  it  was  indeed  a  wilderness,  and 
in  the  sixty  years  he  has  resided  here  he  has 
witnessed  changes  hard  to  realize,  changes 
as  wonderful  as  were  ever  wrought  by  Alad- 
din's lamp.  In  the  transformation  he  has 
borne  his  part. 


ALEXANDER  ANDERSON,  residing  on 
section  7,  Woosung  township,  is  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  and 
a  half  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  there  is  in  the 
township.  He  is  a  native  of  Ogle  county, 
born  on  the  home  farm  in  Woosung  town- 
ship, June  II,  1872,  and  is  the  son  of  Alex- 
ander and  Agnes  (Spence)  Anderson,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Scotland,  and  who 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1850,  coming 
direct  to  Ogle  county  and  locating  in  Eagle 
Point  township,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  about  three  jears.  He  then  moved 
into  Woosung  township,  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  unimproved  land,  and  at  once  com- 
menced the  establishment  of  a  permanent 
home,  and  there  resided  until  death.  He 
was  a  very  successful  farmer,  and  from  time 
to  time  added  to  his  estate  until  he  had  si.x 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  fine  land,  the 
greater  part  of  which  was  under  cultivation. 
As  a  breeder  of  stock,  he  was  likewise  suc- 
cessful, and  always  had  on  his  place  many 
head  of  cattle  and  hogs.  He  was  not  a 
member  of  any  church,  but  was  reared  in 
the  Presbyterian  faith.  A  man  of  retiring 
disposition,  he  did  not  force  either  himself 
or  his  views  on  others,  and  therefore  never 


asked  or  sought  public  office.  In  politics 
he  was  a  thorough  Republican.  His  death 
occurred  August  27,  1S87,  and  his  remains 
were  laid  to  rest  in  the  East  Jordan  ceme- 
tery. His  wife  is  yet  living,  and  is  yet  re- 
siding upon  the  old  home  farm.  They 
were  the  parents  of  two  children:  Alex- 
ander, our  subject;  and  Ellen  E.,  who  is 
still  at  home  with  her  mother. 

James  Anderson,  the  paternal  grandfa- 
ther, also  a  native  of  Scotland,  came  to  the 
United  States  the  same  year  as  did  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  and  made  his  home  with 
him  until  his  death  in  1866.  In  his  family 
were  five  sons  and  one  daughter. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  old  home  farm,  and  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  the  neighborhood  received  his 
education.  This  was  supplemented,  how- 
ever, by  a  course  in  the  business  college  at 
Dixon,  Illinois.  He  was  thus  well  prepared 
for  the  active  duties  of  life.  He  was  but 
fifteen  years  old  when  his  father  died,  leav- 
ing the  care  of  the  large  estate  to  him,  since 
which  time  he  has  cultivated  and  superin- 
tended the -farm,  meeting  with  fine  success. 
Like  his  father  before  him,  he  has  shown 
himself  a  thorough  and  reliable  farmer, 
practical  in  all  things.  He  ships  from  one 
hundred  to  two  hundred  hogs  per  year,  be- 
sides one  or  two  car  loads  of  cattle.  He 
has  shown  himself  a  man  of  superior  char- 
acter and  business  ability,  strong  in  his  in- 
herited Scotch  characteristics  of  integrity 
and  thrift. 

In  politics  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  Republican, 
and  since  the  spring  of  1898  he  has  filled 
the  office  of  township  clerk.  In  religion  he 
is  connected  with  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  is  an  active  worker  in  both  the 
church  and  Sunday-school.  He  is  president 
of  the  Young  People's  Society  Christian  En- 


I  go 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


deavor,  Rock  River  conference  of  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  and  is  trustee  of  the 
United  Brethren  Camp  Grounds  of  Polo. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Globe,  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs 
in  the  local  lodge.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Polo  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  of  which  he  is 
past  grand;  and  of  Polo  Encampment,  No. 
117.  While  yet  a  young  man,  he  is  well- 
known  in  various  parts  of  the  county  and 
has  many  friends.  His  home  is  one  of  the 
best  in  the  township,  and  his  farm  one  of 
the  best  improved. 


MATTHEW  P.  BULL,  an  enterprising 
agriculturist  of  Ogle  county,  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine  farm  on  sections  6  and  i  i, 
Byron  township,  and  his  management  of 
the  estate  is  marked  by  the  scientific  knowl- 
edge and  skill  which  characterize  the  mod- 
ern farm.  The  Bull  family  is  of  English 
descent  and  was  among  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  At  an 
early  day  our  subject's  great-grandfather, 
Richard  Bull,  removed  to  Perry  county,  the 
same  state,  and  opened  up  a  farm  on  which 
the  grandfather,  William  Bull,  and  father, 
John  Bull,  were  both  born,  the  latter  in 
1794.  There  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
when  the  war  of  181  2  broke  out  he  joined 
the  army,  being  stationed  most  of  the  time 
at  Buffalo  as  private  clerk  to  his  colonel. 
He  was  married  in  Perry  county  to  Miss 
Jane  I^inn,  also  a  native  of  the  county,  and 
a  daughter  of  William  Linn.  Upon  the  old 
homestead  they  resided  many  years,  but 
finally  sold  and  came  west,  arriving  in  Ogle 
count}-,  Illinois,  May  i,  185 1.  Here  Mr. 
Bull  purchased  three  hundred  acres  of  land 
and  developed  the  farm  on  which  his  son 
now  resides.      He  erected  good  and  substan- 


tial buildings  upon  his  place,  and  success- 
fully engaged  in  its  operation  until  called 
from  this  life  in  September,  1S63,  at  the 
age  of  si.\ty-nine  years.  His  wife  died  in 
Pennsylvania  about  1846,  before  the  emi- 
gration of  the  family  to  Illinois.  The  fam- 
ily of  this  worthy  couple  consisted  of  twelve 
children,  ten  of  whom,  two  sons  and  eight 
daughters,  reached  years  of  maturity,  but 
only  our  subject  and  two  sisters  are  now 
living, — Mrs.  Jane  Milligan,  of  Mason  City, 
Iowa;  and  Elizabeth  G.,  a  resident  of  Ro- 
chelle,  Illinois.  Our  subject's  only  brother 
was  Robert  Henry,  who  married  and  owned 
and  operated  a  nice  farm  in  Ogle  county, 
on  which  he  died  in  1875. 

Matthew  P.  Bull  was  also  born  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Perry  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  9,  1833,  and  was  provided  with 
a  good  common  school-education,  which 
was  supplemented  by  a  year's  attendance 
at  the  Bloomtield  Academy.  He  was  eight- 
een years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  the 
family  on  their  removal  to  Illinois,  and  was 
of  great  assistance  to  his  father  in  opening 
up  the  new  farm  and  preparing  it  for  plant- 
ing. On  the  death  of  the  latter  he  suc- 
ceeded to  a  part  of  the  estate  and  he  and 
his  brother  subsequently  bought  an  adjoining 
farm.  For  some  years  they  engaged  in  their 
cultivation  together, but  finally  the  property 
was  divided  and  our  subject  still  lives  on 
the  old  home  farm.  He  has  enlarged  and 
remodeled  the  residence,  built  a  large  barn 
and  good  outbuildings  and  made  many  other 
valuable  improvements  upon  the  place,  and 
is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  best  and 
most  successful  farmers  of  the  community. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  he  has 
also  been  engaged  in  raising  a  good  grade  of 
stock  and  is  now  interested  in  the  milk  busi- 
ness. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


191 


In  Byron  township,  December  17,  1873, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Bull 
and  Miss  Mary  E.  Linn,  the  only  daughter 
of  John  R.  Linn,  another  of  Ogle  county's 
early  settlers,  formerly  from  Pennsylvania. 
Mrs.  Bull  was  born  and  reared  in  the  Key- 
stone state,  and  by  her  marriage  to  our 
subject  has  become  the  mother  of  si.x  chil- 
dren: John  L.,  who  died  in  188S,  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years;  Margaret  Isabelle,  a 
music  teacher,  at  home;  Roberta,  who  is 
engaged  in  school  teaching  and  also  resides 
at  home;  Mary  R.  and  Nancy  M.,  twins, 
who  are  attending  the  Rockford  high  school ; 
and  Grace  Grant,  a  student  in  the  home 
school. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
parry  in  1S56,  Mr.  Bull  has  been  one  of  its 
stanch  supporters,  but  he  has  never  sought 
nor  desired  political  preferment.  As  a 
friend  of  education  and  our  public  school 
system,  he  has  ever  used  his  influence  to 
secure  good  schools  and  teachers  and  for 
some  years  was  a  most  active  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  Middle  Creek  Presbyte- 
rian church  and  their  lives  have  been  such  as 
to  commend  them  to  the  confidence  and 
esteeni  of  all  who  know  them. 


GEORGE  POOLE  is  a  retired  farmer 
residing  in  Polo.  He  was  born  near 
Toronto,  Canada,  January  31,  1835,  and  is 
the  son  of  William  and  Nancy  (Johnson) 
Poole,  the  former  a  native  of  county  Wex- 
ford, Ireland,  born  in  May,  1803,  and  the 
latter  near  Toronto,  Canada,  May  12,  1814. 
William  Poole  was  the  son  of  George  Poole, 
a  hatter  by  trade,  and  likewise  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  America  in  middle 
life  and  established   himself   in    business  at 


his  trade  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  remained 
there  a  few  years,  then  came  to  Ogle  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  making  his  home  with  his  son, 
William,  until  his  death  in  1859,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-six  years.  His  wife  died  in  the 
old  country.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 

William  Poole  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  country,  and  after  coming  to  America 
learned  the  the  carpenter's  trade.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  he  started  for  Amer- 
ica, taking  passage  in  the  sailing  vessel 
Maria,  and  was  twice  shipwrecked.  He 
finally  landed  in  America,  going  direct  to 
Toronto,  Canada,  where  he  worked  a  year 
or  two  for  an  uncle  who  advanced  the 
money  for  his  passage  across  the  ocean. 
After  being  released  from  this  obligation,  he 
commenced  work  at  his  trade,  at  which  he 
continued  until  the  spring  of  1839,  when  he 
came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  located 
in  what  is  now  Brookville  township.  He 
came  here  with  his  brothers-in-law,  John 
Lawrence  and  John  Sanborn,  and  jointly 
they  secured  about  eight  hundred  acres  of 
land,  for  which  they  paid  the  government 
price  of  of  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents 
per  acre,  besides  paying  the  squatter's  claim, 
as  nearly  all  the  land  in  this  vicinity  had 
been  settled  on  by  squatters,  who  located  on 
it  for  the  purpose  of  holding  until  they  could 
sell  out  to  some  actual  settler.  On  the  di- 
vision of  the  tract  about  three  hundred  acres 
went  to  Mr.  Poole.  Not  a  rod  had  been 
turned  and  he  must  make  every  improve- 
ment necessary.  He  first  erected  a  stone 
house  on  his  portion  and  then  started  to 
break  and  cultivate.  He  there  continued 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
September  iS,  1886,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three  years.  In  1834  he  married  Miss 
Nancy  Johnson,  both  of  whom  were  natives 


192 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


of  Pennsylvania.  Abraham  Johnson  was  by 
occupation  a  farmer,  and  when  but  a  lad  he 
entered  the  British  service  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  as  a  wagon  boy.  His  wife's 
father,  Mr.  Hommon,  was  killed  by  an 
Indian,  about  one-half  mile  from  Fort  Fred- 
erick. To  William  and  Nancy  Poole  were 
born  six  children, — George,  Abraham,  Jo- 
seph, John,  Catherine  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy.  In  politics  William  Poole  was  an 
Abolitionist,  and  with  the  Free  Soil  party 
acted  until  the  organization  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  the  principles  of  which  were  so 
nearly  identical  with  those  he  had  been 
advocating,  that  he  gave  adherence  to  the 
new  party,  believing  that  with  it  the  coun- 
try would  the  sooner  become  in  reality  a 
free  country.  He  was  not  an  office-seeker, 
but  served  one  term  as  justice  of  the  peace 
and  was  road  commissioner  for  a  time. 
Religiously,  he  was  an  Episcopalian.  His 
wife  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years  and  is  making  her  home  with  our  sub- 
ject. 

George  Poole  was  but  four  years  of  age 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ogle 
county,  and  here  he  has  since  continued  to 
reside,  a  period  of  sixty  years.  He  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  school  at  Old  Town,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  pupils  to  attend  the  school 
at  that  place.  The  first  teacher  was  John 
Frisbie.  He  continued  to  attend  school, 
principally  in  the  winter  months,  until  he 
was  twenty  years  old,  in  the  meantime  as- 
sisting in  the  farm  work.  He  then  gave  his 
whole  time  to  his  father,  and  continued  to 
work  for  him  until  he  was  twenty-six  years 
old. 

On  the  nth  of  October,  iS6o,  Mr. 
Poole  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sabina  Strock,  born  July  22,  1836,  in  Bed- 
ford county,  Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of 


Jacob  and  Catherine  (Longnecker)  Strock, 
the  former  a  native  of  Franklin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  born  in  1806,  and  the  latter 
of  Bedford  county,  in  the  same  state,  born 
in  1 8 10.  They  came  to  Ogle  county  in  1854 
and  settled  in  Buffalo  township,  where  Mr. 
Strock  engaged  in  farming,  at  which  he  con- 
tinued for  some  years.  Later  he  removed 
to  Polo,  where  he  lived  a  retired  life,  and 
where  his  death  occurred  in  November, 
1882.  His  wife  died  in  1895,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children — Sabina,  Henry,  John, 
David,  Nancy,  Susanna,  Abram,  Elizabeth 
and  Jacob.  All  are  yet  living.  To  our  sub- 
ject and  wife  four  children  have  been  born, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  living 
are  Frank,  Nellie  and  John. 

On  his  marriage,  Mr.  Poole  received  from 
his  father  a  small  farm  and  at  once  commenced 
its  cultivation.  After  living  there  for  seven 
years,  he  sold  the  same  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  three  hundred  acres  on  sections  13 
and  14,  Eagle  Point  township,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  removal  to  Polo,  in  1892. 
In  his  farming  operations  he  was  quite  suc- 
cessful, and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  in  the  township.  He  car- 
ried on  general  farming  and  stock  raising, 
including  the  raising  of  short  horn  Durham 
cattle,  Poland  China  hogs,  and  Norman 
draft  horses.  His  farm  was  always  kept 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  every- 
thing about  the  place  showed  that  it  was 
under  the  care  of  a  practical  man. 

After  years  of  hard  toil,  Mr.  Poole  con- 
cluded that  he  would  retire  and  live  a  less 
active  and  laborious  life.  In  1895-6,  he  built 
his  present  fine  residence  on  Barber  avenue. 
Polo,  which  is  the  abode  of  hospitality.  In 
politics  he  is  an  ardent  Republican,  and  has 
served   his  fellow  citizens  in  various    local 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


193 


offices.  For  eleven  years  he  was  supervi- 
sor of  Eagle  Point  township,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  board  when  the  railroad 
trouble  of  the  county  was  at  its  height.  He 
was  a  valuable  member  of  the  board, and  his 
services  were  appreciated  by  the  people  of 
his  township,  as  is  attested  by  his  continual 
re-election.  An  energetic,  enterprising  man, 
he  was  always  willing  to  work  for  the  best 
interest  of  his  township  and  county.  He 
was  greatly  esteemed  throughout  the  county. 


M' 


ORTIMER    S.    BREWSTER.  —  The 

natural  advantages  of  this  section  at- 
tracted at  an  early  day  a  superior  class  of 
settlers  —  thrifty,  industrious,  progressive 
and  law-abiding — whose  influence  gave  per- 
manent direction  to  the  development  of  the 
locality.  Among  the  worthy  pioneers  of 
Ogle  county  the  Brewster  family  holds  a 
prominent  place.  The  results  of  the  labor 
and  self-denial  of  these  early  settlers  are 
manifest  in  the  comfortable  homes  and  fer- 
tile, well-arranged  farms  which  we  to- 
day see. 

It  was  August,  1S37,  that  Mr.  Brewster 
arrived  in  this  county,  and  he  has  since 
taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  its 
development.  His  life  has  been  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuits  and  he  is  still  success- 
fully carrying  on  the  old  homestead  on  sec- 
tion I,  Byron  township.  He  was  born  in 
Broome  county.  New  York,  August  8,  1820, 
and  is  a  son  of  James  Brewster,  a  native  of 
Connecticut.  The  grandfather,  David  Brew- 
ster, was  born  in  one  of  the  New  England 
states  and  when  quite  young  entered  the 
Continental  army  daring  the  Revolutionary 
war.  At  an  early  day  he  removed  with  his 
family  to   the   Empire  state,   where  James 

21 


Brewster  grew  to  manhood.  In  Albany 
county.  New  York,  the  latter  married  Miss 
Chloe  Palmer,  who  was  also  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  but  removed  with  her  parents 
to  the  former  state  when  young.  For  some 
years  he  followed  farming  there  and  then 
removed  to  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  similarly  employed  for  a  few 
years.  In  1837  he  came  to  Illinois  by  way 
of  the  Erie  canal  and  Great  Lakes,  and 
proceeding  thence  by  team  finally  arrived 
in.  Ogle  county,  where  his  friend  and  old 
neighbor,  Mr.  York,  had  located  a  year  or 
so  previously.  Mr.  Brewster  rented  land 
the  first  summer  and  then  took  a  claim  of 
about  four  hundred  acres  on  section  I,  By- 
ron township,  entering  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  when  the  land  came  into  mar- 
ket. Subsequently  he  sold  some  of  his  land 
but  improved  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres 
and  made  it  his  home  until  called  to  his 
final  rest.  He  built  a  log  house  in  which 
the  family  lived  while  he  opened  up  and  de- 
veloped the  farm,  but  it  has  since  been  re- 
placed by  a  more  commodious  frame  resi- 
dence. He  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty-four,  having  survived  his  wife  some 
years.  In  their  family  were  ten  children — 
three  sons  and  seven  daughters — all  of 
whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  but  only 
our  subject  and  his  sister  Caroline  are  now 
living. 

Mortimer  D.  Brewster  was  a  lad  of  sev- 
enteen years  when  he  accompanied  the  fam- 
ily on  their  removal  to  this  state  and  in  the 
task  of  converting  the  wild  land  into  a  rich 
and  productive  farm  he  bore  an  active  part. 
His  school  privileges  were  limited  and  he  is 
mostly  self-educated.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  and  on  his  father's  death 
took  charge  of  the  farm,  which  has  been  his 
home  for  sixty-one  years.      It  is  one  of    the 


194 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


best  improved  and  most  highly  cultivated 
places  of  the  locality. 

In  Roscoe,  Illinois,  in  1856,  Mr.  Brew- 
ster was  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  be- 
ing Miss  Caroline  Alden,  a  native  of  Brad- 
ford county,  Pennsylvania,  who  in  1S37 
came  with  her  father,  Adonijah  Alden,  to 
Ogle  county,  settling  in  Marion  township, 
near  Byron.  They  have  become  the  parents 
of  six  children,  all  living:  Henry  M.,  cash- 
ier of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants  bank  of 
Byron;  Willis  J.,  who  is  helping  to  carry 
on  the  home  farm;  Augusta  and  Edwin  P., 
twins,  the  former  the  wife  of  Daniel  Sims, 
of  Cherokee  county,  Iowa,  and  the  latter 
at  home;  Walter  H.,  who  is  married  and 
engaged  in  teaching  at  Saint  Ann,  Illinois; 
and  Luciaus  D. ,  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Brewster  was  originally 
a  Whig,  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  the  candidate  of  that  party  in  1844,  and 
since  its  dissolution  he  has  been  an  ardent 
Republican.  He  and  his  wife  are  faithful 
members  of  the  Middle  Creek  Presbyterian 
church  and  are  held  in  high  regard  by  all 
who  know  them  for  their  sterling  worth  and 
many  excellencies  of  character. 


ANDREW  NEWCOMER,  deceased, 
came  to  Ogle  county  in  1846,  and  for 
a  period  of  nearly  forty  years  occupied  a 
prominent  position  in  the  community,  and 
with  an  acquaintance  as  extensive  as  any 
man  in  the  county.  He  was  born  No- 
vember 25,  1 8 10,  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  and  was  a  descendant  of  Wolf- 
gang Newcomer,  who  came  from  Germany 
to  America  more  than  a  century  ago.  His 
boyhood  was  spent  in  his  father's  mill,  when 
not  in  attendance  in  the  common  schools. 
In    his    youth   he   learned    the    carpenter's 


trade,  which  occupation  he  followed  for 
about  fifteen  years  after  attaining  his  ma- 
jority, working  in  various  places  in  the 
states  of  Maryland  and  \^irginia.  Many  of 
the  public  and  private  buildings  in  those 
states  show  the  mark  of  his  handiwork.  In 
the  fall  of  1832  he  located  in  the  town  of 
Boonsborough,  Maryland,  and  immedialely 
afterward  united  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  His  conversion  was  thorough 
and  genuine,  and  he  soon  commenced  tak- 
ing an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the 
church  and  in  the  affairs  of  the  community, 
becoming  prominent  in  all  lines  of  benevo- 
lent work,  which  prominence  was  main- 
tained while  residing  in  the  place.  During 
the  winters  of  1832-3-4,  he  taught  school, 
and  during  the  summers  worked  at  his 
trade. 

Mr.  Newcomer  was  first  married  May  i, 
1S34,  to  Eliza  Hamilton,  a  sister  of  Rev. 
William  Hamilton,  D.  D.,  of  the  Baltimore 
conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  an  aunt  of  Ex-Governor  W. 
T.  Hamilton,  of  Maryland.  She  died  April 
2,  1875,  at  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  On  the 
2 1st  of  March,  1S76,  Mr.  Newcomer  mar- 
ried Sarah  E.  Smith,  in  Winnebago  county, 
Illinois. 

Mrs.  Newcomer  was  born  February  6, 
1827,  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca 
(Reynolds)  Rose,  the  former  a  native  of 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter 
of  New  Jersey.  By  trade  her  father  was  a 
hatter,  but  after  his  marriage  he  removed 
to  the  country  and  engaged  in  farming,  an 
occupation  that  he  followed  until  his  death, 
March  18,  1844.  In  October  following,  his 
widow  moved  with  her  family  to  Winne- 
bago county,  Illinois,  settling  in  Rockford. 
Samuel  and  Rebecca  Rose  were  the  parents 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


195 


of  seven  children — David,  Benjamin,  Ann, 
Maria,  Saraii  E. ,  Samuel  and  Jacob,  all  of 
whom  are  deceased,  with  the  exception  of 
Maria  and  Mrs.  Newcomer.  In  her  native 
state  the  latter  received  a  good  common- 
school  education.  She  was  first  married 
September  29,  1846,  to  Lucius  J.  Smith,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  then  residing  in  Rockford, 
and  a  son  of  John  and  Maria  (Ferris)  Smith, 
also  natives  of  Ohio.  Immediately  after 
their  marriage  they  moved  to  a  farm  in 
Winnebago  county,  where  Mr.  Smith  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  two  years.  They  then 
removed  to  Stephenson  county,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  and  there  they  lived  until  his  death, 
October  4,  1S67.  They  became  the  parents 
of  six  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Frances  A.,  born  May  28,  1S47,  married 
Jefferson  Stephens,  of  Winnebago  county, 
Illinois.  They  later  moved  to  Fillmore 
county,  Nebraska,  where  he  died  in  August, 
1880.  She  is  now  living  in  Mt.  Morris. 
Arthur  L.  married  Eliza  Ackers,  August  18, 
1 878,  and  they  now  reside  in  San  Francis- 
co, California,  where  he  is  employed  as  a 
traveling  salesman.  Edward  died  in  in- 
fancy. Volney  E.  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years.  Emily  L.  lives  at  Mt.  Morris.  Frank 
C.  married  Emma  Yearing,  of  Trenton, 
Missouri,  May  24,  1887,  and  they  live  in 
Colorado  Springs,  Colorado,  where  he  is  the 
division  superintendent  of  the  Rock  Island 
railroad.  After  her  husband's  decease  Mrs. 
Smith  remained  on  the  farm  for  seven  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Winnebago,  Winnebago 
county,  Illinois,  where  she  was  living  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Newcomer. 
Lucius  J.  Smith  was  a  good,  Christian  man, 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  one  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping 
hand  to  those  in  distress,  and  his  house  was 


the  abode  of  hospitality.  He  was  a  well- 
read  man,  and  kept  himself  posted  on  the 
events  of  the  times.  He  was  honored  and 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

While  yet  residing  in  Boonesborough, 
Maryland,  for  a  short  lime  during  the  years 
1843-4,  ^^^-  Newcomer  was  connected  with 
the  publication  of  "The  Odd  Fellows." 
The  western  fever  was  upon  him,  however, 
and  hearing  good  reports  from  his  old 
friends  and  neighbors  who  had  settled  in 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  he  determined  to  emi- 
grate. Accordingly,  in  1846,  he  came  to 
Mt.  Morris,  and  soon  afterwards  opened  a 
furniture  store  and  undertaker's  establish- 
ment, a  business  in  which  he  continued 
about  twenty  years.  Selling  his  furniture 
store  in  1867,  he  embarked  in  the  grocery 
trade  in  which  he  continued  until  his  death. 
May  20,  1885. 

The  death  of  no  man  in  Mount  Morris 
ever  affected  the  community  more  deeply 
than  that  of  Andrew  Newcomer,  for  he  was 
public  official  and  private  citizen.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Republican,  a  firm  believer  in 
the  principles  of  the  party.  He  served  his 
township  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors, and  from  1S52  until  his  death  he  was 
almost  continuously  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
Few  men  ever  served  in  the  latter  office 
with  more  signal  ability,  and  few,  if  any,  of 
his  decisions  were  ever  overruled  by  the 
higher  court  on  appeal.  He  also  served  as 
school  director  and  school  trustee  at  dif- 
ferent times,  and  in  other  official  capacities. 
His  business  qualifications  were  more  than 
ordinary,  and  his  honesty  was  not  ques- 
tioned. There  are  few  men  whose  names 
appear  oftener  on  the  records  of  the  pro- 
bate court  than  does  that  of  Andrew  New- 
comer as  executor,  administrator  or  guardian. 
When  he  thus  served   it   was  certain   that 


iQfi 


THE    BIOGRArniCAL    RECORD. 


every  duty  would  be  conscientiously  per- 
formed. His  social  qualifications  were  of  a 
high  order.  Genial  in  manner,  kind  in  dis- 
position, old  and  young  delighted  to  be  in 
his  society.  He  was  an  e.xcellent  reader, 
having  few  equals  outside  of  the  professional 
ones,  and  it  is  said  that  during  the  civil  war 
he  would  get  his  daily  paper,  and  going  to 
his  store  he  would  be  followed  by  a  crowd, 
who  would  gather  around  him  and  listen 
while  he  read  the  latest  war  news.  He 
never  lost  interest  in  his  church,  and  at  all 
times  served  his  local  church  in  some  official 
capacity,  either  as  class  leader,  steward, 
trustee,  or  Sunday  school  superintendent. 
No  call  of  the  church  was  by  him  unheeded. 
He  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  cause  of  his 
Master,  and  was  ever  ready  to  render  the 
best  service  in  his  power.  He  died  in  the 
full  assurance  of  of  a  blessed  resurrection. 


TAMESD.  ANDERSON,  a  representative 
<J  and  prominent  farmer  and  stock  raiser 
of  Ogle  county,  makes  his  home  on  section 
3,  Eagle  Point  township,  and  owns  and  oper- 
ates over  four  hundred  acres  of  valuable  and 
well  improved  land.  He  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  county  since  1845  S-"*^  's,  there- 
fore, numbered  among  its  honored  pioneers. 
Mr.  Anderson  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Andes,  Delaware  county.  New  York,  Octo- 
ber 12,  1842.  His  father,  John  Anderson, 
was  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in  1807,  and 
was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Jane  (Clark)  Ander- 
son, also  natives  of  that  country,  where 
they  spent  their  entire  lives.  The  grand- 
father was  a  millwright  by  trade  and  reared 
a  family  of  eleven  children.  I-ieared  in  his 
native  place,  John  Anderson  received  a  com- 
mon-school education  and  in  early  life 
worked  in  his    father's   mill.      In    1832    he 


emigrated  to  the  new  world,  landing  in 
Nova  Scotia,  whence  he  proceeded  to  Dela- 
ware county.  New  York,  where  he  worked 
as  a  millwright  and  also  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  a  natural  mechanic  and  built  a  mill 
in  that  county.  There  he  was  married, 
September  18,  1834,  to  Miss  Margaret  Sim, 
who  was  also  born  and  reared  in  Scotland. 
Her  father,  Ale.xander  Sim,  a  native  of  the 
same  country,  was  an  early  settler  of  Dela- 
ware county.  New  York.  In  1S45  Mr.  An- 
derson came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and 
made  a  permanent  location  upon  the  farm 
where  our  subject  now  resides.  He  entered 
a  tract  of  eighty  acres  from  the  government 
and  built  a  small  house,  where  he  resided 
for  some  years.  He  also  erected  a  shop  in  '* 
Eagle  Point  and  engaged  in  wagon  making 
and  repair  work.  Later  he  removed  the 
shop  to  his  farm  and  continued  to  carry 
on  business  there  while  opening  up  and  im- 
proving his  farm.  As  he  prospered  in  his 
new  home,  he  purchased  more  land  from 
time  to  time  until  he  owned  about  three 
hundred  acres.  He  built  a  large,  neat  resi- 
dence thereon  and  made  many  other  im- 
provements, which  added  greatly  to  its 
value  and  attractive  appearance.  He  was 
in  limited  circumstances  when  he  came  to 
the  county  and  by  his  own  labor,  enterprise 
and  perseverance  he  succeeded  in  acquiring 
a  comfortable  home  and  competence.  He 
continued  to  make  his  home  upon  his  farm 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life,  but 
died  in  Rockford  while  on  a  visit,  March 
21,  1886.  Two  years  previously  he  and 
his  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  at 
which  time  a  large  number  of  their  friends 
and  neighbors  were  gathered  together  at 
their  home  to  wish  them  joy.  Mrs.  Ander- 
son departed  this  life  June  i,  1892,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  by   the   side  of  her    husband   in 


JAMES    ANDERSON. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


20  1 


Fairmont  cemetery,  where  a  monument  has 
been  erected  to  their  memory.  They  had  a 
host  of  warm  friends  in  this  community  and 
were  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  knew 
them.  Politically,  Mr.  Anderson  was  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  was  called  upon  to 
fill  a  number  of  official  positions  of  honor 
and  trust,  including  that  of  justice  of  the 
peace,  which  he  filled  for  a  number  of 
years  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  public. 

James  D.  Anderson,  of  this  review,  is 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of 
seven  children,  the  others  being  as  follows: 
Joseph  A.,  who  is  married  and  resides  in 
Wasco  county,  Oregon;  George,  who  is 
with  his  brother  in  that  state;  Jane  A.,  wife 
of  G.  J.  Monroe,  of  Dysart,  Iowa;  John, 
who  is  married  and  is  engaged  in  contract- 
ing and  building  in  Chicago;  Nettie  A., 
widow  of  \V.  W.  Pierce  and  a  resident  of 
Polo;  and  Margaret  C,  wife  of  George 
Gibbs,  of  Ogle  county. 

James  D.  Anderson  was  only  three  years 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ogle 
county,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
home  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  During  early  life  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  farm  work  and  in  1868  took 
charge  of  the  place  and  business.  After  the 
death  of  the  latter  he  purchased  the  inter- 
ests of  the  other  heirs  in  the  old  homestead 
which  he  still  owns  and  operates.  He  has 
added  to  it  more  land  until  he  now  has 
about  four  hundred  acres,  which  he  has 
placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
improved  in  an  excellent  manner.  He  has 
built  one  of  the  largest  and  most  conven- 
iently arranged  barns  in  the  county.  He 
also  has  a  very  large  cattle  barn,  good  out- 
buildings, windpumps,  etc.,  so  that  it  might 
well  be  numbered  among  the  model  farms 
of  the  county.      For  the  past  twenty  years, 


Mr.  Anderson  has  made  a  business  of  feed- 
ing stock  and  annually  fits  for  market  from 
two  to  si.\  car  loads  of  stock,  usually  having 
from  sixty  to  one  hundred  head  of  cattle  upon 
his  place  and  from  one  hundred  to  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  head  of  hogs.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  and  stockmen  of 
the  county  and  usually  ships  his  own  stock. 

In  Brookville  township.  Ogle  county,  Mr. 
Anderson  was  married,  April  2,  18S5,  to 
Miss  Addie  L.  Gibbs,  who  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  this  county,  a  daughter  of 
Leonard  Gibbs,  one  of  its  early  settlers. 
They  now  have  two  children:  Grace  B.  and 
McKinley  J. 

In  politics,  iSIr.  Anderson  has  been  a 
life-long  Republican,  and  his  fellow  citizens 
recognizing  his  worth  and  ability  have  often 
called  him  to  office.  He  is  now  serving  his 
eighteenth  year  as  commissioner  of  high- 
ways, has  been  treasurer  the  same  length 
of  time,  and  has  served  as  collector  of  his 
township  and  as  a  delegate  to  the  county 
and  congressional  conventions  of  his  party. 
For  twenty-five  years  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Eagle  Point  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company  and  is  now  serving  as 
its  president.  He  is  past  grand  of  Polo 
Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  socially  is  quite 
popular.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  has 
been  found  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
him,  and  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  all  who  know  him. 


JOHN  GRAHAM  is  one  of  the  leading 
and  influential  citizens  of  Leaf  River 
township,  his  home  being  on  section  11,  and 
he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  promoting 
the  substantial  improvement  and  material 
development  of  the  county.  Although  an 
adopted  son  of  America,  his  loyalty  is  above 


202 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RPICORD. 


question,  for  during  the  dark  days  of  the 
rebellion  he  offered  his  services  to  the  gov- 
ernment and  for  three  long  years  followed 
the  old  flag  to  victory  on  southern  battle 
fields. 

A  native  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Graham  was 
born  near  the  city  of  Belfast,  in  County  An- 
trim, in  1832,  and  was  there  reared  to  man- 
hood. Deciding  to  come  to  America  in 
1856  he  took  ship  at  Belfast  for  Liverpool, 
England,  where  he  boarded  a  sailing  ves- 
sell,  which  was  five  weeks  in  crossing  the 
broad  Atlantic.  They  encountered  some 
severe  storms,  the  mast  was  blown  away, 
and  the  vessel  was  almost  a  complete  wreck 
when  it  arrived  in  New  York.  In  April  of 
that  year,  Mr.  Graham  found  employment 
in  a  brickyard  at  Newburg,  Orange  county, 
New  York,  but  the  following  fall  proceeded 
to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  only  a  short 
time,  however.  He  spent  the  winter  at 
Freeport,  Ilhnois,  and  the  following  year 
found  work  in  the  harvest  fields.  He  then 
worked  for  a  Mr.  Carpenter  in  Ogle  county 
until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war. 

Prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  Mr. 
Graham  enlisted  in  1S62,  in  Company  B, 
Seventy-fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland. He  participated  in  many  import- 
ant engagements  and  skirmishes,  including 
the  battles  of  Perryville,  Kentucky,  and 
Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  where  they 
fought  for  nine  days,  fighting  the  old  year 
out  and  the  new  year  in.  He  was  also  in 
the  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  from  there  marched  to 
near  Knoxville.  At  Murfreesboro  the  regi- 
ment lost  heavily  and  Mr.  Graham  was 
wounded  in  the  left  cheek,  his  eye  being 
badly  injured.  He  did  not  give  up,  how- 
ever,  and  later  took  part  in    the  battles  of 


Resaca,  Jonesboro  and  Kenesaw  Mountain. 
At  the  last  named  battle  he  was  again 
wounded,  the  bone  in  his  right  leg  below  the 
knee  being  terribly  shattered.  This  per- 
manently disabled  him,  and  he  was  sent  to 
the  hospital  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  whence 
he  was  later  transferred  to  the  hospital  at 
Quincy,  Illinois.  When  discharged  in  June, 
1865,  he  was  still  obliged  to  use  crutches 
and  he  has  never  fully  recovered  from  his 
injuries. 

Returning  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Carpenter 
our  subject  remained  there  for  two  or  three 
years,  and  when  sufficiently  recovered  he 
resumed  farm  work.  On  the  8th  of  March, 
1873,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Catherine  Shriber,  a  native  of  Schuylkill 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of 
Christian  Shriber,  who  removed  from  that 
state  to  Ogle  county  and  became  one  of  the 
successful  farmers  of  this  region.  He  died 
in  March,  1890,  and  his  wife,  who  survives 
him,  is  living  in  Lightsville,  a  hale  old  lady 
of  eighty- four  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Graham  have  been  born  four  children:  Rosa 
J . ,  Lilly  Dora,  Ervin  Seymour  and  Ernest  M. 

For  a  few  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Graham  operated  rented  land  and  then  re- 
moved to  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides. 
Although  he  began  life  in  this  country  in 
limited  circumstances,  he  has  steadily 
worked  his  way  upward  until  he  is  now  the 
possessor  of  a  comfortable  competence. 
His  success  has  been  achieved  through  his 
own  well  directed  efforts  and  the  assistance 
of  his  estimable  wife, who  has  proved  a  true 
helpmeet  to  him.  He  now  has  a  fine  farm 
of  over  two  hundred  acres  of  rich  and  arable 
land.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  an 
ardent  Democrat,  but  he  has  never  cared 
for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office, 
preferring  to  gi\e  his  undivided  attention  to 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


203 


his  business  interests.  He  is  a  man  of  in- 
trinsic worth,  esteemed  in  all  the  relations  of 
life,  and  has  a  host  of  warm  friends  in  Ogle 
county. 


NELSON  B.  KIDDER,  the  efficient 
supervisor  of  Woosung  township,  is 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Ogle  count)', 
owning  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Woosung  township,  and  some  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Jordan  town- 
ship, Whiteside  county,  Illinois.  His  home 
farm  is  on  section  7,  Woosung  township, 
which  is  a  highly  improved  place,  with 
everything  in  the  best  order.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  New  Hampshire,  born  in  the  town 
of  Bristol,  Grafton  county,  January  i  5, 1 834, 
and  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Doton)  Kidder,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  the  Granite  state.  Benjamin  Kid- 
der was  by  occupation  a  farmer  in  his  native 
state,  and  after  his  removal  to  Illinois. 
With  his  family,  in  1856.  he  left  his  native 
state  and  came  to  Whiteside  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  purchased  land  and  engaged 
in  farming  for  eighteen  years,  and  then 
moved  to  Woosung  township,  Ogle  county, 
where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed. 
He  died  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  our 
subject,  August  6,  1883.  He  was  a  man  of 
retiring  disposition,  and  one  who  gave  his 
undivided  attention  to  his  business,  family 
and  religious  interests.  He  made  a  success 
in  life,  and  was  enabled  to  assist  his  chil- 
dren. Religiously  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics 
was  a  Democrat.  He  had  a  family  of  si.x 
children,  as  follows;  Adoniram,  of  O'Brien 
county,  Iowa;  Levi,  who  died  in  1865; 
Sarah,  the  deceased  wife  of  J.  W.  Taylor, 
of  Whiteside   county,    Illinois;   Nelson  B., 


the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Electa,  the  de- 
ceased wife  of  H.  Taylor,  of  Powesheik 
county,  Iowa;  and  Marcellus,  of  Whiteside 
county,  Illinois. 

The  paternal  grandfather,  Benjamin  Kid- 
der, was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  while 
his  father,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  England,  and  emigrated 
to  this  country  in  1770.  He  later  served  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  assisted  the  col- 
onies in  securing  their  independence. 

In  his  native  state  Nelson  B.  Kidder 
grew  to  manhood,  and  there  received  a  com- 
mon-school education.  The  knowledge  ob- 
tained in  the  school  room  was  but  little  in 
comparison  to  that  since  obtained  by  con- 
tact with  his  fellow  men,  and  in  reading  the 
general  and  current  literature  of  the  day. 
He  had  attained  his  majority  when  he  came 
with  the  family  to  Illinois,  and  on  his  ar- 
rival purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Whiteside  county,  to  which  he  later  added 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  giving  him 
a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  eighty 
acres  of  which  has  since  been  sold,  leaving 
him  a  balance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres. 

On  the  30th  of  December,  1862,  Mr. 
Kidder  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Amanda  Mingle,  a  native  of  Bradford  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of  James 
and  Catherine  Mingle,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  same  state.  She  was  but  ten 
years  of  age  when  she  accompanied  her 
parents  to  Carroll  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  made  their  permanent  home.  By  this 
union  there  were  three  children:  Aldena 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years  and  eight 
months.  Irvin  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Woosung  township.  Fred  J.  is  now  a 
student  in  the  State  Normal  School,  at  Dix- 
on, Illinois. 


204 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  March,  1874,  Mr.  Kidder  moved  to 
Ogle  county,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
one  of  its  most  enterprising  citizens,  and 
has  talccn  quite  an  active  part  in  public  life, 
having  served  nine  consecutive  years  as 
school  director  and  six  years  as  commis- 
sioner of  highways,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1897  was  elected  to  his  present  position 
as  supervisor  of  his  township,  an  office 
which  he  is  well  qualified  to  fill,  because 
of  his  good  business  ability  and  earn- 
est desire  for  the  public  good.  He  has 
given  his  attention  to  general  farming,  never 
running  off  on  any  fads,  and  in  his  life  work 
has  met  with  a  reasonable  degree  of  suc- 
cess. For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has 
been  quite  an  extensive  feeder  of  cattle, 
and  annual!}'  prepares  a  good  many  head 
for  the  general  market.  A  residence  of 
forty-three  years  in  Whiteside  and  Ogle 
counties  has  brought  him  in  contact  with 
many  of  their  best  citizens,  and  wherever 
he  is  known  he  is  held  in  high  esteem. 


REV.  ANDREW  STAHLEY,  a  resident 
of  Ogle  county  since  the  spring  of  1S65, 
and  one  of  its  highly  esteemed  citizens,  was 
born  October  3,  1821,  in  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  reared  and  ed- 
ucated in  the  common  schools  of  the  locali- 
ty. He  is  of  German  descent,  his  grandfa- 
ther, Andrew  Stahley,  for  whom  he  was 
named,  being  a  native  of  Germany.  On 
coming  to  America  he  located  in  Chance- 
ford  township,  York  county,  Pennsylvania. 
He  had  a  family  of  four  children:  Peter, 
the  father  of  our  subject;  Joseph,  a  black- 
smith by  trade,  who  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated near  (Juincy;  Stephen,  also  a  black- 
smith by  trade,  who  came  west;  and  Sarah, 
who   remained   and   died    in    York   county, 


Pennsylvania.  The  grandfather  died  when 
comparatively  a  young  man.  Peter  Stahley 
was  born  in  York  county  in  1784,  and  by 
occupation  was  a  farmer,  a  calling  which 
he  followed  during  his  entire  life.  During 
the  war  of  181 2  he  was  called  out,  but  did 
not  enter  the  service  for  the  reason  the  or- 
der was  countermanded  before  his  company 
could  muster.  He  married  Catherine  Tome, 
also  a  native  of  York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  Henry  Tome,  a  farmer  of  that 
county.  She  was  one  of  a  family  of  six 
children,  the  others  being  Fannie,  who  mar- 
ried Fred  Gable,  a  merchant  of  Dover, 
Pennsylvania;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel 
Gohn,  a  farmer  of  York  county;  Jacob, 
George  and  Henry,  who  lived  and  died  in 
York  county. 

Andrew  Stahley  is  the  son  of  Peter  and 
Catherine  (Tome)  Stahley.  After  his  school 
days  and  until  he  attained  his  majority,  he 
remained  with  his  parents,  assisting  his  fa- 
ther in  the  farm  work.  When  he  was  twen- 
ty-one he  commenced  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count, doing  farm  work  by  the  day,  contin- 
uing in  that  work  until  he  was  twenty-eight 
years  old.  Being  of  a  religious  turn  of  mind 
and  desirious  of  serving  the  Master,  he  en- 
tered the  ministry  of  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation, having  prepared  himself  by  constant 
reading  and  study  for  several  years.  From 
1849  until  1869  he  traveled  about  preach- 
iing  the  word,  first  as  a  member  of  the  Cen- 
tral Pennsylvania  conference,  doing  mission- 
ary work.  He  then  came  to  Illinois,  and 
as  a  member  of  the  Illinois  conference  con- 
tinued the  work  for  four  years.  His  first 
station  was  at  Warren,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  remained  one  year.  He  was  then  at 
Pittsburg  two  years,  thence  back  to  War- 
ren, Pennsylvania,  and  then  to  the  Ohio 
circuit,  in   Stark  county,  that    state,  where 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


205 


he  remained  one  year.  He  was  then  again 
at  Pittsburg  one  year,  when  he  was  elected 
presiding  elder  for  the  Pittsburg  district. 
Later  he  was  sent  to  Canton,  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  then  to  Erie,  Penn- 
sylvania, two  years.  From  Erie  he  came 
direct  to  Forreston,  Illinois,  and  was  as- 
signed to  the  West  Grove  circuit,  preaching 
at  Forreston  and  Freeport,  and  other  points 
in  this  locality. 

Mr.  Stahley  was  first  married  in  1S42 
to  Miss  Charlotte  Vogt,  a  native  of  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Paulina  (Will)  Vogt.  She  died  in  York 
county  after  a  wedded  life  of  five  years, 
leaving  one  daughter,  Delilah  Ann,  now  the 
wife  of  Isaac  Vogelgesang,  a  retired  mer- 
chant and  business  man  of  Forreston.  In 
1852  Mr.  Stahley  married  Miss  Sarah  Long, 
daughter  of  Bishop  Joseph  Long  and  Kath- 
erine  (Hoy)  Long.  She  was  a  native  of 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  her  father  being 
bishop  of  the  Evangelical  Association.  She 
died  in  Forrestson,  leaving  one  daughter, 
Josephine,  now  the  wife  of  Samuel  McLain, 
of  Forreston,  a  wholesale  manufacturer  of 
specialties  in  medicine.  Mr.  Stahley  mar- 
ried his  present  wife  June  22,  1875.  She 
was  Miss  Ceres  Oakes,  a  native  of  Reading, 
Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of  George  and 
Susan  (Cleversy)  Oakes.  Her  father  was 
born  October  13,  1782,  in  Hessen  Cassel, 
Germany,  and  left  that  country  when  eight- 
een years  old,  crossing  the  ocean  on  an 
English  vessel,  and  while  en  route  to  Nova 
Scotia  received  his  first  lesson  in  the  English 
language  from  the  captain  of  the  vessel. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 
Lancester,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  married 
in  Nova  Scotia  to  Miss  Susan  Cleversy,  a 
native  of  Nova  Scotia,  born  in  1800.      They 

were  married   November  26,   1826,  and  be- 
2•^ 


came  the  parents  of  si.x  children:  Serene, 
born  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  March  13, 
182S,  became  the  wife  of  Francis  Knauss, 
and  they  reside  in  Rock  City,  Illinois.  Zero, 
born  in  New  Ephrata,  Pennsylvania,  mar- 
ried Robert  Mitchell,  and  they  also  reside 
in  Rock  City,  Illinois.  Alpha,  born  at 
Berne,  Pennsylvania,  June  5,  1832,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  He  now  resides  at 
Ouincy,  Illinois.  Ceres  is  the  wife  of  our 
subject.  Atlas,  born  in  Johnstown,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  9,  1835,  was  also  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war.  He  is  now  residing  in  the 
west.  Omega,  born  in  Johnstown,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  3,  1838,  is  a  retired  business 
man,  living  in  Oregon.  Professionally, 
George  Oakes  was  a  teacher,  and  taught  in 
both  the  English  and  German  languages.  He 
was  also  a  fine  musician  and  gave  some  time 
to  teaching  music.  He  came  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Illinois  in  1846,  but  died  the  follow- 
ing year,  his  remains  being  interred  in  the 
Dakota  cemetery,  in  Stephenson  county. 
His  wife  survived  him  many  years,  dying  in 
1890,  in  her  eighty-eighth  year.  Her  re- 
mains were  interred  beside  those  of  her 
husband. 

On  retiring  from  the  ministry  in  1869, 
Mr.  Stahley  became  interested  in  a  planing 
mill,  but  for  many  years  he  has  given  his 
time  to  looking  after  his  business  interests 
in  connection  with  his  farming  land,  owning 
three  hundred  and  seventy  acres  in  Ogle 
county  and  eighty  acres  in  Carroll  county. 
He  has  never  taken  much  interest  in  polit- 
ical affairs  as  generally  managed,  and  for 
many  years  did  not  cast  a  vote.  His  first 
presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  He  now  votes  as  his  conscience 
dictates  without  regard  to  party  politics. 
While  actively  engaged  in  the  ministry,  he 
was  instrumental  in  the  erection   of  several 


2o6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


churches,  and  his  labors  in  that  way  were 
appreciated  by  the  good  people  of  Warren, 
Ohio,  and  those  on  the  Harmony  circuit 
and  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio.  He  has 
not  lost  interest  in  good  works,  but  is  ever 
ready  to  assist  in  promoting  "peace  on 
earth,  good  will  toward  men." 


EMANUEL  M.  HARNER.— Almost  the 
entire  life  of  this  gentleman  has  been 
passed  in  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  his 
name  is  inseparably  connected  with  the 
agricultural  and  industrial  interests  of  this 
region.  His  thoroughly  American  spirit 
and  great  energy  have  enabled  him  to 
mount  from  a  lowly  position  to  one  of  af- 
fluence. One  of  his  leading  characteristics 
in  business  affairs  is  his  fine  sense  of  order 
and  complete  system  and  the  habit  of  giv- 
ing careful  attention  to  details,  without 
which  success  in  any  undertaking  is  never 
an  assured  fact.  He  owns  and  operates  a 
well-improved  farm  on  section  2,  Leaf 
River  township,  and  is  also  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  brick. 

Mr.  Harner  was  born  in  Schuylkill 
county,  Pennsylvania,  February  28,  1840, 
and  is  a  son  of  Christian  Harner,  whose 
birth  occurred  February  26,  181 1,  in  Ger- 
many. About  1830  the  father  emigrated 
to  America  in  company  with  a  cousin,  also 
a  young  man,  and  located  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked 
as  a  farm  hand.  There  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Delp,  who 
was  born  in  that  state  of  German  parentage. 
They  continued  to  reside  in  Pennsylvania 
until  1840,  and  then,  in  company  with 
eight  families,  drove  across  the  country  to 
Illinois,  arriving  in  Ogle  county  in  May  of 
that  year.      Mr.  Harner  took   up  one  hun- 


dred and  twenty  acres  on  section  11,  Leaf 
River  township,  on  which  he  erected  a  log 
cabin,  and  he  also  pre-empted  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  2.  After  residing 
upon  the  former  tract  for  about  two  3'ears, 
he  built  where  our  subject  now  resides  on 
section  2.  This  was  a  good  log  house,  in 
which  he  made  his  home  until  called  from 
this  life  in  1846,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
five  years.  His  wife  subsequently  married 
again,  but  continued  a  resident  of  Ogle 
county,  dying  here  March  iS,  1869. 

Our  subject  is  the  second  in  order  of 
birth  in  the  family  of  five  children,  the 
others  being  as  follows:  Edward  B.  joined 
the  boys  in  blue  during  the  Civil  war,  en- 
listing in  1 86 1,  in  Company  H,  Thirty- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was 
killed  April  15,  1865,  in  Chatham  county. 
North  Carolina,  at  which  time  he  was  serv- 
ing as  first  lieutenant  and  was  on  detached 
duty,  having  charge  of  a  foraging  expedi- 
tion for  his  command.  Amelia  is  the  wife 
of  John  Willoughby,  of  Legrand,  Iowa. 
Mary  Ann  is  the  wife  of  David  Huff,  of 
Leaf  River  township.  Ogle  county.  Chris- 
tian F.  is  married  and  lives  in  Kansas. 

The  first  recollections  of  our  subject 
are  of  pioneer  scenes,  for  he  was  an  infant 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ogle  coun- 
ty. Wolves  were  numerous  in  this  region 
at  that  time  and  would  often  come  to  the 
house  in  the  day  time  and  stick  their  noses 
under  the  door.  Deer  and  other  wild  game 
were  also  plentiful,  the  country  was  all  wild 
and  unimproved,  and  the  few  settlers  were 
widely  scattered.  In  common  with  other 
pioneers,  the  Harner  family  endured  many 
hardships  and  privations,  but  as  time  passed 
the  comforts  of  civilization  were  added  to 
their  home,  the  wild  land  was  transformed 
into    good   homes    and    farms,    thriving  vil- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


207 


lages  sprung  up,  and  the  railroad  and  tele- 
graph were  introduced.  Mr.  Harner  has 
watched  with  interest  the  wonderful  changes 
that  have  taken  place,  and  has  been  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  county.  As  there  were  few 
schools  here  during  his  boyhood,  his  educa- 
tional privileges  were  limited  and  he  is 
mostly  self-educated. 

On  the  /th  of  September,  1S61,  he  en- 
listed with  his  brothers,  as  a  private  in 
Company  H,  Thirty-fourth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  they  fought 
together  until  the  brother  was  killed, 
participating  in  thirty-seven  engagements. 
Among  the  more  important  was  the  battle 
of  Shiloh,  the  siege  of  Corinth,  the  battles 
of  Missionary  Ridge,  Perry ville,  Kentucky, 
Stone  River, Tennessee,  Liberty  Gap,  Chick- 
amauga,  the  engagements  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  the  memorable  march  with  Sher- 
man to  the  sea,  and  the  battle  of  Benton- 
ville.  North  Carolina.  He  also  took  part  in 
the  grand  review  at  Washington,  District 
of  Columbia.  At  Chattanooga  he  had  re- 
enlisted  December  22,  i<S63,  and  at  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  was  mustered  out  July  12, 
1865,  after  almost  four  years  of  faithful 
service. 

Returning  to  hishome  Mr.  Harner  worked 
at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  had  pre- 
viously learned.  He  was  married  Decem- 
ber 23,  1 866,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Grove,  a 
native  of  Leaf  River  township,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  H.  Grove,  and  then  rented  a 
farm  in  that  township,  which  he  operated 
for  several  years.  He  lost  his  wife  Septem- 
ber 23,  1868,  and  the  only  child  born  to 
them,  Ola  Melissa,  died  at  the  age  of  ten 
months.  On  the  7th  of  October,  1869,  he 
wedded  Miss  Bennettie  J.  Jackson,  who  was 


born  in  Sharpsburg,  Washington  county, 
Maryland.  Her  father,  Josiah  Jackson,  was 
a  native  of  England,  and  on  coming  to 
America  settled  in  Maryland,  where  he  was 
married,  in  1840,  to  Catherine  Twig,  a  na- 
tive of  Sharpsburg.  He  died  in  Washing- 
ton county  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years, 
and  Mrs.  Jackson  subsequently  removed  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where  Mrs.  Harner 
was  reared  and  educated,  being  only  five 
years  old  on  her  arrival  here.  Our  subject 
and  his  wife  have  four  children:  Anna  S., 
wife  of  Ira  Ulfers,  who  has  been  operator 
and  agent  at  Maryland  Station,  Illinois,  for 
about  twelve  years;  Mary  C.  A.,  wife  of 
David  Kretsinger,  a  merchant  and  business 
man  of  Egan;  Josiah  F.  O.  and  Hattie  Z. , 
both  at  home. 

Mr.  Harner  purchased  the  interest  of 
the  other  heirs  in  the  old  homestead  where 
he  has  since  resided,  and  has  successfully 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  In 
1895  he  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick,  set  up  an  engine  and  machinery  for 
that  purpose,  and  the  first  season  turned 
out  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand,  the 
second,  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand, 
and  in  189S  ninety-one  thousand.  He  uses 
a  superior  clay  and  makes  a  most  e.\cellent 
quality  of  brick,  for  which  he  finds  a  ready 
sale  in  the  local  markets.  He  was  for  many 
years  identified  with  the  Republican  party, 
but  being  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance 
he  now  supports  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Prohibition  party.  He  has  served  as 
highway  commissioner  for  three  years  and 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  as  its 
president  for  some  years.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  hold  membership  in  the  United  Breth- 
ren church  at  Egan,  of  which  he  is  one  of 
the  trustees,  and  by  all  who  know  them  they 
are  held  in  high  regard. 


2o8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


FRANCIS  A.  SMITH  has  for  over  sixty- 
one  years  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty, and  is  still  engaged  in  farming  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Byron  township.  As  one  of  its  hon- 
ored pioneers  he  has  been  an  important  fac- 
tor in  the  development  and  prosperity  of 
the  county.  He  is  now  numbered  among 
the  elderly  residents  of  the  community  and 
is  held  in  that  reverence  and  respect  tacitly 
accorded  those  whose  lives  have  been  dis- 
tinguished by  integrity  and  usefulness. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Palmer,  Massa- 
chusetts, January  22,i8i7,and  is  of  the  sixth 
generation  born  on  the  old  homestead,  which 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  His 
ancestors  were  from  Scotland  and  were 
among  the  first  to  settle  in  the  Massachu- 
setts colony.  His  father,  Robert  Smith, 
spent  his  entire  life  on  the  old  home  farm, 
his  energies  being  devoted  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  married  Hannah  Hoar,  also 
a  native  of  the  old  Bay  state  and  a  daughter 
of  Squire  Hoar.  He  died  in  1819  when 
comparatively  young,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1855.  After  her  husband's  deathshe 
carefully  reared  her  family,  consisting  of  six 
sons  and  two  daughters. 

Our  subject,  who  is  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  received  a  good  practical  educa- 
tion, attending  first  the  common  schools 
and  later  the  Wilberham  and  Amherst  Acad- 
emies. For  two  terms  he  taught  school  in 
his  native  state.  In  1837,  when  a  young 
man  of  twenty  years,  he  came  to  Illiinois.and 
on  foot  proceeded  from  Chicago  to  Ogle 
county,  where  friends  from  Massachusetts 
had  previously  located.  He  spent  the  first 
winter  with  the  Patrick  family,  and  in  June, 
>  838, purchased  a  claim  of  four  hundred  and 
eighty  acres,  of    which    he   broke  four  hun- 


dred acres  the  first  year.  In  1838  he  re- 
turned to  his  old  home  in  Massachusetts, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1839  came  back  to  his 
present  home  in  Illinois,  traveling  the  entire 
distance  on  horseback  and  alone,  making 
over  one  thousand  miles  in  twenty-one  days. 
Between  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  and  Chi- 
cago, Illinois,  he  traveled  sixty  miles  with- 
out passing  a  house. 

The  following  two  years  he  planted 
crops,  but  as  there  was  no  market  for  his 
products,  he  then  abandoned  farming  and 
went  to  work  by  the  month.  In  the  spring 
of  1 84 1  he  started  for  New  Orleans  in  com- 
pany with  Messrs.  White  and  Reed,  taking 
the  first  stock  marketed  in  the  Crescent 
City.  They  made  the  trip  by  flat  boats  and 
did  not  arrive  at  their  destination  until 
August,  the  stock  being  fed  and  fattened  on 
the  boats.  On  his  return  to  Illinois,  Mr. 
Smith  engaged  in  teaming  for  Henry  Potwin, 
who  owned  and  operated  several  stores,  and 
our  subject  remained  in  his  employ  for  about 
three  years,  hauling  goods  from  the  stores 
to  Chicago  and   also  to  the  Galena   mines. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1844,  Mr.  Smith 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah 
Brown,  who  was  born,  reared  and  educated 
in  Brimfield,  Massachusetts,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Dauphin  Brown,  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Ogle  county,  and  a  sister  of 
A.  F.  Brown,  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume.  Nine  children  were 
born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  of  whom 
six  are  still  living,  namely:  Hattie,  wife  of 
H.  D.  Merrill,  who  lives  on  a  ranch  near 
Los  Angeles,  California;  Albert  and  Alice, 
twins,  the  former  a  resident  of  Fairbury, 
Nebraska,  and  the  latter  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Ferguson,  of  Rockford,  Illinois;  Dr.  A.  H., 
who  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  for  about  twenty  years  and  died  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


209 


Clinton,  Iowa,  in  the  spring  of  1890;  Nellie, 
wife  of  Thomas  Roberts,  of  Elida,  Winne- 
bago county,  Illinois;  William  H.,  who  died 
in  Nebraska;  Harry  R. ,  who  is  married,  has 
one  child  and  assists  his  father  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  home  farm;  Julia  B.,  who  died 
in  1883;  and  Lena  Belle,  wife  of  Henry  J. 
Young,  of  Scott  township.  Ogle  county. 

In  1S45  Mr.  Smith  returned  to  his  farm 
in  Ogle  county  and  resumed  farming.  His 
first  home  here  has  long  since  been  replaced 
by  a  commodious  and  comfortable  residence, 
large  barns  and  other  outbuildings  have 
been  erected,  and  many  other  improvements 
have  been  made  which  add  to  the  value  and 
attractive  appearance  of  the  place.  In  con- 
nection with  general  farming,  Mr.  Smith  has 
given  considerable  attention  to  stock  raising, 
keeping  a  high  grade  of  cattle  and  hogs.  He 
has  met  with  excellent  success  in  his  under- 
takings, and  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous and  substantial  farmers  of  Byron 
township,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  highly 
esteemed  and  honored  citizens.  Although 
eighty-one  years  of  age  he  is  still  able  to 
follow  the  plow  and  to  perform  the  other 
duties  of  the  farm,  and  believes  he  is  able 
to  walk  twenty-five  miles  in  a  day.  In  1840 
he  cast  his  first  ballot  for  William  Henry 
Harrison,  and  continued  to  support  the 
Whig  party  until  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party,  when  he  joined  its  ranks 
and  has  since  been  one  of  its  stanch  sup- 
porters. He  has  filled  the  office  of  commis- 
sioner of  highways,  but  has  never  cared  for 
political  honors,  but  as  a  public-spirited  and 
enterprising  citizen  he  gives  his  support  to 
all  objects  which  he  believes  calculated  to 
prove  of  public  benefit,  or  will  in  any  way 
advance  the  welfare  of  the  people  around 
him.  His  estimable  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  church. 


HENRY  SCHELLING. —There  are 
numerous  fine  farms  in  Ogle  county 
which  will  compare  favorably  with  any 
others  in  the  state  as  regards  production  and 
also  as  to  the  improvements  which  have 
been  made  upon  them.  Many  of  these 
places  are  owned  by  men  who  have  started 
out  in  the  world  with  little  more  than  an  un- 
limited amount  of  energy  and  perseverance, 
and  who  have  succeeded  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree in  securing  a  comfortable  home  and 
competence.  As  a  representative  of  this 
class  of  agriculturists,  great  pleasure  is  taken 
in  presenting  the  name  of  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  who  is  living  on  section  26,  Leaf 
River  township. 

Mr.  Schelling  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  December  16,  1S37,  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Schaffer) 
Schelling,  who  were  born,  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  Germany.  On  coming  to  the  new 
world  they  settled  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  where  as  a  stonemason  and 
plasterer  the  father  carried  on  operations 
throughout  his  active  business  life.  He 
died  there  in  1859,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
some  nine  years  previously.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  ten  children,  four  sons  and  six 
daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  years  of 
maturity,  but  one  daughter  is  now  deceased. 

Henry  Schelling  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  county,  and  in  early  life  was  provided 
with  fair  common-school  advantages.  In 
the  east  he  worked  for  his  father  as  a 
plasterer  and  mason,  but  in  1859  came  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  arri\'ing  on  the  2Sth 
of  February,  and  joining  an  elder  brother, 
Andrew  Schelling,  who  had  located  here 
about  1854.  During  the  first  two  3'ears 
spent  here  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand.  On 
the  1 2th  of  January,  1861,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Susan  Henan,  also  a  na- 


2IO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


tive  of  Maryland,  and  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Henan,  a  pioneer  of  Ogle  county, 
where  she  was  mostly  reared.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  rented  land,  which 
Mr.  Schelling  operated  forsixyears,  and  then 
made  his  first  purchase,  consisting  of  a 
tract  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  timber  land.  He  at  once  began  to 
clear  and  fence  the  land,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  he  had  transformed  the 
wild  tract  into  a  well  cultivated  farm.  Later 
he  bought  more  land,  and  is  now  the  owner 
of  two  good  farms  adjoining  his  other  and 
aggregating  four  hundred  and  twenty-three 
acres,  pleasantly  situated  in  Leaf  River 
township,  only  a  half  mile  from  the  village 
of  that  name.  He  has  recently  purchased 
one  additional  tract  of  seventy  acres. 
While  opening  up  his  farm  he  made  his 
home  for  a  number  of  years  in  a  frame 
house,  which  had  previously  been  erected 
thereon,  but  it  has  since  been  replaced  by 
a  large,  neat  and  substantial  residence, 
while  two  large  barns,  a  granary,  windpump, 
water  works,  cribs,  sheds,  etc..  have  also 
been  built,  making  it  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved farms  of  the  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schelling  are  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  namely;  Frank  and 
Albert,  who  are  both  married  and  are  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Leaf  River  township; 
Charles,  who  is  married  and  assists  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  farm;  Dallas,  who  is 
married  and  carries  on  farming  near  Water- 
loo, Iowa;  Arthur,  who  is  married  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Leaf  River  township; 
Bert  and  John,  both  at  home;  Mary,  wife 
of  Homer  Stanley;  Irena,  wife  of  Samuel 
Clevidense,  a  farmer  near  Polo,  Ogle  coun- 
ty; Lilly,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching  school 
and  resides  at  home;  and  Jennie,  also  at 
home. 


Mr.  Schelling  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  and  continued  to  support 
the  Republican  party  for  some  time,  but 
believing  the  temperance  question  the  most 
important  issue  before  the  people,  he  now 
gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Prohibition  party. 
He  has  never  sought  or  desired  public  of- 
fice, though  he  has  acceptably  served  as 
highway  commissioner  and  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board  in  his  district.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  of  Leaf  River  and 
enjoy  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  For 
almost  forty  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
the  county,  and  during  that  time  he  has 
witnessed  much  of  its  growth  and  develop- 
ment and  has  given  his  support  to  every 
enterprise  for  its  advancement,  being  one  of 
its  most  public  spirited  and  progressive 
citizens. 

AUGUST  F.  KORF,  section  i,  Lincoln 
township,  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
farmers  in  Ogle  county.  In  his  home  farm 
he  has  three  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  a 
well  improved  and  valuable  farm,  while  he 
is  also  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  twen- 
ty acres  in  another  part  of  the  township, 
which  is  well  improved.  He  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  l)orn  in  Lippe  Detmold,  May  2, 
1S43,  but  has  been  a  resident  of  Ogle  county 
since  July  19,  184S.  His  father,  Louis 
Korf,  was  also  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in 
1797.  He  there  grew  to  manhood  and 
married  Mary  Fosha,  also  a  native  of  that 
country.  In  his  native  land  Louis  Korf  en- 
gaged in  herding,  an  occupation  in  which 
there  was  l)ut  a  bare  living.  He  desired 
something  better,  and  to  that  end,  in  com- 
pany with  a  numl)er  of  immigrants,  he  left 
for  the  United  States,     They  set  sail  from 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


21  t 


Bremen  for  New  York  in  a  slow  sailing  ves- 
sel, and  in  due  time  landed  in  New  York, 
from  which  place  they  came  direct  to  Ogle 
county,  where  they  joined  some  German 
friends.  They  landed  in  the  county  on  the 
19th  of  July.  The  survivors  of  that  com- 
pany celebrated  the  event  July  19,  1898, 
their  semi-centennial. 

The  second  year  after  his  arrival  Louis 
Korf  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Mary- 
land township  on  which  he  erected  a  log 
cabin,  with  two  rooms,  one  and  a  half  stor- 
ies in  height,  into  which  he  removed  with 
his  family  and  commenced  life  in  earnest  in 
this  new  world.  Like  almost  all  others  of 
his  race,  he  was  industrious  and  thrifty,  and 
from  time  to  time  added  to  his  possessions 
until  he  became  one  of  the  well-to-do  farm- 
ers of  the  township.  On  that  farm  he  died 
in  July,  1 87 1,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  His  wife  passed  away  September 
28,  1869.  They  had  a  family  of  si.x  chil- 
dren who  grew  to  mature  years,  as  follows: 
Minnie,  wife  of  William  Moudhanker,  of 
Baileyville,  Illinois;  Dorotha,  who  married 
John  Pothost,  both  of  whom  are  deceased; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Frederick  Todman,  of 
Forreston  township;  Frederick,  a  farmer  of 
Forreston  township;  Henry,  of  Jasper  coun- 
ty, Iowa;  and  August  F.,  of  this  review. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  five 
years  old  when  he  came  to  Ogle  county, 
and  here  his  entire  life  has  since  been 
passed.  His  educational  advantages  were 
very  limited,  confined  principally  to  the 
common  schools.  The  knowledge  since 
acquired  has  been  obtained  by  experience 
with  the  world.  The  youngest  son,  he  re- 
mained with  his  parents  during  their  declin- 
ing years,  helping  to  relieve  them  of  much 
of  the  cares  incidental  to  old  age.  He  was 
married  in  Maryland  township.  Ogle  county. 


March  9,  1870,  to  Miss  Doratha  M.  Zum- 
dahl,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in 
Sabberhauser,  Germany,  April  7,  1848,  and 
who  came  to  Ogle  county,  in  1850,  where 
she  grew  to  womanhood  and  received  her 
education.  Four  sons  have  come  to  bless 
their  union.  August  C,  born  February  23, 
1 87 1,  yet  resides  at  home  and  is  assisting  in 
carr3'ing  on  the  home  farm.  Jesse  A.,  born 
January  14,  1874,  is  now  a  student  in  the 
Northern  Illinois  Normal  school,  at  Dixon, 
Illinois.  George  F.,  born  May  10,  1877,  is 
a  student  of  Heidleburg  University,  Tiffin, 
Ohio.  William  H. ,  born  October  31,1 8S0, 
is  a  student  of  the    Forreston    high   school. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Korf  took  his 
bride  to  his  father's  home,  where  they  re- 
sided until  1 88 1,  when  he  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm  to  which  they  removed  and  where 
they  have  since  continued  to  reside.  The 
farm  has  been  greatly  improved  in  the  past 
few  years  b}'  the  remodeling  of  the  dwelling 
house  and  the  erection  of  needed  outbuild- 
ings. The  place  now  shows  the  work  of  a 
master  mind,  and  the  thrift  of  its  owner. 
Mr.  Korf  has  in  addition  to  his  home  farm 
one  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
sections  11  and  12,  Lincoln  township. 
Much  of  his  property  has  been  acquired 
since  his  marriage,  and  is  the  result  of  his 
own  wise  management,  assisted  by  his  es- 
timable wife. 

Politically  Mr.  Korf  holds  to  the  views 
and  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
His  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for 
George  B.  McClellan,  in  1864.  In  local 
elections  he  does  not  confine  himself  to  his 
party  ticket,  but  votes  for  the  men  he  con- 
siders the  best  qualified.  The  only  official 
position  held  by  him  is  that  of  member  of 
the  school  board,  a  position  that  he  held  for 
about  twelve  years. 


2T2 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


During  the  Civil  war  the  sympathies  of 
Mr.  Korf  was  on  the  side  of  the  union,  and 
in  March,  1865,  he  offered  his  services  to 
his  adopted  country  and  joined  Company 
F,  Fifteenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
joining  his  regiment  at  Morehead  City, 
North  Carolina,  remaining  with  it  until  after 
the  close  of  the  war.  After  the  close  of 
hostilities  his  regiment  was  ordered  first  to 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  later  to  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  where  it  was  mustered  out. 
His  discharge  was  received  at  Springfield, 
Illinois. 

Mr.  Korf  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Reformed  Church  of  America,  their  local 
church  being  at  West  Grove.  In  that  or- 
ganization Mr.  Korf  has  been  one  of  the 
elders  for  some  years.  In  the  work  of  the 
church  he  manifests  the  liveliest  interest. 
The  family  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
wherever  known.  For  lifty-one  years  Mr. 
Korf  has  been  a  resident  of  Ogle  county, 
and  although  he  was  quite  small  when  he 
came  here,  he  has  yet  a  vivid  recollection 
of  the  hardships  endured  during  the  first 
few  years  after  the  arrival  of  the  family. 
He  has,  however,  lived  to  see  a  vast  change, 
and  the  county  of  his  adoption  take  front 
rank  among  its  sister  counties  of  the  fair 
state  of   Illinois. 


MILO  A.   JONES 
true  meaning;  of 


lS  has  demonstrated  the 
jf  the  word  success  as 
the  full  accomplishment  of  an  honorable 
purpose.  Energy,  close  application,  perse- 
verance and  good  management — these  are 
the  elements  which  have  entered  into  his 
business  career  and  crowned  his  efforts  with 
prosperity.  To-day  he  is  the  leading  iiard- 
ware  merchant  of   I->yron,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Jones  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born 


in  Jewett,  Greene  county,  April  29,  1841, 
and  his  father,  Benjamin  Jones,  Jr.,  were 
also  natives  of  the  Empire  state,  where  the 
family  was  founded  by  Welsh  emigrants  at 
an  early  day  in  the  history  of  this  country. 
The  father  grew  to  manhood  in  Greene 
county,  and  there  married  Miss  Catherine 
Peck,  who  was  also  born  in  New  York,  and 
died  in  Greene  county,  in  1892.  There  he 
still  resides,  a  hale  and  hearty  old  man  of 
ninety-three  years,  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  know  him.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  farmer  and  met  with  success  in  his 
chosen  calling.  Milo  A.  is  the  oldest  in  his 
family  of  seven  children,  five  sons  and  two 
daughters,  the  others  being  Edward,  a  resi- 
dent of  Greene  county.  New  York;  Charles, 
who  is  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at 
Alberquerque,  New  Mexico;  Frank,  who 
went  to  Colorado  after  reaching  manhood 
and  there  died;  Sumner,  a  business  man  of 
Greene  county;  and  Mary,  wife  of  Herbert 
Kipp,  a  merchant  of  Greene  county. 

Amid  rural  scenes  on  the  home  farm, 
Milo  A.  Jones  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  On  the  29th  of  August,  1862,  he 
joined  the  boys  in  blue  as  a  member  of 
Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth 
New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was 
assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
with  his  regiment  participated  in  a  number 
of  important  engagements,  including  the 
battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville 
and  Gettysburg.  At  the  last  named  he  re- 
ceived a  gunshot  wound  in  the  left  thigh 
which  permanently  disabled  him.  For  sev- 
eral months  he  was  confined  to  the  hospital 
at  Baltimore,  and  when  partially  recovered 
was  ordered  to  Washington,  District  of 
Columbia,  where  he  was  on  duty  in  the  pro- 
vost marshal's  office  for  about  a  year.  He 
was  then  put  in   the   detective  service,  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


21 


was  in  the  provost  marshal's  office  another 
year,  remaining  there  until  hostilities  ceased, 
when  he  was  mustered  out  in  July,  1865. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  New  York,  Mr. 
Jones  remained  there  a  short  time,  but  in 
February,  1866,  we  find  him  cii  route  for 
Illinois.  He  located  in  Winnebago  county, 
where  he  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  a  few  days.  There  he  was  married, 
in  March,  1869,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Brown,  a 
native  of  that  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Brown,  one  of  its  honored  pioneers, 
having  made  his  home  there  since  1836. 
He  is  now  deceased,  but  the  mother  is  still 
living,  a  hale  old  lady  of  about  ninety  years, 
and  makes  her  home  with  Mrs.  Jones  in 
Byron.  She  has  three  children.  Captain 
John  E.  Brown,  the  only  son,  valiantly 
fought  for  the  old  flag  and  the  cause  it  rep- 
resented during  the  Rebellion,  and  com- 
manded his  company  in  that  war.  He  re- 
ceived an  excellent  education,  being  a  grad- 
uate of  Lombard  University,  and  for  some 
years  successfully  engaged  in  teaching,  but 
is  now  a  railroad  man  with  the  Missouri  Pa- 
cific and  resides  in  Ivansas.  The  other 
daughter,  Alice,  is  the  wife  of  S.  P.  Wilson 
and  resides  in  South  Haven,  Michigan.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jones  have  two  children:  Ellen, 
now  the  wife  of  Henry  Weld,  a  farmer  of 
Marion  township,  Ogle  county;  and  Alice, 
at  home. 

For  a  few  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Jones  operated  the  old  Brown  homestead, 
and  later  engaged  in  the  grain  and  stock 
business  at  New  Milford  for  several  years. 
After  coming  to  Byron  in  the  fall  of  1883, 
he  continued  that  business  and  was  instru- 
mental in  forming  the  stock  company  which 
erected  the  first  elevator  at  this  place.  In 
1 888  he  purchased  an  interest  in  a  hardware 
store,    and     in     partnership     with   William 

23 


Dodds  carried  it  on  for  several  years,  but  in 
1897  he  purchased  the  latter's  interest  and 
is  now  alone  in  business.  He  carries  a  full 
and  complete  line  of  shelf  and  heavy  hard- 
ware, stoves,  tinware,  buggies,  wagons  and 
agricultural  implements  and  enjoys  a  large 
and  lucrative  trade,  receiving  a  liberal  pat- 
ronage from  the  people  of  Byron  and  sur- 
rounding country. 

Politically  Mr.  Jones  has  been  a  life- 
long Republican,  casting  his  first  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  but  he  has  never 
taken  a  very  active  part  in  politics  aside 
from  voting.  While  a  resident  of  Winne- 
bago county  he  served  as  deputy  sheriff 
for  two  years,  but  has  never  sought  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to 
his  extensive  business  interests.  Frater- 
nally he  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic lodge  of  Byron,  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  the  United  Workmen  and  the 
Grand  Army  post  at  Rockford.  As  a  busi- 
ness man  and  citizen  he  merits  and  receives 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  entire 
community,  and  since  coming  to  Byron  he 
has  made  a  host  of  warm  friends. 


HON.  TIMOLEON  O.  JOHNSTON, 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Oregon 
Reporter,  is  a  native  of  Wisconsin,  born  in 
Franklin,  Iowa  county,  June  30,  1849,  and 
is  the  son  of  Wesley  and  Sarah  L.  (Phelps) 
Johnston.  The  family  are  of  Irish  ancestry, 
the  paternal  grandfather  being  a  captain 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  coming 
to  this  country  at  an  early  day.  He  was  a 
prosperous  merchant  of  New  York  city, 
where  his  death  occurred.  Wesley  John- 
ston was  born  in  New  York  city,  April  1 , 
18  1 7,  and  inherited  from  his  father  a  shrewd 
business  capacity,  which  favored  him  in  the 


214 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


world  of  trade.  He  received  a  good  educa- 
tion, and,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  with  a  good 
portion  of  money  he  left  the  great  metrop- 
olis and  started  out  in  the  world  to  seek  his 
fortune.  Aside  from  substantial  financial 
backing  he  had  a  good  stock  of  courage, 
determination  and  energy.  St.  Louis  was 
his  first  stopping  place,  and  the  pleasure  he 
experienced  on  this  trip,  which  was  mainly 
by  water,  suggested  to  him  a  position  on 
one  of  the  magnificent  packets  then  on  the 
river,  and  he  succeeded  in  getting  a  clerk- 
ship on  one  of  the  boats  plying  between  St. 
Louis  and  New  Orleans.  This  position  was 
of  value  to  him  in  after  life,  as  it  brought 
him  in  contact  with  the  various  phases  of 
human  life  and  nature,  and  it  also  added  to 
his  capital.  His  next  position  was  as  clerk 
in  a  hotel  in  that  once  famous  resort.  Sul- 
phur Springs,  near  St.  Louis.  He  there 
became  acquainted  with  prominent  men  of 
wealth,  and  later  a  company  was  formed 
for  the  purchase  of  several  thousand  acres 
of  timber  land  near  St.  Louis,  and  Mr. 
Johnston  was  put  in  charge  of  the  cutting. 
This  was  a  gigantic  task  and  brought  young 
Johnston  in  contact  with  another  phase  of 
mankind,  as  he  had  in  his  employ  hundreds 
of  laborers  of  all  classes. 

In  1841  Mr.  Johnston  came  to  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  where  his  brother  James, 
an  extensive  farmer,  was  then  living,  and 
whose  lands  lay  just  east  of  the  village  of 
Oregon.  He  there  established  an  office  and 
employed  himself  in  loaning  money  for  a 
few  years.  Later  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  J.  C.  T.  Phelps,  his  brother-in-law, 
and  engaged  in  merchandising.  They  were 
well  fixed  financially,  and  also  had  unlim- 
ited credit,  and  established  a  number  of 
trading  posts  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 
This  partnership  lasted  for  sixteen    years. 


They  had  stores  in  Peru  and  LaSalle,  in 
LaSalle  county,  and  while  living  at  Peru, 
Mr.  Johnston  was  elected  county  treasurer 
of  LaSalle  county  during  one  of  the  most 
exciting  periods  of  the  county's  existence. 
From  Peru  they  went  to  Polo,  Illinois,  and 
established  themselves  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness. Soon  the  great  state  of  Texas  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  these  gentlemen, 
and  ever  ready  to  embrace  opportunities 
for  business,  they  started  in  1857  for  that 
southwestern  empire,  locating  at  Austin, 
where  they  opened  a  general  store,  and 
also  had  business  at  other  points.  They 
were  quite  successful,  but  the  air  soon  be- 
came full  of  secession,  and  these  business 
men  were  looked  upon  with  suspicion. 
The  Southern  confederacy  was  formed,  and 
before  the  battle  of  Bull's  Run  their  goods 
were  confiscated,  and  they  returned  to 
Illinois,  satisfied  to  get  out  with  their 
lives. 

In  1865  Mr.  Johnston  retired  from  active 
trade  and  established  a  real  estate  and  loan 
office  at  Oregon,  which  he  continued  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Sep- 
tember 5,  1893,  at  the  residence  of  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Wagoner,  where  he  had 
made  his  home  since  the  death  of  his  wife. 
The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by 
Rev.  Barton  Cartwright.  He  had  accu- 
mulated a  valuable  estate,  which,  with  his 
honored  name,  he  left  to  his  heirs.  He  was 
a  man  of  fine  social  qualities,  a  good  con- 
versationalist, which,  added  to  his  vast  ex- 
perience and  stirring  events  in  his  life,  made 
him  a  very  interesting  companion.  He 
was  quite  domestic  in  his  taste,  fond  of  his 
family  and  friends,  and  they  were  of  him, 
and  loved  him.  He  had  erected  for  himself 
and  family,  at  Oregon,  a  large  and  hand- 
some   residence,  in    which,    surrounded   by 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


215 


his  family,  he  spent  his  declining  3'ears.    He 
died,  mourned  and  regretted  by  all. 

In  1848  Mr.  Johnston  married  Sarah 
Louise  Phelps,  daughter  of  judge  John  and 
Sarah  (Carlin)  Phelps,  cousin  of  Governor 
Carlin,  this  state,  her  father  being  the 
founder  of  Oregon.  He  was  a  native  of 
Bedford  county,  Virginia,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois early  in  the  thirties.  In  1835  he  lo- 
cated in  Ogle  county,  where  he  had  staked 
a  claim  in  1S33,  his  attention  having  been 
called  to  this  beautiful  location  by  Colonel 
William  Hamilton,  son  of  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton. A  two-story  log  house  was  built  in 
1S34,  in  the  erection  of  which  his  brother- 
in-law,  James  C.  T.  Phelps,  so  long  and 
prominently  connected  with  Ogle  county, 
assisted.  This  house  was  situated  just  be- 
low where  the  old  Catholic  stone  church 
now  stands.  This  house  was  used  by  the 
first  circuit  court  held  in  the  county. 
John  Phelps  was  the  first  probate 
judge  to  hold  court  in  the  county,  which 
was  also  held  in  this  house.  He  was  a 
man  of  the  people,  and  was  elected  and 
served  as  a  member  of  the  legislature. 
John  Phelps  was  born  in  Bedford  county, 
Virginia,  August  9,  1790,  and  died  April  2, 
1874.  His  wife  died  in  1879.  They  had 
three  children — James  C.  T.,  who  died  at 
his  home  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  Decem- 
ber 24,  1895;  Sarah  L. ,  and  Napoleon  B., 
the  latter  d\ing  in  New  Orleans,  December 
10,  1857.  The  family  were  related  to  Gov- 
ernor Carlin,  of  this  state.  Mrs.  Johnston 
was  born  in  Lebanon, Tennessee,  March  27, 
1S17,  and  her  mother,  Sarah  Regan  Carlin, 
was  born  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  April  29, 
1797.  She  came  to  Ogle  county  with  her 
father  in  May,  1835,  where  she  first  met 
Wesley  Johnston,  to  whom  she  was  married 
June  8,  1848,  by  S.Wooley,  a  justice  of  the 


peace,  at  her  father's  house,  over  the  old 
store.  No.  118  North  Third  street,  corner 
Washington  and  Third  streets.  She  de- 
parted this  life  October  4,  1889.  She  was 
a  devout  Christian  woman,  a  devoted  wife 
and  mother,  and  was  much  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  her.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  body  Mr.  John- 
ston was  also  a  member.  In  politics  he 
was  originally  a  Democrat,  but  later  became 
a  Republican.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children:  Timoleon  O.,  our  subject; 
Sarah  Alice,  who  married  S.  G.  Jones,  but 
is  now  deceased;  Eva  E.  and  James  W., 
the  latter  being  in   business  in  Chicago. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated 
at  Sinsinawa  Mound  and  at  Rock  River 
Seminary,  Mt.  Morris.  After  learning  the 
printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Oregon 
National  Guard,  he  went  to  Vinton,  Benton 
county,  Iowa,  and  was  there  connected  with 
the  Vinton  Semi-Weekly  Eagle  for  about 
three  years.  He  then  returned  to  Oregon 
and  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Ogle 
County  Reporter,  February  16,  1872.  At 
the  end  of  si.x  months  he  purchased  the  en- 
tire interest  in  the  plant  and  became  sole 
proprietor.  From  that  time  to  the  present 
he  has  continued  in  charge  of  the  paper,  a 
longer  period  of  time  than  the  publisher  of 
any  local   paper  in  the  state. 

Mr.  Johnston  was  united  in  marriage 
December  30,  1869,  at  Vinton,  Iowa,  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Shockley,  daughter  of  Philip 
and  Mary  Shockley.  Her  parents  are  yet 
living  in  Vinton,  Iowa,  and  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  in  June,  1898.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Johnston  three  children  have  been 
born.  May  Aileen  is  now  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam L.  Katzenberger,  of  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land; John  P.  is  in  the  office  with  his  father. 
He  married  Hattie  E.  Sutphen,  of  Rochelle, 


2l6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


and  daughter  of  Peter  M.  and  Maggie  (Kelly) 
Sutphen.  They  have  one  child,  Timoleon 
O.  The  remaining  member  of  the  family  is 
Lillian  Eidola,  who  was  married  to  William 
F.  Rudolphy,  of  Chicago,  April  27,  1898. 

Mr.  Johnston  has  taken  an  active  and 
leading  part  in  the  politics  of  Ogle  county. 
He  was  elected  alderman  in  1877-8,  and 
then  in  1879-80.  In  1883  he  was  elected 
mayor  and  served  one  term.  He  was 
elected  secretary  of  the  Republican  Edi- 
torial Association,  of  Illinois,  in  18 — ,  and 
was  elected  president  of  the  Press  Associa- 
tion at  the  Bloomington  convention,  in 
1888,  and  has  been  secretary  of  the  Repub- 
lican Editorial  Association  of  Illinois.  He 
was  secretary  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Associa- 
tion of  Ogle  county,  and  has  been  vice- 
president  of  the  same  since  the  death  of  his 
father  and  served  as  president  of  the  same 
in  1896.  He  has  been  delegate  to  various 
conventions  from  time  to  time,  and  is  now 
on  the  State  Editorial  Republican  commit- 
tee. In  May,  1897,  he  was  appointed,  by 
Governor  Tanner,  as  trustee  of  the  South- 
ern Illinois  State  Normal  University  at 
Carbondale,  Illinois. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Johnston  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order,  holding  membership 
with  -Oregon  Lodge,  No.  420,  R.  A.  M., 
Rock  River  Chapter,  No.  151,  and  Dixon 
Commandery.  and  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Oregon 
Lodge,  No.  94,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Improved  Red  Men. 

The  Ogle  County  Reporter,  which  has 
so  long  been  conducted  by  Mr.  Johnston,  is 
a  Republican  journal,  and  one  of  the  lead- 
iug  papers  of  the  county.  It  is  a  seven 
column  quarto,  and  is  issued  every  Wednes- 
day, being  ably  edited  by  its  proprietor,  who 
makes  of  it  a  bright  newsy  sheet.     A  good 


job  office  is  connected  with  the  paper,  where 
first -class  work  is  done. 

Mr.  Johnston  is  the  only  representative 
now  in  Ogle  county  of  two  prominent  and 
leading  families  who  were  early  settlers  in 
the  county,  and  who  left  their  mark  on  its 
civilization.  He  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  these  families  and  holds  up  their  honored 
name.  He  has  an  ample  fortune  mostly 
derived  from  the  estate  of  his  father,  and  is 
liberal  in  aiding  all  public  enterprises  that 
center  in  the  development  of  the  county 
and  in  charitable  work.  He  has  a  host 
of  friends,  not  only  in  Ogle  county,  but 
throujjhout  the  state. 


REV.  N.  J.  STROH,  deceased,  was  a 
man  deserving  of  the  highest  honors, 
one  who  gave  the  best  years  of  his  life  for 
the  betterment  of  his  iellowmen.  He  was 
born  in  Liken's  Valley,  Pennsylvania,  May 
5,  179S,  and  after  receiving  a  fairly  good 
education  in  the  grammar  schools  of  his  na- 
tive county  he  entered  college  under  the  di- 
rection of  Rev.  Locknian,  a  minister  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  who  educated  for  the 
ministry  a  number  of  young  men,  with  the 
design  of  having  them  enter  the  missionary 
field.  After  completing  his  course  Mr. 
Stroh  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  by  the 
Lutheran  Synod  of  Pennsylvania.  This 
was  about  1823.  After  preaching  for  a 
number  of  churches  in  the  east,  with  a  view 
of  restoring  his  health  which  had  been  im- 
paired, he  came  west,  traveling  throughout 
Illinois  and  other  states. 

Returning  east,  in  1826,  Mr.  Stroh  was 
united  in  marriage,  near  Newville,  Pennsyl- 
vania, with  Miss  Elizabeth  Givler,  born  De- 
cember 2,  1807,  and  by  this  union  ten  chil- 
dren   were    born:      Maria,    November    23, 


REV.   N.  J.   STROH. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


219 


1S28;  Luther  M.,  April  r;,  1830;  Muehlen- 
berg,  July  28,  1S32;  Martha  E.,  September 
6,  1835;  Rhenius,  April  27,  1837;  Christa- 
vius  A.,  September  16,  1840;  Alfred  E. , 
March  6,  1842;  Augusta  C.  and  Cecelia  A., 
twins,  February  16,  1844;  and  Josephine, 
June  6,   1848. 

After  remaining  and  preaching  in  the 
east  for  a  number  of  years.  Rev.  Stroh,  in 
1845,  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  lo- 
cated at  Oregon,  where  he  resided  one  year, 
in  the  meantime  organizing  the  Lutheran 
church  at  that  place.  He  then  moved  to 
Mt.  Morris  and  purchased  two  large  farms, 
on  one  of  which  he  made  his  home,  and 
there  resided  for  many  years  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  and  preaching  the  gospel 
in  regions  roundabout.  He  organized  the 
Lutheran  church  in  Mt.  Morris,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  ministered  to  its  spiritual 
wants.  After  a  long  and  useful  life,  he  was 
called  to  his  reward  January  i,  1897,  being 
in  his  ninety-ninth  year.  His  wife  died 
November  10,  1894.  She  was  a  good 
woman,  a  worthy  helpmeet  to  her  husband 
and  a  devout  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  In  politics  Mr.  Stroh  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  he  did  not  mingle  much  in  polit- 
ical affairs.  He  was  much  beloved  by  the 
people,  not  alone  of  his  own  religious  com- 
munion, but  by  all  others,  and  his  death 
was  sincerely  mourned.  "  Truly  a  prophet 
in  Israel  has  fallen." 

Maria  E.  Stroh,  the  first  of  the  children 
born  to  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Stroh,  grew  to 
womanhood  and  July  4,  1846,  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Philip  R.  Bennett,  a  mer- 
chant doing  business  in  Oregon,  who  was 
born  in  Massachusetts,  October  10,  1824. 
He  departed  this  life  March  i,  1855.  They 
became  the  parents  of  four  children:  Fred- 
erick W.,  born  September  1 1,  1848;  Walter 


S, ,  August  4,  1S50;  Arthur  V.,  September 
30,  1852;  and  Philip,  January  31,  1855. 
Mrs.  Bennett,  January  4,  18C0,  was  again 
married,  her  second  union  being  with  Will- 
iam Schiiltz,  a  native  of  New  York  state, 
born  May  23,  1823.  By  this  union  four 
children  were  born:  William,  September 
21,  1S60;  John  R.,  July  26,  1862;  Mary  L., 
April  12,  1S64;  and  Katie  L.,  February  13, 
1866. 

For  some  years  Mr.  Schultz  was  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business  in  Mt. 
Morris.  Later  he  moved  to  Oregon  and 
continued  in  the  same  line  of  business 
with  gratifying  success.  He  died  in  Oregon 
February  28,  1S79.  As  a  business  man  he 
was  enterprising,  ever  ready  to  assist  in  any 
enterprise  that  would  be  of  benefit  to  his 
adopted  city  and  county.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Republican,  and  religiously  a  Lu- 
theran, being  a  member  of  the  church  at 
Oregon. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs. 
Schultz  moved  with  her  son  Walter  to 
Grand  Island,  Nebraska,  where  she  resided 
for  some  years.  In  October,  1896,  she  re- 
turned to  Mt.  Morris  to  care  for  her  aged 
father,  who  died  a  few 'mouths  later.  She 
still  makes  her  home  in  the  village  where 
she  is  so  well  known  and  where  she  is  sur- 
rounded by  many  old  friends. 


MICHAEL  GARMAN,  now  living  in  re- 
tirement in  Forreston,  is  one  of  Ogle 
county's  pioneer  citizens,  and  a  gentleman 
whose  life  has  contributed  largely  to  its  de- 
velopment along  industrial  and  educational 
lines.  He  dates  his  residence  in  the  county 
since  May  28,  1842.  He  was  born  in  Leb- 
anon county,  Pennsylvania,  January  19, 
1 82 1,  and  there  lived  until  si.x  years  of  age, 


;20 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


removing  with  his  parents  to  Northumber- 
land county,  in  the  same  state,  where  he 
was  educated  and  grew  to  manhood.  After 
his  school  days,  he  became  an  apprentice 
to  the  shoemaking  trade,  but  because  of  its 
close  confinement  he  soon  gave  it  up  and 
selected  a  healthier  life  at  farm  work  on  his 
father's  farm.  In  1842,  he  came  west  with 
his  parents,  and  settled  in  what  was  then  Mt. 
Morris  township,  his  father  purchasing  two 
hundred  acres,  and  beginning  its  cultivation. 
On  the  1 6th  of  April,  1844,  Mr.  Gar- 
man  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth Fagar,  a  daughter  of  Coonrod  and 
Hosanna  (Fisher)  Fagar.  She  was  a  native 
of  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
born  March  17,  1823,  and  came  west 
with  her  parents  the  same  year  in  which 
the  Garman  family  settled  here.  By  this 
union  were  eleven  children  as  follows: 
Sarah  Ann  and  John  Henry,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Joel  Ezra,  a  farmer  residing  near 
Adelaine;  Louise  Josephine,  Lucinda  Re- 
becca, Emma  Frances,  and  Helen  Ada, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Lucy  Alice,  wife  of 
Harvey  Alters,  a  farmer  of  Lincoln  town- 
ship. Ogle  county;  Ida  Honora,  wife  of  Al- 
fred Meyers,  a  farmer  of  Woosung  town- 
ship. Ogle  county;  Newton  Alvin,  a  mer- 
chant of  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  and  Gerard 
Michael,  who  enjoys  a  fine  dental  practice 
in  Chicago.  Mrs.  Garman,  the  mother  of 
these  children,  lived  to  see  the  living  ones 
married  and  settled  comfortably,  and  then 
passed  away  September  2,   1898. 

Michael  Garman  lived  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship, until  1886,  and  by  his  frugality  and 
industry,  acquired  a  competency  in  choice 
and  well-improved  farm  property.  While 
yet  residing  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  he 
held  the  office  of  assessor  two  years,  and 
from    1844    to    1848,    was   town    treasurer. 


He  was  township  trustee  for  twelve  years 
and  school  director  of  district  No.  i  twen- 
ty-four years.  In  Lincoln  township  he  was 
supervisor  one  year  and  assessor  two  years, 
school  trustee  ten  years,  president  of  the 
school  board  in  Forreston  nine  }ears,  and 
president  of  the  town  board  one  year.  He 
holds  the  remarkable  record  of  service  in 
educational  affairs,  continuously  since  1844. 
His  first  presidential  ballot  was  cast  for 
James  K.  Polk,  in  1S44,  and  he  is  yet  a 
stanch  Democrat. 

Mr.  Garman's  ancestors  came  from  Ger- 
many to  America  some  years  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  war.  His  grandfather,  Mich- 
ael Garman,  was  a  native  of  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in  1747.  He 
had  a  creditable  military  record,  and  served 
seven  years  in  the  Revolutionary  struggle, 
and  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy  in  the 
battle  of  Brandywine.  He  had  the  rank  of 
sergeant,  and,  being  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
had  the  entire  management  of  the  black- 
smith department  during  the  war.  The 
hardships  endured  brought  on  an  illness 
which  terminated  in  his  untimely  death, 
January  8,  1800.  He  married  Susanna 
Sheets,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  August  16,  1768.  They  were 
united  in  marriage  in  Dalton  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1785,  and  became  the  parents  of 
six  children :  Catherine,  wife  of  John  W'ertz, 
a  farmer  of  Northumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; Martin,  who  followed  the  trade  of 
shoemaker  in  Northumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; Benjamin,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Jacob,  who  in  early  life  learned  the  trade  of 
tailoring,  but  who  later  became  a  farmer, 
and  who  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois 
in  1844;  Michael,  the  father  of  our  subject; 
and  George,  a  farmer  of  Northumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


22t 


Our  subject's  father  was  born  September 
29.  179S,  in  Northumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  attended  school,  and 
afterwards  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  until  twenty-six,  when  he 
was  elected  constable,  in  which  office  he 
served  until  1S33.  On  the  21st  of  June, 
1826,  he  married  Rebecca  Mace,  daughter 
of  John  Mace,  a  farmer  of  Lebanon  county, 
Pennsylvania.  To  this  marriage  there  was 
born  one  child,  Michael,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  The  father  died  August  11,  1870, 
his  remains  being  buried  in  West  Grove 
cemetery,  Lincoln  township.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him,  dying  February  24,  1874,  and 
her  remains  were  interred  beside  those  of 
her  husband's. 

Mr.  Carman's  maternal  great-grand- 
father, Jacob  Mace,  was  born  in  Lebanon 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  followed  farming. 
In  1750,  he  married  a  Miss  Baker,  and  one 
of  the  children  of  this  marriage  was  John 
Mace,  the  father  of  our  subject's  mother. 
John  Mace  was  born  in  Lebanon  count}-, 
Pennsylvania,  and  married  Miss  Margaret 
Jacoby,  daughter  of  Jacob  Jacoby,  and  by 
this  union  were  four  children — Mary,  Re- 
becca, Jacob  and    John. 

Mrs.  Michael  Carman,  the  wife  of  our 
subject,  was  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, eight  surviving  as  follows:  Daniel, 
residing  in  Forreston;  Samuel,  living  in  I^in- 
coln  township;  Sarah  Fagar  Maze,  living  in 
Forreston  township;  Isaac,  of  Brookville 
township;  Peter,  of  Forreston  township; 
David,  of  Willow  Springs,  Kansas;  Henry, 
of  Osage  county,  Ivansas;  and  Hosanna, 
wife  of  Daniel  Hoelshue,  living  at  Herndon, 
Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Carman  and  family  are  devout 
members  of  the  Evangelical  association. 
He  is  among  Forreston's  and  Ogle  county's 


most  highly  esteemed  citizens,  and  the  con- 
fidence and  regard  in  which  he  is  held  is 
evidenced  daily  in  his  advice  and  counsel 
being  sought,  and  his  assistance  being  ren- 
dered in  the  settlement  of  estates.  His  life 
has  been  an  open  book,  and  he  has  freely 
given  of  his  time  to  aid  in  the  general  im- 
provement of  his  county,  and  has  especially 
been  helpful  in  social,  educational  and  relig- 
ious affairs. 


lOHN  S.  HASTINGS,  one  of  Ogle 
U  county's  most  thrifty  and  energetic 
farmers,  whose  home  is  on  section  8,  Ma- 
rion township,  was  born  in  Clark  county, 
Ohio,  September  19,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of 
Edmond  Hastings,  who  was  born  in  one  of 
the  New  England  states,  and  when  a  young 
man  went  to  Ohio.  In  Clark  county  he 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Ann  Sheaff,  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Sheaff, 
a  pioneer  of  that  county,  who  removed  from 
Pennsylvania  to  New  York,  and  from  there 
to  Ohio.  Coming  west  in  1850,  Mr.  Hast- 
ings located  on  a  tract  of  wild  land  in  Ogle 
county  and  at  once  commenced  the  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  his  place. 
He  was  joined  by  his  wife  and  family  the 
following  year,  and  continued  the  operation 
of  his  farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1856.  His  widow  subsequently  married 
John  M.  Hinckle,  now  deceased,  and  now 
makes  her  home  with  a  daughter  in  Ore- 
gon, Illinois,  a  hale  and  hearty  old  lady  of 
seventy-four  years.  By  the  first  union 
there  were  four  children:  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried, and  died  leaving  a  family;  Emma  C, 
wife  of  a  Mr.  Frace,  of  Holcomb,  Illinois: 
John  S.,  of  this  review;  and  Peter  E.,  a 
business  man  of  Oregon. 

Brought  to  Ogle  county  during  childhood, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


John  S.  Hastings  was  reared  by  his  mother 
upon  the  home  farm  in  Marion  township, 
and  obtained  his  education  in  the  common 
and  higher  schools  of  the  county.  Although 
only  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in 
February,  1864,  in  Company  F,  Thirty- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  joined 
the  regiment  at  Oregon.  He  participated 
in  many  important  engagements,  including 
the  battles  of  Rocky  Faced  Ridge,  Buzzard 
Roost,  Resaca,  Rome,  Georgia,  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  the  battle  of 
Goldsboro,  and  the  march  with  Sherman  to 
the  sea.  Later  he  took  part  in  the  battle 
and  capture  of  Savannah,  Bentonville,  South 
Carolina,  and  Averyboro,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  war  participated  in  the  grand  review 
at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  He 
was  always  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  valiant- 
ly fighting  for  the  old  flag  and  the  cause  it 
represented,  and  when  hostilities  ceased  was 
honorably  discharged  in  July,  1865.  He 
was  never  confined  to  the  hospital  and  lost 
no  time  from  his  regiment. 

After  his  return  home  Mr.  Hastings  at- 
tended school  in  Rockford  for  three  months 
and  then  began  work  on  the  home  farm, 
which  he  continued  to  operate  after  his 
marriage  until  1880,  when  he  purchased  the 
place  where  he  now  resides.  It  comprises 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  highly 
cultivated  and  well  improved  land,  on  which 
he  has  erected  a  large  barn  and  other  out- 
buildings, making  it  one  of  the  most  desir- 
able farms  of  the  localit)'.  He  thoroughly 
understands  his  chosen  calling  and  has  met 
with  a  well-deserved  success. 

At  Oregon,  Ogle  county,  in  December, 
1876,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Hastings  and  Miss  Rachel  J.  Page,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  here,  her  father, 
Robert  Page,  having  come  to  the  county  at 


an  early  day  from  Ohio.  Four  children 
bless  this  union:  Charles  E.,  at  home;  Mabel 
L.,  who  was  well  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Byron  and  is  now  a  successful  teacher; 
Herbert  J.  and  Eva  B. ,  both  at  home. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Hastings 
has  always  been  an  ardent  Republican,  cast- 
ing his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Gen.  U.  S. 
Grant  in  1868.  For  several  years  he  was 
an  efficient  member  of  the  school  board  and 
was  president  of  the  district.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  Master  Mason,  belonging  to  the  blue 
lodge  at  Byron,  and  is  also  an  honored 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  post.  He  is  a 
public-spirited,  enterprising  citizen  of  known 
reliability,  and  has  the  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact 
either  in  business  or  social  life. 


HENRY  A.  PARKS  one  of  the  enter- 
prising farmers  of  Ogle  county,  resides 
on  section  22,  Woosung  township.  He 
was  born  January  15,  1847,  in  Palmyra, 
Lee  county,  Illinois,  and  is  the  son  of  Hi- 
ram P.  Parks  and  Martha  (Moon)  Parks,  early 
settlers  of  Lee  county.  Hiram  P.  Parks 
was  born  at  Malone,  New  York,  in  1806, 
and  resided  there  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located 
in  what  is  now  Palmyra  township,  Lee 
county,  which  was  his  home  until  his  death 
in  1885.  His  first  tract  comprised  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  to  which  he  later 
added  fifty  acres.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Republican  in  later  life,  and  religiously 
was  a  Baptist.  In  his  family  were  eight 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
Mary  first  married  Rodney  Mason,  of  Lee 
county,  and  afterwards  John  Lawrence,  of 
the  same  county.  Rebecca,  one  of  the 
first   white  children    born  in    Lee    county, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


=  23 


married  Thomas  Ayers,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased, and  a  brother  of  William  Ayers. 
She  now  resides  in  Di.xon,  Illinois.  Wain- 
wright  married  Lydia  Sayres,  who  died 
leaving  two  children  who  reside  in  Dixon. 
Bruce  is  a  farmer  residing  near  Dorchester, 
Nebraska.  Henry  A.  is  next  in  order  of 
birth.  Frederick  is  in  the  flour  and  feed 
business  in  Seward,  Nebraska.  Abner,  when 
last  heard  from,  resided  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri. Eunice  married  William  Ayers,  and 
they  now  reside  in  Hardin  county,  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  home  farm  in  Lee  county,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  When 
seventeen  j'ears  of  age  he  entered  the  store 
of  Willis  G.  House,  of  Dixon,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  five  years  as  a  clerk.  About 
1869,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Wain- 
wright,  and  his  cousin,  Clinton  Coe,  he 
bought  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land    in   Woosung    township,  Ogle    county. 

They  were  all  single  men,  and  kept 
"  bach  "  while  improving  their  place.  Aft- 
er working  the  farm  for  several  years  and 
putting  it  under  good  improvement,  they 
divided  the  land,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  falling  to  our  subject,  which  is  com- 
prised in  his  present  farm. 

On  the  24th  of  July,  1872,  Mr.  Parks 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Marcia  I. 
Hathaway,  who  was  born  in  Grand  Detour, 
Illinois,  and  daughter  of  Stephen  and  So- 
phronia  (Wetherby)  Hathaway,  the  latter 
being  the  first  white  woman  to  locate  in  that 
village.  By  this  union  were  two  daughters 
who  died  in  infancy.  They  have  now  one 
daughter,  Selma  lone,  who  is  a  joj'  and  a 
comfort  to  them. 

Stephen  E.  Hathaway,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Parks,  was  born  in  Barnard,  Windsor 
county,    Vermont,  October    15,    181 5,   and 

24 


there  grew  to  manhood.  In  1836  he  came 
west  and  located  in  Grand  Detour,  where 
he  engaged  in  work  at  his  trade  of  wagon- 
maker,  a  business  which  he  has  followed 
throughout  life.  For  the  last  ten  years, 
however,  he  has  lived  retired,  making  his 
home  with  our  subject.  Sophronia  Weth- 
erby  was  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Sarah 
(Hurd)  Wetherby,  and  was  born  in  Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts,  August  31,  18 16. 
She  was  a  maiden  of  sixteen  or  seventeen 
when  she  came  with  the  first  colony  to 
Grand  Detour.  Among  those  in  that  col- 
ony were  Leonard  Andrus,  Willard  and 
Harry  House  and  Mrs.  Willard  House. 
They  crossed  the  river  by  ferry,  and  in  go- 
ing over  Mrs.  House  playfully  declared  her 
intention  of  being  the  first  white  woman  to 
set  foot  in  Grand  Detour,  but  Harry  House, 
in  jest,  detained  her,  while  Miss  Wetherby, 
taking  advantage  of  the  opportunity,  stepped 
ashore,  and  therefore  was  the  first.  To 
Stephen  Hathaway  and  wife  two  children 
were  born — Marcia  I.,  now  Mrs.  Parks;  and 
Wells  F. ,  now  a  resident  of  Dixon.  Mrs. 
Hathaway  died   October  12,  1867. 

Commencing  life  without  means,  Mr. 
Parks  has  been  fairly  successful,  and  what 
he  has  he  owes  to  no  one  save  his  faithful 
wife,  who  has  been  to  him  a  true  helpmeet. 
They  have  toiled  together  and  the  result  is 
shown  by  their  home  surroundings,  their 
place  being  in  excellent  repair,  and  every- 
thing about  it  showing  that  it  is  controlled 
by  a  master  mind.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  religiously  a  Baptist,  holding 
membership  with  the  church  in  Dixon.  In 
the  work  of  the  church  he  has  taken  great 
interest,  and  contributes  liberally  of  his 
means  to  its  support.  He  has  taken  inter- 
est also  in  educational  matters,  and  has 
served  as  school    director  for  some   years, 


224 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  has  filled  other  offices  in  the  township 
with  credit  to  himself  and  to  his  constitu- 
ents. 


ERASTUS  W.  SCHRYVER,  who  owns 
and  operates  a  valuable  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  34, 
Eagle  Point  township,  first  came  to  Ogle 
county  in  the  spring  of  1839, and  throuhgout 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  its  agricultural  inter- 
ests. He  was  born  in  Andes,  Delaware 
county.  New  York,  September  16,  1829,  a 
son  of  Matthew  and  Ann  (Webster)Schryver, 
also  natives  of  that  county.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Elijah  Webster,  was  a  near  rel- 
ative of  the  great  statesman,  Daniel  Webster. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born 
in  1797,  spent  his  early  life  in  his  native 
state,  working  at  farm  labor,  on  the  canal 
or  at  anything  he  could  find  to  do.  Coming 
west  in  1839,  he  took  up  a  claim  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  what 
is  now  Eagle  township,  Ogle  county,  up- 
on which  he  built  a  cabin,  which  was  the 
home  of  the  family  for  a  number  of  years, 
while  he  fenced,  broke  and  cultivated 
his  farm.  He  set  out  an  orchard,  later  built 
a  good  frame  house  and  barn,  and  trans- 
formed the  wild  land  into  highly  cultivated 
fields.  He  departed  this  life  in  1872,  his 
wife  December  13,  1880,  and  both  were 
buried  in  the  United  Brethren  church  ceme- 
tery, where  a  monument  now  marks  their 
last  resting  place.  Both  were  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
were  consistent  Christian  people,  and  had 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  them. 
Erastus  W.  Schryver  is  the  third  in  or- 
der of  birth  in  a  family  of  six  children,  five 
sons  and  one  daughter,  who  reached  years 


of  maturity.  John  Henry,  the  eldest,  mar- 
ried and  settled  in  Ogle  count)',  where  he 
died  in  1867;  Jesse  is  a  farmer  of  Eagle 
Point  township;  Samuel  B.  also  located 
here  after  his  marriage,  but  later  removed 
to  Hardin  county,  Iowa,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1897;  George  is  a  farmer  of 
Minnesota;  and  Eliza  Jane  Ann  is  the  wife 
of  Henry  Landers,  of  Hardin  county,  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  a  lad  of 
ten  years  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Ogle  county,  and  in  the  development  and 
improvement  of  the  old  home  farm  he  bore 
an  important  part,  remaining  with  his  father 
until  he  attained  his  majority.  His  school 
privileges  were  limited,  so  that  he  is  mostly 
self-educated.  In  1850  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia by  way  of  Omaha,  where  a  wagon 
train  was  made  up  to  cross  the  plains.  The 
party  started  with  four  yoke  of  oxen,  but  on 
reaching  their  destination  had  but  one  yoke 
remaining,  having  been  six  months  and  fif- 
teen days  upon  the  road.  Mr.  Schryver 
arrived  at  the  mines  September  16,  of  that 
year,  and  for  nearly  three  years  was  en- 
gaged in  hunting  the  yellow  metal  with  a 
fair  degree  of  success.  In  the  spring  of 
1853  he  started  eastward,  leaving  San  Fran- 
cisco February  i,  and  by  way  of  the  Isth- 
mus of  Panama  and  Aspinwall  proceeding 
to  New  York  city,  where  they  arrived  on 
the  2Sth  of  that  month.  From  New  York 
he  went  to  Chicago  and  from  there  home. 

In  Eagle  Point  township  Mr.  Schryver 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  only  five  acres 
of  which  had  been  broke  and  a  few  fruit 
trees  set  out.  To  the  further  improvement 
and  cultivation  of  his  farm  he  at  once  turned 
his  attention,  and  in  1856  he  erected  there- 
on a  good  residence.  Selling  the  place  in 
1864,  he  went  to  Idaho  by  means  of  teams 
and  engaged  in  mining  for  a  year  and  a  half. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


225 


returning  to  Ogle  county  by  the  same  means 
in  the  fall  of  1866.  He  then  purchased  his 
present  place  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  and  he  now  owns  another  farm  of 
eighty-seven  and  a  half  acres  two  miles 
farther  east.  Upon  his  home  place  he  has 
built  a  commodious  and  pleasant  residence, 
a  good  barn,  granary  and  cribs,  and  has  set 
out  an  orchard  and  ornamental  trees,  and 
now  has  one  of  the  neatest  and  best  im- 
proved places  of  Eagle  Point  township.  In 
connection  with  general  farming  he  is  inter- 
ested in  breeding  and  raising  stock  of  good 
grades,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  success- 
ful farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  the  county. 
On  the  iGth  of  April,  1857,  in  Ogle 
county,  Mr.  Schryver  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lucinda  Landes,  a  native  of 
Niles,  Michigan,  and  a  daughter  of  Solomon 
and  Elizabeth  (Detamore)  Landes,  natives 
of  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  where 
they  were  reared  and  married.  The  father, 
who  was  born  in  1806,  took  his  family  to 
Michigan  at  an  early  day,  and  after  spend- 
ing six  years  there,  came  to  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  in  October,  1835,  being  among  the 
first  settlers  here.  He  took  up  a  claim,  and 
from  the  wild  land  developed  a  good  farm, 
upon  which  he  died  in  1893,  honored  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
twice  married,  Mrs.  Schryver's  mother  hav- 
ing died  in  1S66,  and  both  were  laid  to  rest 
in  the  United  Brethren  church  cemetery. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schryver  have  passed  almost 
their  entire  lives  together,  as  they  were 
reared  in  the  same  neighborhood,  attended 
the  same  school,  and  in  company  with  her 
family  she  went  to  California  with  him  in 
1850,  and  returned  together  by  way  of  the 
Isthmus.  After  their  marriage  she  accom- 
panied him  on  going  to  Idaho,  and  their 
married  life  has  been  a  most  happy  one,  as 


they  have  shared  with  each  other  its  joys 
and  sorrows,  its  adversity  and  prosperity. 
They  have  two  sons:  Albert,  residing  on 
the  home  place,  is  married  and  has  three 
children:  George,  Lucinda  and  Erastus; 
and  Fletcher,  a  farmer  of  Eagle  Point  town- 
ship, is  married  and  has  one  daughter, 
Anna. 

Politically  Mr.  Schryver  has  been  a  life- 
long Democrat,  casting  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Franklin  Pierce  in  1852,  while  in 
California.  At  local  elections,  however,  he 
endeavors  to  support  the  best  men  for  the 
office,  regardless  of  party  affiliations,  but  he 
has  never  sought  nor  desired  political  pre- 
ferment for  himself.  His  life  is  exemplary 
in  many  respects  and  he  has  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  the  entire  community  in  which 
he  has  so  long  made  his  home  and  where  he 
is  so  widely  known. 


SOLOMON  BELL  BOWERMAN,  M.  D. , 
a  prominent  and  successful  physician 
and  surgeon  of  Leaf  River,  Ogle  county, 
was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Dauphin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  3,  1  830,  a  son  of  John 
A.  Bowerman  and  grandson  of  William 
Bowerman,  both  natives  of  the  Keystone 
state.  The  kingdom  of  Holland,  which  has 
given  to  the  world  one  of  its  hardiest  races 
of  people,  sheltered  the  paternal  ancestors 
of  our  subject,  but  the  family  was  founded 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  at  an 
early  day.  On  reaching  manhood  John  A. 
Bowerman,  our  subject's  father,  married 
Miss  Ann  Maria  Woland,  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county  and  a  daughter  of  John  Woland,  who 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania. 
They  continued  to  make  their  home  in  that 
state  throughout  life,  the  mother  dying  in 
1854  and  the  father  in  1894,  at  the  ripe  old 


126 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


age  of  eighty-five  years.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  farmer.  They  reared  a  family  of 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  are  still  living. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Dr.  Bower- 
man  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth,  received 
good  common-school  advantages  and  also 
attended  the  Perrysburg  Seminary  for  a 
time.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school  there  for  several  years.  He  first 
came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in  1858,  and 
taught  school  for  a  time  in  Leaf  River 
township,  but  in  the  spring  of  1859  returned 
to  his  native  state.  He  had  previously 
devoted  his  vacations  and  leisure  time  to 
the  study  of  medicine  for  some  years,  and  on 
his  return  to  Pennsylvania  took  his  first 
course  of  lectures  at  the  old  Philadelphia 
Medical  College.  After  completing  the 
course  he  returned  home  and  engaged  in 
practice  in  his  old  neighborhood  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war. 

The  Doctor  was  then  serving  as  lieuten- 
ant-colonel of  the  uniformed  militia  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  November,  1S62,  en- 
listed for  one  year  in  Company  A,  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-second  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry.  On  the  organization 
of  the  company  he  was  elected  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  in  January,  1863,  was  promoted  to 
the  captaincy,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
until  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  his  term 
in  September,  1863.  He  was  first  on  de- 
tached duty  and  had  charge  of  the  artillery 
at  Yorktown,  Virginia,  but  later  the  regi- 
ment was  transferred  to  the  Eleventh  Corps, 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  During  the  winter 
of  1863-4  Dr.  Bowerman  attended  two 
courses  of  medical  lectures  at  Philadelphia, 
and  was  later  engaged  in  practice  for  a  short 
time,  but  in  1864  re-enlisted  in  his  country's 
service,  and  was  commissioned  captain  of 


Company  A,  Two  Hundred  and  Tenth  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Infantry.  With  his 
command  he  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Hatcher's  Run,  Dapey's  Mills,  Gravelly 
Run,  the  engagements  in  front  of  Peters- 
burg, and  the  battle  of  Five  Forks.  They 
continued  the  pursuit  of  the  rebel  army 
until  Lee  surrendered  to  Grant  at  Appo- 
mattox Court  House.  Our  subject  was 
breveted  major  and  commanded  the  regi- 
ment in  front  of  Petersburg  and  at  Five 
Forks,  and  later  took  part  in  the  grand 
review  at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia, 
in  which  city  he  was  mustered  out  in  August, 
1S65. 

Returning  to  Philadelphia,  Dr.  Bower- 
man  again  attended  lectures  for  three  terms, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  Eclectic  Med- 
ical College  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  class  of 
1 866.  After  two  years  practice  at  his  old 
home  in  Dauphin  county  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, arriving  in  Ogle  county,  August  20, 
1868.  Locating  in  Lightsville,  he  resumed 
practice  and  as  time  passed  his  patronage 
rapidly  increased  until  he  had  all  that  he 
could  attend  to,  and  he  still  enjoys  a  large 
and  remunerative  practice. 

Dr.  Bowerman  was  married  in  Ogle 
county,  in  1873,  to  Miss  Margaret  Motter, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of 
Leonard  Motter,  who  located  here  in  1859. 
They  liave  become  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Hughlins  E. ,  acquired 
his  literary  education  in  the  home  school 
and  the  Wells  school  of  Oregon,  and  after 
studying  medicine  with  his  father  for  some 
time,  he  attended  lectures  at  Bennett  Med- 
ical College,  Chicago,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  class  of  1897.  He  is  now  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  practice  with  his  fa- 
ther. Adda  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Myers,  of 
Leaf    River    township.      Anna    and    Minnie 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


127 


are  both  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mrs. 
Bowerman  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church,  and  the  family  is  one  of  prominence 
in  the  best  social  circles  of  the  community. 
Politically  the  Doctor  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  taken  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  public  affairs. 
He  served  for  two  years  as  assessor  of  his 
township,  four  years  as  justice  of  the  peace 
and  as  supervisor  two  terms.  While  a 
member  of  the  count}'  board  he  was  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  education,  for  nine 
years  was  a  member  of  the  local  school 
board,  and  has  been  an  important  factor  in 
raising  the  standard  of  the  schools  in  Ogle 
county.  Fraternally  he  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Eclectic  Medical  Society, 
and  he  stands  deservedly  high  among  his 
professional  brethren.  Wherever  he  goes 
he  wins  friends  and  has  the  happy  faculty 
of  being  able  to  retain  them.  His  popu- 
larity has  made  him  a  great  favorite  in  all 
circles. 


NOAH  PRESTON,  a  representative  and 
leading  farmer  of  Marion  township, 
residing  on  section  },},,  is  a  fair  specimen  of 
the  sturdy  agriculturist  who  have  so  largely 
assisted  in  the  development  of  Ogle  count)'. 
Here  he  has  met  with  success  in  his  under- 
takings and  is  now  the  owner  of  two  val- 
uable farms  near  the  village  of  Byron. 

Mr.  Preston  was  born  in  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  November  29,  183S,  and  is  a 
grandson  of  Noah  Preston,  Sr. ,  an  early 
settler  of  that  count}',  who  was  born  in 
1763,  in  Connecticut,  and  was  reared  in 
that  state.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1812,  and  died  April  9,  1835,  while  his 
wife,  Honor  Preston,  who  was  born  May 
28,   1766,    died   November   22,   1847.     The 


birth  of  the  father,  John  S.  Preston,  oc- 
curred in  Oneida  count}',  in  1804,  and  there 
he  was  married,  May  14,  1834,  to  Miss 
Amanda  Tuttle,  a  daughter  of  Lyman  Tut- 
tle.  She  died  in  Oneida  county,  and  he 
was  again  married,  December  27,  1837,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Elmira  Rob- 
bins,  also  a  native  of  Oneida  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  Arnasa  Barnes.  Mr.  Preston 
was  a  well-educated  man  and  for  nine  years 
successfully  followed  the  teacher's  profes- 
sion in  the  Empire  state.  Later  he  located 
on  a  farm  and  devoted  his  attention  to  agri- 
culture. In  1854  he  came  to  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  arriving  here  May  10,  and  joining 
his  brother,  who  had  located  here  in  1S52. 
He  purchased  land  and  improved  the  farm 
on  which  our  subject  is  now  living,  making 
his  home  there  until  called  from  this  life 
September  2,  1879,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  His  wife  survived  him 
for  some  time,  dying  May  13,  1888,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven,  and  both  were  laid  to 
rest  in  Stillman  cemetery.  Noah  is  the  eld- 
est of  the  four  children  born  of  the  second 
marriage  of  both  parents,  the  others  being 
John  D. ,  a  resident  of  Shelbina,  Shelby  coun- 
ty, Missouri;  Anianda,  widow  of  Silas  No- 
ble, of  Marion  township.  Ogle  county;  and 
Sarah  A.,  widow  of  Dr.  Delos  Hurlbut  and 
a  resident  of  Iowa. 

Noah  Preston  was  a  lad  of  fourteen 
years  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Ogle  county,  and  on  the  home  farm  grew  to 
manhood.  After  arriving  at  mature  years 
he  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  cared  for 
his  parents  during  their  declining  years. 
On  their  deaths  he  came  into  possession 
of  the  place  and  now  gives  his  entire 
attention  to  its  cultivation  and  improvement. 
On  the  4th  of  June,  1865,  in  Marion  town- 
ship, was  celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Ruth  A.  Baker,  a  daughter  of  Warren 
Baker,  of  Oneida  county.  New  York.  She 
came  to  Ogle  county  with  her  brother, 
Amasa  Baker,  who  graduated  at  Mt.  Morris 
College  and  engaged  in  teaching  here  for 
some  years.  Later  he  went  to  Kansas,  there 
married  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Mrs.  Preston  is  also  a  native  of  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Holland  Patent  Academy,  New  York,  where 
she  was  a  classmate  of  President  Cleveland's 
two  sisters  and  one  brother.  She  has  often 
heard  the  President's  father  preach.  After 
leaving  school  she  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching  in  her  native  state  and  also  after 
coming  to  Ogle  county,  in  1861.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Preston  have  a  family  of  si.x  children, 
as  follows:  Olive,  now  the  wife  of  Elsworth 
McNeal,  a  farmer,  mechanic  and  carpenter, 
of  Marion  township;  Lucy,  wife  of  Henry 
Alfred,  a  farmer  of  the  same  township;  Nel- 
lie, Edna,  Rossiter  and  Myrtle,  all  at  home. 
The  children  have  all  been  well  educated 
and  are  an  honor  to  their  worthy  parents. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidental  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1S60,  Mr.  Preston 
has  been  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Republican  party,  but 
he  has  never  cared  for  official  honors.  He 
has  ever  used  his  influence  to  secure  good 
schools  and  for  some  years  was  an  active 
and  capable  member  oi  the  school  board. 
In  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  he  and 
his  wife  hold  membership,  and  in  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  their  fellow  citizens  they 
hokl  an  enviable  position. 


DANIEL  WORTHINGTON  YOUNG, 
one  of  the  prominent  and  highly  re- 
spected residents  of  Rockvale  township,  is 
the  subject   of   this  sketch.      He    was  born 


July  4,  1844,  on  his  father's  farm  in  Ore- 
gon township.  He  received  his  education 
first  at  the  district  school  and  later  at 
Mount  Morris,  where  he  attended  the 
Rock  River  Seminary.  He  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Nancy  (Long)  Young,  who 
left  their  home  in  Maryland  for  the  "  far 
west  "  in  1843.  They  were  farmers  by  oc- 
cupation, and  when  coming  to  Illinois  made 
the  journey  by  team,  the  only  method  of 
traveling  across  the  country  in  pioneer  days, 
and  which  required  about  three  months' 
time.  They  went  direct  to  Ogle  county, 
where  Mr.  Young's  death  occurred  in  1S89. 
He  rests  in  Salem  meeting  house  ceme- 
tery. Pine  Creek  township.  Mrs.  Young 
was  born  in  1819,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
Uauiel  and  Elizabeth  Long,  and  married 
Mr.  Young  at  the  age  of  si.xteen.  She  was 
one  of  twelve  children,  nine  girls  and  three 
boys,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Her 
death  occurred  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
one. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  were  blessed  with 
ten  children.  Elizabeth,  the  eldest,  is  liv- 
ing at  Mount  Morris,  and  is  the  widow  of 
Samuel  Price.  George  married  Mary  Wag- 
ner, and  they  occupy  the  homestead  in  Ore- 
gon township.  William  and  Joshua  died 
when  very  young.  Daniel  \\'orthington,  of 
this  writing,  was  the  fifth  child.  Henry 
married  Miss  drover,  of  Manson,  Iowa,  and 
is  a  physician  of  considerable  note  at  that 
place.  Mary,  the  seventh  child,  died  when 
two  years  of  age.  B.  Frank  is  a  pharma- 
cist in  Manson,  Iowa,  where  he  married 
Miss  Nettie  Grover,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Henry 
Young.  Amanda  married  Henry  C.  Muma, 
and  is  living  in  Pine  Creek  townshiii.  The 
youngest  child,  Charles  C,  died  at  the  age 
of  four  years. 

Mr.  Young,  the   subject    of   this   sketch. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


attended  school  and  helped  his  father  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he 
left  school  and  farmed  with  his  father  until 
his  marriage,  four  years  later; at  the  expira- 
tion of  this  time  he  rented  land  in  Oregon 
township,  where  he  and  his  family  resided 
for  two  }'ears,  moving  later  to  Mount  Mor- 
ris township,  where  they  lived  for  ele\'en 
years,  and  in  1S83  moved  to  Rockvale, 
where  Mr.  Young  purchased  one  hundred 
and  si.xty  acres  on  section  19.  This  prop- 
erty, under  his  management,  has  become  a 
well-regulated  and  valuable  tract,  yielding 
its  owner  a  handsome   income. 

When  tweiitj'-five  years  of  age  Mr. 
Young  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ann  Eliza- 
beth W'agner.  To  them  five  children  have 
been  born.  The  eldest  child,  Edith,  is  at 
home  with  her  parents.  She  received  her 
education  at  the  district  school  and  at 
Mount  Morris  Seminary.  Susie  also  re- 
ceived her  education  at  the  above  named 
school.  She  is  the  wife  of  N.  F.  Thomas,  a 
farmer  of  Mount  Morris  township,  and  is 
the  mother  of  one  child,  H.  Worthington. 
Charles  \\'orthington  is,  at  the  present 
writing,  at  home.  He  has  just  finished  a 
course  of  pharmacy  at  the  Normal  School, 
Valparaiso,  Indiana,  preparatory  to  entering 
business.  Nannie,  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth,  married  R.  C.  Gaffin,  a  farmer  in 
Leaf  River  township.  The}'  have  one  child, 
a  daughter,  Dorathy  M.  The  youngest 
child,  Alice,  is  living  at  home,  attending  the 
district  school. 

Mrs.  Young  is  the  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Susan  (Schecter)  Wagner,  and  is  the 
seventh  in  order  of  birth.  Her  parents 
came  to  Oregon  township  in  the  pioneer 
days,  and  purchased  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  at  a  dollar  and  twenty-five 
cents   per  acre.      They    made  the  journey 


overland  by  team,  stopping  at  Springfield, 
Ohio,  for  the  winter,  and  reaching  Ogle 
county,  in  1837.  Mr.  Wagner  was  a  clear- 
sighted and  successful  man  of  busmess.  He 
supervised  the  work  on  his  farm  in  Oregon, 
and  was  a  stock-dealer  and  shipper;  he  was 
also  a  banker,  having  been  connected  with 
the  Exchange  Bank,  of  Oregon.  Mr.  Wag- 
ner died  March  10,  1889,  and  his  wife, 
three  months  earlier. 

Mrs.  Young  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  Her  great-grandparents 
were  people  of  considerable  prominence, 
as  were  their  children  after  them.  Captain 
B.  R.  Wagner,  who  was  for  several  terms 
sheriff  of  Ogle  county,  died  in  1897  from 
the  effects  of  a  bullet  received  in  the  battle 
of  Shiloh.  Three  uncles  served  in  the  war. 
Captains  D.  C.  and  Nehemiah  were  cap- 
tured and  held  as  prisoners  of  war  at  Ma- 
con, Georgia. 

Our  subject  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
but  has  never  cared  for  a  position  in  public 
office,  nor  for  social  organizations.  He  is 
strictly  a  home  man,  more  interested  in  his 
family  and  the  education  of  his  children 
than  in  anything  else,  his  children  being 
more  than  ordinarily  bright  and  well  edu- 
cated. 


GEORGE  HETTIGER,  the  leading  mer- 
chant tailor  of  Oregon,  Illinois,  is  a 
native  of  Louisville,  Kentucky.  His  father, 
Joseph  Hettiger,  was  born  in  Munich,  Ba- 
varia, and  came  to  the  United  States  at  the 
age  of  five  years  with  his  father,  Jacob  Het- 
tiger, who  died  in  Evansville,  Indiana,  al- 
though he  first  settled  in  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, where  Joseph  grew  to  manhood  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his   life,  his   death 


2^0 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


occurring  April  4,  1879.  He  was  by  occu- 
pation a  contractor  and  builder.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Union  Democrat,  and  during  the 
rebellion  was  a  member  of  the  home  guards. 
Religiously  he  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  of 
which  body  his  wife  is  also  a  member.  He 
married  Susanna  Lehnen,  a  native  of  Trier, 
Germany,  born  near  Frankfort  on  the  Main. 
She  came  to  the  United  States  with  her 
parents,  who  settled  in  Dubois  county,  In- 
diana. She  is  still  living  in  Louisville, 
Kentucky.  Joseph  and  Susanna  Hettiger 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  as  follows: 
George,  our  subject;  Mary,  wife  of  Edward 
Kurtz,  of  Chicago;  Ferdinand,  living  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo. ;  Johanna,  in  a  convent  in  Mex- 
ico; Martin,  living  in  St.  Louis;  Susie,  who 
died  in  childhood;  Susie  (2),  who  died  in 
infancy;  Frank,  living  in  New  Orleans, 
and  Edward,  who  lives  in  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent 
in  his  native  city,  where  he  attended  the 
parochial  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years  commenced  to  learn  the  tailor's  trade. 
After  completing  his  trade,  he  hrst  went  to 
St.  Louis,  where  he  worked  as  a  journey- 
man, and  later  worked  in  Cincinnati,  Chi- 
cago and  other  places,  finally  locating  in 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  1878,  where  he 
lived  nine  years,  and  in  1887  came  to  Ore- 
gon, Illinois, where  he  has  since  continued 
to  reside.  On  coming  to  Oregon  he  first 
engaged  as  cutter  for  Mr.  Snyder,  and  re- 
mained in  his  employ  for  five  years.  He 
then  commenced  in  business  for  himself  on 
Washington  street,  between  Fourth  and 
Fifth,  where  he  yet  remains. 

Mr.  Hettiger  was  married  July  15,  1875, 
at  Coluiiibus,  Ohio,  to  Kate  Whiteaker,  of 
Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  daughter  of  D.  L.  and 
Sarah  (Zimmerman)  Whiteaker.       Her    fa- 


ther was  a  prominent  lawyerof  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  but  is  now  deceased.  Her  mother 
is  yet  living,  making  her  home  in  Grand 
Rapids,  Minnesota.  They  had  a  large  fami- 
ly, but  all  are  now  deceased,  but  the  wife  of 
our  subject;  Robert  E.,  living  in  Minnesota; 
and  Rosa,  wife  of  Samuel  Stell,  of  Dixon, 
Illinois.  An  uncle  of  Mrs.  Hettiger,  John 
Whiteaker,  was  at  one  time  governor  of 
Oregon,  and  is  still  living  at  Eugene  City, 
in  that  state. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hettiger  are  the  parents 
of  three  children:  George  Eugene,  Jessie 
May  and  Robert  E.  The  last  named  died 
in  infancy.  Miss  Jessie  received  a  fine  mu- 
sical education,  and  in  this  direction  is  pos- 
sessed of  much  talent.  She  is  proficient  on 
the  violin  and  piano,  and  these  instruments 
she  has  played  frequently  in  public  in  the 
different  cities  of  the  state.  Her  brother, 
who  is  also  a  good  pianist,  often  accom- 
panies his  sister.  October  18,  1898,  Jessie 
M.  Hettiger  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Herman  Leborich,  The  National  clothing 
merchant  of  Oregon. 

Religiously  Mrs.  Hettiger  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church.  In  politics  Mr.  Het- 
tiger is  a  Republican,  and  has  taken  an  act- 
ive part  in  public  matters.  He  is  a  pro- 
gressive and  representative  citizen  of  Ore- 
gon, and  was  elected  alderman  of  the  third 
ward  in  1896  and  re-elected  in  1898.  He  is 
a  member  of  Oregon  Lodge,  No.  420,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  Economy  Camp,  M.  W.  A.,  and  of 
the  Ivnights  of  Pythias.  His  son  is  also  a 
member  of  Oregon  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Mr.  Hettiger  is  a  thorough  merchant 
tailor,  and  understands  every  branch  of  the 
business.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
best  cutters  and  fitters  in  the  county,  his 
suits  being  neat  and  artistic,  and  alwaj's 
giving  satisfaction. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


!3i 


WILLIAM  H.  MILLER,  furniture  deal- 
er and  undertaker,  Mt.  Morris,  Illi- 
nois, is  a  worthy  representative  of  the  mer- 
cantile interests  of  the  place.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Washington  county,  Maryland,  born 
July  23,  1S50,  and  is  a  son  of  Upton  and 
Maria  Louisa  (Davis)  Miller,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  the  same  county  and  state, 
the  former  born  March  2,  1828,  and  the 
latter  October  i,  1831.  They  were  married 
April  22,  1S49,  at  Bakersville,  Maryland, 
where  her  father,  Solomon  Davis,  was  en- 
gaged in  the  tailoring  business.  Her  father 
never  came  west,  but  spent  his  entire  life 
in  his  native  state.  Upton  and  Maria  L. 
Miller  became  the  parents  of  six  children. 
William  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Cyrus,  born  February  23,  18^2,  died  young. 
Eliza  Jane,  born  July  8,  1855,  married  B. 
F.  Thomas,  and  si.\  children  were  born  to 
them.  She  died  February  5,  1897.  He  is 
engaged  in  business  in  Oregon,  Illinois. 
John  D.,  born  October  26,  1858,  married 
Carrie  Stone,  and  they  had  six  children, 
three  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  He  is 
engaged  in  the  harness  business  at  Mt. 
Morris.  Mary  Elizabeth  died  in  infancy. 
Thomas  M.,  born  September  i,  1863,  is 
making  his  home  with  our  subject. 

In  1857  Upton  Miller  came  with  his 
family  to  Ogle  county,  locating  in  Mt. 
Morris,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of 
carpentering  and  cabinet  making  until  the 
close  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  commenced 
the  undertaking  business,  buying  out  An- 
drew Newcomer.  In  1872  he  added  the 
furniture  department,  and  in  time  did  the 
leading  business  in  the  place,  carrying  a 
large  and  complete  stock.  In  1892  he  re- 
tired from  active  business,  since  which  time 
he  has  done  a  little  in  the  cabinet-making 
line,  but  has  practically  been  living  a  retired 


life.  His  wife  died  September  25,  1886, 
her  death  being  quite  sudden,  caused  by 
hemorrhage  of  the  lungs.  She  was  a  kind 
and  loving  wife  and  mother,  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  faith  she 
died.  He  was  again  married,  in  iSSS, 
chosing  as  a  companion  Mrs.  Catherine 
(Koontz)  Newcomer.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  religiously  is  identified  with 
the  Brethren. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Ogle 
county  with  his  parents  in  1857,  and  in  the 
schools  of  Mt.  Morris  obtained  his  primary 
education.  This  was  supplemented  by  an 
attendance  at  Rock  River  Seminary,  now 
Mt.  Morris  College,  which  ended  his  school 
life.  After  leaving  school,  he  learned  the 
undertaking  business,  and  in  1887  went  to 
Sterling,  Illinois,  where  Professor  Sullivan 
had  organized  a  class  in  embalming.  In 
1896  he  attended  Champion  College  of  Em- 
balming, from  which  he  received  a  diploma. 
He  has  since  passed  a  successful  examina- 
tion by  the  state  authorities,  and  is  ranked 
as  one  of  the  best  embalmers  in  the  state. 
For  twenty  years  he  worked  for  his  father, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  pur- 
chased the  business,  and  is  now  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  best  furniture  establishment 
in  Mt.  Morris,  and  one  of  the  best  in  the 
entire  county.  He  carries  a  fine  line  of  the 
best  grades  of  furniture,  and  always  en- 
deavors to  keep  up  with  the  times. 

Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage  De- 
cember 25,  1878,  with  Miss  Mary  Ellen 
Wallace,  born  in  Mt.  Morris  township,  Ogle 
county,  July  27,  i860,  and  a  daughter  of 
Lawrence  and  Elmira  L.  (Leek)  Wallace,  the 
former  a  native  of  Maryland,  born  August 
26,  1824,  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania 
born  August  2,  1841.  Her  father  came 
to  Ogle  county  a  young   man,    and   is  num- 


23: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


bered  among  its  early  settlers.      He  is  the 

son  of  Otho  and (Duggan)  Wallace. 

His  father  was  a  farmer  and  came  west  at 
an  early  day.  Louisa  (Leek)  Wallace  is  the 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Emily  (Allen)  Leek, 
the  former  born  January  25,  1797,  and  the 
latter  July  7,  181 1.  The  former  died  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  later  his  widow  came 
to  Ogle  county,  locating  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship, where  she  lived  until  within  three 
or  four  years  of  her  death,  when  she 
moved  to  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Wallace,  in  Mt.  Morris  township.  Law- 
rence Wallace  and  wife  are  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  of  whom  the  wife  of  our 
subject  is  the  eldest.  Susan,  born  July  10, 
1863,  married  Henry  Bearman,  a  farmer  of 
Mt.  Morris  township,  and  they  have  three 
children.  Emily,  born  December  16,  1865, 
married  Gray  Watts,  also  a  farmer  of  Mt. 
Morris  township,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren. Lewis,  born  December  10,  1867,  is 
engaged  in  well  drilling.  William  H.  born 
October  2,  1873,  died  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een months.  John,  born  February  5,  1877, 
is  farming  in  Mt.  Morris  township.  Ida, 
born  March  6,  1880,  married  Elmer  Baker, 
and  they  reside  in  Mt.  Morris.  Lawrence 
Wallace  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  has 
followed  that  occupation  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  He  is  now  living  on  a  small  farm 
in  Mt.  Morris  township,  practically  retired. 
To  our  subject  and  wife  three  children 
have  been  born:  Maude  Louisa,  born  July 
25,  1882;  Edith  May,  February  27,  1884; 
and  Florence  Eva,  July  29,  1886.  They 
are  giving  their  children  good  educational 
advantages,  thus  preparing  them  for  useful 
lives.  The  entire  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  Mr.  Miller  being  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  church  in  Mt.  Morris. 
All    are    active    workers    in    the    church. 


Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Elysian 
Lodge,  No.  56,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  of  Mt.  Morris,  and 
has  passed  all  the  chairs.  He  is  at  present 
permanent  secretary  of  the  lodge,  which 
position  he  has  held  since  passing  through 
the  chairs,  a  period  of  nearly  twenty-five 
years.  Politically  he  is  a  thorough  Repub- 
lican, and  he  has  been  quite  active  in  local 
politics.  He  has  been  town  clerk  for  the 
past  twenty  years,  village  treasurer  since 
1890,  and  school  treasurer  since  1892,  and 
is  now  serving  in  each  of  these  offices. 
These  facts  testify  as  to  the  standing  of  Mr. 
Miller  in  the  community  which  has  been  his 
home  from  early  childhood,  a  period  of 
forty-two  years.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  no 
man  in  the  community  is  more  highly 
honored. 


ALFRED  HARRISON,  a  highly  es- 
teemed and  worthy  citizen  of  Byron, 
Illinois,  who  is  now  living  retired  from  act- 
ive business  cares,  was  born  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  July  12,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Mary  (Brown)  Harrison,  who 
spent  their  entire  lives  in  that  coun- 
try, where  the  father  worked  as  a  common 
laborer  or  at  farming.  In  the  family  were 
three  children,  of  whom  one  died  in  child- 
hood, and  Mrs.  Emma  Wise  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city  of  York,  England. 

Our  subject  had  but  little  opportunity 
of  attending  school  in  early  life,  and  is 
therefore  almost  wholly  self-educated.  He 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  where  he  began  work 
when  a  mere  boy.  Saving  his  earnings,  he 
and  his  aunt,  Elizabeth  Steele,  came  to 
America  in  1855,  taking  passage  on  a  sail- 
ing vessel,  the  Albion,  at  Liverpool.  They 
were  six  weeks  upon  the  Atlantic  and  en- 
countered   one    fearful    storm,    which     did 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


233 


much  damage  to  the  rigging.  The  ship 
carried  five  hundred  passengers  and  a  crew 
of  fifty  men,  and  finally  arrived  at  New  York 
in  safety.  Mr.  Harrison  and  his  aunt  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  where 
they  joined  some  English  friends,  and  for 
two  seasons  he  worked  by  the  month  in 
Winnebago  county.  In  1S61  he  bought 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Byron  township.  Ogle 
county,  which  was  covered  with  timber,  and 
upon  his  place  erected  a  small  shanty,  in 
which  he  lived  for  some  years,  while  he 
cleared,  fenced,  broke  and  improved  his 
land.  To  the  original  purchase  he  later 
added  twenty  acres  adjoining,  making  a 
good  farm  of  sixty  acres,  on  which  he 
erected  a  large  and  substantial  residence, 
good  barns,  sheds,  etc.,  converting  it  into 
one  of  the  best  improved  and  most  desirable 
farms  of  the  locality.  For  thirty-six  years 
he  successfully  engaged  in  its  cultivation, 
but  in  1895  sold  the  place  and  removed  to 
Byron,  where  he  bought  a  lot  and  erected 
a  neat  residence  that  is  still  his  home. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  not  only  without 
means  on  his  arrival  in  this  country,  but 
had  borrowed  money  to  pay  his  passage, 
and  the  success  that  he  has  achieved  here 
is  certainly  well  deserved.  By  his  own  la- 
bor, enterprise  and  economy  he  has  accum- 
ulated a  comfortable  competence,  and  is 
now  able  to  spend  his  declining  years  in 
ease  and  quiet.  In  political  sentiment  he  is 
a  Democrat,  but  formerly  was  a  Republic- 
an, casting  his  first  ballot  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, and  later  supporting  Grant  for  the 
presidency.  He  has  never  aspired  to  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  undivided  attention  to 
his  business  interest.  He  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wright  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  this 
section  of  the  county,  and  our  subject 
worked  for  them  for  several  years.     In  1876 


he  and  their  son  visited  the  Centennial  ex- 
position at  Philadelphia,  where  they  spent 
three  weeks  in  sightseeing.  They  also  vis- 
ited New  York  city,  had  a  most  pleasant 
and  profitable  time,  and  returned  home 
feeling  much  better. 


HENRY  SCHRADER  has  been  one  of 
Ogle  county's  worthy  and  honored 
citizens  since  August,  1840,  and  was  for  many 
years  actively  identified  with  its  agricultural 
interest,  but  is  now  living  retired  upon  his 
pleasant  farm  three  miles  east  of  Leaf  River. 
Like  many  of  our  best  citizens  he  is  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  born  in  Washington 
county,  September  8,  1817.  The  father, 
Henry  Schrader,  Sr. ,  was  born  in  the  same 
state,  of  German  parentage,  and  in  Wash- 
ington county  engaged  in  farming  during 
early  life.  Selling  his  place  there  in  1827, 
the  father  removed  to  Mansfield,  Richland 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  for  a  few 
years,  and  from  there  went  to  Wayne 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  developed  a  farm 
in  the  midst  of  the  forest  and  spent  his  re- 
maining years,  dying  in  1888,  while  his 
wife  died  three  or  four  years  previously. 
In  his  native  state  Henry  Schrader,  Sr., 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Catherine 
Longman,  who  was  born  near  Hagerstown, 
of  German  parentage,  and  until  1827  they 
made  their  home  on  the  Schrader  farm  in 
that  state.  Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family 
of  nine  children,  seven  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, but  only  two  are  now  living,  the  other 
being  Mrs.  Sophia  Layman,  of  Dublin, 
Wayne  county,  Indiana. 

Durmg  his  boyhood  and  youth  Henry 
Schrader,  Jr.,  assisted  his  father  in  opening 
up  and  carrying  on  the  home  farm,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty  ye^rs  began   working 


^34 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


for  others  as  a  farm  hand.  In  1 840  he  came 
to  Illinois  with  his  father  and  brother  and 
located  in  Ogle  county,  where  he  worked 
for  a  cousin,  Isaac  Avery,  for  one  year,  and 
the  following  year  also  engaged  in  farming 
for  others.  The  father  and  brother  re- 
turned to  Indiana  later. 

On  the  loth  of  October,  1842,  Mr. 
Schrader  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Mahala  Her,  also  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  and  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Mary  (Hannon)  Her,  who  were  born 
in  the  same  county,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1837  with  a  colony  of  Maryland  people. 
Mr.  Her  settled  at  North  Grove,  in  Leaf 
River  township.  Ogle  county,  where  he  de- 
veloped a  farm  and  spent  his  last  years, 
dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four. 
His  wife  survived  him  and  departed  this  life 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schrader  were  born  five  children, 
namely:  Thomas,  who  married  and  died  in 
Ogle  county,  leaving  one  child;  Frank,  a 
resident  of  Lightsville;  Albert,  a  farmer  of 
this  county;  George,  who  is  carrying  on  the 
home  farm;  and  Harriet,  who  married  Mar- 
tin Light,  but  is  now  deceased. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Schrader  rented 
land  for  several  years  and  then  bought  a 
small  place  at  North  Grove,  where  he  oper- 
ated in  connection  with  rented  land  for 
some  time.  Selling  that  farm  in  1866,  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  which  were  under 
cultivation  and  fenced.  He  erected  thereon 
a  small  house  into  which  the  family  moved, 
and  has  since  made  many  valuable  and  use- 
ful improvements,  which  make  it  one  of  the 
most  attractive  places  of  the  locality.  Be- 
sides his  property  he  also  owns  a  small  farm 
near  Lightsville,  on  which  his  son  Albert  is 
now  living. 

Politically   Mr.  Schrader  is  an  old  Jef- 


fersonian  Democrat,  but  cast  his  first  vote 
for  William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840,  and  has 
since  supported  every  presidential  candidate 
of  the  Democracy,  He  has  served  his  fel- 
low citizens  as  school  director  and  path- 
master,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  has 
been  found  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
him.  He  and  his  estimable  wife  are  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Christian  church  at  Leaf 
River,  and  as  honored  pioneer  and  highly 
respected  citizens  deser\e  prominent  men- 
tion in  their  county's  history. 


CHARLES  FRUIT,  an  enterprising  farm- 
er, residing  on  section  2,  Taylor  town- 
ship, came  to  the  United  States  in  1869, 
and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty and  a  thorough  American  citizen,  one 
having  at  heart  the  interests  of  his  adopted 
country.  He  was  born  near  Gottenborg, 
Sweden,  November  15,  1S49,  ^"ci  is  the 
son  of  Gus  and  Johanna  (Anderson)  Fruit, 
both  natives  of  the  same  country,  and  who 
came  to  this  country  in  the  spring  of  1875 
and  settled  in  Taylor  township,  where  the 
husband  and  father  worked  at  his  trade  of 
carpentering.  They  were  the  parents  of  si.K 
children,  three  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 
John  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 
Charles  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Ed- 
ward died  at  the  age  of  seven  years.  Ma- 
tilda married  C.  A.  Jacobson,  and  they 
reside  in  Falkeping,  Sweden,  where  he  is 
employed  in  the  machine  shops  of  a  rail- 
road company.  Carrie  died  when  two  years 
old.  Addie  married  John  Larson,  and  they 
live  in  Taylor  township  where  he  is  engaged 
in  farming. 

Charles  Fruit  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  country  and  there  obtained  a  fair  edu- 
cation in   the    public   schools.      Desiring   to 


CHARLES    FRUIT. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


-Z7 


better  his  condition  in  life,  and  knowing  of 
the  possibilities  in  the  new  world,  he  deter- 
mined, if  the  opportunity  was  ever  afforded 
him  that  he  would  emigrate  to  that  land 
where  even  the  very  poorest  might  realize 
his  heart's  desire.  When  but  twenty  years 
old,  he  secured  his  parents'  consent  to  try 
his  fortunes  in  this  land.  Leaving  his  na- 
tive land  on  one  of  the  ocean  liners  he 
crossed  the  ocean  and  after  a  voyage  of 
eighteen  days,  during  which  time  they  en- 
countered some  pretty  severe  weather,  they 
landed  at  New  York,  and  from  there  pro- 
ceeded direct  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  one  year  engaged  in  various 
employments,  and  then  came  to  Ogle  county 
and  located  in  Taylor  township,  where  he 
purchased  a  small  farm  some  five  years  la- 
ter, having  in  the  meantime  assisted  in  the 
construction  of  the  Chicago  &  Iowa  rail- 
road. 

Mr.  Fruit  was  married  August  20,  1884, 
to  Miss  Annie  Bronson,  of  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, and  by  this  union  two  children  were 
born,  Ellen  and  Vanner,  both  of  whom  are 
now  attending  the  district  school.  This 
wife  died  October  30,  1889,  and  Mr.  Fruit, 
December  31,  1891,  married  Miss  Selma 
Anderson,  daughter  of  Carl  and  Johanna 
Anderson,  natives  of  Sweden.  The  three 
children  born  of  this  union  are  George, 
Henry  and  Irma,  the  first  named  now  being 
a  student  in  the  district  school. 

Since  locating  on  his  present  farm  Mr. 
Fruit  has  given  his  attention  to  general 
farming.  He  has  improved  the  place  by 
tiling  the  land  and  the  erection  of  wind 
mills,  the  building  of  necessary  outbuild- 
ings, and  the  planting  of  orchard  and  shade 
trees.  He  has  served  his  township  as  town 
clerk  two  years,  town  collector  two  years, 
and  is  now   a  school   director.      In   politics 


he  is  a  Republican.  Religiously  he  is  a 
Methodist,  holding  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Light  House. 
He  comes  of  a  patriotic  family,  his  pater- 
nal grandfather,  J.  Truit,  serving  in  the 
war  which  his  country  had   with    Denmark. 


CHARLES  BUSH.  —  Among  the  pro- 
gressive, energetic  and  successful  farm- 
ers and  stock  dealers  of  Ogle  county,  who 
thoroughU'  understand  the  vocation  which 
they  follow,  and  are  consequently  enabled 
to  carry  on  their  calling  with  profit  to  them- 
selves, is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is 
actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on 
section  3,  Eagle  Point  township,  where  he 
owns  a  valuable  and  well  improved  farm. 

Like  many  of  our  best  citizens,  Mr.  Bush 
is  a  native  of  the  Empire  state,  born  in 
Ro.xbury,  Delaware  county,  March  25,  1834. 
His  father,  Nicholas  Bush,  was  born  in 
the  same  county,  May  31,  1803,  and  was  a 
son  of  John  Bush,  a  native  of  Fairfax,  Vir- 
ginia, and  a  hero  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
having  aided  the  colonies  in  their  struggle 
for  independence.  The  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  of  English  extraction  and 
an  early  settler  of  the  Old  Dominion.  At 
the  close  of  the  Revolution  John  Bush 
was  discharged  and  mustered  out  in  New 
York  city,  and  then  took  up  his  residence 
as  a  pioneer  in  Delaware  county.  New  York, 
where,  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness,  he 
cleared  and  developed  a  farm.  There  he 
died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty  years. 

On  reaching  man's  estate,  Nicholas 
Bush  was  married  in  his  native  county  to 
Miss  Lydia  Wolcott,  a  native  of  Greene 
county.  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  Gid- 
eon Wolcott,  an  early  settler  of  that  coun- 
ty.     He  was  a  native  of  England  and  a  son 


238 


THl'     BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


of  Francis  Wolcott,  who  spent  his  entire 
life  in  that  country.  For  some  years  after 
his  marriage  Mr.  Bush  continued  to  engage 
in  farming  and  lumbering  in  New  York,  but 
in  1856  he  started  for  Illinois,  and  on 
reaching  Ogle  county  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Eagle  Point  township,  on 
which  our  subject  now  resides.  A  small 
house  and  barn  had  already  been  built  and 
thirty-five  acres  fenced  and  broken.  To  its 
further  improvement  and  cultivation  he  at 
once  turned  his  attention,  later  erected 
larger  and  more  subjectial  buildings  and 
added  to  the  original  purchase  ninet\'  acres. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  he  also 
engaged  in  stock  raising.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  New  York  he  affiliated  with  the 
Odd  Fellows  society,  but  never  joined  the 
order  here.  He  died  September  13,  1890, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years, 
and  his  wife  departed  this  life  July  2,  1S78, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  both  being 
laid  at  rest  in  Eagle  Point  cemetery,  where 
a  neat  monument  has  been  erected  to  their 
memory.  In  their  family  were  on!}-  two 
children,  the  daughter  being  Nancy,  who 
married  and  died  in  Ogle  county  in  1S58. 

Charles  Bush,  the  only  son,  grew  to 
manhood  in  Delaware  county.  New  York, 
and  completed  a  good  education  at  Potts- 
ville  Academy.  In  that  county  he  was  mar- 
ried April  4,  1S55,  to  Miss  Hepsebah  Booth, 
who  was  reared  and  educated  there.  Her 
parents,  Levi  and  Phcebe  (Harley)  Booth, 
were  natives  of  Connecticut  and  early  set- 
tlers of  Delaware  county,  being  one  of  the 
first  families  to  locate  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Piush  have  one  daughter,  Clara,  now  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Sprecker,  of  Polo,  by  whom 
she  has  two  children,  Hepsebah  and 
Charles  Harry.  She  was  born  in  Pittsford, 
Hillsdale  county,  Michigan,  but  was  reared 


and  educated  in  Ogle  county,  being  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Polo  high  school.  She  engaged 
in  teaching  for  a  time  and  her  parents  also 
followed  that  profession,  both  in  theirnative 
county  and  after  coming  to  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  Mrs.  Bush  being  a  prominent  teacher 
here  for  several  years. 

In  March,  1856,  Mr.  Bush  accompanied 
his  father  on  his  removal  to  this  county  and 
assisted  in  carrying  on  the  home  farm  for 
some  time,  after  which  he  took  complete 
charge  of  the  same.  In  1859,  however,  he 
went  to  Michigan  and  lived  for  some  time 
in  Hillsdale,  Adrian  and  Allegan,  being  a 
conductor  on  the  Michigan  Southern  & 
Northern  Indiana  railroad  for  ten  years. 
He  then  returned  to  the  farm  in  Ogle 
count}',  and  has  since  successfully  managed 
the  same.  He  has  also  engaged  in  feeding 
and  shipping  stock,  and  in  his  undertakings 
has  met  with  well  deserved  success.  He 
has  made  many  improvements  upon  his 
place,  including  the  erection  of  a  commodi- 
ous and  comfortable  residence,  a  large  gran- 
ary and  other  outbuildings,  so  that  he  now 
has  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in  this 
part  of  the  county. 

Although  his  father  was  a  Jeffersonian 
Democrat,  Mr.  Bush  has  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  party  since  casting  his 
first  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856,  and 
has  since  supported  every  presidential  can- 
didate of  that  party.  As  one  of  the  leading 
and  influential  citizens  of  his  community,  he 
takes  an  active  interest  in  local  politics,  has 
been  a  delegate  to  many  county,  congres- 
sional and  state  conventions,  has  served  as 
township  clerk  fourteen  years  and  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board  some  years. 
He  has  proven  a  most  competent  and  trust- 
worthy official,  and  commands  the  confi- 
dence  and   respect    of    all    with    whom    he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


239 


comes  in  contact  either  in  private  or  public 
life.  He  is  quite  prominent  in  Masonic  cir- 
cles, being  a  Knight  Templar,  a  member  of 
the  blue  lodge  and  chapter  in  Polo  and  the 
commandery  at  Dixon.  His  estimable  wife 
holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  at  Eagle  Point,  and  likelier  hus- 
band has  a  host  of  friends  in  this  com- 
munity. 


BENJAMIN  DOUGHTY,  who,  after  the 
labors  of  a  long  and  busy  life,  is  spend- 
ing his  later  years  in  ease  and  retirement  in 
the  village  of  Byron,  has  made  his  home  in 
Ogle  county  since  January  16,  185S,  and 
bore  an  active  part  in  its  early  development 
and  upbuilding.  A  native  of  England,  he 
was  born  in  Yorkshire,  April  12,  1830,  and 
is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Doughty,  who 
spent  their  entire  lives  there.  The  father 
engaged  ia  farming  or  worked  at  anything 
which  he  could  find  to  do,  and  died  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  Ben- 
jamin was  the  oldest  of  his  five  sons,  all  of 
whom  reached  manhood,  but  two  are  now 
deceased,  while  the  other  two,  William  and 
Thomas,  still  reside  in  England. 

Benjamin  Doughty  was  reared  on  the 
farm  and  during  his  youth  received  a  very 
limited  education,  but  by  reading  and  ob- 
servation in  subsequent  years  he  has  become 
a  well-informed  man.  He  was  married  in 
Yorkshire,  November  23,  1S57,  the  lady  of 
his  choice  being  Miss  Elizabeth  Wright,  a 
native  of  that  county,  who  was  reared  in 
the  same  village  as  her  husband.  A  few 
days  after  their  marriage  they  started  for 
the  new  world,  taking  passage  at  Liverpool, 
November  28,  on  a  sailing  vessel,  which 
finally  reached  New  York,  January  8,  1S58, 
after  a  long  and  tedious  voyage  of  six  weeks, 


during  which  they  experienced  much  rough 
weather  and  several  severe  storms,  which 
carried  away  some  of  the  sails.  On  land- 
ing they  came  at  once  to  Illinois,  and  after 
stopping  a  short  time  in  Franklin  Grove 
came  to  Byron,  where  they  joined  Mr. 
Doughty's  uncle,  John  Doughty,  who  had 
located  here  aliuut  1S42  or  1843. 

Our  subject  went  to  work  on  a  farm  in 
Winnebago  county  for  Alfred  Bridgeland, 
also  a  native  of  England,  and  remained  with 
him  about  seven  months.  Returning  to 
Ogle  county  in  1859,  he  secured  a  position 
with  Mr.  Spalding,  with  whom  he  and  his 
wife  lived  for  one  year.  In  1859  he  made 
his  first  purchase  of  forty  acres  of  land, 
which  he  began  to  improve  in  1861,  at  the 
same  time  operated  rented  land.  He  fenced 
his  place,  erected  thereon  good  and  sub- 
stantial buildings,  and  continued  the  work 
of  development  and  cultivation  for  many 
years.  As  time  advanced  and  he  prospered 
in  his  undertakings  he  added  more  land  to 
the  original  purchase,  first  forty  acres  and 
then  twenty  acres,  making  in  all  a  fine  and 
valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  pleas- 
antly located  three  miles  and  a  half  from 
Byron.  He  successfully  carried  on  farming 
here  until  1S90,  when  he  sold  out  and  pur- 
chased property  in  Byron,  where  he  has 
since  lived  retired  from  active  labor,  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 
The  success  that  he  has  achieved  in  life  is 
due  entirely  to  his  own  unaided  efforts,  as 
he  was  in  rather  limited  circumstances  on 
coming  to  America,  but  by  hard  work, 
close  application  and  guided  by  a  sound 
judgment  he  has  made  for  himself  a  com- 
fortable home  and  competence. 

Mr.  Doughty  has  been  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  passed  away 
October  20,   1889,  and   was   laid   to   rest    in 


240 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Middle  Creek  cemetery,  Winnebago  coun- 
ty. In  1S90  he  was  joined  by  his  cousin, 
Miss  Emily  Doughty,  who  has  since  been 
his  housel<eeper.  This  estimable  lady  is 
also  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  and  a 
daughter  of  Charles  Doughty.  She  came 
alone  to  America,  and  in  1892  returned  to 
Yorkshire  on  a  visit  to  family  and  friends. 
During  the  five  weeks  she  remained  in  the 
old  world  she  visited  the  cities  of  York  and 
Leeds,  and  also  the  beautiful  seaport  town 
and  pleasure  resort  of  Scarborough.  She 
has  heard  Spurgeon  preach,  has  been  in 
London,  and  has  also  seen  Buckingham 
palace  and  Windsor  castle. 

On  becoming  an  American  citizen,  Mr. 
Doughty  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1 8G4,  and  has  since 
supported  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
efficiently  served  as  a  member  of  the  vil- 
lage board  of  Byron,  and  his  duties,  both 
public  and  private,  have  always  been  most 
faithfully  and  conscientiously  discharged. 
Both  he  and  his  cousin  were  reared  in  the 
Episcopal  faith,  and  are  held  in  high  re- 
spect by  all  who  know  them. 


NICHOLAS  N.  SHAVER,  deceased, 
was  a  native  of  Delaware  county, 
New  'S'ork,  born  September  11,  1809,  and 
was  the  son  of  Jacob  P.  and  Catherine 
Shaver,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the 
same  county  and  state,  the  former  born 
May  20,  1775,  and  the  latter  April  14, 
1784.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children.  Catherine  Shaver  died  in  her 
native  state,  after  vvhich  her  husband  came 
west,  where  his  death  occurred  many  3'ears 
ago. 

In  his  native  state   Nicholas  N.  Shaver 


grev/  to  manhood,  and  in  the  common 
school  received  a  limited  education.  He 
was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  an  occu- 
pation that  he  followed  during  his  entire 
active  life.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Miss  Hannah  Nicholson, 
who  was  probably  a  native  of  Delaware 
county,  New  York.  Their  marriage  was 
celebrated  May  13,  1840,  and  to  them  were 
born  five  children,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters;  Arthur  J.,  born  February  21, 
1 841;  Robert  S.,  March  12,  1843;  Mariette, 
April  24,  1845;  Sophia,  October  17,  1847; 
and  Edward,  October  15,  1850.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1852. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  1854,  Mr.  Shaver 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Kate 
Voorhees,  who  was  born  in  Sullivan  coun- 
ty. New  York,  November  14,  1814,  and  the 
daughter  of  John  C.  and  Nancy  (Brown) 
Voorhees,  natives  of  New  York,  but  of 
German  descent.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  who  lived  to  be  men  and 
women.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer, 
one  who  attended  strictly  to  his  own  affairs, 
and  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
his  friends  and  neighbors.  He  never  came 
west,  but  passed  the  last  days  of  his  life 
amid  the  familiar  scenes  of  his  native  state. 
His  wife  also  passed  to  her  reward  in  her 
native  state. 

Soon  after  his  second  marriage  Mr. 
Shaver  came  with  his  wife  and  family  to 
Ogle  county  and  located  in  Buffalo  town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  a  farm  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a 
good  farmer,  very  industrious,  and  success 
crowned  his  efforts.  In  his  old  age  he  laid 
aside  the  cares  of  the  farm  and  moved  into 
the  city  of  Polo,  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  a  life 
well  spent.  For  years  his  face  was  a  famil- 
iar one  on  the  streets  of  the  city,  and  those 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


241 


meeting  him   had  a   kindly  greeting   and    a 
pleasant  word. 

Politically  Mr.  Shaver  was  a  Democrat, 
and  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles  of  the 
party  as  expounded  by  Jefferson  and  Jack- 
son. He  was  never,  however,  an  office 
seeker,  content  always  that  others  should 
have  whatever  honors  office  holding  con- 
tained. He  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  in  the  doctrines  and  teach- 
ings of  which  he  had  unbounded  faith.  His 
good  wife,  who  survives  him,  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  that  church.  His  death  occurred 
February  19,  18S6,  and  his  remains  were 
laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  the  brick 
church  in  Eagle  Point  township,  there  to 
wait  the  resurrection  day.  "Blessed  are 
the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord,  for  they  shall 
rest  from  their  labors  and  their  works  shall 
follow  them." 


JOHN  B.  WOODCOCK,  a  well-known 
and  prominent  agriculturist,  residing  on 
section  t,^,  Marion  township,  has  for  over 
fifty-four  years  been  connected  with  the 
history  of  Ogle  county  and  few,  if  any,  have 
done  more  for  its  upbuilding.  He  has  been 
a  champion  of  every  movement  designed  to 
promote  the  general  welfare,  a  supporter  of 
every  enterprise  for  the  public  good,  and 
has  materially  aided  in  the  advancement  of 
all  social,  industrial,  educational  and  moral 
interests. 

Mr.  Woodcock  is  a  native  of  Canada, 
born  near  Prescott,  Ontario,  on  the  St. 
Lawrence  river,  October  i,  1S23,  and  be- 
longs to  quite  an  honored  and  distinguished 
family,  which  was  founded  in  New  England 
soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Mayflower. 
His  ancestors  were  originally  from  England 
and  for  several   generations  resided   in    the 

26 


United  States.  His  great-grandfather  on 
the  paternal  side  took  up  arms  against  the 
mother  country  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  for  three  years  fought  for  the  freedom 
of  the  colonies.  One  of  his  sons  was  also 
in  the  same  struggle.  The  grandfather, 
Jonathan  Woodcock,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, but  about  1790  removed  to  Can- 
ada, making  his  way  through  the  dense 
forests  with  an  ox  team  for  about  four  hun- 
dred miles,  it  being  a  most  tedious  and  re- 
markable trip.  In  the  midst  of  the  wilder- 
ness he  hewed  out  a  farm  and  there  made 
his  home  until  called  from  this  life,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-five  years.  His  wife  lived  to 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years  and 
died  in  Marion  township.  Ogle  county,  Illi- 
nois. 

Freeman  Woodcock,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  the  province  of  On- 
tario, Canada,  March  12,  1S02,  and  was 
there  reared  amid  pioneer  scenes.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Bass,  also  a  native  of 
Canada,  who  was  born  in  Ontario,  October 
14,  iSoo,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  Bass, 
whose  early  home  was  in  Vermont.  In 
Canada,  Freeman  Woodcock  carried  on 
business  along  various  lines,  being  engaged 
in  farming  and  merchandising,  and  also  the 
manufacture  of  furniture,  boots  and  shoes. 
In  the  springof  1 844  we  find  him  and  his  fam- 
ily d//  /•<>;//<■  for  Illinois,  joining  our  subject  in 
Ogle  county.  In  Nashua  township  they 
purchased  about  five  hundred  acres  of  par- 
tially improved  land,  but  after  operating  it 
five  years  sold  the  place  and  in  1S50  bought 
two  hundred  acres  on  sections  27,31  and  32, 
Marion  township,  on  which  our  subject  now 
resides.  Here  a  flouring  mill,  propelled  by 
water  power,  had  previously  been  built  on 
Stillman  creek,  and  this  the  father  con- 
ducted until  it  was  destroyed  by  ice  in  the 


24: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


spring  of  1857.  It  was  rebuilt,  however, 
the  same  season,  but  soon  proved  unprofit- 
able and  the  building  was  moved  away  and 
used  for  other  purposes.  With  the  mill 
Mr.  Woodcock  purchased  about  three  thou- 
sand acres  of  land,  and  in  connection  with 
milling  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of 
his  township  and  was  often  chosen  to  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust.  He  died  on  the 
homestead  in  Marion  township,  October  11, 
i860,  and  his  wife  passed  away  November 
15,  1870.  They  were  earnest  and  consist- 
ent Christian  people,  holding  a  membership 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Their  family  consisted  of  three  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Lucy,  the  eldest,  married 
T.  G.  Anderson,  a  minister  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  and  she  died  in  La- 
fayette township.  Ogle  county,  leaving  three 
daughters  and  one  son.  John  B.,  our  sub- 
ject, is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Albert 
was  a  man  of  superior  attainments,  who 
graduated  at  Union  College,  New  York. 
He  then  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  engaged  in  practice  until  elected 
treasurer  of  Ogle  county  for  a  term  of  two 
years.  Later  he  was  elected  county  clerk 
and  for  si.xteen  years  held  the  latter  office. 
In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Ninety-second 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  elected  cap- 
tain of  his  company  and  was  subsequently 
promoted  to  major,  being  mustered  out  as 
such  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  then  re- 
sumed the  duties  of  county  clerk,  was  after- 
wards elected  county  judge  for  a  term  of 
two  years,  and  was  appointed  internal  reve- 
nue collector  of  the  district,  holding  that 
position  until  the  consolidation  of  the  dis- 
tricts in  1883.  President  Arthur  appointed 
him  consul  to  Sicily,  and  he  held  that  re- 
sponsible post  for  four  years,    during  which 


time  he  resided  at  Catania,  at  the  base  of 
Mt.  Etna.  On  his  return  home  he  served 
as  land  commissioner  for  two  years  for  the 
U.  P.  R.  R.  Co.  He  made  two  trips  to 
California  and  finally  settled  in  Los  Angeles, 
where  he  died  in  1894.  He  was  three 
times  married  and  by  the  first  wife  had  two 
children.  His  last  wife  still  survives  him. 
Alanson,  the  next  of  the  family,  is  engaged 
in  farming  near  Fort  Scott,  Bourbon  coun- 
ty, Kansas.  Sarah,  the  widow  of  Rev.  A. 
G.  Smith,  resides  in  Byron  township.  Ogle 
county. 

During  his  youth  John  B.  Woodcock  at- 
tended the  academy  at  Governeur,  St.  Law- 
rence county.  New  York,  and  after  coming 
to  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he 
attended  the  Mt.  Morris  Academy.  He 
arrived  here  in  September,  1844,  and  for 
several  years  assisted  his  father  in  the  work 
of  the  farm  and  mill.  As  deputy  in  his 
brother's  office,  he  discharged  the  duties  of 
county  clerk  when  the  latter  was  at  the 
front  during  the  Civil  war,  and  continued  to 
fill  that  position  for  five  years,  during  which 
time  he  resided  in  Oregon.  Later  he  used 
to  assist  in  the  office  for  five  or  six  months 
out  of  the  year.  On  his  father's  death  he 
succeeded  to  the  old  homestead,  and  has 
since  given  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and 
attention  to  its  management,  with  results 
which  cannot  fail  to  be  satisfactory.  He 
added  to  his  farm  until  he  had  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  land,  which  he  placed 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  but  has 
since  given  some  of  this  property  to  his 
children. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  1848,  in  Lafayette 
township,  Mr.  Woodcock  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lucy  Martin,  who  was  born 
in  Ontario,  Canada,  September  15,  1829,  a 
daughter  of  Richard   and   Belinda   Martin, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


243 


who  settled  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county  in  1S38.  Of  the  six  children  born 
to  this  union,  four  are  now  living,  namely: 
Ella  E. ,  Walter  S. ,  Antoinette  and  John  D. , 
all  at  home.  They  have  received  fair  edu- 
cations, attending  the  local  schools  and 
those  at  Byron  and  Oregon. 

Mr.  Woodcock  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Zachary  Taylor  in  1848,  in  1856  supported 
John  C.  Fremont,  and  has  since  been  an 
uncompromising  Republican.  He  has  filled 
a  number  of  local  offices,  but  has  never  been 
a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking. 
For  many  years  he  and  his  wife  have  been 
faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  to  which  his  parents  also  belonged, 
and  socially  he  is  connected  with  Oregon 
lodge,  A.  &  A.  M.  Those  who  know  them 
best  are  numbered  among  their  warmest 
friends,  and  no  citizens  of  the  community 
are  more  honored  or  highly  respected. 


JACOB  F.  SWANK,  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Forreston  and  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty, and  who  is  engaged  in  the  ice  business 
in  connection  with  farming,  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  February 
13,  1853,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael  and 
Adeline  (Baker)  Swank,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Swanks  being 
of  German  descent.  In  the  spring  of  1865 
Michael  Swank  came  with  his  family  to 
Illinois  and  located  near  Dixon,  Lee  county, 
where  he  remained  three  years,  giving  his 
attention  to  the  cultivation  of  an  eighty- 
acre  farm  which  he  rented,  and  also  to  his 
trade  of  a  carpenter.  In  the  spring  of  1868 
he  removed  to  Forreston  township,  Ogle 
county,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land   and  at   once   set    about   its   improve- 


ment. The  farm  was  located  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Harper,  and  on  it  he  continued  to 
reside  until  1889,  when  he  removed  to 
Pennsylvania  and  lived  a  retired  life.  He, 
however,  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  for 
many  years,  assisting  in  the  erection  of 
many  of   the  buildings  in  P'orreston. 

Our  subject  was  twelve  yeirs  old  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois. 
His  education,  begun  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  state,  was  completed  in  the 
schools  of  Lee  and  Ogle  counties.  While 
confined  to  the  common  schools  he  is  yet  a 
well-informed  man.  On  removing  to  Ogle 
county  he  was  fifteen  years  old  and  was  re- 
quired to  do  his  full  share  of  the  farm  work, 
his  father  giving  much  of  his  time  to  work 
at  his  trade.  In  1873  he  commenced  life 
for  himself,  renting  his  father's  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  together  with  sixty  acres  from 
other  parties. 

On  the  I  2th  of  March,  1874,  Mr.  Swank 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Henrietta 
Foy,  daughter  of  Ludwig  Foy,  an  early  set- 
tler of  Brookville  township,  but  who  later 
moved  to  Forreston  township.  She  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  reared  in  Ogle 
county.  Mrs.  Swank  took  a  special  interest 
in  organizing  a  camp  of  Royal  Neighbors  in 
Forreston  and  was  elected  oracle  of  the 
camp.  By  this  union  six  children  have 
been  born.  Cora  M.  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
W.  Timmer,  a  farmer  of  Lincoln  township; 
Adeline  A.,  Louis,  William  M.,  Arthur  F. 
and  Clifford,  all  of  whom  are  yet  at  home. 
Of  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mr.  Swank, 
Melinda  is  the  widow  of  Charles  Brant, 
and  lives  near  Shannon,  Carroll  county; 
Edward  lives  in  Sedgwick,  Kansas;  Samuel 
lives  in  Pennsylvania.  His  mother  died  in 
Ogle  county,  but  his  father  is  yet  living  in 
Pennsylvania. 


244 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Of  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs. Swank, 
Edward  is  deceased;  Louis  lives  in  Lena, 
Illinois,  where  he  is  engaged  in  business; 
Henry  reside  in  Freeport,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  trade;  Catherine  is  the 
wife  of  Simon  Geating,  a  farmer  of  Lincoln 
township;  Louisa,  widow  of  George  Law- 
ber,  living  in  Freeport;  Maggie,  wife  of  E. 
H.  Binkley,  a  real  estate  dealer  of  Chero- 
kee, Iowa. 

Mr.  Swank  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  eleven  acres  of  excellent  farm  land 
which  he  cultivates,  together  with  forty 
acres  additional  which  he  rents.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  political  and 
local  affairs  he  has  always  taken  an  active 
part.  No  enterprise  for  the  public  good  but 
meets  with  his  hearty  co-operation.  He 
was  elected  a  director  and  secretary  of  the 
Harper  Creamery  Association  in  1890  and 
served  three  years,  or  until  it  was  sold  to 
the  Elgin  syndicate.  He  was  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Forreston  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company;  was  elected  president  of 
the  Ogle  County  Farmers  Institute  m  Feb- 
ruary, 1897,  and  re-elected  in  February, 
1898.  He  was  appointed  a  delegate  to  the 
Farmers  National  Congress  by  Governor 
Tanner,  which  met  in  St.  Paul,  Minnesota, 
in  September,  1897,  and  was  re-appointed 
to  the  Farmers  National  Congress  which 
met  at  Ft.  Worth,  Texas,  and  served  with 
signal  ability.  He  has  contributed  more  or 
less  to  the  public  press,  and  was  the  corres- 
pondent of  the  Forreston  Herald  for  six 
years.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  was 
elected  venerable  consul  of  the  camp,  and, 
religiously,  he  and  his  family  attend  the 
United  Evangelical  church,  of  which  he  is 
a  trustee.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
building    committee    and    was    secretary  of 


the    committee,    and  is    the   present    secre- 
tary of  the  board  of  trustees. 

In  educational  affairs  Mr.  Swank  has 
always  taken  great  interest,  serving  on  the 
school  board  and  giving  freely  of  his  time 
to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  schools. 
For  eight  years  he  served  as  secretary  of 
the  board  of  directors,  and  is  now  one  of 
the  trustees.  In  1886  he  was  elected  com- 
missioner of  highways  and  served  three 
years.  For  ten  years  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  county  board  of  supervisors,  and 
has  been  one  of  its  most  active  and  influen- 
tial members.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
board  when  the  court  house  was  built,  and 
cast  the  deciding  vote  for  its  erection.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  bridge  comniittee  that 
built  the  bridge  at  Oregon,  and  also  ap- 
pointed on  the  committee  of  the  bridge 
across  Rock  river  at  Grand  Detour.  In  the 
building  of  bridges  in  Maryland,  Brookville 
and  Grand  Detour  and  other  points  he  gave 
of  his  time  as  one  of  a  committee  charged 
with  their  erection.  In  whatever  position 
he  has  been  called  on  to  fill  he  has  given  his 
best  efforts  and  always  in  the  interests  of 
the  people.  Pie  is  a  man  in  whom  the  peo- 
ple can  trust,  knowing  that  they  will  not  be 
betrayed. 


JH.  MILLER,  who  is  now  living  in  Mt. 
Morris,  is  a  native  of  Mt.  Morris  town- 
ship, Ogle  county,  and  was  born  December 
24,  1865.  His  father,  Abraham  Miller, 
was  born  Jime  21,  1831,  in  Franklin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  German  extraction. 
He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county 
and  received  a  very  limited  connnon-school 
education,  the  knowledge  afterwards  ac- 
quired being  received  in  the  school  of  expe- 
rience.    He  was  early  taught  to  work,  how- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


H5 


ever,  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of 
the  farm,  finally  taking  the  management 
thereof.  He  was  married  November  24, 1853, 
to  Miss  Barbara  Newcomer,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Newcomer,  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  but  who  removed  to 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  By  this 
union  there  were  born  eleven  children,  as 
follows:  Elizabeth,  born  September  24, 
1854;  Mary  A.,  May  3,  1S56;  Barbara,  De- 
cember I,  1858;  Emanuel,  May  26,  1861; 
David  M.,  June  10,  1863;  J.  H.,  our  subject; 
Edna  M.,  June  5,  1867;  Martha,  June  11, 
1870;  Abraham,  March  29,  1874;  EmmaS. , 
June  15,  1876;  Silas  E.,  March  21  1878. 
Of  these  Elizabeth,  Barbara  and  Edna  are 
deceased. 

Believing  that  he  could  better  his  condi- 
tion in  life,  Abraham  Miller  left  his  native 
state  with  his  family  and  came  to  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  in  1865,  and  on  his  arrival 
purchased  ninety-five  acres  of  excellent 
farming  land  and  commenced  its  cultivation. 
He  later  purchased  one  hundred  and  five 
acres  adjoining,  giving  him  a  valuable  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres.  He  subsequently 
deeded  seven  acres  of  the  same  to  the  rail- 
road company,  on  the  completion  of  the 
road  to  Mt.  Morris.  On  that  farm  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  July  2,  1898. 
His  widow  is  now  residing  with  her  daughter 
Emma,  near  Freeport,  Illinois.  She  is  of 
Swiss  extraction.  Politically  Abraham  Mil- 
ler was  a  Republican,  and  religiously  was 
identified  with  the  River  Brethren.  His 
wife  is  also  connected  with  that  church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  county,  receiving  his  pri- 
mary education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Mount  Morris  township.  He  then  entered 
Mount  Morris  College,  which  he  attended  for 


a  time,  but  did  not  take  the  regular  course. 
After  leaving  school  he  assisted  his  father 
on  the  farm  for  a  time,  or  until  he  attained 
his  majority,  when  he  went  to  Nebraska  antl 
remained  there  about  fi\e  months.  He  then 
returned  home  and  again  assisted  his  father 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm  re- 
maining two  years. 

Again  seized  with  the  western  fever,  he 
went  to  Kansas,  where  he  remained  for  a  few 
months,  going  from  there  to  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska, where  he  entered  a  business  college 
and  remained  about  two  months,  being  com- 
pelled to  leave  on  account  of  ill  health. 
From  Omaha  he  went  to  Vinton,  Iowa,  and 
there  remained  about  five  years,  with  the 
exception  of  a  short  period  when  he  returned 
to  Ogle  county  for  his  bride.  While  in  \'in- 
ton  he  was  employed  in  a  grain  elevator, 
and  also  in  farming. 

Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Myrtle  Rine,  December  24,  1890.  She 
was  born  April  21,  1866,  in  Ogle  county, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Melissa 
(Fish)  Rine,  and  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of 
four  children  born  to  her  parents.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Miller  two  children  have  been 
born:  Mable  D. ,  born  May  8,  1893,  and 
Harold  Guj-,  January   29,   1898. 

In  September,  1894,  Mr.  Miller  returned 
to  Ogle  county,  taking  charge  of  his  father's 
farm,  the  father  being  in  poor  health.  He 
remained  on  the  farm  until  the  fall  of  1898, 
when  he  moved  to  the  village  and  purchased 
the  livery  stable  of  H.  L.  Smith,  which  he 
disposed  of   in  1899. 

Politically  Mr.  Miller  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  has  held  various  local  offices, 
including  that  of  town  clerk.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  is  the  present  venerable  counsel  of  the 
camp  at  Mount  Morris. 


246 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


JOHN  H.  HELM.— Sound  judgment 
combined  with  fine  ability  in  mechan- 
ical lines  has  enabled  the  subject  of  this 
biof^raphy,  a  prominent  contractor  and 
builder  of  Byron,  Illinois,  to  attain  a  sub- 
stantial success  in  life.  He  was  born  in 
Chemung  county.  New  York,  July  31,  1834, 
and  is  a  son  of  Phineas  Helm,  a  native  of 
Orange  county,  that  state.  The  father  en- 
listed in  the  army  during  the  war  of  18 12, 
was  ordered  out,  but  did  not  engage  in  act- 
ive service.  He  was  married  in  Chemung 
county  to  Miss  Betsy  Smith,  also  a  native  of 
the  Empire  state.  He  was  a  cabinet- 
make  by  trade  and  carried  on  business  for  a 
number  of  years  in  Southport,  New  York, 
where  he  remained  with  his  family  and 
spent  his  last  days.  His  wife  survived  him 
only  a  few  months,  dying  at  the  same  place. 
In  their  family  were  four  sons  and  one 
daughter,  namely:  Floj'd,  who  married  but 
is  now  deceased;  Samuel,  still  a  resident  of 
Southport;  Phineas,  deceased;  Mrs.  Mary 
Ann  Winkler,  deceased;  and  John  H.,  of 
this  sketch. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  John  H. 
Helm  pursued  his  studies  in  the  schools  of 
Southport,  New  York,  and  there  learned 
the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade.  In  1S61 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Kockford, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  one  year, 
and  then  came  to  I5yron,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  follow  his  chosen  occupation.  In  re- 
sponse to  the  President's  call  for  more  men 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion,  he 
enlisted  December  29,  1863,  in  Company 
B,  Ninety-second  Illinois  Mounted  Infantry, 
which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland.  With  his  regiment  he  was 
engaged  in  scouting,  skirmishing  and  picket 
duty  until  July,  1864,  when  he  was  taken 
ill  and  sent  to  the  hospital,  first  at  Chatta- 


nooga and  later  at  Nashville,  Jeffersonville 
and  the  marine  hospital  at  Chicago,  being 
confined  at  these  places  for  several  months. 
He  was  finally  discharged  at  Chicago,  July 
21,  1S65,  and  returned  to  Byron  to  recu- 
perate. The  following  year  he  was  able  to 
resume  work  at  his  trade,  and  has  since  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building  most  of 
the  time.  A  great  many  of  the  public  build- 
ings and  private  residences  bear  testimony 
to  his  handiwork  and  architectural  skill. 

Just  previous  to  coming  to  Illinois  Mr. 
Helm  was  married  in  Ohio,  April  i,  1861, 
to  Miss  Sarah  Babcock,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Steuben  county.  New  York,  a 
daughter  of  Elias  Randall  Babcock,  of 
that  state.  She  departed  this  life  Novem- 
ber 15,  1889,  and  of  the  four  children  born 
to  them  three  are  now  deceased.  Grace 
died  at  the  age  of  si.\  years,  Albert  at  the 
age  of  one  year,  and  William  H.,  a  phar- 
macist of  Byron  and  Stillman  Valley,  died 
at  home  December  31,  1S94,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years.  Mrs.  Anna  Schafer, 
the  only  one  now  living,  is  her  father's 
housekeeper.  She  has  one  son,  William 
Helm  Schafer,  aged  three  years. 

Mr.  Helm's  father  was  a  Clay  Whig, 
and  our  subject  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Millard  Fillmore  in  1856,  but  has 
since  supported  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Republican  party.  In  June,  18S9,  he 
received  the  appointment  of  postmaster  of 
Byron  under  President  Harrison  and  most 
capably  and  satisfactorily  discharged  the 
duties  of  that  office  for  four  years,  his 
daughter  acting  as  deputy.  He  was  made 
a  Mason  in  Byron  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  sev- 
eral years  ago,  and  for  four  terms  has  served 
as  master  of  the  lodge,  which  he  also  repre- 
sented in  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state  for 
the    same    length    of    time.      He   is  also  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


M? 


prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army  post 
at  Byron,  of'which  he  is  past  commander, 
and  by  his  fellow  citizens  he  is  held  in  high 
regard,  receiving  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  with  whom  he  has  business  or  social 
relations. 


GEORGE  R.  RHODES,  who  is  engaged 
in  farming  on  section  6,  Grand  Detour 
township,  and  who  for  some  years  was  one 
of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders  of 
Springfield,  Illinois,  was  born  July  27, 
1833,  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  and 
is  the  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Foaster) 
Rhodes,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of 
Frederick  county,  Maryland,  the  former 
born  in  1794.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Jacob  Rhodes,  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
and  followed  that  occupation  during  his 
entire  life.  He  never  came  to  this  state, 
but  died  in  Maryland  many  years  ago. 

In  his  youth  Peter  Rhodes  learned  the 
carpenter  trade,  an  occupation  he  followed 
during  his  active  life.  In  1S63,  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  located  in  Rochester,  Sanga- 
mon connty,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
1S78.  His  wife  died  some  years  ago.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children — Amanda, 
William  H.,  John  T.,  George  R.,  Martha 
E.,  Ann  O.,  Alice  E.,  Katherine,  James  W. 
and  Fannie.  All  are  yet  living  save  Ann  O. 
In  politics  Peter  Rhodes  was  a  Jackson 
Democrat,  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles 
of  the  party  as  proclaimed  by  Jefferson  and 
Jackson.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Episco- 
pal church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  his  native  state,  and  in  the 
common  schools  received  his  education.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  left  school  and  worked 
with  his  father  at   the   carpenter  trade  until 


1S56,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located 
at  Springfield,  where  he  continued  to  work 
at  his  trade.  The  firm  of  Rhodes  Brothers, 
contractors  and  builders,  was  formed,  and 
for  many  years  did  a  prosperous  business, 
erecting  many  of  the  best  public  and  private 
buildings  in  the  city,  among  them  the 
splendid  building  of  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association.  He  continued  in  contract- 
ing and  building  until  18S9,  when  he  moved 
to  his  present  place  of  residence,  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  The  farm 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  si.xt}'  acres,  and 
is  under  excellent  improvement. 

Mr.  Rhodes  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  union  being  with  Miss  Mary  C.  Lakin, 
and  their  marriage  was  celebrated  February 
23,  1862.  She  died  in  1869.  His  second 
marriage  was  with  Mrs.  Ella  Miller,  iicc 
Bovey,  their  union  being  formed  September 
2,  1874.  Mrs.  I^hodes  was  born  May  8, 
1852,  in  Ogle  county,  Illinois.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Barbara  (Funck) 
Bovey,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Wash- 
ington count}',  Marylanil,  and  who  came  to 
Ogle  county  in  the  spring  of  1846,  and  lo- 
cated in  Grand  Detour  township,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1891.  Miss  Ella  Bovey 
married  Samuel  S.  Miller  in  i860,  and  his 
death  took  place  December  25,  1869.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  managing  the 
farm  of   his  father-in-law. 

To  Mr.  and  ^frs.  Rhodes  six  children 
have  been  born.  Clinton  B.,  born  June 
26,  1875,  is  now  in  the  government  mail 
service,  running  between  Pontiac  and  Chi- 
cago. Charles  L. ,  born  January  20,  1S79, 
is  attending  Steinman  Business  College, 
Dixon,  Illinois.  Robert  S.,  born  July  24, 
1S82,  died  April  9,  1885.  George  T.,  born 
June  15,  1885,  is  attending  the  district 
school  of  Grand    Detour  township.      Harry 


24^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


D.,  born  January  14,  1889,  is  also  in 
school.  Ethel  May,  was  born  February 
7,   1897. 

In  politics  Mr.  Rhodes  is  a  Democrat, 
and  for  nine  years  served  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  supervisors  of  Sangamon 
county  from  Springfield.  He  made  an  effi- 
cient member,  being  a  practical  man,  one 
who  looked  after  the  best  interests  of  the 
public,  and  who  did  not  serve  just  to  please 
politicians.  He  also  served  for  nine  years 
as  fire  marshal  of  Springfield,  a  difficult  and 
responsible  position  which  he  filled  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  people.  Mrs.  Rhodes  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  with 
which  she  has  been  connected  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  in  the  teachings  of  which  she 
has  the  utmost  faith.  She  is  now  living  in 
the  home  of  her  childhood  where  she  has 
many  friends.  Although  comparatively  a 
newcomer,  Mr.  Rhodes  is  well  known  and 
universally  esteemed. 


LOUIS  J.  OTTO,  a  thorough  and  skillful 
farmer  and  business  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  is  a  representative  of  the 
agricultural  and  stock  raising  interests  of 
Ogle  county,  his  home  being  on  section  3, 
Forreston  township,  where  he  has  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  A  na- 
tive of  the  county,  Mr.  Otto  was  born  in 
Maryland  township.  May  27,  1854,  and  is  a 
son  of  Christian  Otto,  who  was  born  about 
1803,  in  Lippe,  Germany,  where  he  was 
reared  and  married  to  Miss  Mary  Pepper- 
ling,  a  German  lady.  He  followed  farming 
in  his  native  land.  About  1848  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  and  proceeded  at  once  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  secured  a  team,  and  then 
drove    across   the  country  to   Ogle  county. 


where  some  friends  from  Germany  were  liv- 
ing in  Maryland  township.  There  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  and  later 
bought  a  similar  amount,  making  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres,  which 
he  commenced  to  improve  and  cultivate. 
He  died  there  in  1862,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  February,  1861.  In  the  family  of 
this  worthy  couple  were  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  married  and  became 
heads  of  families.  They  are  Dora,  wife  of 
David  Haselbrook,  of  Riley  county,  Kansas; 
Henry,  a  farmer  of  Stephenson  county, 
who  owns  and  operates  a  farm  adjoining 
that  of  our  subject;  Louis  J.,  of  this  review; 
Lizzie,  wife  of  Henry  Stuckenburg,  who 
lives  on  the  line  betweenOgle  and  Stephen- 
son counties;  August,  who  operates  the  old 
homestead;  and  Fred,  who  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  valuable  farm  of  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  Riley  county,  Kansas. 

Reared  in  Ogle  county,  Louis  J.  Otto 
remained  with  his  mother  and  assisted  in 
carrying  on  the  old  homestead.  After  the 
father's  death  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
were  added  to  the  place,  making  a  valuable 
property  of  four  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
This  they  cleared  from  all  indebtedness  and 
transformed  into  a  well  cultivated  and  high- 
ly improved  farm.  Our  subject  acquired 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  Maryland 
township.  There  he  was  married,  Decem- 
her  29,  1879,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  AnnaFosha,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  Stephenson  county.  Her  father,  John 
Fosha,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  was 
brought  to  America  when  a  child  and  reared 
in  Maryland  whence  he  came  to  Illinois 
when  a  young  man.  He  married  Minnie 
Shineman  and  located  on  the  Stephenson 
county  line,  where  he  now  resides.  Our 
subject   and   his    wife   have   eight  children, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


249 


namely:  Nettie,  William,  Henry,  Emma, 
Minnie,  Mary,  Roy  and  Walter,  all  at  home. 
For  four  years  after  fiis  marriage  Mr. 
Otto  lived  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead, 
of  which  he  owned  eighty  acres,  and  on 
selling  that  place  in  the  spring  of  1884  he 
removed  to  his  present  farm,  which  he  has 
greatly  improved  by  making  an  addition  to 
the  house,  building  a  large  barn,  and  plac- 
ing the  land  under  excellent  cultivation. 
He  is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  progressive  farmers  of  Forreston 
township,  and  in  connection  with  general 
farming  is  interested  in  dairying  and  stock- 
raising,  keeping  a  high  grade  of  stock,  both 
cattle  and  hogs.  On  national  issues  he 
supports  the  Democratic  party,  but  at  local 
election  votes  for  the  man  whom  he  be- 
lieves best  qualified  to  fill  the  office  regard- 
less of  party  affiliations.  He  has  most  ac- 
ceptably served  as  school  director  for  thir- 
teen years,  and  as  clerk  of  the  district  for 
eight  years.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
Florence  Camp,  M.  W.  A.  He  was  reared 
in  the  Catholic  church,  but  he  and  his  wife 
now  attend  the  German  Reformed  church, 
and  in  the  social  life  of  the  community  oc- 
cupy an  enviable  position,  having  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  all  who  know  them. 


BURTON  D.  KRIDLER,  of  the  well 
known  firm  of  Strickler  &  Kridler,  Polo, 
Illinois,  was  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, November  18,  1843,  and  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Lydia  (Ransom)  Kridler,  both 
of  whom  were  also  natives  of  Luzerne 
county,  the  former  born  August  15,  1809, 
and  the  latter  December  15,  181  5.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Colonel  George  Palmer  Ran- 
som, a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  1761, 
but  who  removed   with   his  father,  Samuel 

27 


Ransom,  to  Wyoming  Valley,  Pennsylvania, 
then  a  portion  of  Connecticut,  but  now 
Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania.  On  the 
26th  of  August,  1776,  Samuel  Ransom  was 
commissioned  captain  of  a  company  to  be 
organized,  and  later  with  his  company  was 
ordered  to  join  Washington's  forces.  W'ith 
him.  Captain  Ransom  took  his  son  George, 
a  lad  of  less  than  sixteen  years,  who  acted 
as  orderly  sergeant.  Their  first  battle  was 
at  Millstone,  January  20,  1777.  They  also 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Brandywine, 
Germantown,  Bound  Brook  and  Mud  Fort. 
Captain  Ransom  was  killed  in  the  Wyom- 
ing massacre,  July  3,  1778.  As  it  happened 
his  son  George  was  not  present  at  the  time, 
but  arrived  on  the  scene  a  few  days  later, 
and  helped  bury  his  father  and  other  victims 
of  the  carnage.  He  was  later  taken  prisoner 
and  taken  to  Montreal,  where  he  was  held 
until  the  following  June,  when  he  made  his 
escape  on  a  raft  in  the  St.  Lawrence  river. 
After  many  hardships  he  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing a  settlement  in  Vermont,  and  later  re- 
joined the  army,  remaining  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. 

John  Kridler  was  reared  in  his  native 
county,  and  received  a  very  limited  educa- 
tion, attending  school  for  a  short  time  when 
he  was  but  seven  years  of  age,  and  but  one  half 
day  when  he  was  eleven  years  of  age.  When 
nineteen,  he  commenced  to  learn  the  wagon- 
maker's  trade,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of 
two  years,  for  which  he  was  to  receive 
twenty-two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  year. 
Completing  his  trade,  and  having  rested  for 
a  time  and  visiting  his  old  home,  he  hired 
out  to  a  carriage-maker  at  ten  dollars  per 
month,  working  for  him  four  months.  He 
then  went  into  business  for  himself,  and  for 
a  time  had  a   hard   struggle   to    make    both 


250 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


ends  meet.  He  was  persevering  and  indus- 
trious, however,  and  from  his  earnings 
paid  off  a  mortgage  on  his  father's  place. 
On  the  8th  of  September,  1835,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia  Ran- 
som, at  which  time  his  entire  cash  cap- 
ital consisted  of  eight  dollars.  Soon  aft- 
er his  marriage  he  moved  to  Susque- 
hanna, Penns^'lvania,  where  he  opened  up 
a  small  farm.  After  spending  eighteen 
years  of  his  married  life  trying  to  make 
headway  in  his  native  state,  he  concluded 
to  try  the  prairies  of  Illinois.  Accordingly, 
in  1853,  he  moved  to  Carroll  county  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  about  twelve  miles  west  of 
Polo.  From  the  beginning  he  was  success- 
ful, and  in  addition  to  his  home  farm,  in 
due  time  he  became  the  owner  of  two  other 
farms  in  Carroll  county,  which  yielded  him 
a  generous  return  for  his  investment.  After 
residing  on  his  farm  for  thirty-one  years,  he 
moved  to  Polo,  and  there  made  his  home 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died 
June  30,  1897.  His  wife  is  yet  living  in 
Polo.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren. George  H.  was  a  member  of  the 
Fifteenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He 
died  while  on  his  way  home.  Sabina  is  the 
wife  of  Alexander  Windle,  and  they  are  liv- 
ing in  Iowa  Park,  Te.xas;  B.  D.  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  W.  H.  is  living  in  Omaha, 
Nebraska;  S.  R.  is  a  physician  of  Red  Oak, 
Iowa;  Emma  L.  married  Orris  Mosher,  and 
they  reside  in  Walnut,  Iowa;  Marian  H.  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  D.  F.  Hallett,  and  they 
reside  in  Red  Oak,  Iowa.  Two  died  in 
childhood. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  ten  years 
old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Carroll     county,    Illinois.       In    the    public 


schools  of  that  county  he  received  his  prim- 
ary education,  which  was  supplemented  by 
an  attendance  at  Mt.  Carroll  Seminary.  At 
seventeen,  he  quit  school  and  commenced 
clerking  in  the  general  store  of  Pierce  & 
Barber,  Polo,  at  the  munificent  salary  of 
seventy-tive  dollars  per  year.  He  remained 
with  that  firm  for  three  years,  but  with  an 
increase  of  salary,  and  then  entered  the 
Commercial  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  one  of  the  best  institutions  of  the 
kind  in  the  country.  After  remaining  there 
one  year  he  removed  to  Polo  and  went  into 
the  livery  business  where  Griffin's  stables 
now  stand.  He  remained  in  that  business 
for  about  two  years  and  then  traded  his 
livery  stable  for  a  grocery  store.  After  be- 
ing in  the  grocery  business  for  about  two 
years,  he  met  with  serious  reverses  which 
forced  him  to  the  wall,  leaving  him  several 
hundred  dollars  in  debt.  He  is  happy  to 
say,  however,  that  in  due  time  he  paid  out 
one  hundred  cents  on  the  dollar.  After 
meeting  with  his  loss,  he  went  on  the  road 
for  a  time  as  traveling  salesman  for  a  whole- 
sale notion  house,  and  was  also  engaged  in 
the  patent  right  business.  In  1882  he 
again  went  into  the  mercantile  business, 
purchasing  an  interest  in  the  furniture  store 
of  William  Strickler,  to  which  they  added 
dry  goods,  and  later  other  departments. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1S67,  Mr. 
Kridler  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eliza  Baker,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
C.  (North)  Baker,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Michigan,  as  was  their  daughter. 
He  is  jet  li\ing,  and  makes  his  home  with 
our  subject.  His  wife  died  in  March,  1888. 
By  this  union  there  was  one  son  born,  F. 
B.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  no- 
tion trade,  in  which  line  he  has  been  for 
the  last  eight   years.      He    is   a  graduate  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


251 


the  Polo  high  school,  and  is  a  good  business 


In  politics,  Mr.  Kridler  is  a  Republican, 
but  is  not  a  partisan.  He  prefers  to  give 
his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  inter- 
ests rather  than  to  politics.  He  has  been 
in  business  with  Mr.  Strickler  for  about 
seventeen  years,  their  store  now  being  more 
than  doable  its  original  size,  covering  a 
space  of  thirteen  thousand  five  hundred 
square  feet.  They  handle  almost  everything 
that  is  sold  in  the  large  department  stores, 
and  their  trade  is  constantly  increasing. 
They  are  up-to-date  businessmen,  and  have 
the  confidence  of  the  people. 


MRS.  MARY  |.  JOINER,  whose  farm  is 
in  Eagle  Point  township,  about  three 
and  a  half  miles  west  of  Polo,  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  one  of  the  prominent  and 
influential  pioneer  families  of  Ogle  county, 
dating  her  residence  here  from  November, 
1S37.  She  was  born  in  Delaware  county. 
New  York,  October  29,  1831,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Smith,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  who  was  born  in  1796,  and  grew 
to  manhood  there.  He  was  a  weaver  by 
trade,  but  after  his  emigration  to  the  United 
States,  in  1827,  he  located  in  Delaware 
county.  New  York,  and  turned  his  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  There  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Deborah 
Broadwell,  a  native  of  the  Empire  state  and 
a  daughter  of  Ezra  Broadwell,  who  fonght 
for  American  independence  as  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolutionary  war  and  was  a  pioneer 
settler  of  Delaware  county.  In  1837  Mr. 
Smith  brought  his  family  to  the  west  and 
settled  in  Eagle  Point  township,  Ogle  coun- 
ty, when  the  whole  region  round  about  was 
almost  an  unbroken  wilderness;  wolves  and 


deer  were  often  seen  and  the  Indians  had 
not  all  left  for  their  new  home  beyond  the 
Mississippi.  A  wonderful  transformation 
has  since  taken  place  in  the  county  and  in 
these  changes  the  Smith  family  bore  an 
active  and  prominent  part.  The  father 
entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Eagle  Point  township,  of  which  ten  acres 
had  been  broken,  as  he  purchased  the  claim 
from  another  gentleman,  and  he  bought  the 
land  from  the  government  when  it  came 
into  market.  He  first  built  a  log  house, 
in  which  the  family  li\ed  for  a  number  of 
years  while  he  was  opening  up  and  develop- 
ing his  farm,  but  it  was  later  replaced  by  a 
good  frame  residence,  and  good  barns  and 
other  out-buildings  were  also  erected.  He 
spent  his  last  years  in  retirement  in  Polo, 
and  there  passed  away  November  28,  1881, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-five  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  valued  and  honored  citizens 
of  his  community,  having  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
twice  married,  Mrs.  Joiner's  mother,  who 
died  in  1843,  being  the  first  wife.  To  them 
were  born  three  children,  the  son  being 
Henry  Smith,  who.  in  August,  1862,  en- 
listed in  the  Ninety-second  Illinois  Infantry 
for  service  in  the  Civil  war  and  died  in  the 
hospital  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  February 
13,    1863. 

Mrs.  Joiner  was  reared  in  Ogle  county, 
and  on  the  ist  of  February,  '-1855,  gave  her 
hand  in  marriage  to  William  Joiner,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  who  was  born  October  23, 
1830,  and  came  west  with  his  parents,  Alvin 
and  Anna  Joiner,  in  June,  1837.  He  grew 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  Pine 
Creek  township,  Ogle  county,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.  He  and  his 
bride  began  their  domestic  life  upon  the  old 
homestead    in    that    township,     which    he 


o  r  o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


owned  and  occupied  for  a  number  of  years. 
It  comprised  about  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  to  which  he  added  by  subsequent 
purchase  until  he  had  a  very  valuable  farm 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved.  He  was  a  successful  farmer  and 
a  very  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of 
the  community  in  which  he  lived.  On 
leaving  his  farm  in  Pine  Creek  township  he 
removed  to  the  old  Smith  homestead  in 
Eagle  Point  township,  where  his  death 
occurred  May  i8,  1864.  He  filled  several 
official  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  includ- 
ing those  of  tax  collector  and  assessor,  and 
was  a  leading  and  active  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  of  Pine  Creek.  His  remains 
were  interred  in  the  Oak  Ridge  cemetery, 
and  a  marble  slab  marks  his  resting  place. 
He  left  two  children.  Henry,  the  older,  is 
a  farmer  of  Eagle  Point  township;  he  is 
married  and  has  six  children — Beulah, 
Pearl,  Irma,  Vera,  Edna  and  Etta  Marie. 
Paulina  is  the  wife  of  William  Made,  of  the 
same  township,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren— Henry  \V.,  Mary  A.,  Nellie  E.  and 
Robert  S.,  all  attending  the  home  school. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  March 
22,  1877.  By  a  second  marriage  Mrs. 
Joiner  had  one  daughter.  Bertha,  who  mar- 
ried Wilson  Bellows,  of  Buffalo  township, 
and  is  the  mother  of  one  child,  Robert. 
Mrs.  Joiner  is  a  most  estimable  lady,  loved 
and  respected  by  all  who  know  her  for  her 
many  excellencies  of  character,  and  this 
brief  sketch  of  her  life  will  be  read  with 
interest  by  her  many  friends  throughout  the 
county. 


McFARLEN  J.    WEST,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired    life  on    his    farm    within 
the  corporate  limits  of   the   village  of   Leaf 


River,  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and 
successful  business  men  of  Ogle  county, 
with  whose  interests  he  has  been  identified 
since  November,  1856.  He  was  born  in 
Monroe  county.  New  York,  January  24, 
1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  R.  West,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  1787. 
The  family  is  of  English  origin  and  was 
founded  in  the  old  Bay  state  at  an  early 
day  in  colonial  history,  and  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolutionar}'  war.  Nathaniel  R.  West 
was  reared  in  his  native  state,  and  when  a 
young  man  removed  to  Monroe  county. 
New  York,  where  he  subsequently  married 
Miss  Esther  Barker,  a  native  of  Rensselaer 
county,  that  state,  and  a  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard Barker,  of  Monroe  county,  of  Scotch 
ancestry.  Mr.  West  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  as  a  farmer  there,  dying  in  1S37 
when  our  subject  was  only  two  years  old. 
The  mother  carefully  reared  her  children  to 
habits  of  thrift  and  industry  and  finally 
came  west  with  her  sons  to  Illinois,  locating 
at  Leaf  River,  where  she  died  in  1873,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-eight  years. 

McFarlen  J.  West  is  the  youngest  of 
the  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, who  reached  years  of  maturity.  .Amasa 
B.  came  to  Illinois  in  1844  and  entered  a 
tract  of  land  in  Ogle  county,  a  part  oi  which 
now  lies  within  the  limits  of  the  village  of 
Leaf  River.  He  located  thereon  in  1856, 
inaking  it  his  home  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  finally  sold  and  removed  to  Wisconsin 
and  spent  his  last  days  near  Sparta,  dying 
there  in  1884.  Alma  B.  married  John  G. 
Randall  and  settled  in  New  York,  but  later 
removed  to  Wisconsin,  where  her  death 
also  occurred.  Jane  A.  married  Henry 
Downer  and  is  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  review  grew  to  man- 


M.  J.  WEST. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RI-XORD. 


255 


hood  in  Monroe  county,  New  York,  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
in  Lima  Seminary.  It  was  in  1854  that  he 
came  west  and  purchased  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  adjoining  his  brother's  place  in 
Ogle  county.  At  the  end  of  two  months, 
however,  he  returned  to  his  eastern  home 
and  did  not  locate  permanently  here  until 
1856,  when  he  began  the  work  of  cultivation 
and  improvement.  His  brother  had  already 
made  some  improvements  upon  his  place, 
including  the  erection  of  a  residence,  and 
there  they  all  lived  together  for  several 
years,  while  our  subject  developed  his  own 
place.  Here  he  was  married  May  7,  1863, 
to  Miss  Margaret  E.  Waggoner,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  R. 
Waggoner,  who  removed  here  from  the 
Reystone  state  in  1S48.  She  was  educated 
at  Mt.  Morris,  and  prior  to  her  marriage 
was  a  successful  teacher.  Her  brother. 
Prof.  Joseph  Waggoner,  was  the  first  prin- 
cipal of  the  Mt.  Morris  school.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  West  began  their  domestic  life  upon 
his  farm  and  soon  afterward  commenced 
to  build  their  present  residence,  which  is 
a  large,  neat  and  substantial  dwelling,  sur- 
rounded by  good  barns  and  outbuildings.  To 
his  original  purchase  he  added  until  he  had 
three  hundred  acres,  through  which  the  rail- 
road passes,  and  he  has  since  laid  off  and 
platted  a  portion  of  the  present  town.  He 
has  sold  several  acres  of  his  farm  and  still 
owns  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres. 
He  has  ever  taken  a  deep  and  commendable 
interest  in  the  growth  and  development  of 
the  village,  has  materially  aided  in  its  ad- 
vancement and  prosperity,  and  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Leaf  River  Bank,  of 
which  he  is  an  original  stockholder  and  di- 
rector. He  has  given  a  hearty  support  to 
all  enterprises   that    tend    to   the    improve- 


ment of  the  place  and  to  those  interests 
which  are  calculated  to  advance  the  moral, 
intellectual  or  social  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West 
are  as  follows:  Henry  S.  is  married  and  is 
the  present  cashier  of  the  Leaf  River  Bank; 
Elsie  K.  is  a  cultureif  and  refined  young 
lady,  who  graduated  at  Cornell  Unis'ersity, 
in  Iowa,  and  was  a  teacher  in  that  institu- 
tion for  two  years,  but  resigned  to  accept 
her  present  position  as  general  secretary 
of  the  Young  Woman's  Christian  As- 
sociation with  head<]uarters  at  Detroit, 
Michigan.  She  makes  her  home  with  her 
parents.  Wilbur  M.  is  a  business  man 
of  Duluth,  Minnesota.  George  A.  died  in 
September,  1S97,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years.  They  also  ha\'e  an  adopted  son, 
Fred  U.  West,  son  of  Mr.  West's  sister. 
He  is  a  well-educated  young  man  and  is 
now  ser\'ing  as  postal    clerk   or    mail  agent. 

Mr.  \\'est  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  Millard  Fillmore,  later  was  identified 
with  the  Republican  part}'  for  some  years, 
but  being  a  strong  temperance  man  and  be- 
lieving that  to  be  the  great  question  before 
the  people,  he  jcjined  the  Prohibition  party, 
with  which  he  now  affiliates.  .\lth(3Ugh  he 
has  never  sought  office,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  village  board  and  served  as 
trustee  for  some  years.  He  and  his  wife 
were  among  the  original  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Leaf  River, 
and  he  is  now  the  oldest  member  of  the 
class  at  that  place.  Earnest  and  sincere 
Christian  people,  they  are  active  and  zealous 
workers  in  the  church,  and  for  many  years 
Mr.  West  has  served  as  one  of  its  officers. 
Wherever  known  they  are  held  in  high  re- 
gard and  their  frieucfs  throuiihout  Oirle 
county  are  numerous. 


356 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


JOHN  LIGHT,  who  is  now  living  retired 
in  Leaf  River,  has  been  identified  with 
this  section  of  the  state  for  more  than  sixty- 
one  years,  and  has  contribnted  to  its  mate- 
rial progress  and  prosperity  to  an  extent 
equalled  by  but  few  of  his  contemporaries. 
He  early  had  the  sagacity  and  prescience  to 
discern  the  eminence  which  the  future  had 
in  store  for  this  great  and  growing  country, 
and  acting  in  accordance  with  the  dictates 
of  his  faith  and  judgment  he  reaped,  in  the 
fullness  of  time,  the  generous  benefits  which 
are  the  just  recompense  of  indomitable  in- 
dustry, spotless  integrity  and  marvelous  en- 
terprise. 

Mr.  Light  was  born  July  17,  1S12,  in 
Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  m  that  por- 
tion which  now  forms  a  part  of  Lebanon 
county.  His  ancestors  were  originally  from 
German}',  but  for  many  generations  the 
family  made  their  home  in  Pennsylvania,  it 
being  founded  in  Lancaster  county  by  John 
Peter  Light  in  1739,  and  for  several  years 
its  representatives  were  among  the  most 
substantial  men  of  that  region.  Martin 
Light,  father  of  our  subject, was  born  there, 
and  married  Miss  Barbara  Overalls,  also  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county  and  a  daughter 
of  Christian  Overalls.  She  had  a  paternal 
uncle  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  Martin  Light  followed  farming  in 
his  native  county,  but  when  it  was  divided 
his  farm  lay  in  Lebanon  county.  There  he 
continued  to  live  until  called   from  this  life. 

John  Light  had  limited  advantages  in 
early  life,  and  is  almost  wholly  self-edu- 
cated. Leaving  home  in  1836,  he  went  to 
Ohio,  where  he  spent  one  winter,  and  in 
1837  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  locating 
in  Leaf  River  township,  where  he  assisted 
the  family  with  whom  he  came  west  in 
building  a    house    and   in   breaking   prairie. 


He  returned  to  Pennsylvania  in  the  fall  of 
that  year,  but  in  the  spring  of  1838  he  again 
came  to  Ogle  county  and  bought  a  claim, 
comprising  three-quarters  of  a  section,  for 
which  he  paid  three  hundred  dollars.  This 
he  later  entered  from  the  government  and 
built  thereon  a  log  house.  As  it  was  cov- 
ered with  timber,  he  opened  up  a  prairie 
farm  first  and  then  began  to  clear  and  culti- 
vate his  timber  land. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Light  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Catherine  Scugar,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1824.  Her 
father,  Michael  Scugar  died  when  she  was 
a  child  and  her  mother  subsequently  married 
again.  With  the  family  she  come  to  Illi- 
nois in  1843.  J^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Light  began 
housekeeping  in  true  pioneer  style  in  a 
little  log  cabin  with  wooden  benches  for 
chairs,  a  homemade  bedstead  and  other  rude 
furniture  then  so  common  in  the  homes 
on  the  frontier.  Two  or  three  years  later 
this  home  was  replaced  by  a  good  frame 
residence,  and  subsequently  a  regular  Penn- 
sylvania barn  with  a  basement  was  also 
built.  In  connection  with  farming  Mr. 
Light  engaged  in  merchandising  for  some 
years,  starting  in  business  at  Lightville  with 
a  small  stock  of  groceries,  but  as  he  pros- 
pered in  the  undertaking  he  increased  his 
stock  from  time  to  time  until  he  had  a  good 
general  store,  which  he  conducted  for  ten 
years.  When  he  began  business  he  hauled 
his  goods  from  Chicago,  the  trip  occupying 
from  seven  to  twelve  days.  After  operating 
his  first  farm  for  twenty-one  years,  he  rented 
it  and  moved  to  Stephenson  county,  where 
he  bought  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
and  later  a  similar  amount,  it  being  divided 
into  four  farms  of  a  quarter  section  each. 
In  that  county  he  made  his  home  for  twenty 
years,  but  since  1885  has  lived  retired  in  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


25; 


village  of  Leaf  River.  Besides  the  property 
already  mentioned  he  owned  more  land  in 
Ogle  county,  and  at  one  time  was  the  largest 
land  owner  and  tax-payer  in  Stephenson 
county,  and  owns  a  substantial  home  in 
Leaf  River.  On  coming  to  the  state  he  had 
no  means,  and  like  the  immortal  Lincoln, 
he  made  rails  for  several  years,  splitting 
some  thirty  thousand  of  them.  His  success 
is  attributed  to  his  own  industry,  economy 
and  sound  judgment,  as  well  as  to  his  in- 
tegrity and  fair  dealing. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Light  were  born  se\en 
children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  to 
each  of  whom  he  gave  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  In  order  of  birth  they 
are  as  follows.  Tena,  wife  of  Henry  Schra- 
der,  of  Leaf  River;  Martin,  who  is  married 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  Ogle  county; 
John,  Jr.,  a  farmer  of  Stephenson  county, 
who  died,  leaving  a  wife  and  two  children; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Dr.  John  Pcnningburg,  a 
physician  of  Herman;  Henry,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  veter- 
inary surgery  in  I^ockford;  Mary,  wife  of 
Riley  Motter,  a  farmer  of  Stephenson  count}-; 
Joseph,  a  farmer  of  Stephenson  county,  who 
was  accidentally  killed  in  October,  1898, 
and  left  a  wife  and  eight  children.  The 
parents  are  consistent  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  and  have  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  them 
on  account  of  their  sterling  worth  and  ex- 
emplary lives. 


CW.  JOHNSON,  residing  in  Grand  De- 
tour, is  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  born  in 
Jefferson  county,  May  27,  1845,  and  is  the 
son  of  Aaron  H.  and  Marietta  (Boone)  John- 
son, the  former  a  native  of  Virginia,  born 
January  10,   1821,  and  the  latter  of   Boons- 


borough,  Maryland,  born  July  17,  1822. 
Aaron  Johnson  was  the  grandson  of  Thomas 
Johnson,  a  Revolutionary  soldier  who  fought 
throughout  the  entire  war.  Marietta  Boone 
was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Boone,  who  was 
one  of  the  family  owning  the  site  of  the 
present  city  of  Boonsborough,  Mar}land, 
and  who  was  a  grandnephew  of  the  re- 
nowned Daniel  Boone,  of  Kentucky.  In 
early  life  Aaron  Johnson  followed  his  trade 
of  shoemaker,  continuing  in  that  occupation 
as  long  as  he  remained  in  his  native  state. 
In  October,  i  S46,  he  came  with  his  family 
to  Ogle  count}-,  coming  through  the  entire 
distance  by  wagon.  On  his  arrival  he  took 
up  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in 
Pine  Creek  township,  where  he  continued  to 
remain  and  farm  until  his  death  June  22, 
1867.  His  wife  is  yet  living  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  children.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity:  Charles  W.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  J.  C,  living  in  Fulton  county. 
New  York;  H.  N.,  living  in  Dixon,  Illinois; 
Mary  V.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-one 
years;  Susan  K. ,  wife  of  Frank  H.  Wilber, 
living  near  Polo;  and  A.  M.,  living  east  of 
Polo  on  the  home  farm.  In  politics  Aaron 
Johnson  was  originally  aii  old  line  \\'hig, 
but  became  a  Republican  on  the  organiza- 
tion of  that  party.  He  was  an  earnest 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  of  which 
body  his  wife  is  also  a   member. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Ogle 
county  when  but  one  year  old,  and  in  the 
public  schools  of  Pine  Creek  township  he 
received  his  primary  education.  This  was 
supplemented  by  an  attendance  at  Rock 
River  Seminary,  at  Mt.  Morris.  After  at- 
tending one  term,  his  patriotism  got  the 
better  of  him  and  he  enlisted  April  24,  1S64, 
in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Fortieth 


2  58 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
went  first  to  Camp  Butler,  near  Springfield, 
Illinois,  and  from  there  he  went  with  his 
regiment  to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  where 
they  were  assigned  to  guard  the  Memphis  & 
Charleston  railroad.  In  the  discharge  of 
this  duty  they  had  a  number  of  skirmishes 
with  guerrillas,  but  were  in  no  regular  battle. 
At  the  close  of  his  term  of  service  he  was  mus- 
tered out  October  29,  1864,  and  has  yet  in 
his  possession  the  card  of  thanks  issued  and 
signed  by  Abraham  Lincoln. 

On  his  return  home,  Mr.  Johnson  again 
entered  the  seminary  at  Mt.  Morris  and  re- 
mained one  term.  After  leaving  school, 
he  worked  for  his  father  two  years,  then 
taught  school  in  winter  and  farmed  in  sum- 
mer for  the  next  seven  years.  On  the  29th 
of  December,  1868,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Saville  M.  Bovey,  who  was 
born  March  5,  1850,  in  Grand  Detour  town- 
ship, and  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Barbara 
(Funk)  Bovey,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Washington  county,  Maryland,  the  form- 
er born  November  5,  1814,  and  the  latter 
December  8,  18 16.  Samuel  Bovey  was  a 
farmer,  and  in  1 84G  came  to  Ogle  county 
and  located  in  Grand  Detour  township, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  January, 
I  89 1.  His  wife  died  August  20,  1S8S.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  five  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity.  Lydia  married  J. 
H.  l^rubaker,  and  they  live  in  Anthonj', 
Kansas.  Saville  M.  is  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. Ella  B.  is  the  wife  of  George  R. 
Rhodes,  and  they  are  livingonthe  old  home 
farm  in  Grand  Detour  township.  Katie  is 
the  wife  of  H.  N.  Johnson,  and  they  reside 
in  Dixon,  Illinois.  Baibara  is  the  wife  of 
D.  M.  Fahrney,  and  they  also  live  in  Dixon. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  six  children  were 
born.      Clarence  died    in    infancy.      Bertiia 


O. ,  born  November  8,  1870,  married  Jer- 
ome F.  Cox,  and  they  live  on  our  subject's 
farm  in  Grand  Detour  township.  Nellie  J., 
born  January  21,  1873,  married  Amos  L. 
Palmer,  and  they  reside  in  the  village  of 
Grand  Detour.  Francis  M.,  born  January 
22,  1S75,  is  living  with  his  father.  E.May, 
born  December  21,  1876,  is  li\ing  with  her 
parents.  Bessie  L.,  born  March  19,  1886, 
is  also  living  at  home. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  Mr.  Johnson  com- 
menced farming  for  himself,  renting  the  farm 
of  his  father-in-law  in  Grand  Detour  town- 
ship, and  in  1874  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  from  the  heirs  of  Peter  New- 
comer. To  his  original  purchase,  as  his 
means  increased,  he  made  additions,  until 
he  has  now  four  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
acres  of  well  improved  and  valuable  land. 
In  addition  to  the  raising  of  grain,  he  has 
made  a  specialty  of  raising  Poland  China 
hogs,  having  usually  on  his  place  from  one 
hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  head.  He 
has  also  had  on  his  farm  a  number  of  Mor- 
gan and  Norman  horses,  and  Durham  short- 
horn cattle.  Conservative  in  his  work,  he 
has  been  quite  successful  in  what  he  has 
undertaken,  and  is  numbered  among  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  the  county. 

In  politics  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  Republican. 
He  has  been  collector  one  year;  highway 
commissioner  eight  years;  school  trustee  eight 
years;  school  director  two  terms;  justice  of 
the  peace  sixteen  years;  and  is  now  serving 
his  seventh  year  as  supervisor  of  his  town- 
ship. While  on  the  board  he  has  been 
chairman  of  the  judiciar)',  educational,  fees 
and  salaries,  and  poor  farm  committees, 
and  a  member  of  the  claim  committee.  He 
has  represented  his  party  twice  in  state  con- 
ventions at  Springfield,  and  in  his  party 
work  he  has  always  endeavored  to  keep  the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


259 


rights  of  the  people  in  view.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  as  is  also  his 
wife  and  family,  and  in  the  work  of  the 
church  takes  a  deep  interest.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  holding  membership  with  Post 
No.  1 16,  at  Oregon. 


DANIEL  CASE  is  a  man  whose  genial 
temperment,  sound  judgment  and  well- 
proved  integrity  have  brought  to  him  the 
esteem  and  friendship  of  a  host  of  acquaint- 
ances far  and  near.  On  coming  to  the  coun- 
ty in  March,  1874,  he  located  on  section  8, 
Marion  township,  and  for  some  time  his  at- 
tention was  entirely  occupied  by  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  but  since  18S8  he  has  made 
his  home  in  Stillman  Valley,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  his  farming  interests  he  has  since 
dealt  in  all  kinds  of  farm  machinery. 

Mr.  Case  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born 
in  Hunterdon  county,  June  22,  1842,  and  is 
a  son  of  Hon.  John  H.  Case,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  the  same  county  in  1S07.  His 
grandfather,  Daniel  Case,  commanded  a 
company  and  served  with  distinction  in  the 
war  of  18 12.  From  wild  land  he  developed 
the  farm  in  Hunterdon  county  on  which  our 
subject  and  his  father  were  both  born.  On 
attaining  to  man's  estate  the  latter  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Bennett,  a  native  of  War- 
ren county.  New  Jersey,  and  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  Bennett,  who  was  an  early  settler  of 
Warren  county,  but  spent  his  last  days  in 
Hunterdon  county.  Throughout  life  John 
H.  Case  followed  farming  on  the  old  home- 
stead and  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  intfuential  men  of  his  county.  He  was 
called  upon  to  fill  many  local  positions  of 
honor  and  trust  and  for  two  or  more  terms 
represented  his  district   in  the  state  legisla- 


ture with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  died 
in  1869,  at  the  age  of  si.\ty-two  years,  and 
his  wife  who  sur\'ived  him  for  some  time, 
passed  away  in  1893,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
namely:  Sarah,  wife  of  Jonas  Robins,  of 
Hunterdon  county,  New  Jersey;  Phoebe,  de- 
ceased wife,  of  Joseph  Hart;  Isaac  B.,  who 
owns  and  operates  the  old  homestead;  Cath- 
erine died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years; 
Daniel,  of  this  sketch;  Dr.  Nathan,  who  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Rig- 
glesville.  New  Jersey,  for  several  years, 
but  is  now  deceased;  Howard,  a  commis- 
sion merchant  of  New  York  city;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Anderson  Conover,  of  Foreston, 
Ohio. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  Daniel 
Case  grew  to  manhood  and  had  the  advan- 
tages of  a  good  education,  completing  his 
studies  at  the  Raraton  high  school.  On 
leaving  the  school  room  he  assisted  his  fa- 
ther in  the  labors  of  the  home  farm  for 
some  years,  and  thus  obtained  a  good  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  the  occupation  which  he 
has  made  his  life  work.  In  Hunterdon 
county,  September  23,  1S73,  he  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Mary  M.  Smith,  a  na- 
tive of  the  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Smith,  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of 
that  locality.  Three  children  have  been 
born  of  this  union:  Robert  G.,  Elizabeth 
and  Emma,  all  of  whom  have  been  well 
educated  and  are  now  at  home. 

In  the  spring  following  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Case  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and 
in  Marion  township  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  to  which  he  subsequently 
added  an  adjoining  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  making    a   line   farm    of  two  hundred 


26o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


and  eighty  acres,  which  he  placed  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  improved  until 
it  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  places  of  the 
community.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  also  engaged  in  breeding  and 
raising  a  good  grade  of  stock — horses,  cat- 
tle and  hogs.  In  1888  he  rented  the  farm 
and  removed  to  Stillman  Valley,  where,  as 
previously  stated,  he  is  now  doing  a  suc- 
cessful business  as  a  dealer  in  farm  machin- 
ery, mowers,  binders,  etc. 

Mr.  Case  has  been  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who  passed 
away  May  i,  1898,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Stillman  Valley  cemetery.  She  was  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Congregational  church, 
to  which  he  and  his  family  also  belong. 
Socially  he  affiliates  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  has  held  office  in  both  orders.  Politic- 
ally his  support  has  always  been  given  the 
Democracy  since  casting  his  first  vote  for 
General  George  B.  McClellan  in  1S64.  In 
Marion  township  he  served  on  the  school 
board  for  a  number  of  years,  and  since  com- 
ing to  Stillman  Valley  has  occupied  a  simi- 
lar position.  He  has  identified  himself  with 
every  enterprise  for  the  public  good  and  is 
justly  numbered  among  the  valued  and  use- 
ful citizens  of  the  community. 


WH.  CUNNINGHAM,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing merchants  of  Polo,  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Exchange  Bank  of  the  same 
city,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, May  20,  1 84 1,  and  is  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Sprickler)  Cunningham,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  the  former  born  in  1808,  and 
the  latter  in  1822.  Joseph  Cunningham 
was  the  son   of   David  Cunningham,  also   a 


native  of  Maryland,  and  who  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  cooper  during  his  entire  life. 
In  his  family  were  six  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. In  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
state  Joseph  Cunningham  obtained  his  edu- 
cation, and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years 
went  into  the  mercantile  business,  opening 
up  a  general  store  at  Cunningham's  Cross 
Roads,  now  Cearfoss,  Maryland.  He  con- 
tinued in  that  business  for  nearly  forty 
years,  retiring  from  the  same  about  fifteen 
3-ears  before  his  death,  which  occurred  De- 
cember 15,  1875.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Elizabeth  Sprickler,  by 
whom  he  had  eleven  children,  four  only 
now  living — W.  H.,  Andrew,  Miley  and 
Mary.  With  the  exception  of  two,  all  died 
young.  Those  two  were  John,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty  \ears,  and  George,  when 
fifty-six  years  old.  The  mother  is  yet  liv- 
ing in  Washington  county,  Maryland.  In 
politics  Joseph  Cunningham  was  an  old-line 
W^hig  until  the  organization  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  when  he  gave  adhesion  to  that 
organization,  the  principles  of  which  he  ad- 
vocated during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
For  some  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  also  school  director  a  number  of 
years. 

The  common  schools  of  his  native  county 
afforded  the  only  opportunity  for  our  sub- 
ject to  obtain  an  education,  but  he  made 
the  best  use  of  his  opportunities  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  old,  when  he  quit  the  school 
room  that  he  might  begin  in  earnest  the  bat- 
tle of  life.  One  year  later,  in  1858,  became 
to  Ogle  county,  and  for  two  years  worked 
on  a  farm  owned  by  Henry  Newcomer.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  went  to  Polo 
and  commenced  clerking  in  the  grocery 
store  of  H.  N.  Murray,  the  same  store  and 
in   the   same   line  of   business   in   which   he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


261 


himself  is  now  engaged.  For  five  and  a 
half  years  he  continued  in  Mr.  Murray's  em- 
ploy, and  then,  in  partnership  with  John 
Bingaman,  purchased  the  stock  of  the  Mur- 
ray estate  and  continued  the  business. 
This  partnership  lasted  for  nineteen  and  a 
half  years,  when  Mr.  Bingaman  withdrew, 
since  which   time    he  has   continued   alone. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  18G8,  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Deliah  Sanford,  who  was  born  in  Buffalo 
township,  and  daughter  of  Harrison  and 
Bridget  (Deyo)  Sanford,  the  former  born  in 
Middletown,  Delaware  county.  New  York, 
February  16,  1S12,  and  who  died  July  i, 
1866,  and  the  latter  born  in  the  same  coun- 
ty and  state,  March  14,  1814,  and  who  died 
October  19,  1869.  They  were  married  in 
1835.  Harrison  Sanford  came  west  in  1835 
in  company  of  a  party  of  New  York  people, 
and  took  up  some  land  in  Buffalo  township, 
and  followed  farming  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  then  went  to  Oldtown  and  established  a 
hotel  there,  which  he  ran  until  1854,  when 
he  came  to  Polo  and  built  a  hotel  where 
the  Exchange  National  Bank  now  stands, 
and  called  it  the  Sanford  House.  He  occu- 
pied that  house  for  some  years.  In  1S70 
the  building  was  torn  down, and  the  present 
building  erected  by  the  stockholders  of  the 
Exchange  National  Bank,  of  which  Mr. Cun- 
ningham  is   \ice-president. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cunningham  four  chil- 
dren ha\e  been  born:  Cora  is  living  at  home 
with  her  parents.  F.  S.  is  assisting  his  fa- 
ther in  the  store.  Fannie  married  Frank 
Brown,  and  they  have  two  children.  They 
reside  in  Sycamore,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
the  grocery  and  drug  business.  Carrie  died 
May  7,   1 89 1,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 

In  addition  to  his  mercantile  business, 
Mr.  Cunningham   has  been  connected  with 


the  Exchange  National  Bank  since  it  was  or- 
ganized, April  15,  1871,  being  one  of  its 
charter  members.  Since  1885  he  has  filled 
the  office  of  \ice-president  of  the  same.  He 
is  a  good  business  man,  conservatix'e  in  all 
things,  and  has  the  entire  confidence  of  the 
business  community.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  but  not  a  partisan.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  Mason,  holding  membership  with 
blue  lodge  at  Polo,  and  the  commandery  at 
Dixon. 


GEORGE  SMITH,  who  is  operating  a 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
on  section  32,  Woosung  township,  is  a  good 
representative  of  the  young,  enterprising 
farmers  of  Ogle  county.  He  was  born  in 
Rockbury,  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
April  21,  iSGi,  and  is  the  son  of  John  V. 
and  Sarah  (Smith)  Smith,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Washington  count}',  Mary- 
land. They  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren: George,  our  subject;  Fannie  E.,  wife 
of  Fred  Seelemur,  a  farmer  of  Jones  county, 
Iowa;  Jennie  G.,  wife  of  Frank  H.  Wilson, 
of  Buffalo  township;  Ida  E.,  wife  of  James 
Hawkins,  of  Coleta,  Whiteside  county,  Illi- 
nois; and  Anna  D.,  wife  of  Elmer  R.  Oster- 
houdt,  residing  on  the  home  place,  and  as- 
sisting in  carrying  on  the  farm.  The  great- 
grandfather, John  Smith,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland. 

The  paternal  grandfather,  Solomon 
Smith,  was  a  native  of  Frederick  county, 
Maryland,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  who 
spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native  state.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Hutzel,  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  and  their 
children  were  John  V.,  the  father  of  our 
subject;  Susan  L.;  Jacob  L.,  a  farmer  of 
Buffalo  township;  and  Adam   W.,  a  real  es- 


263 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


state  dealer  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  The 
great-grandfather  on  the  mother's  side  was 
John  Hutzel,  also  a  native  of  Maryland. 

Sarah  E.  Smith,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
Smith,  both  natives  of  Maryland.  John 
Smith  came  to  Illinois  at  the  same  time  as 
did  the  father  of  our  subject.  He  located 
on  the  farm  which  was  later  purchased  by 
his  son-in-law,  and  which  is  now  the  home 
of  our  subject 

John  V.  Smith  was  reared  in  his  native 
state,  and  he  there  married.  In  his  native 
state  he  worked  for  wages,  and  he  there  re- 
mained until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  and  the  first  year  after  his 
arrival,  rented  and  cultivated  a  farm  in 
Woosung  township.  He  was  then  one  year 
on  a  rented  farm  in  Pine  Creek  township, 
after  which  he  removed  to  the  farm  now 
owned  by  his  heirs.  He  made  a  humble 
start  in  Ogle  county,  having  not  to  exceed 
one  hundred  dollars  on  his  arrival  here,  but 
he  was  industrious  and  attentive  to  business. 
and  left  at  his  death  a  fine  estate.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Republican,  but  was  never  an 
office  seeker  or  a  politician  in  the  common 
acceptation  of  the  term.  He  believed  it  to 
be  the  duty  of  every  voter  to  cast  his  ballot 
intelligently  and  as  his  best  judgment  dic- 
tated. In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran.  He 
died  at  his  home  in  Woosung  township, 
March  5,  1888,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine 
years  and  ten  months.  He  was  a  good  man 
and  had  no  fears  of  death.  His  widow  is 
yet  living,  and  is  making  her  home  with  her 
husband's  brother,  Jacob  L.  Smith,  of  Buf- 
falo township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  four 
yea:rs  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Ogle  county.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
home  farm,  and  was   educated  in  the  com- 


mon schools  and  in  the  high  school  at  Polo. 
On  attaining  his  majority,  he  rented  the 
home  farm  for  one  year,  and  the  next 
worked  the  place  in  company  with  his 
father.  He  was  married  December  21, 
1887,  to  Miss  Harriet  E.  \\'ilson,  who  was 
born  in  Buffalo  township,  and  a  daughter  of 
Jesse  and  Ann  E.  (Hyatt)  Wilson,  the 
former  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
and  the  latter  of  Washington  county,  same 
state.  Mr.  Wilson  came  to  Ogle  county 
soon  after  his  marriage  and  located  in 
Buffalo  township,  where  he  still  resides. 
Mrs.  Smith  was  one  of  their  five  children, 
the  others  being  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Daniel 
Isham,  of  Buffalo  township;  Newton,  who 
died  in  childhood;  Charles  \V.,  a  merchant 
of  Polo;  and  Franklin  II.,  who  lives  with 
his  parents. 

Since  attaining  his  majority,  George 
Smith  has  been  working  the  home  farm. 
The  estate  is  yet  intact,  and  since  the 
death  of  the  father  the  children  have  made 
some  valuable  improvements  on  it,  having 
erected  a  large  barn  and  other  outbuildings. 
In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Republican.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith  have  one  son,  John  W. 
The  family  are  highly  esteemed  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  reside  and  their 
friends  are  many. 


SPENCER  LAWSHE,  who  is  retired  from 
active  business,  is  now  a  leading  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Byron.  Since 
copiing  to  this  state  in  1856  he  has  been 
principall}'  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  has  by  shrewd  judgment,  excellent 
management,  and  fair  business  transactions, 
acquired  sufficient  property  to  enable  him 
to  give  up  active  labor  and  enjoy  the  results 
of   his  former  toil. 


SPENCER  LAWSHE. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


:65 


Mr.  Lawshe  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
his  birth  occurring  in  Hunterdon  county, 
December  24,  1826.  His  grandfather,  Jacob 
Lawshe,  who  was  of  German  descent,  hved 
to  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety-nine  years. 
The  father,  Henry  Lawshe,  who  was  also  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  grew  to  manhood  in 
Hunterdon  county,  and  there  married  Sarah 
Carter,  who  was  born  in  the  same  county 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  Carter.  Mr. 
Lawshe  was  a  weaver  by  trade  but  also  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  met  with  good  suc- 
cess in  his  undertaking,  accumulating  a  com- 
petence. He  died  in  his  native  state  in 
1870,  and  his  wife  passed  away  a  few  years 
previously.  Si.x  children,  five  sons  and  one 
daughter,  constituted  their  family,  namely: 
William,  who  married  and  settled  in  New 
Jersey,  but  later  removed  to  Austin,  Illinois, 
where  his  death  occurred;  George  married 
and  spent  his  entire  life  in  New  Jersey; 
Spencer  is  the  ne.xt  of  the  family;  Hannah 
is  the  wife  of  John  Dilts,  a  farmer  of  New  Jer- 
sey; Lewis  H.  married  and  spent  his  entire  life 
in  New  Jersey;  and  Jacob  R.  is  a  business 
man  of  Newark,  that  state. 

Until  eighteen  years  of  age  Spencer 
Lawshe  remained  with  his  father,  assisting 
in  the  labors  of  the  home  farm  and  attend- 
ing the  local  schools  to  a  limited  e.xtent,  his 
education  being  mostly  self-acquired  since 
reaching  manhood.  He  served  a  three 
years'  apprenticeship  to  the  tanner's  and 
currier's  trade,  and  then  followed  that  occu- 
pation for  five  years  in  his  native  state. 
There  he  married  Rachel  Tomlinson,  who 
died  after  a  short  married  life  of  a  year 
and  a  half.  After  her  death  he  came 
west  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  in  1856,  and 
for  one  year  operated  a  rented  farm  in 
Winnebago  county.  He  then  located  near 
Freeport    and    followed    the    same    occu- 


pation there  for  three  years.  In  i860 
he  became  a  resident  of  Carroll  count}', 
where,  after  renting  for  one  year,  lie  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty- 
five  acres.  While  there  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, March  20,  1864,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Ruby  A.  Rogers,  who  was  also 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Hunterdon 
county.  New  Jersey.  Her  father,  Major 
Rogers,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  from 
whence  he  removed  to  New  Jersey  when  a 
young  man,  and  was  married  there  to  Eliz- 
abeth Bodine,  a  native  of  that  state,  and 
in  1856  they  came  to  Carroll  county,  Illi- 
nois, locating  on  a  farm.  In  the  east  Mr. 
Rogers  worked  at  his  trade  of  shoemaking 
and  also  taught  vocal  music. 

After  carrying  on  his  farm  in  Carroll 
county  for  about  five  years,  Mr.  Lawshe 
sold  and  moved  to  Rockford,  where  he  pur- 
chased residence  property  and  engaged  in 
the  express  business  for  sixteen  years.  In 
1S84  he  became  a  resident  of  Ogle  county, 
and  first  bought  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
two  acres  of  good  farming  land  in  Rock- 
vale  township,  two  miles  from  Byron, 
which  was  well  improved,  and  to  which  he 
later  added  an  adjoining  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  making  a  valuable 
place  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-two  acres. 
His  time  and  attention  were  devoted  to  its 
further  improvement  and  cultivation  until 
the  spring  of  1897,  when  he  rented  the 
farm  and  removed  to  Byron,  where  he  has 
since  lived  retired. 

Of  the  eight  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lawshe,  six  are  now  living.  Major  R. 
died  in  childhood;  Emma  is  the  wife  of 
Sherman  Taylor,  a  farmer  of  Marion  town- 
ship; Alice  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years; 
George  H.  is  a  farmer  of  Shelby  county, 
Iowa.      Carrie  is  the  wife   of  Amos  Blanch- 


2  66 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


ard,  a  farmer  of  Ogle  county;  Charles  S. 
is  a  business  man  of  Cfiicago;  J.  Franklin 
is  in  California,  and  Fred  H.  is  at  home. 
Politically  Mr.  Lawshe  was  first  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  party,  casting  his  first 
vote  for  Zachary  Taylor,  but  joined  the  Re- 
publican party  on  its  organization  and  has 
since  fought  under  its  banner.  He  has 
never  cared  for  the  honors  or  emoluments 
of  public  office,  but  has  always  faithfully  dis- 
charged his  duties  of  citizenship  and  has 
supported  those  interests  which  he  believed 
calculated  to  prove   of  public  benefit. 


HENRY  R.  MEYERS,  a  prosperous  and 
enterprising  farmer  residing  on  section 
13,  Lincoln  township,  owns  and  operates 
two  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  is  a  native 
of  the  township,  born  January  16,  184S. 
His  father,  Jonathan  Meyers,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1S12. 
His  grandfather,  Jacob  Meyers,  was  a  native 
of  German)'.  In  his  native  state  Jonathan 
Meyers  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  his  youth 
learned  the  mason's  trade.  In  early  man- 
hood he  went  to  Hagerstown,  Maryland, 
and  there  worked  at  his  trade  a  few  years, 
then  came  west  and  settled  in  Ogle  county. 
This  was  in  1837.  Here  he  took  up  a  claim 
of  several  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Lincoln 
township,  and  later  entered  several  tracts 
and  opened  up  three  or  four  farms.  He 
became  in  due  time  a  very  prosperous  and 
vvelbto-do  farmer.  He  was  married  in  this 
county  to  Elizabeth  Redman,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  came  to  the  new  world  a 
young  lady,  with  an  aunt,  and  after  residing 
in  Pennsylvania  a  few  years  came  west  and 
located  in  White  Eagle,  Maryland  townsliip. 
Ogle  county,  where  she  was  residing  at  the 
time  she  gave  her  hand    in   marriage  to  Jon- 


athan Meyers.  They  became  the  parents 
of  four  sons  and  three  daughters  and  all  but 
one  grew  to  mature  years.  Peter  R.  owns 
and  operates  the  old  homestead.  Lydia  is 
the  wife  of  Lewis  Boby,  of  Forreston. 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  McCutcheon, 
of  Forreston.  Henry  R.  is  ne.xt  in  order  of 
birth.  Jonathan  R.  resides  in  Forreston. 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  E.  Garman, 
of  Maryland  township.  Aaron  R.  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years. 

On  one  of  his  farms  in  Lincoln  township 
Jonathan  Meyers  located  with  his  bride, 
and  there  they  reared  their  children.  To 
his  agricultural  interests  Mr.  Meyers  gave 
his  undivided  time  and  attention,  caring 
nothing  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of 
public  office.  He  was  a  thoroughly  prac- 
tical farmer,  and  withal  industrious,  and  it 
is  no  wonder  that  success  crowned  his  efforts. 
His  wife  was  called  to  her  reward  January 
16,  1890,  and  he  followed  her  July  I  5,  1893. 
They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
good  Christian  people,  and  worthy  of  the 
respect  in  which  they  were  held. 

Henry  R.  Meyers  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  on  the  home  farm  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  West  Grove  school.  He  was 
early  given  his  regular  duties  to  perform  in 
operating  the  home  farm  andjgrew  up  to  be 
a  thoroughly  practical  farmer.  He  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  twenty-nine  years  old,  being  a  great 
help  to  his  parents.  He  was  married  in 
Lincoln  township,  January  13,  1S78,  to 
Miss  Rebecca  Elizabeth  Mase,  also  a  native 
of  Lincoln  township.  Ogle  county,  and 
daughter  of  John  M.  Mase,  a  nati\e  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  there  grew  to  manhood 
and  came  to  Ogle  county  a  young  man,  here 
marrying  Miss  Ellen  Meyers,  a  native  of 
Marjland,  who  came  to  Ogle  county  when 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


267 


but  two  years  old  with  her  father,  Jacob 
Meyers, who  was  also  a  native  of  Maryland. 
By  this  union  four  children  were  born,  of 
whom  but  one  is  now  living,  Oliver  Grant, 
a  young  man  at  home.  Roy  died  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  months,  Luella  at  seven 
months,  and   Sylvia   at   eight   months. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Meyers 
erected  a  dwelling  house  on  his  present 
farm, and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  moved 
to  the  place  where  he  has  since  resided. 
After  moving  to  the  place  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  its  further  improvement,  erecting 
a  good  substantial  barn,  granary,  and  vari- 
ous outbuildings,  set  out  an  orchard,  planted 
shade  and  ornamental  trees,  remodeled  the 
house,  until  he  to-day  has  one  of  the  best- 
improved  farms  in  the  township. 

Politically  Mr.  Meyers  is  an  earnest  and 
enthusiastic  Republican,  advocating  the 
principles  of  the  party  even  before  he  at- 
tained his  majority.  His  first  presidential 
vote  was  cast  for  U.  S.  Grant  in  1872,  and 
he  has  since  supported  the  Republican  can- 
didate at  every  presidential  election.  He 
was  elected  and  served  as  commissioner  of 
highways  for  nine  consecutive  years,  but  has 
never  wanted  public  office.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Odd  F"e!lows  lodge  at 
Forreston.  As  a  citizen  he  is  held  in  high 
esteem,  and  a  progressive  man  he  lends  aid 
to  all  worthy  enterprises. 


WILLIAM  ELLIS,  who  is  now  living 
retired  in  the  village  of  Byron,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  and  most  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zens of  Ogle  county.  Years  of  quiet  use- 
fulness and  a  life  in  which  the  old-fashioned 
virtues  of  sincerity,  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,  to  which  the  lengthening  years  have 
added  dignity  and  sweetness,  has  a  brighter 
radiance,  as  if  some  ray  from  the  life  beyond 
already  rested  upon  it. 

Mr.  Ellis  was  born  in  Attleboro,  Massa- 
chusetts, June  22,  1808,  and  is  a  representa- 
tive of  a  family  of  Welsh  origin,  who  was 
founded  in  Dedham,  that  state,  by  an  old 
gentleman  and  his  seven  sons  at  an  early 
day.  The  grandfather,  Richard  Ellis,  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  as  was  also  the 
father,  Hon.  George  Ellis,  who,  on  reach- 
ing manhood,  married  Miss  Polly  Fisher, 
who  was  born  near  Dedham.  They  loca- 
ted on  a  farm  in  Attleboro,  where  they 
reared  their  family  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  The  father  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  infiuential  men  of  the 
community,  and  for  one  or  more  terms  ably 
represented  his  district  in  the  state  legis- 
lature. In  the  family  were  nine  children, 
four  sons  and  five  daughters,  who  reached 
years  of  maturity,  but  Daniel  and  Darwin 
are  now  deceased;  William  is  the  subject  of 
this  review;  George  Otis  is  a  resident  of 
Middleboro,  Connecticut;  Adelia,  Maria  and 
Emeline  all  married,  but  are  now  deceased; 
Mrs.  Catherine  Plymton  is  a  widow  living 
in  Pawtucket,  Rhode  Island;  Harriet  is  the 
wife  of  Otis  Putney,  of  Pawtucket,  Rhode 
Island;  and  Elizabeth  died  when  young. 

William  Ellis  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
old  home  farm  in  Massachusetts,  and  had 
fair  school  advantages.  He  learned  the 
jeweler's  trade  at  Attleboro,  serving  a  three 
years'  apprenticeship,  and  continued  to  fol- 
low the  business  there  for  a  few  j'ears.  At 
Middleboro.  Connecticut,  in  1845,  l''^  mar- 
ried Miss  Justina  Abbott,  a  native  of  that 
state  and  a  daughter  of  David  Abbott,  who 
belonged  to  an  old  and  historic  family.    She 


268 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


had  six  uncles  who  were  ministers  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  one  who 
followed  the  legal  profession.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ellis  were  born  seven  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living,  one  son  and  three 
daughters,  namely:  Adelaide  J.  married 
David  J.  Simpson,  of  Byron,  Illinois,  who 
is  now  engaged  in  gold  mining  in  Utah,  and 
their  daughter,  Helen  Barnum,  is  now  the 
wife  of  Charles  Beggs,  who  is  connected 
with  the  Standard  Oil  Company  at  Pitts- 
burg, Pennsyh'ania.  Eleanor  F.  married 
Robert  Spottswood,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
grain  and  lumber  business  in  Winnebago, 
Illinois.  Fred  W.  is  interested  in  railroad- 
ing at  Fall  City,  Washington.  Harriet  is 
the  wife  of  Labra  Spoor,  a  merchant  of 
Byron.  Those  deceased  are  Frances  A., 
Frank  H.  and  George  B. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ellis  and  his 
brother  George  Otis  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  buckles  and  buttons  at  Middle- 
boro,  Connecticut,  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  in  1852  he  came  to  Illinois  and  first 
located  at  Rockford,  where  he  worked  in 
the  factory  of  Ciark  &  Utter  for  about  eight 
years.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  six  miles 
from  that  city  and  successfully  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1889,  when  he 
sold  the  place  and  the  following  year  moved 
to  Byron,  where  he  purchased  property  and 
has  since  lived  retired,  enjoying  a  well- 
earned  rest.  His  faithful  wife  passed  away 
in  April,  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three 
years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ellis  was  originally  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  casting  his  first  vote  for 
Old  Hickory,  but  on  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party  in  1856  he  joined  its 
ranks  and  has  since  been  one  of  its  stalwart 
supporters.  On  the  20th  of  September, 
1849,  he   was    made  a   Mason   in   Harmony 


lodge  at  Waterbury,  Connecticut,  and  still 
holds  membership  there,  being  its  oldest 
living  member.  In  the  summer  of  1898  he 
and  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Simpson,  made  a 
trip  east  and  spent  three  months  in  visiting 
in  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Isl- 
and, Pennsylvania,  New  York  and  Ohio. 
Although  over  ninety  years  of  age  he  is  still 
hale  and  hearty  and  has  the  appearance  of 
a  man  not  to  exceed  seventy,  as  he  is  erect 
and  active,  while  his  hearing  is  good  and 
his  eyesight  only  slightly  impaired.  Nature 
deals  kindly  with  the  man  who  abuses  not 
her  laws. 


SAMUEL  KNODLE,  dealer  in  watches, 
clocks,  jewelry,  silverware  and  dia- 
monds, Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  has  now  the 
distinction  of  having  been  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  a  longer  period  of  time 
than  any  other  man  in  the  village.  He  was 
born  in  Fairplay,  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, a  hamlet  eight  miles  south  of  Hagers- 
town,  the  county  seat,  August  4,  1820. 
He  attended  the  public  school  at  Fairplay 
from  the  time  he  was  nine  years  old  until 
he  was  sixteen,  from  which  time  he  applied 
himself  studiously  to  the  acquisition  of  an 
academic  education,  in  the  meantime  assist- 
ing his  father  in  his  store  of  general  mer- 
chandise. Following  this  he  had  a  clerk- 
ship in  the  store  of  Major  E.  Baker,  and 
later  a  clerkship  in  the  general  commission 
house  of  Meixsell  &  Struebaker,  of  Balti- 
more. Leaving  the  latter  position  in  the 
fall  of  1839,  he  returned  to  the  place  of  his 
nativity  and  again  took  a  position  in  his 
father's  store,  which  he  filled  until  the  fall 
of  1842. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1S43,  Mr.  Kno- 
dle  was  united  in  marriage  with   Miss  Ellen 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


269 


Dick,  who  was  born  at  Winchester,  Vir- 
ginia, June  12,  1823.  In  May,  following, 
they  removed  to  Boonsboroug,  Maryland, 
where  he  engaged  as  teacher  in  the  {  ublic 
shcool,  and  continued  to  fill  that  position 
until  January,  1846,  in  the  meantime  having 
been  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Jo- 
siah,  in  printing  and  publishing  a  weekly 
newspaper  called  The  Odd  Fellow.  The 
paper  was  not  a  fraternal  paper,  as  its  name 
would  indicate,  but  purely  a  local  paper. 
Having  a  taste  for  newspaper  work,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1846,  he  removed  to  Williamsport, 
Maryland,  and  purchased  of  Judge  Daniel 
Weisel,  The  Republican  Banner,  a  Whig 
newspaper  founded  by  him  January  i,  1830. 
Six  volumes  of  this  paper  are  yet  in  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Knodle,  and  they  embrace  the 
history  of  several  of  the  most  exciting  po- 
litical campaigns  recorded  in  the  annals  of 
the  country,  notably  that  of  the  Andrew 
Jackson  and  Henry  Clay  contest  for  the 
presidency  in  1832. 

After  purchasing  the  material  of  the 
office  of  The  Republican  Banner,  Mr.  Kno- 
dle then  commenced  the  issue  of  The 
Times,  which  he  continued  to  edit  and  pub- 
lish until  the  fall  of  1848,  when  he  sold  the 
office  and  removed  back  to  Fairplay,  and 
engaged  as  a  teacher  of  the  public  school 
there,  in  which  he  continued  until  March, 
1856.  In  April  of  the  same  year  he  came 
to  Mt.  Morris,  expecting  to  secure  the  pub- 
lic school  at  this  place,  but  circumstances 
favoring  his  embarking  in  the  jewelry  trade 
he  relinquished  his  time-honored  profession, 
and  on  the  20th  of  May,  1856,  he  opened 
a  jewelry  shop  in  rooms  in  the  Eldorado 
House,  then  conducted  by  the  late  Jona- 
than Mumma.  From  that  day  to  the  pres- 
ent time  he  has  pursued  that  avocation. 

During  his   residence    in   Mt.  Morris,  in 
29  .      . 


connection  with  his  regular  business,  he  has 
been  identified  with  all  the  various  news- 
paper enterprises  up  to  1879.  In  1858-9, 
he  conducted  the  Northwestern  Republican 
for  an  association  of  citizens  who  purchased 
the  office  of  Atwood  &  Metcalf,  who  had 
established  the  paper  in  the  fall  of  1857. 
In  1860-61,  he  managed  the  Independent 
Watchman,  whom  a  like  association  of 
business  men  had  bought  of  Col.  M.  S. 
Barnes,  who  had  purchased  the  office  of  the 
former  association.  This  ended  his  news- 
paper  business    in    Mt.    Morris    until  July, 

1876,  when  he  again  embarked  in  the  busi- 
ness, in  the  establishment  of  The  Inde- 
pendent, owned  by  a  corporation  company, 
Mr.  I\nodle  owning  nearly  one-half  of  the 
stock,  consisting  of  a  well-equipped  job 
printing  plant,  which  was  added  to  the 
newspaper  outfit,  the  job  office  having  been 
conducted    by   him   since   1872.       In    May, 

1877,  the  Independent  Company  sold  the 
the  office  to  Henry  Sharer,  and  his  son, 
John,  then  immediately  commenced  the 
publication  of  the  Ogle  County  Democrat, 
with  Mr.  Knoole,  as  manager  of  the  typo- 
graphical department  and  proof  reader. 

Mr.  Knodle  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren. Emanuel  Luther  was  born  at  Boons- 
borough,  Marland,  April  17,  1844,  and  died 
July  23,  of  the  same  year.  Washington  Irv- 
ing, born  June  13,  1845,  died  December  29, 
1S45.  Charles  William,  born  at  Williams- 
port,  Maryland,  April  13,  1S47,  died  Janu- 
ary 16,  1848.  Mary  Ann,  born  at  Fairplay, 
Maryland,  July  3,  1849,  died  December  16, 
1849.  Edwin  Wilme,  born  at  Fairplay, 
December  6,  1850,  is  now  living  near  Mon- 
roe, Wisconsin.  Jane  Elizabeth,  born  at 
Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  June  8,  1857,  married 
John  A.  Walker,  February  14,  1880,  and 
they  are  now  residing  in  Mt.  Morris.    Lillie 


2/0 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Belle,  born  in  Mt.  Morris,  January  5,  i860, 
married  George  Eliot  Coffman,  January  16, 
1879,  and  they  now  reside  in  Thayer,  Kan- 
sas. Thomas  Oscar,  born  in  Mt.  Morris, 
August  29,  1863,  died  August  25,  1865. 
Ernest  Elmer,  born  in  Mt.  Morris,  October 
5,  1868,  married  Miss  Mary  Carpenter, 
April  10,  1893,  and  they  now  reside  in 
Rockford,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Knodle's  father,  Samuel  Knodle, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  23,  1784,  and  was  married  at 
Hagerstown,  Maryland,  January  3,  1806, 
to  Miss  Jane  Cutshaw,  who  was  also  born 
in  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania.  What 
time  they  removed  to  Maryland  is  not  known, 
but  some  time  prior  to  18 10.  at  about  which 
time  his  father  built  the  first  house  at  the 
place  which  was  afterwards  known  as  Fair- 
play,  where  his  parents  continued  to  reside 
until  the  day  of  their  death,  his  father  dy- 
ing May  29,  1851,  and  his  mother  January 
23,   1865. 

Since  coming  to  Mt.  Morris,  Mr.  Knodle 
has  been  quite  active  in  local  affairs.  He 
was  clerk  of  the  township  of  Mt.  Morris 
from  1858  to  1861,  and  in  i860,  1861,  and 
1868,  served  as  village  clerk.  In  1871  he 
served  as  village  trustee  and  president  of 
the  board.  In  1883  he  was  elected  village 
clerk,  and  has  been  annually  re-elected, 
making  twenty  years  service  in  that  office. 
In  1S76  he  was  collector  of  the  township  of 
Mt.  Morris.  Few  men  have  the  good  will 
of  their  fellow  men  in  a  higher  degree. 


CHARLES  W.  GARNHART,  a  wide- 
awake and  progressive  farmer  residing 
on  section  25,  Marion  township,  four  miles 
and  a  half  south  of  Stillman  Valley,  is  a 
man  whose  sound  common  sense  and  vigor- 


ous, able  management  of  his  affairs  have 
been  important  factors  in  his  success,  and 
with  his  undoubted  integrity  of  character 
have  given  him  an  honorable  position  among 
his  fellowmen.  His  birth  occurred  in  North- 
umberland county,  Pennsylvania,  August  27, 
1834,  and  he  is  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  old  honored  families  of  that  state. 
There  his  great-grandfather,  Peter  Garn- 
hart,  and  grandfather,  Balsar  Garnhart, 
were  also  born,  and  the  latter  was  a  pioneer 
of  Northumberland  county,  his  early  home 
having  been  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
state.  John  Garnhart,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  on  the  same  farm  in  North- 
umberland county  where  his  son's  birth  oc- 
curred, and  there  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
followed  farming  for  some  years.  He  mar- 
ried Louisa  Moress,  also  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a  daughter  of  Squire  Moress. 
In  1849  they  started  across  the  country  to 
Illinois  v/ith  two  teams  and  arrived  in  Ogle 
county  during  the  fall.  That  winter  the 
father  purchased  the  farm  on  which  our 
subject  now  resides,  but  the  only  improve- 
ment found  thereon  at  that  time  was  a  rude 
log  cabin,  while  about  thirty  acres  had  been 
broken  by  the  plow.  Acre  after  acre  was 
soon  placed  under  cultivation,  and  in  due 
time  a  pleasant  brick  residence  was  erected, 
and  also  a  good  barn  with  a  basement,  mak- 
ing it  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  of  the 
county.  For  many  years  Mr.  Garnhart  was 
one  of  the  most  active  and  successful  farm- 
ers of  the  community,  but  spent  his  last 
years  in  retirement  in  Rockford,  passing 
away  at  his  home  there  July  26,  1870.  His 
first  wife  died  on  the  home  farm  and  he 
subsequently  married  again. 

By  the  first  union  there  were  seven  chil- 
dren, si.\  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom 
Charles    W.,    our    subject,    is     the    eldest; 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


271 


Harry  married  and  located  on  the  old  home- 
stead where  his  death  occurred;  George  W. 
is  a  farmer  near  Polo,  Illinois;  David  P. 
served  as  a  soldier  during  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  and  now  resides  on  a  farm  in 
Stephenson  county,  Illinois;  Mary  C.  is 
the  wife  of  Wallace  Walters,  of  Calhoun 
county,  Iowa;  Aaron,  who  was  also  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Civil  war,  later  became  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  there 
died;  and  John  W.  is  a  farmer  of  Pine  Rock 
township,  Ogle  county. 

Charles  W.  Garnhartwas  a  lad  of  fifteen 
years  when  the  family  came  to  Ogle  county, 
and  being  the  eldest  son  he  was  early  in- 
ured to  the  arduous  task  of  developing  wild 
land  into  productive  and  well  cultivated 
fields.  He  also  assisted  in  making  improve- 
ments upon  the  place.  He  received  good 
common  school  advantages  and  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years  began  life  for  himself  by 
working  by  the  month  for  Peter  Smith  for 
two  years.  He  then  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's and  joiner's  trade,  which  he  followed 
forabout  the  same  length  of  time.  He 
rented  land  in  White  Rock  township  and 
successfully  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own 
account.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  bought 
his  first  land,  which  was  an  improved  land 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres  in 
Pine  Rock  township,  and  after  operating  it 
for  about  six  years  he  bought  eighty-eight 
acres  adjoining,  making  a  fine  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  seventeen  acres,  upon  which 
he  made  many  substantial  improvements. 
He  lived  there  until  1877,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  old  homestead  and  rented  the 
former  place.  He  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  empty-handed,  and  for  his  work  re- 
ceived but  small  wages.  This  did  not  dis- 
courage him,  however,  and  he  is  to-day  the 
owner   of  two  valuable  farms,  which  have 


been  obtained  through  his  own  labor,  econ- 
omy and  well-directed  efforts. 

In  September,  1861,  in  Ogle  county,  Mr. 
Garnhart  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Caroline  Lilley,  who  was  also  born  in  North- 
umberland county,  Pennsylvania,  and  when 
a  child  of  thirteen  years  was  brought  to  Illi- 
nois with  her  parents,  David  and  Catherine 
Lilley,  who  settled  in  Marion  township.  Ogle 
county,  in  the  spring  of  1847.  Of  the  five 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garnhart  two 
died  in  infancy.  Those  living  are  Lawrence 
D.,  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  now  residing  in 
Minnesota;  William  H.,  who  assists  in  car- 
rying on  the  home  farm;  and  Clarence  W., 
a  carpenter  and  joiner  residing  at  home. 

Mr.  Garnhart  has  been  an  ardent  Re- 
publican in  political  sentiment  since  casting 
his  first  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856, 
and  he  has  taken  quite  an  active  and  prom- 
inent part  in  local  politics.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  and  served  as  such  for  twen- 
ty-five or  thirty  years,  most  of  the  time  be- 
ing president  of  the  board,  also  serving  as 
clerk  part  of  the  time.  He  has  also  filled 
the  office  of  commissioner  of  highways  for 
si.xteen  years,  and  being  the  present  incum- 
bent he  has  two  more  years  to  serve.  His 
official  duties  have  always  been  most 
promptly  and  faithfully  discharged,  and  he 
is  now  most  capably  and  satisfactorily  fill- 
ing the  office  of  township  trustee.  In  all 
the  relations  of  life  he  has  been  found  true 
to  every  trust  reposed  in  him,  and  well 
merits  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
by  all  who  know  him. 


MAJOR  EDWARD    FELLOWS 
D  U  TCH  ER  .—Among  the  remain- 
ing   early    settlers  of  Ogle    county    is  that 


272 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


distinguished  lawyer,  soldier  and  pioneer 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  He  was 
born  April  2,  182S,  in  Canaan  township, 
Litchfield  county,  Connecticut,  on  the  Hou- 
satonic  river.  His  education  was  obtained 
at  the  Lenox  Academy,  at  Lenox,  Mass- 
achusetts, and  in  a  school  at  Salsibury, 
Connecticut.  Later  he  took  up  the  pro- 
fession of  law,  and  in  1836  entered  the 
law  office  of  Woods  &  Morse,  at  Lock- 
port,  New  York,  and  began  his  reading.  He 
read  in  this  and  other  offices  until  1842, 
when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Or- 
leans county.  New  York,  and  soon  after- 
wards formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  Roy- 
al Chamberlain  for  practice  in  that  county, 
locating  at  Lynden.  In  1846  he  became 
imbued  with  a  desire  to  go  west,  and  in  that 
year  he  is  found  located  at  Oregon,  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  with  hisofficeopen  for  busi- 
ness. 

Major  Dutcher  is  the  son  of  Captain  Ru- 
luff  Dutcher,  who  was  born  at  Dutcher's 
Bridge,  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut,  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  a  soldier  of  the  war 
of  I  Si  2,  serving  as  captain  of  a  com- 
pany. His  father,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  Captain  Ruluff  Dutcher,  who 
was  born  in  1738  and  who  served  through 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  entering  the  serv- 
ice first  as  corporal  in  Captain  James  Hud- 
son's company  of  Major  Skinner's  regiment 
of  light-horse  militia.  His  name  appears 
on  the  rolls  of  the  war  department  as  having 
"marched  June  29th.  Time  when  discharg- 
ed, August  3d.  Daj's  in  service,  38."  Lat- 
er the  war  records  show  him  with  the  rank 
of  captain  of  a  company  of  Major  Sheldon's 
regiment  of  light  horse  in  1776.  This  roll 
contains  special  remarks  relative  to  his  serv- 
ice. This  Revolutionary  captain  was  a  son 
of  a  Hollander  whose  name  was  also  Ruluff, 


and  who  was  born  on  the  ocean  while  his 
parents  were  en  route  to  America.  He 
died  January  17,   1736. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Lucinda 
Howe,  daughter  of  Elisha  Howe,  of  English 
ancestry.  She  was  a  cousin  of  Admiral 
Howe,  of  the  English  navy.  She  died  at 
Amboy,  Illinois,  August  27,  1874,  in  her 
eighty-seventh  year,  and  her  remains  were 
interred  at  Oregon.  The  paternal  grand- 
mother, Jane  Dutcher,  in'c  Ashley,  was  the 
daughter  of  John  Ashley,  who  was  a  general 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  second 
daughter  of  John  Ashley,  Mary,  married 
John  Fellows,  who  was  also  a  general  in 
the  war  for  independence.  John  Fellows' 
son,  Edward,  was  a  colonel  in  the  same 
war,  and  is  the  one  from  whom  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  is  named.  Revolutionary 
records  also  show  that  William  Bull,  the 
first  husband  of  Jane  Ashley,  was  a  surgeon 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  died  from 
smallpox,  and  that  later  Jane  married  Major 
Dutcher's  grandfather. 

Ruluff  and  Lucinda  Dutcher  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  as  follows:  Fred- 
erick R.,  born  December  21,  1804;  Caroline 
M.,  born  July  i,  1806;  William  A.,  born 
January  7,  1809,  and  died  in  1850;  Emeline 
J.,  born  June  i,  18 12;  Elisha  W^ells,  born 
in  181  5;  Edward  F. ,  our  subject;  Catherine 
L. ,  born  November  15,  1820;  Samuel  A., 
born  January  7,  1823;  and  Elizabeth  S., 
born  May  10,  1825.  Emeline,  who  mar- 
ried Herman  B.  Bushnell,  was  matron  of 
the  Soldiers'  Home,  Quincy,  Illinois,  for 
three  years.  Her  only  son.  Lieutenant 
Pierre  Bushnell,  was  killed  during  the  Civil 
war.  Caroline  M.,  who  married  Frederick 
A.  Sterling,  died  at  her  son's  home  in  St. 
Louis,  January  3,  1898,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
two    years.      Her    only    daughter    married 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


V3 


Joseph  H.  Choate,  the  distinguished  lawyer 
of  New  York  city.  Samuel  A.  is  living  at 
Farley,  Iowa. 

Major  Dutcher  was  reading  law  at  Lock- 
port,  at  the  time  of  the  burning  of  the 
steamer  Caroline,  at  Schlosser.  To  him 
was  given  the  important  charge  of  going  to 
Buffalo  for  a  capias  for  the  arrest  of  the 
British  officer  under  whose  orders  the  vessel 
was  burned.  During  the  Canadian  trouble 
of  1837-8,  Major  Dutcher  was  arrested  at 
Hamilton,  Ontario,  and  held  a  prisoner  for 
four  days  as  a  rebel,  together  with  seven- 
teen other  Americans,  whose  sympathies 
for  the  Canadians  brought  the  action  of  the 
higher  powers  against  them. 

It  was  not  long  after  Mr.  Dutcher  opened 
his  office  at  Oregon  before  the  people  of 
this  section  of  the  country  became  satisfied 
that  he  was  a  lawyer  of  no  mean  ability. 
In  fact  he  soon  took  front  rank  among  the 
members  of  the  profession,  and  before  the 
war  for  the  Union  commenced  he  was  rec- 
ognized as  the  leading  criminal  lawyer  of 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  state.  He 
was  of  Revolutionary  stock  of  patriotic  an- 
cestors, and  when  the  war  broke  out  and  a 
blow  was  aimed  at  the  union  his  ancestors 
had  helped  create,  it  was  his  second  nature 
to  take  a  hand  and  help  parry  that  blow. 
Accordingly  his  name  is  found  on  the  mus- 
ter roll  in  August,  1S62.  He  was  soon  after 
commissioned  second  lieutenant,  with  au- 
thority from  Governor  Yates  to  recruit  a 
company,  which  he  soon  had  ready,  and  it 
was  assigned  to  the  Seventy-fourth  Illinois 
\'olunteer  Infantr\'.  On  the  organization 
of  the  regiment  he  was  elected  major,  and 
with  his  regiment  he  reached  the  front  Oc- 
tober 1st,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland.  In  all  he  recruited  some 
four  hundred  men  for  the  army.      With  his 


regiment  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Cham- 
plain  Hill,  and  the  skirmishes  in  pursuit  of 
General  Bragg.  He  was  also  in  action  at 
the  battles  of  Perryville,  Lancaster,  Knobb 
Gap,  Overall  Creek,  Stone  River  and  in  all 
the  skirmishes  and  marches  in  which  his 
regiment  was  engaged,  until  he  received  his 
discharge  in  March,  1863,  on  account  of 
disability.  For  seventy  days  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Stone  River,  Major  Dutcher  was  in 
command  of  his  regiment,  and  was  in  the 
expedition  to  Franklin,  Tennessee,  under 
General  Jeff  C.  Davis,  the  object  being  to 
intercept  Forrest  and  Wheeler.  On  leaving 
the  army  he  returned  to  Oregon,  and  on  re- 
gaining his  health  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession. 

Major  Dutcher  was  united  in  marriage, 
in  1849,  to  Elizabeth  C.  Van  Valkenburj.;, 
a  native  of  Kinderhook,  New  York.  This 
union  was  blessed  with  six  children.  Ed- 
ward S.  was  a  resident  of  St.  L(_)uis,  Mis- 
souri. He  is  now  deceased.  William  H. 
lives  at  Oregon,  and  has  served  as  United 
States  deputy  marshal  for  the  northern  dis- 
trict of  Illinois.  Ruluff  E.  married  Maggie 
Terwilliger,  and  they  reside  in  Council 
Grove,  Kansas.  George  A.  married  Laura 
McCary,  and  they  reside  in  Oregon.  Katie 
S.  and  Mary  A.  died  in  childhood.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  C.  Dutcher  departed  this  life 
May  13,  1876.  In  1879  Major  Dutcher 
married  Sarah  (Marsh)  Scripter,  of  Batavia, 
New  York,  who  died  in  June,   1S95. 

Major  Dutcher  has  always  been  an  earn- 
est Democrat,  though  generally  in  advance 
of  his  party,  politically.  He  has  lived  in  a 
county  and  district  some  fifty  years  which 
has  been  largely  Republican,  yet  he  has 
been  true  to  his  early  training,  but  discuss- 
ing freely  what  he  conceived  to  be  the  errors 
of  his  party.      In  1S49,  in   a  series    of   able 


274 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


articles,  he  denounced  in  unmeasured  terms 
the  "black  laws"  of  1845.  These  papers 
brought  upon  him  much  censure  from  the 
members  of  the  Democratic  and  Whig  par- 
ties who  supported  those  laws.  In  the  days 
of  Knownothingism  he  took  an  advanced 
position  in  the  advocacy  of  the  doctrine 
which  he  claimed  every  foreigner  coming  to 
the  United  States  to  reside  should  adopt — 
he  should  be  required  to  file  his  intention 
to  become  a  citizen,  and  that  a  court  hav- 
ing jurisdiction  should  be  the  scene  of  this 
action  within  ninety  days  after  his  arrival. 
In  that  way  only  should  aliens  be  allowed 
to  enter  government  land,  ami  then  only 
upon  the  further  condition  that  said  alien 
should  become  a  naturalized  citizen  within 
six  years  thereafter,  and  in  case  of  failure 
to  secure  such  citizenship,  such  lands  should 
revert  back  to  the  general  government. 
Later  legislation  has  shown  the  soundness 
of  these  views  and  his  far-seeing  mind. 

The  major  has  alwa3-s  taken  an  active 
part  in  political  matters,  but  living  in  a  dis- 
trict where  his  party  was  in  the  minority, 
political  preferment  even  if  desired  was  out 
of  the  question.  He  severely  denounced 
the  verdict  of  the  electoral  commission, 
and  has  alwajs  held  that  Tilden  was  duly 
elected.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Demo- 
cratic convention  that  nominated  Horatio 
Seymour  for  president,  and  has  twice  been 
chosen  presidential  elector  for  Illinois. 

Major  Dutcher  has  been  in  active  life 
for  nearly  a  half  century  in  this  and  adjoin- 
ing circuits,  and  has  acquired  a  reputation 
in  criminal  law  practice  e.xcelled  by  none. 
Up  to  within  a  few  years  he  was  connected 
with  almost  every  important  criminal  trial 
in  this  circuit,  and  in  every  case  of  homicide 
with  which  he  was  connected  he  has  saved 
his  client  from   the  death  penalty  save  one, 


and  this  one  exception  was  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  court  to  defend  a  prisoner  in 
the  absence  of  his  attorney,  and  had  no 
time  to  prepare  for  trial.  With  his  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  criminal  jurisprudence, 
his  analytical  mind  quick  to  grasp  all  the 
salient  points  of  a  cause,  his  intuitive  esti- 
mate of  the  character  of  evidence,  his  clear, 
logical  arguments  and  forceful  reasoning, 
win  for  him  the  respect  and  attention  of  the 
court  and  the  confidence  of  the  jury. 
Courtly  and  fair  in  the  conduct  of  cases  was 
another  attribute  he  possessed.  This,  to- 
gether with  his  willingness  to  give  his  best 
efforts  to  the  poor  client,  as  well  as  the  one 
who  could  produce  a  handsome  retainer, 
made  him  the  ideal  lawyer.  His  phenom- 
enal memory  was  another  aid  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  in  the  longest  trials  he  rarely  took 
notes. 

During  the  war  the  Major  generally  had 
two  horses  with  him,  and  many  a  weary  or 
wounded  soldier,  unable  to  keep  up,  had  his 
sore  feet  relieved,  or  his  limbs  rested,  or 
saved  from  capture  by  the  rebels,  by  riding 
the  major's  horses,  while  he  would  jog  along 
afoot.  He  has  always  held  to  the  immortal 
principle  embodied  in  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  that  "all  men  are  created 
equal."  He  is  to-day  an  active  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  has 
aided  hundreds  of  soldiers  in  securing  their 
pensions  without  charge. 

In  addition  to  his  practice  the  Major  has 
been  an  extensive  breeder  of  fine  horses,  an 
animal  of  which  he  is  very  proud.  He  has 
raised  some  very  fast  horses  and  has  ma- 
terially aided  in  improving  the  stock  of  this 
noble  animal  in  Ogle  and  adjoiningcounties. 
After  a  residence  of  over  a  half  century  in 
Oregon,  and  although  he  has  passed  his 
four  score  years,  he  is  yet  hale  and  hearty, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


=  75 


with  form  erect,  and  his  mental  powers  un- 
impaired. He  was  reared  in  the  Episcopal 
faith,  and  his  reUgious  views  incline  in  that 
direction.  Genial  in  manners,  he  has  al- 
ways had  many  warm  friends. 


SILAS  WRIGHT  LEWIS,  a  leading  res- 
ident of  Rockvale  township,  and  a 
thorough  and  experienced  farmer,  was  born 
in  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  November 
1 8,  1S43,  and  is  the  son  of  the  late  Stephen 
Lewis  and  his  wife,  Judith  Maria  (Boyce) 
Lewis,  natives  of  Herkimer  county.  New 
York,  the  former  born  November  25,  18 18, 
and  the  latter  October  23,  1822.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lewis  were  married  June  30,  1839, 
and  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Caro- 
line, who  married  George  Clancy,  and  died 
in  1863,  and  Silas  Wright. 

When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a 
child  of  five  years,  his  father,  believing 
that  the  west  afforded  greater  opportunities 
for  advancement  and  progress,  moved  his 
family  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  to  Chicago  by 
way  of  the  great  lakes,  which  place  he  left 
for  Oregon,  Illinois,  moving  later  to  Rock- 
vale  township,  where  he  rented  successive- 
ly, for  periods  of  two  years  each,  the  farms 
of  Hiram  Read,  William  Irvine,  John 
James,  Hiram  Getchell  and  the  Hill  farm. 
Later  he  purchased  two  hundred  acres  on 
section  9,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  October  25,  1879,  and 
where  his  wife  still  resides  at  the  comforta- 
ble age  of  seventy-seven. 

Mr.  Lewis'  grandparents,  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Millis)  Lewis,  were  natives  of 
Saratoga  county.  They  were  farmers  by 
occupation,  and  emigrated  to  Ogle  county 
in  1879,  where  they  resided  until  their 
death.      His    great-grandparents     on    both 


sides,  took  part  in  the  great  struggle  that 
gave  us  our  freedom,  and  which  was  the 
first  step  toward  the  position  which  we  now 
occupy,  one  of  the  foremost  nations  of  the 
earth. 

Our  subject  first  attended  school  at  the 
home  of  Mrs.  Ditwilder,  and  later,  in  an 
old  log  house  which  was  converted  into  a 
school-room.  When  not  attending  school 
Mr.  Lewis  assisted  his  father  about  the 
farm,  and  at  odd  times  picked  up  carpen- 
tering and  blacksmithing,  at  which  he 
became  very  proficient.  He  is  still  actively 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his  farm,  a 
valuable  tract  of  two  hundred  acres. 

December  15,  1871,  our  subject  was 
united  in  holy  matrimony,  to  Mary  Palmer, 
who  was  born  on  the  9th  of  October,  1851, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Harry  and  Ljdia 
(Beeler)  Palmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  are 
the  parents  of  four  children:  Elma,  the  eld- 
est, died  of  scarlet  fever  when  but  two 
years  of  age;  Zelda  May,  born  in  1875,  is 
the  wife  of  Lawson  Stine.  They  have  a 
bright  little  son  of  three  years,  and  are 
living  on  the  Frank  Knode  farm;  Stephen, 
a  typical  specimen  of  }'oung  America,  was 
born  October  25,  1878,  and  remains  at 
home  to  assist  his  father  in  the  management 
and  superintendence  of  the  home  farm; 
Lydia,  the  youngest  child,  was  born  in  18S1, 
and  is  the  wife  of  George  E.  Smith.  They 
reside  at  the  home  of  our  subject  and  are 
the  parents  of  a  fine  daughter  born  January 
7,   1899,  Mary  P.  Smith. 

Politically,  Mr.  Lewis  is  a  Republican, 
and  takes  a  keen  interest  in  all  affairs  of 
state.  He  is  at  present  holding  the  office 
of  school  director,  in  which  capacity  he  has 
served  for  three  terms.  He  has  also  served 
as  pathmaster.  It  seems  hard  to  realize,  in 
looking  over  Mr.    Lewis'    farm,    that   these 


fjd 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


lands  now  in  such  excellent  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, were  so  recently  the  home  of  the  deer, 
and  other  wild  game,  but  America  is 
nothing  if  not  progressive  and  to  her  people 
belong  the  credit  of  this  progression.  It 
is  to  the  agriculturists,  however,  that  we 
owe  our  standing  as  the  greatest  grain- 
producing  country  in  the  world. 


JOHN  SHELLY,  a  prominent  and  influ- 
ential farmfer  residing  on  section  ii, 
Forreston  township.  Ogle  county,  was  born 
in  Blair  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  15, 
1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Abram  and  Elizabeth 
(Snively)  Shelly,  who  were  also  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  were  married  in  Blair 
count}',  where  the  father  carried  on  opera- 
tions as  a  farmer  until  1870.  Coming  to 
Illinois  in  that  year,  he  spent  one  year  in 
Ogle. county,  and  then  located  in  Carroll 
county,  where  he  bought  an  improved  place 
and  again  turned  his  attention  to  farming. 
There  he  spent  his  last  years,  dying  Septem- 
ber25,  1875,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years, 
ten  months  and  twentj-three  days.  His 
wife,  who  survived  him  for  a  number  of 
years,  passed  away  in  1896,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-five  years,  three  months  and  fif- 
teen days.  Besides  our  subject,  the  other 
children  of  the  family  were  as  follows: 
Jacob,  a  traveling  salesman  residing  in 
Shannon,  Carroll  county;  Mrs.  Susan  Bre- 
neman,  of  Lenark,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Henry 
Shirk,  of  Shannon;  Mrs.  Lizzie  Hoffee,  who 
makes  her  home  near  Grundy  Center,  Iowa; 
Mrs.  Barbara  Shirk,  of  Carroll  county ;  Mrs. 
Sarah  Stonrook,  of  Cedar  county,  Iowa; 
Mrs.  Louisa  Bowers,  of  Kansas;  and  Mrs. 
Albert  Puterbaugh,  of  Plattsburg,  Missouri. 
John  Shelly  received  a  good  common- 
school  educatiiHi  in  his  native  state  and  was 


a  young  man  when  he  came  with  the  family 
to  Illinois.  Here  he  assisted  his  father  in 
the  operation  of  the  home  farm  until  the 
latter's  death.  In  Forreston  township,  Ogle 
county,  December  4,  1877,  he  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Barbara  Shirk,  also 
a  native  of  Blair  county,  Pennsylvania. 
Her  father.  Rev.  Joseph  Shirk,  a  minister 
of  the  Dunkard  church,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  that  state,  in  1827,  and  in 
Pennsylvania  grew  to  manhood.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Rebecca  Miller,  a  native  of 
Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1834, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  a  number 
of  years.  On  coming  west  in  1865  he  first 
located  on  a  farm  in  Forreston  township, 
Ogle  county,  near  Harper,  but  one  year 
later  removed  to  another  farm  on  section 
II,  the  same  township,  where  he  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  for  some  years. 
Since  1895,  however,  he  has  lived  retired 
in  Shannon,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest. 
Mrs.  Shelly  is  the  oldest  in  her  family  of 
four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 
the  others  being  Robert,  a  farmer  of  Carroll 
county;  Jennie,  at  home  with  her  parents; 
and  Porter,  who  now  operates  the  old  home 
farm.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  three 
children:  Ida  M.,  who  is  now  attending  the 
Shannon  high  school;  Harry  N.  and  Oscar. 
They  lost  their  oldest  child,  Alvin,  who 
died  at  they  age  of  two  and  a  half  years. 

For  three  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Shelly  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on 
the  Blair  farm  in  Carroll  county,  and  then 
bought  the  place  on  which  he  now  resides 
on  section  11,  Forreston  township,  Ogle 
county.  It  was  then  but  slightly  improved, 
and  the  house'  was  in  a  rather  dilapidated 
condition,  but  during  the  eighteen  years  of 
his  residence  here  he  has  made  many 
changes,  has   set  out  forest  and   ornamental 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


trees,  has  built  a  commodious  and  pleasant 
residence,  erected  good  outbuildings  and 
now  has  one  of  the  neatest  and  best  im- 
proved places  of  the  township,  comprising 
eighty  acres.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  is  engaged  in  the  dairy  business, 
and  for  this  purpose  keeps  on  hand  from  ten 
to  fourteen  cows.  Formerly  he  was  inter- 
ested in  breeding  and  raising  stock,  and 
kept  a  good  grade  of  cattle  and  hogs.  He 
commenced  life  for  himself  in  limited  cir- 
cumstances, and  by  his  own  labor  and  enter- 
prise and  the  assistance  of  his  estimable 
wife,  he  has  become  one  of  the  prosperous 
and  well-to-do  farmers  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lives.  He  has  always  been  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
never  aspired  to  office,  though  he  has  capably 
served  as  school  director  for  ten  years,  and 
as  clerk  of  the  district.  Religiously,  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  worthy  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  are  held  in  high 
esteem  by  all  who  know  them. 


JOHN  FRANKLIN  SPALDING,  of  By- 
ron, Illinois,  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
best  business  men  of  Ogle  county.  Indus- 
try, enterprise  and  energy  have  been  the 
crowning  points  of  his  success,  and  his  con- 
nection with  various  business  enterprises 
and  industries  have  been  of  decided  ad- 
vantage to  this  section  of  the  state,  pro- 
moting its  material  welfare  in  no  uncertain 
manner. 

Mr.  Spalding  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  occurring  in  Winnebago  county,  Janu- 
ary 30,  1843.  The  Spalding  family  is  of 
English  extraction,  and  was  founded  in  the 
United  States  in  161 9  by  two  brothers,  one 
of  whom  settled  in  Connecticut,  the  other  in 
Maryland.      From  the  former,  who  bore  the 

30 


name  of  Edward,  our  subject  is  descended. 
His  great-grandfather,  John  Spalding,  was  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  and  served  with  dis- 
tinction as  a  colonel  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  The  grandfather,  Harry  Spalding, 
died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-six  years. 

S.  S.  Spalding,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1S16,  and  in  1S35,  when  a  young  man  of 
nineteen  years,  he  came  to  Illinois.  An 
older  brother,  John  Franklin  Spalding,  had 
located  here  several  years  previous  arud  died 
in  Chicago  in  1832,  while  two  other  broth- 
ers, Asa  and  James,  also  came  here  in  1835, 
and  Harry  arrived  several  years  later.  S.  S. 
Spalding  and  his  two  brothers  spent  the 
winter  of  1835-6  in  Peru,  Illinois,  and  in 
the  summer  of  1836  came  to  Ogle  county 
and  located  in  Byron  township.  Our  sub- 
ject's father  took  a  claim  two  miles  west  of 
the  village  of  Byron  and  opened  up  a  farm 
of  five  hundred  acres,  becoming  one  of  the 
prominent  and  substantial  farmers  of  the 
county.  He  was  married  here  to  Miss 
Lydia  Ann  Weldon,  a  native  of  Strasburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Wel- 
don. She  came  to  this  state  with  Asa 
Spalding  and  died  in  November,  1S60, 
while  her  husband  passed  away  in  January, 
1869.  To  this  worthy  couple  were  born 
six  children,  of  whom  two  daughters  died 
in  childhood.  Those  living  are  John  Frank- 
lin, of  this  review;  D.  W.,  a  resident  of 
Chamberlain,  South  Dakota;  Mrs.  Alice 
Danforth,  of  California;  and  Mrs.  Susan 
Stout,  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

Upon  the  home  farm  in  Byron  towiship, 
Mr.  Spalding  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood, and  the  early  education  he  acquired 
in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
was  supplemented  by  a  year's  attendance 
at  an  academy  in  Monroe,  Connecticut.   On 


278 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  return  to  Ogle  county,  he  spent  one 
year  on  the  farm  with  his  father,  but  in  July, 
1862,  he  joined  the  boys  in  blue  as  private 
in  Company  B,  Ninety-second  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  Later  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  sergeant  and  parti- 
cipated in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga, 
Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  the  March  to  the  Sea, 
and  the  engagements  at  Goldsboro  and 
Raleigh.  At  Jonesboro  he  was  disabled  b}' 
a  gunshot  through  the  right  shoulder  and 
also  through  the  left  arm,  and  at  Raleigh 
had  a  horse  killed  under  him,  while  at 
Chickamauga  his  gun  was  shot  to  pieces. 
For  three  long  years  he  followed  the  old 
flag  to  victory  on  southern  battle  fields, 
being  mustered  out  at  Concord,  North 
Carolina,  in  June,  1865. 

On  his  return  home,  Mr.  Spaulding 
commenced  working  by  the  month  on  a 
farm,  and  the  following  year  operated 
rented  land.  On  the  20th  of  December, 
1866,  was  celebrated  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Emily  L.  Reed,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Byron,  her  father,  Lucius  Reed, 
being  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a  pioneer  of 
Ogle  county.  They  now  have  four  children: 
Carl  S.,  who  is  married  and  engaged  in 
business  in  Byron;  Lucius  Reed,  an  electri- 
cian, who  now  has  charge  of  the  electric 
light  plant  at  Kirkland,  Illinois;  Roy  V. 
who  has  prepared  himself  for  the  legal  pro- 
fession, graduating  from  the  law  department 
of  the  State  University  in  June,  1898;  and 
Ralph  D  ,  who  is  attending  the  home 
schools,  and  in  five  years  has  been  neither 
absent  nor  tardy. 

In  1868  Mr.  Spalding  purchased  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which 
had  been  placed  under  the  plow  and  fenced. 


He  erected  thereon  good  buildings  and  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation  until  1875,  when  he 
sold  the  place  and  bought  residence  prop- 
erty in  Byron,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  In  1873  he  began  to  take  contracts 
for  building  bridges  and  has  followed  that 
business  continuously  since  with  marked 
success,  never  having  had  an  accident  hap- 
pen through  any  fault  of  his  own  to  a  bridge 
he  constructed.  He  build  them  of  wood, 
iron  and  stone,  but  mostly  of  iron  and 
stone,  and  has  constructed  more  bridges  in 
Ogle  county  than  any  three  men  together. 
He  spent  three  weeks  in  the  lobbies  of  the 
legislature  trying  to  get  the  act  passed 
authorizing  the  building  of  the  Byron 
bridge,  and  later  had  the  contract  for  part 
of  the  work  on  that  structure.  In  1876  he 
erected  four  store  buildings  on  Main  street, 
Byron,  which  were  lost  by  fire  two  years 
later,  and  in  1878  he  built  the  Commercial 
Hotel,  which  he  conducted  for  five  years  in 
connection  with  his  other  business.  He 
also  built  a  livery  stable  and  carried  it  on  for 
ten  years.  He  has  a  ranch  in  South  Da- 
kota and  is  extensively  interested  in  stock 
growing.  He  is  one  of  the  most  active, 
progressive  and  successful  business  men  of 
the  community  and  the  prosperity  that  has 
crowned  his  efforts  is  certainly  well  de- 
served. 

Since  casting  his  first  vote  for  General 
U.  S.  Grant  in  1S6S,  Mr.  Spalding  has 
been  an  ardent  Republican,  and  has  ever 
taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
political  affairs.  He  has  most  capably  and 
satisfactorily  filled  the  offices  of  school  di- 
rector, commissioner  of  highways,  village 
trustee,  etc.,  and  in  1888  was  elected  super- 
visor. So  acceptably  did  he  serve  in  that 
position  that  he  has  been  constantly  re- 
elected  up   to   the   present  time,    and  was 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


279 


chairman  of  the  board  for  two  years.  He 
has  also  been  chairman  of  almost  every 
committee  and  as  superintendent  had  charge 
of  all  the  business  connected  with  the  build- 
ing of  the  court  house.  He  has  taken  an 
active  interest  in  all  public  improvements 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive and  public-spirited  citizens  of  the 
county.  He  has  served  as  a  delegate  to  the 
county  and  state  conventions  of  his  party, 
and  during  the  fortieth  general  assembly 
was  one  of  the  three  sergeants  at  arms  and 
also  through  a  called  session.  Socially  he 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
post  at  Byron,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
commander,  and  he  was  also  one  of  the 
trustees  and  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee during  the  erection  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  that  place,  of  which 
his  wife  is  a  member. 

Mr.  Spalding  holds  a  commission  given 
by  Governor  Fifer,  in  1892,  as  a  member 
of  the  National  Nicaragua  Canal  convention, 
which  held  its  first  meeting  at  Saint  Louis 
in  June,  1892,  and  met  the  following  year 
in  November,  in  New  Orleans.  There  were 
twenty-two  commissioners  appointed  for 
the  state  of  Illinois. 


BENJAMIN  WOLF,  a  farmer  residing 
on  section  36,  Woosuug  township, 
was  born  November  13,  1839,  in  Hunting- 
don county,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  the  son  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Layman)  Wolf,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
former  being  born  about  1S04.  He  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  an  occupation  which 
he  followed  throughout  life.  He  remained 
in  Pennsylvania  until  iS  50  when  he  came 
to  Ogle  county  and  located  in  Pine  Creek 
township,  but    still    continued    to    work    at 


his  trade.  His  death  occurred  in  1875. 
In  his  family  were  nine  sons,  two  of 
whom  died  in  childhood.  The  living  are 
Samuel,  a  farmer  of  Powesheik  county, 
Iowa;  Henry,  a  shoemaker  of  Polo,  Illinois; 
George,  a  farmer  of  Powesheik  county, 
Iowa;  Jacob,  a  carpenter,  residing  in  Polo; 
Benjamin,  our  subject;  Joseph,  a  fruit 
grower  of  Los  Angeles  county,  California; 
and  John,  a  harness  maker,  residing  in  Iowa. 

In  his  native  county  our  subject  com- 
menced his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  was  eleven  years  old  when  the  family 
came  to  Ogle  county,  and  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  county  he  finished  his  educa- 
tion. As  soon  as  physicially  able  he  en- 
gaged in  farm  work  for  wages,  and  contin- 
ued in  such  employment  until  in  July,  1861, 
when  he  enlisted  in  the  Thirty-fourth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel  Van 
Tassel.  His  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
second  division  of  the  fourth  army  corps, 
under  Sherman  and  saw  considerable  hard 
service.  With  his  regiment,  Mr.  Wolf  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Mission 
Ridge,  Liberty  Gap,  Rome,  Georgia.  Prior 
to  the  engagement  of  Stone  River,  while 
his  regiment  was  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
army,  it  was  compelled  to  retreat,  and  about 
fifty  men  of  the  regiment,  including  Mr. 
\\^olf,  were  captured  by  Confederate  cavalry, 
but  after  being  held  about  one  hour,  were 
re-captured  by  Union  cavalry.  He  thus 
probably  escaped  a  long  confinement  at 
Andersonville,  the  notorious  rebel  prison. 

In  the  siege  before  Atlanta,  while  hold- 
ing his  haversack  and  drawing  his  rations, 
Mr.  Wolf  was  struck  by  a  rebel  bullet,  and 
two  of  his  ribs  were  broken.  He  was  sent 
to  the  hospital,  where  the  next  four  months 
were  spent.  He  was  one  week  in  the  field 
hospital,  and  the   remainder  of   the  time  in 


!So 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  hospitals  at  Chattanooga  and  Nashville. 
During  the  latter  part  of  his  disability  he 
was  removed  to  the  hospital  at  Mound  City, 
Illinois,  where  he  was  taken  with  the  small- 
pox. After  his  recovery  he  was  transferred 
to  the  veteran  reserve  corps,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  term  of  service  at  Rock 
Island,  guarding  prisoners.  He  was  dis- 
charged and  mustered  out  of  service  July  2, 
1865,  after  giving  four  years  of  his  time  to 
the  government. 

After  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Wolf 
returned  to  his  home  in  Ogle  county,  and 
renting  a  piece  of  land  in  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship, he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count. He  was  married  March  8,  1866,  to 
Miss  Susan  Sterner,  who  was  born  in  Free- 
port,  Illinois,  and  daughter  of  John  and 
Fietta  (Sheets)  Sterner.  She  was  an  or- 
phan girl,  her  mother  having  died  when  she 
was  only  one  year  old.  By  this  union  there 
were  three  daughters  born:  Marietta,  now 
the  wife  of  Frank  Ackert,  of  Di.xon,  but 
who  is  in  the  postal  service  between  Chi- 
cago and  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa;  Grace  E., 
wife  of  Charles  Hempleman,  a  farmer  of 
Pine  Creek  township;  and  Gertrude  S. ,  still 
at  home. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wolf  rented  the 
farm  now  owned  by  William  Clark,  in  Pine 
Creek  township,  on  which  he  remained 
three  years.  He  then  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  has  since 
been  his  home,  and  where  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
When  purchased  the  place  was  unimproved, 
and  with  characteristic  energy  he  went  to 
work  to  put  it  in  order.  All  the  buildings 
on  the  place  were  erected  by  him,  and  after 
a  lapse  of  some  years,  it  presented  an  en- 
tirely different  appearance.  It  is  now  one 
of  the  best  improved  in  the  township.      For 


the  past  five  years  he  has  rented  the  culti- 
vated portion  of  his  farm,  but  retaining  the 
pasture  land,  and  has  given  his  entire  time 
to  stock  raising.  He  yet  remains  on  the 
farm. 

Mr.  Wolf  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  educational  matters,  and  has  served  six 
years  as  director  in  his  school  district.  He 
is  a  stanch  Republican  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Post  No.  84, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Polo.  Mrs.  Wolf  is  a  member 
of  the  Pine  Creek  German  Baptist  church. 


A  RON  CASS,  deceased,  was  for  years 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  citizens  of 
Rochelle,  a  man  to  whom  the  entire  com- 
munity delighted  in  doing  honor.  He  was 
born  in  Tompkins  county.  New  York,  July 
2,  1833,  and  was  the  son  of  Moses  and 
Elizabeth  (Mott)  Cass,  natives  of  Connect- 
icut, but  early  settlers  of  Tompkins  county, 
New  York.  For  a  number  of  years  Moses 
Cass  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
in  Watkins,  New  York,  in  which  line  he 
met  with  signal  success.  He  never  came 
west,  but  died  in  1856  in  Watkins,  New 
York. 

In  early  childhood,  Aron  Cass  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Watkins  and  there 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth,  completing 
his  studies  at  Starkey  Seminary,  North 
Hector,  New  York.  As  a  result  of  his 
training  in  that  seminary  he  learned  to  prize 
the  advantages  of  education  above  almost 
everything  else.  On  leaving  that  institu- 
tion he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lum- 
ber in  connection  with  his  father  and  broth- 
ers, but  his  lungs  being  weak,  he  was  ad- 
vised by  a  physician   to   seek  a  change  of 


ARON    CASS. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


^S3 


climate,  and  accordingly,  in  1855,  he  fol- 
lowed an  older  brother  to  Ogle  county,  Illi- 
nois, locating  at  Rochelle,  where  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  mercantile  business,  a 
pursuit  for  which  he  had  inherited  a  taste. 
He  continued  in  that  line  until  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war,  at  which  time  he  closed 
out  his  interests. 

On  the  nth  of  May,  1869,  Mr.  Cass 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susan  M. 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  Marion  township, 
Ogle  county,  June  23,  1847,  and  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Foster)  Smith.  (See 
sketch  of  Peter  Smith.) 

Six  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of 
Aron  and  Susan  M.  Cass:  Edward,  of  whom 
further  mention  is  made  in  this  sketch;  Mar- 
garet Austin,  wife  of  W.  P.  Landon,  for- 
merly pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
and  now  a  lawyer  of  Rochelle;  Annie  Ame- 
lia, who  is  taking  a  four-years  course  in 
Smith  College,  Northampton,  Massachu- 
setts; Ruth  Frances,  living  at  home  and  at- 
tending school;  Charlotte  May,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  one  year;  and  Willie  B.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  ten  years. 

From  1876  until  1881,  Mr.  Cass  served 
as  a  director  of  the  Rochelle  National  I3ank, 
sharing  in  its  management  with  his  father- 
in-law,  Peter  Smith.  He  then  re-estab- 
lished himself  in  business  in  the  dry  goods 
trade,  and  conducted  a  successful  business 
for  several  years.  From  time  to  time  he 
was  a  silent  partner  in  several  firms  in 
Rochelle,  assisting  them  with  his  means 
and  wise  counsels.  On  retiring  from  active 
business,  he  invested  his  means  principally 
in  farming  lands.  He  was  a  good  business 
man  and  was  uniformly  successful  in  all  his 
undertakings.  From  1891  to  1893,  he 
served  as  mayor  of  Rochelle,  and  made  a 
good   executive   officer.      He  did  not    seek 


the  office,  and  in  fact  was  averse  to  holding 
office,  and  in  his  case  it  was  an  exemplifi- 
cation of  the  office  seeking  the  man  and  not 
the  man  the  office. 

Mr.  Cass  prided  himself  on  his  vigorous 
health  and  excellent  constitution,  but  in  the 
fall  of  1S93  he  contracted  muscular  rheu- 
matism, which  caused  him  some  alarm.  In 
the  latter  part  of  February,  1894,  he  con- 
sulted Dr.  N.  S.  Davis,  one  of  the  best 
physicians  and  diagnosticians  in  the  coun- 
try, who  pronounced  him  apparently  a 
sound  man,  slightly  run  down  with> stomach 
trouble,  which  ought  to  yield  to  treatment. 
From  that  time,  however,  he  remained  in- 
doors, and  for  four  days  previous  to  his 
death,  which  occurred  March  i,  1S94,  was 
confined  to  his  bed.  The  morning  of  the 
day  on  which  he  died  found  him  so  much 
better  that  he  was  able  to  walk  unassisted 
to  an  adjoining  room.  Late  in  the  after- 
noon, however,  his  condition  suddenly 
changed  and  it  was  but  a  few  hours  before 
he  was  at  rest,  his  spirit  having  gone  to  join 
his  Maker. 

Politically  Mr.  Cass  was  a  Democrat, 
with  prohibition  tendencies,  although  most 
liberal  in  his  views.  He  was  an  independ- 
ent thinker,  while  his  clear  perceptions  and 
sound  judgment  were  generally  recognized 
and  appreciated  in  all  his  business  connec- 
tions. He  possessed  a  popular  reading 
knowledge  of  law  and  took  great  interest  in 
points  of  legal  controversy.  In  striking 
contrast  to  a  mind  tempered  with  a  keen 
sense  of  humor,  was  a  capacity  for  thought 
which  attempted  to  weigh  all  things  con- 
siderately. His  home  life  was  a  model  one, 
and  his  pre-eminent  characteristic  in  the 
family  circle  was  lose.  He  loved  his  fam- 
ily with  all  the  intense  devotion  of  his  na- 
ture, and  they  in  turn  loved  him.    He  could 


2  84 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


not  do  too  much  for  them,  and  they  recip- 
rocated all  his  service.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

While  his  family  was  to  him  so  much 
and  so  dear,  his  goodness  of  heart  extended 
to  his  fellowmen,  and  with  unassuming 
modesty  he  performed  many  acts  of  mercy, 
which  only  his  Maker  and  the  recording 
angel  have  knowledge.  His  favorite  motto 
was  "With  charity  for  all,"  and  that  char- 
ity he  endeavored  to  e.xtend  to  all.  His 
death,  therefore,  was  not  alone  mourned  by 
his  famil}'  and  relatives,  but  by  man}'  who 
were  recipients  of  his  favors,  and,  in  fact, 
by  all  who  knew  him.  Recognizing  the  im- 
possibility that  all  should  be  famous,  he  felt 
assured  that  in  the  eyes  of  an  all-wise  Judge 
he  who  performed  even  the  humble  duties 
of  every-day  life  would  not  lose  his  reward. 
That  he  performed  .well  all  such  duties  a 
host  of  friends  who  are  left  behind  will 
attest. 

Edward  Cass,  the  eldest  son  of  Aron 
and  Susan  M.  Cass,  was  born  in  Rochelle, 
Illinois,  August  6,  1870,  and  died  on  the 
twenty-eighth  anniversary  of  his  birth,  Au- 
gust 6,  1S9S.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  city,  and  after  graduating  from  the 
high  school  he  took  a  four  years'  course, 
including  the  preparatory  year,  in  the  uni- 
versit}-  at  Lake  Forest,  Illinois,  and  then 
spent  one  year  in  Amherst  College,  Massa- 
chusetts, from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1893.  A  three  years'  course  in  the  Har- 
vard Law  School  followed,  and  after  gradu- 
ating from  that  institution  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Illinois.  On  the 
first  of  January,  1897,  he  began  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Chicago,  first  with 
Green,  Honore  &  Robbins,  and  later  with 
Samuel  Lynde.  He  was  a  very  bright 
young   man,    and    had    just    completed   ar- 


rangements for  entering  a  still  more  im- 
portant field  of  labor,  when  death  cut  short 
his  rapid  advancement.  Quiet,  modest  and 
unassuming,  he  was  possessed  of  unusual 
power  of  intellect,  and  his  death  deprived 
the  state  of  Illinois  of  one  of  its  bright- 
est young  men,  and  one  who  doubtless 
would  have  advanced  to  the  front  in  his 
profession,  to  which  he  gave  his  best  tal- 
ent and  thought.  In  his  professional  work 
he  was  very  thorough.  He  had  resolved 
to  reach  the  top  round,  and  spared  no 
amount  of  time,  expense  or  labor  in  obtain- 
ing the  best  possible  mental  equipment.  In 
the  midst  of  his  preparation,  while  at  the 
law  school,  his  father  died.  This  threw 
upon  him  a  multitude  of  business  details  and 
responsibilities.  Most  young  men  would  have 
stopped  their  studies,  but  he  assumed  the 
extra  load  and  pressed  steadily  on,  being  a 
student  and  business  man  at  the  same  time. 
Likewise  he  was  husband  and  father  to  his 
mother  and  sisters.  No  outside  induce- 
ment, however  attractive,  nor  laborious 
details  within  his  professional  work,  swerved 
him  from  his  purpose.  This  patient  perse- 
verance, combined  with  his  natural  endow- 
ments and  good  sense,  would  have  brought 
him  to  the  very  front  in  the  legal  profession. 
Few,  even  of  his  intimate  acquaintances, 
knew  what  complete  devotion  to  a  lofty  pur- 
pose possessed  this  quiet,  modest,  polite 
young  man.  His  family  life  was  beautiful, 
and  his  thoughtfulness  for  each  member  of 
the  family  was  most  strikingly  manifested 
on  his  death  bed.  He  desired  to  take  his 
father's  place  in  the  family  and  this  he  did 
to  a  remarkable  degree.  The  beautiful  com- 
panionship between  the  son  and  father  as 
they  walked  and  talked  together  will  be  re- 
membered by  many.  His  father's  wishes 
were  always  a   law  to  him,    and   the    words 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


2S5 


and  desires  of  the  father  were  often  spoken 
of  by  him  to  his  friends. 

When  about  nineteen  years  old,  Ed- 
ward united  with  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  from  that  time  to  the  day  of  his  death 
he  was  a  steadfast,  earnest  Christian  man, 
a  firm  believer  in  the  Word  of  God.  He 
not  only  read  but  studied  his  bible.  He 
also  read  and  studied  church  history  and  re- 
ligious literature,  spending  his  last  Sunday 
at  home  in  reading  aloud  a  life  of  Christ. 
A  friend  has  said  of  him,  "  Many  were  his 
virtues — few  his  faults."  Certainly  a  noble 
tribute,  and  one  well  deserved. 


LEVI  M.  BELLOWS,  one  of  the  sub- 
statial  farmers  of  Eagle  Point  town- 
ship, and  who  resides  on  section  23,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Ogle  county  for  a  little 
more  than  half  a  century.  He  was  born  in 
Delaware  county,  New  York,  December 
25,  1842,  and  is  the  son  of  Hoton  and  Sar- 
ah (Banker)  Bellows,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  same  county  and  state.  Ho- 
ton Bellows  was  born  in  1809,  and  was  the 
son  of  Jotham  Bellows,  who  removed  from 
one  of  the  New  England  states  to  Dela- 
ware county.  New  York,  at  a  very  early 
day.  The  family  is  of  English  ancestry, 
and  were  pioneers  in  New  England.  Sarah 
Banker  was  a  daughter  of  Squire  Banker,  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  She 
died  in  Ogle  county  about  1850. 

Hoton  Bellows,  who  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  came  to  Ogle  county  in  1848, 
joining  here  his  father's  family,  who  had 
come  out  a  few  years  previously.  He  came 
to  Chicago  by  way  of  the  great  lakes,  and 
by  teams  from  that  city  to  Ogle  county,  lo- 
cating on  section  23,  in  what  is  now  Eagle 
Point   township.      He  purchased  a  tract  of 


land  and  opened  up  a  farm.  For  forty 
years  he  was  a  leading  citizen  of  the  town- 
ship, a  good  farmer,  a  kind  neighbor,  and 
one  ever  ready  to  oblige  a  friend.  His 
death  occurred  in  1S88,  while  that  of  his 
wife  occurred  December  24,  1844,  in  the 
forty-first  year  of  her  age.  To  Hoton  Bel- 
lows and  wife  four  sons  and  three  daughters 
were  born.  Mary  is  now  a  widow  and  re- 
sides in  Eagle  Point  township.  Relief  re- 
sides in  Marion  county,  Kansas.  Mrs. 
Sarah  E.  Hodge  is  now  living  in  Lawrence, 
Kansas.  Benjamin  R.  settled  in  Eagle 
Point  township,  where  his  death  occurred. 
Levi  M.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Ori- 
son settled  in  Carroll  county,  and  later  died 
there.  Talman  C.  resides  in  Buena  Vista 
county,  Iowa.  For  his  second  wife  Hoton 
Bellows  married  Miss  Cornelia  Decker. 
To  them  five  children  were  born,  four  of 
whom  are  still  living:  Charles,  Emery,  Adel- 
bert  and  Jotham. 

Levi  M.  Bellows  was  six  years  old  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ogle  county. 
He  here  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  received  but  a  limited  education. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  he  reached 
mature  years,  when  he  rented  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  his  o^vn  account.  He 
was  married  in  Carroll  county,  Illinois,  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1867,  to  Miss  Anis  M.  Wolcott,  a 
native  of  Green  county.  New  York,  and 
daughter  of  Francis  C.  and  Mary  Ann  (Rob- 
inson) Wolcott,  who  removed  from  New 
York  to  Ogle  county  and  later  to  Carroll 
county,  Illinois.  By  this  union  nine  chil- 
dren were  born,  of  whom  five  are  yet  liv- 
ing. Francis  C.  died  in  early  childhood. 
Rose  married  Harry  Stokes,  and  died  in 
August,  1S97,  leaving  two  children,  Merna 
Belle  and  Levi  S.,  who  now  live  with  their 
grandparents.      Walter  B.,  a  young  man,   is 


286 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


now  assisting  in  operating  the  home  farm. 
Harry  R.  died  February  24,  1899.  Hattie, 
a  twin  sister  of  Harry,  died  in  infancy. 
Wilson  H.  is  yet  at  home.  Mary  A.  also 
lives  at  home.  Edith  Belle  died  in  child- 
hood. Fanny  is  a  student  in  the  home 
school. 

Immediately  after  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bellows  commenced  their  domestic 
life  on  his  father's  farm.  In  the  winter  fol- 
lowing he  purchased  eighty  acres,  which  he 
farmed  in  connection  with  his  father's  place. 
He  has  since  added  to  his  original  purchase, 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  about  three  hun- 
dred acres.  He  has  endeavored  to  keep  up 
with  the  times  in  the  way  of  improvement, 
putting  out  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  til- 
ing the  place,  and  building  a  neat  and  sub- 
stantial residence,  two  good  barns  and  other 
outbuildings.  In  addition  to  the  raising  of 
grain,  he  has  engaged  to  some  extent  in 
feeding  and  fattening  cattle  for  the  markets, 
usually  shipping  one  or  two  car  loads  per 
year  and  about  fifty  to  one  hundred  head  of 
hogs.  He  has  been  fairly  successful  in  life, 
and  has  no  reason  to  complain. 

The  first  presidential  ballot  cast  by  Mr. 
Bellows  was  in  1864,  when  he  voted  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  since  which  time  he  has 
given  his  earnest  support  to  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
taken  quite  an  interest  in  local  politics,  and 
frequently  represents  the  Republicans  of  his 
township  in  the  various  conventions  of  the 
party.  He  has  served  for  some  years  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  being  a  friend  of 
education  and  the  public  schools,  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  in 
Eagle  Point  township  (the  old  brick  church), 
of  which  he  is  one  of  the  trustees.  He  is 
an  active  worker  in  the  Sunday-school,  and 


served  several  years  as  superintendent. 
Mrs.  Bellows  is  also  a  member  of  the  same 
church,  and  is  interested  in  its  work.  Both 
are  well-known,  especially  in  the  western 
part  of  Ogle  and  the  eastern  part  of  Carroll 
counties.  All  who  know  them  hold  them  in 
the  highest  respect. 


REV.  HOLMES  DYSINGER,  D.D.. 
pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church,  at 
Polo,  is  a  well  known  and  popular  divine  in 
the  Lutheran  church,  with  a  national  repu- 
tation as  a  minister  and  a  teacher.  He 
was  born  in  Mifflintown,  Juniata  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  26,  1853,  and  is  sec- 
ond in  a  family  of  seven  children  born  to 
Joseph  and  Mary  Amelia  (Patterson)  Dys- 
inger,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  the 
same  county  and  state,  and  where  they  yet 
reside.  Joseph  Dysinger,  by  trade,  is  a 
carpenter  and  builder,  an  occupation  which 
he  followed  for  some  years,  later  following 
farming,  a  vocation  in  which  he  has  been 
engaged  for  about  thirty-five  years.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served 
his  fellow  citizens  in  various  official  posi- 
tions, including  assessor,  collector  and 
school  director.  Religiously  he  is  a  Lu- 
theran, as  also  his  wife.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Catherine  (Echo)  Patter- 
son, the  former  a  native  of  England,  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
si.xty-eight  years,  and  the  latter  a  native  of 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  John  Dysinger,  when  a 
young  man  moved  from  Dauphin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  to  Juniata  county,  in  the 
same  state,  and  there  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  farmer.  He  died  at  the  residence 
of  his  son,  Joseph,  with  whom  he  made 
his  home  for  a  time  before   his  death.      He 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


287 


married  Sarah  Kauffmann,  whose  father 
was  an  Ornish  preacher  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  who  died  at  an  advanced  age.  At  one 
time  John  Dj'singer  was  quite  wealthy,  but 
lost  his  fortune.  He  had  three  uncles  in 
in  the  Revolutionary  v/ar. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  coun- 
ty our  subject  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion, and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  com- 
menced teaching.  For  three  years  he 
taught  in  the  country  schools  and  was  then 
employed  in  the  schools  of  Mifflintown, 
where  he  taught  two  years.  He  then  en- 
tered Pennsjlvania  College,  at  Gettysburg, 
and  after  pursuing  the  regular  course,  grad- 
uated from  that  institution  in  1878.  After 
he  received  his  diploma  he  taught  Latin  and 
Greek  in  the  preparatory  department  of  his 
Alma  Mater  for  four  years,  in  the  mean- 
time finishing  the  course  and  graduating 
from  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary, 
located  at  Gettysburg.  In  1882  he  was  in- 
vited to  accept  a  chair  in  the  college  at  Mt. 
Pleasant,  North  Carolina,  and  was  a  teacher 
in  Latin  and  Greek.  Later  he  was  with  the 
college  at  Newberry,  South  Carolina,  where 
he  continued  five  years.  He  was  then 
called  to  the  presidency  of  Carthage  Col- 
lege, Carthage,  Illinois,  and  filled  that  posi- 
tion for  seven  years,  during  which  time  he 
greatly  strengthened  the  institution.  His 
resignation  was  accepted  with  reluctance, 
as  he  had  the  entire  confidence  not  alone 
of  his  own  church,  under  whose  auspices 
the  college  was  conducted,  but  by  the  entire 
community  as  well.  Leaving  the  college, 
he  accepted  the  call  of  the  Lutheran  church 
at  Polo,  to  become  its  pastor.  While 
teaching  had  been  his  regular  profession, 
for  years  he  had  been  a  regular  ordained 
minister  of  the  church,  preaching  at  such 
times  as  his  other  duties  would  admit.      He 

31 


is  a  fluent  and  eloquent  speaker,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  pastors  that  has  ever 
served  in  Polo.  The  church  to  which  he 
ministers,  was  organized  in  1870,  and  the 
house  of  worship  erected  in  1872.  The 
parsonage  was  built  in  1898. 

Mr.  Dysinger  was  married  at  Blairsville, 
Pennsylvania,  September  22,  1886,  to  Miss 
Ada  Frances  Ray,  a  native  of  that  city,  and 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  (John- 
son) Ray,  the  former  a  native  of  county 
Armaugh,  Ireland.  By  this  union  four  chil- 
dren have  been  born — Mary  Ray,  Cornelia, 
Margaret  Eloise  and  Helen  Frances. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Dysinger  is  thoroughly 
independent,  believeing  in  giving  his  sup- 
port to  the  best  men  regardless  of  their 
political  belief,  especially  in  local  affairs. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  holding  member- 
ship with  the  blue  lodge  at  Polo.  In  every 
enterprise  for  the  best  good  of  his  adopted 
city  and  county,  he  cheerfully  lends  his  aid 
and  influence,  and  in  charitable  and  moral 
reform,  he  is  always  in  the  lead. 


MAJOR  CHARLES  NEWCOMER,  for 
many  years  engaged  in  the  banking 
business  at  Mt.  Morris,  is  personally  as 
well  known  as  any  man  in  Ogle  county.  He 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
August  22,  1825,  and  is  of  Swiss  origin,  his 
paternal  ancestor,  \\'olfgang  Newcomer, 
emigrating  from  Switzerland  in  1749,  and 
locating  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  He 
married  an  American-born  woman,  removed 
with  her  to  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
sons,  Henry,  Christian  and  Peter,  who  loca- 
ted in  Washington  county,  Maryland.  Henry 
was  the  grandfather  of  the  Major,  who  be- 
longs to  the  fourth  generation.      His  father. 


288 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Samuel  Newcomer,  was  a  native  of  that 
county  and  state,  while  his  mother,  Sarah 
Fridly,  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  New 
York.  They  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  the 
summer  of  1845,  the  father  securing  the 
title  to  three  hundred  acres  of  land  adjoin- 
ing the  village  of  Mt.  Morris.  Here  the 
father  died  four  years  later,  the  mother  sur- 
viving him  until  January,  1882.  They 
were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church  and  took  an  active  part  in  organizing 
the  church  and  society  of  that  denomina- 
tion in  Mt.  Morris. 

Major  Newcomer  came  to  Ogle  county 
with  his  parents.  He  was  then  but  twenty 
years  of  age.  The  Mexican  war,  which  fol- 
lowed a  little  later,  brought  with  it  the  ac- 
quisition of  California  with  its  newly  dis- 
covered gold  fields.  Great  excitement  fol- 
lowed the  discovery  of  gold  and  a  vast  emi- 
gration set  in  towards  the  gold  fields.  In 
company  with  his  relatives,  Samuel  W. 
Chaney,  George  and  Michael  Swingley,  on 
the  1st  of  April,  1849,  our  subject  started 
to  California  with  an  ox  team.  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  being  the  principal  outfitting  point 
for  the  overland  emigrants,  they  went  to 
that  point,  secured  their  outfit  for  what  was 
then  known  and  called  ' '  the  plains, ' '  crossed 
the  Missouri  river  early  in  May,  and  started 
out  into  an  unsettled  country,  uninhabited 
except  by  Indians  and  three  government 
lorts  garrisoned  by  United  States  soldiers — 
Forts  Kearney,  Laramie  and  Hall.  The 
Mormons,  however,  had  a  settlement  south 
of  the  emigrant  trail  at  Salt  Lake.  The 
Indians  were  not  as  a  rule  hostile,  unless 
imposed  upon. 

The  party  to  which  the  major  belonged 
traveled  and  camped  alone  the  greater  part 
of  the  way,  frecpiently  coming  in  site  of 
Indian  camps  and  villages,  and  were  never 


molested  or  disturbed  by  them.  They  saw 
vast  herds  of  buffalo  on  the  plams,  in  some  in- 
stances numbering  thousands  in  a  herd.  An- 
telope were  plenty,  but  they  did  not  see  any 
deer  until  they  got  into  the  Sierra  Nevada 
mountains,  where  they  saw  plenty  of  the 
blatck  ailed  deer,  mountain  sheep,  and  occa- 
sionally a  grizzly  bear.  Traveling  with  oxen 
was  slow  and  tedious.  Meeting  a  camp  of 
Mormon  traders  at  the  crossing  of  Green 
river,  in  Wyoming,  they  exchanged  their 
outfit  and  surplus  supplies  for  saddle  horses 
and  pack  mules,  and  traveling  faster,  they 
arrived  at  the  mining  region  on  Bear  river, 
August  I,  1849.  Their  provisions  being 
nearly  exhausted,  as  well  as  their  cash, 
they  found  it  necessary  to  commence  work 
without  delay.  One  dollar  per  pound  was 
the  minimum  price  of  supplies.  Luxuries, 
such  as  potatoes,  onions,  etc.,  were  dearer. 
Picks  and  shovels  were  worth  one  ounce  of 
gold  ($16.00)  each. 

Mining  on  Bear  river  was  not  sufficiently 
remunerative  to  satisfy  the  party,  so  they 
prospected  on  the  Uba,  the  north  fork  of  the 
American  river,  but  with  indifferent  success. 
F'inally  they  succeeded  in  finding  satisfac- 
tory "  diggin's  "  near  where  the  city  of  Ne- 
vada is  now  located,  and  built  the  first 
cabin  in  the  embryo  city.  Being  moderate- 
ly successful,  and  well  pleased  with  the  out- 
look and  surroundings.  Major  Newcomer 
was  making  plans  for  a  probably  permanent 
abode  on  the  Pacific  coast,  when  the  intel- 
ligence of  the  death  of  his  father  reached 
him,  entirely  changing  the  course  of  his  after 
life.  Returning  to  his  home  in  the  summer 
of  1850,  and  purchasing  the  interest  of  the 
heirs  of  his  father's  estate,  he  became  the 
proprietor  of  the  homestead  and  occupied 
the  same  until  the  spring  of  1876,  when  he 
disposed  of  it. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


2S9 


On  the  first  of  August,  1877,  in  company 
with  Dr.  Isaac  Rice,  now  deceased,  he  es- 
tablished the  Bank  of  Mount  Morris,  becom- 
ing sole  proprietor  in  18S0,  and  continuing 
the  same  until  January  i,  1899,  when  he 
sold  out  to  Joseph  L.  and  John  H.  Rice, 
the  former  being  the  son  of  his  former 
partner. 

Major  Newcomer  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Rosalie  D.  Blanchard,  July  13, 
1853.  She  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  coun- 
ty. New  York,  and  preceptress  of  Rock 
River  Seminary  at  the  time  of  her  marriage. 
She  died  at  the  homestead,  November  11, 
1872,  leaving  three  sons — Frank  P.,  at 
present  a  resident  of  Texas;  Charles  E. 
and  Lyle  C,  residents  of  New  Mexico.  On 
the  2d  of  June,  1889,  Major  Newcomer 
married  Miss  Maria  Hitt,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Hitt,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Ogle  county.  She  was  born  on  the  Hitt 
homestead,  adjoining  the  village  of  Mt.  Mor- 
ris, was  a  student  in  Rock  River  Seminary, 
and  afterwards  continued  the  study  and 
completed  a  course  of  music,  both  vocal 
and  instrumental,  at  a  conservatory  in 
Washington  City.  For  several  years  she 
was  music  teacher  in  Rock  River  Seminary, 
as  scores  of  old  students  from  its  classic 
halls  can  testify. 

In  public  life  the  Major  has  been  an 
active  and  prominent  factor.  In  1853  he 
was  appointed  and  served  under  Elias 
Baker,  as  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county,  and 
in  1855  was  elected  sheriff  without  opposi- 
tion. In  November,  1861,  he  was  elected 
to  represent  Ogle  county  in  the  constitu- 
tional convention,  and  upon  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  convention  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  paymaster  in  the  United 
States  army,  with  the  rank  of  major,  and 
was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  military  division 


of  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland, 
with  headquarters  at  Louisville,  Kentucky. 
Colonel  William  Allen,  chief  paymaster  of 
that  department,  placed  him  in  charge  of 
the  field  payments  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, including  the  entire  forces  of  Gen- 
erals Sherman  and  Thomas.  His  subordi- 
nates numbered  forty  paymasters  and  clerks. 
He  retained  that  position  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  and  returned  home  to  assume  the 
duties  of  civil  life.  Since  returning  home 
for  more  than  twenty-one  years  he  was 
actively  engaged  in  the  management  of  his 
bank.  On  the  ist  of  October,  1885,  he 
was  selected  by  the  court  to  adjust  the  em- 
barrassed condition  of  the  suspended  l>ank 
of  Forreston,  which  he  succeeded  in  doing 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  assignor  and  credit- 
ors. In  whatever  position  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  fill,  every  duty  has  been  con- 
scientiously performed.  He  has  always 
had  the  confidence  of  the  community  in 
which  he  has  lived,  and  all  have  a  good 
word  to  say  of  him. 


FRED  J.  DEUTH,  one  of  Forreston's 
enterprising  merchants,  owns  and  man- 
ages a  well-stocked  hardware  establishment. 
He  was  born  in  Ost  Friesland,  Germany, 
October  6,  1852,  and  in  his  native  land  was 
reared  and  educated.  After  his  school  days 
were  over  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  farm,  until  1870,  when  the  fam- 
ily came  to  America  and  located  in  Forres- 
ton township.  Ogle  county,  where  the  father 
rented  a  farm.  He  continued  farming  in  For- 
reston township  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  in  May,  1897.  His  remains  were 
interre  in  White  Oak  cemetery,  Forreston. 
His  wife,  who  was  a  Miss  Tina  K.  Schurman, 


290 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


was  a  daughter  of  Kreine  and  Margaret  (De 
Vreis)  Schurman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deuth 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
children:  George  J.,  living  on  a  farm  in 
Stephenson  county;  Iv.  J.,  living  in  Minne- 
sota; Fred  J.,  our  subject;  Jacob  J.,  a 
farmer  of  Forreston  township;  and  August, 
a  farmer  of  Lincoln  township. 

Fred  J.  Deuth,  in  1877,  married  Miss 
Anna  H.  Abels,  a  daughter  of  Herman 
Abels,  a  farmer  of  Lincoln  township.  Her 
parents,  Herman  and  Margaret  Abels,  came 
to  America  in  1855,  and  settled  near  Ger- 
man Valley.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deuth  nine 
children  have  been  born, — Tina  F.,  Her- 
man, Johnnie  F.,  Annie  Carrie,  Frederick 
George,  Martha  M.,  Bertha  M.,  Esther 
Lillian  and  Emma  Augusta.  Of  these  Anna 
is  deceased. 

On  a  farm  in  Forreston  township  Mr. 
Deuth  remained  until  the  fall  of  1883,  when 
he  came  to  the  city  of  Forreston  and  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  business,  in  company 
with  a  Mr.  Marr,  purchasing  the  establish- 
ment of  Middlekauff  Bros. ,  and  the  firm  be- 
came Marr  &  Deuth.  This  partnership 
lasted  three  years,  terminating  on  account 
of  the  death  of  Mr.  Marr.  The  firm  then 
became  Deuth,  Hemphill  &  Co.,  which 
lasted  for  nine  years.  It  was  then  Deuth 
&  Abels  for  one  year,  then  Death  &  Reb- 
man,  three  years,  and  since  December  13, 
1897,  Mr.  Deuth  has  been  sole  proprietor. 
He  carries  a  full  line  of  stoves,  builders' 
hardware,  agricultural  implements,  etc.  The 
store  is  the  oldest  in  Forreston  and  was  es- 
tablished in  1866. 

In  politics  Mr.  Deuth  is  a  Republican, 
and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  R.  B. 
Hayes,  in  1876.  He  has  been  quite  active 
in  political  and  local  affairs,  and  for  four- 
teen years  served  as  road  commissioner,  and 


also  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
for  nine  years.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  very  pop- 
ular, affable,  friendly,  bright  business  man, 
and  is  recognized  as  a  leader  of  the  com- 
munity. A  self-made  man  in  the  true  sense 
of  the  term,  he  has  worked  his  way  steadily 
upwards  until  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  a 
comfortable  competence.  No  man  in  For- 
reston has  more  friends  or  is  held  in  higher 
respect  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


JOHN  AND  JAMES  NICHOLS  are  num- 
bered among  the  most  enterprising, 
energetic  and  industrious  agriculturists  of 
Eagle  Point  township,  where  they  own  and 
successfully  operate  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  on  section  14.  They 
were  born  upon  that  place,  December  31, 
1 86 1. 

Their  father,  John  Nichols,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Andes,  Delaware  county,  New 
York,  in  1818,  and  was  a  son  of  William 
Nichols,  a  native  of  Martha's  Vineyard, 
Massachusetts,  and  a  representative  of  an 
old  English  family,  his  ancestors  being 
among  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  who  settled  in 
that  state  early  in  the  seventeenth  century. 
William  Nichols  was  a  sailor  and  followed 
the  sea  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was 
married  at  Martha's  Vineyard  and  later  re- 
moved to  Delaware  county,  New  York, 
where  he  was  one  of  the  pioneers.  There 
John  Nichols,  Sr. ,  was  reared  and  educated, 
receiving  fair  school  advantages.  In  1836, 
when  a  young  man  of  eighteen  years,  he 
came  with  his  father's  family  to  Illinois  and 
located  in  what  is  now  Eagle  Point  town- 
ship. Ogle  county.  Here  they  took  up  a 
claim,  built  a  residence  and  turned  their  at- 
tention to  the  development  and  cultivation 


r/ 


JAMES    NICHOLS. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


-91 


of  a  farm  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness,  the 
grandfather  spending  the  last  years  of  his 
life  here.  John  Nichols,  Sr. ,  remained  with 
his  parents  until  after  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority. He  entered  a  tract  of  eighty  acres 
where  the  family  now  resides  and  soon  con- 
verted the  wild  land  into  a  good  and  well 
cultivated  farm,  improved  with  substantial 
buildings.  Being  a  successful  farmer,  he 
bought  more  land,  becoming  the  owner  of 
a  tine  place  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.  He  was  an  efficient  member  of  the 
county  board  of  supervisors  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  held  other  positions  of  honor  and 
trust,  the  duties  of  which  he  most  capably 
and  satisfactorily  performed.  He  died  upon 
his  farm  May  28,  1880,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  In  Ogle 
county  he  had  married  Miss  Christiana 
Byers,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Dela- 
ware county.  New  York,  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Jane  (Scott)  Byers,  both  natives 
of  Scotland.  Mrs.  Nichols  survived  her 
husband  for  a  number  of  years,  passing 
away  April  27,  1897,  and  both  were  laid  to 
rest  in  the  United  Brethren  cemetery  at  the 
brick  church  in  Eagle  Point  township.  They 
were  formerly  members  of  that  church, 
were  among  the  original  members  and 
helped  to  build  the  church,  but  later  in  life 
united  with  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Polo, 
Mrs.  Nichols  having  been  reared  in  that 
faith.  To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  si.\ 
children,  namely:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George 
Adee,  who  is  now  living  retired  in  Sycamore, 
Illinois;  Russell  B.,  a  farmer  of  Eagle  Point 
township:  Nettie,  wife  of  Barnabus  Wright, 
of  Polo;  Olive,  who  was  formerly  a  teacher 
but  is  now  keeping  house  for  her  brothers; 
and  John  and  James,  of  this  review. 

As  soon  as  old  enough  to  be  of  any  as- 
sistance, John  and  James  Nichols  began  to 


aid  their  father  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm,  and  since  the  father's  death  have  pur- 
chased the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the 
place,  which  they  are  now  so  successfully 
carrying  on.  By  subsequent  purchase  they 
have  added  to  it  and  now  have  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 
They  are  thorough  and  systematic  farmers 
and  as  stock  feeders  have  also  met  with  ex- 
cellent success,  fattening  for  market  about 
three  car  loads  of  cattle  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  hogs  annuall\'.  They  ship  their 
own  stock  and  iind  the  business  quite 
profitable. 

Since  casting  their  first  presidential  bal- 
lot for  James  G.  Blaine,  in  [884,  the  Nich- 
ols brothers  have  been  ardent  supporters  of 
the  Republican  party  and  have  never  missed 
a  presidential  or  state  election.  James  takes 
quite  an  active  interest  in  local  politics,  has 
been  a  delegate  to  numerous  county  and 
congressional  conventions  of  his  part}-,  was 
assessor  of  his  township  lor  five  consecutive 
years,  and  for  several  j-ears  has  also  been 
president  of  the  township  board  of  trustees 
of  the  public  schools.  He  is  a  member  of 
Buffalo  Grove  Garrison,  No.  3,  K.  of  G.,  of 
Polo,  and  both  he  and  John  are  members  of 
the  Eagle  Point  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company.  They  are  well-known  and  high- 
ly respected,  and  have  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  upbuilding  and  prosper- 
ity of  the  community  where  they  have  spent 
their  entire  lives,  as  upright  and  honorable 
business  men  who  command  the  confidence 
of  all  with  whom  they  come  in  contact.  . 


CAPTAIN  JOSEPH   M.    MYERS  is  un- 
questionably one  of  the   strongest    and 
most  influential  business  men  whose  liveshave 


294 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


become  an  essential  part  of  the  history  of  For- 
reston  and  Ogle  county.  Born  on  the  2nd 
of  December,  1S37,  in  Mount  Morris  town- 
ship, and  reared  in  Ogle  county,  his  inter- 
est in  its  growth  and  advancement  have  al- 
ways been  uppermost  in  his  thoughts,  and 
every  effort  tending  toward  its  improvement, 
strained  to  the  utmost.  He  is  one  of  the 
eight  children  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Roth- 
ruck)  Myers,  the  former  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  latter  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  he  and  his  twin  brother, 
now  deceased,  coming  first  in  order  of  birth. 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  John  H.  Mullen,  a  resi- 
dent of  Columbus  Junction,  Iowa.  John  is 
a  resident  of  Mount  Morris  township.  Ruth 
Ann,  the  third  child,  is  deceased.  Samuel 
is  a  resident  of  Leaf  River.  Sarah  J.  is  the 
widow  of  Norton  S.  Goodrich  and  lives  in 
Winnebago,  Illinois.  The  youngest  child, 
David,  died  in  infancy. 

Captain  Myers'  parents  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  Ogle  county,  having  come 
to  Illinois  in  1S37.  His  father  was  a  stone- 
cutter and  worked  at  his  trade  after  reach- 
ing Ogle  county.  When  Captain  Myers  was 
a  child  of  four  years,  his  parents  moved 
near  Adeline,  Maryland  township,  where  they 
lived  until  his  mother's  death,  in  1851. 
After  this  sad  event  the  Captain  was  obliged 
to  earn  his  own  living,  which  he  did  at  farm 
work,  attending  school  during  the  winter 
seasons.  In  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  H,  Thirty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  several  notable 
engagements,  among  which  were  Shiloh, 
Corinth,  Stone  River,  Liberty  Gap  and 
Missionary  Ridge.  He  also  took  part  in 
various  battles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  in 
Sherman's  march  to  the  sea  and  the  cam- 
paign in  the  Carolinas.  At  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain he  received  a  slight   wound.      Captain 


Myers  received  an  honorable  discharge, 
in  Chicago,  having  been  mustered  out  of 
service  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  18, 
1865. 

After  the  close  of  the  war.  Captain 
Myers  went  to  Forreston  and  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  until  May,  1874.  He  then 
clerked  in  a  general  store  until  April,  1876, 
and  from  that  time  until  1S77  he  was  pro- 
prietor of  the  Commercial  hotel.  Selling 
out  the  hotel  business,  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion with  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany as  baggageman  at  Forreston,  which 
position  he  held  until  his  appointment  as 
postmaster,  discharging  his  duties  in  the 
latter  capacity  very  creditably  until  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term,  April  I,  1893.  Cap- 
tain Myers  then  established  an  insurance 
agency,  to  which  he  now  gives  his  time  and 
attention,  and  which  has  become  representa- 
tive in  the  volume  of  business  written  for. 
On  the  1st  of  November,  1898,  he  was  again 
appointed  postmaster  of  Forreston,  an  in- 
dication of  his  popularit}'  and  the  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  by  the  community. 

In  the  year  1871,  Captain  Myers  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Barbara  A.  Geeting, 
a  native  of  Germantown,  Ohio.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Nancy  (Wagner) 
Geeting,  who  settled  in  Ogle  county  in 
1854.  To  this  union  two  children  were 
born:  George,  a  telegraph  operator  at 
Harper,  and  F^lorence,  residing  at  home. 
Our  subject  is  a  Knight  of  the  Globe  and  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
He  has  been  constable  for  four  years,  tax 
collector  for  two  years,  assessor  three  years, 
member  of  the  board  of  education  three 
years,  town  council  three  years  and  is  now 
holding  the  office  of  village  treasurer  and 
notary  public;  was  president  of  the  old  set- 
tlers association  for  the  year  1S95.      He  has 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


295 


frequently  been  a  delegate  to  county,  con- 
gressional and  senatorial  conventions,  and 
has  been  township  and  county  committee- 
man in  public  affairs.  Captain  Myers  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  voting  at  every  presi- 
dental  election  since  casting  his  first  ballot 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  at  Mt.  Morris.  He 
is  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  always  courte- 
ous and  affable,  has  the  confidence  of  the 
community,  and  the  regard  of  the  citizens 
of  Forreston. 


EDMOND  D.  HUGGANS  is  one  of  the 
active  and  enterprising  farmers  of  Ogle 
county.  He  resides  on  a  well  improved 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres. on 
section  20,  about  two  miles  southwest  of 
Polo,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county 
since  the  fall  of  1854.  His  father,  David 
G.  Huggans,  was  a  native  of  Green  county. 
New  York,  and  was  the  son  of  William 
Huggans,  of  Irish  parents,  who  married  a 
Scotch  lady.  William  Huggans  was  an 
early  settler  of  Green  county,  New  York, 
and  near  the  Catskill  mountains,  in  the 
heavy  wilderness,  cleared  a  farm  and  pro- 
vided himself  and  family  a  home.  The 
last  years  of  his  life  were  passed  in  that 
place. 

David  G.  Huggans  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  his  native  county,  receiving  in 
its  primitive  schools  a  limited  education. 
He  there  married  Miss  Polly  Griffin,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Griffin,  who  was  likewise  an 
early  settler  of  Green  county.  She  was 
born  in  Delaware  county,  in  the  same  state. 
After  marriage  David  G.  Huggans  located 
in  Delaware  county,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  some  years,  and  also  in  -the 
manufacture  of  lumber.  In  1S54  he  came 
to  Illinois,  first  locating  in  Lee  county,  and 


later  moving  to  Whiteside  county.  In 
1 86 1  he  came  to  Ogle  county  and  pur- 
chased land  in  what  is  now  Woosung  town- 
ship. He  subsequently  moved  to  Labette 
county,  Kansas,  where  he  lived  four  years, 
and  then  returned  to  Ogle  county,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  iSgi.  His  wife  died 
while  they  were  residing  in  Lee  county, 
soon  after  removing  west.  They  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  six  sons 
yet  survive.  Daniel  Uriah  grew  to  man- 
hood, married  and  settled  in  Ogle  county, 
but  died  in  1894.  Kimber  resides  in  La- 
bette county,  Kansas.  James  G.  is  a  farmer 
of  Jones  county,  Iowa.  John  P.  is  residing 
in  the  same  county.  Richard  W.  is  a  farmer 
of  Buffalo  township.  Edmond  D.  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  William  S.  is  also 
a  farmer  of  Buffalo  township. 

Edmond  D.  Huggans  came  to  Ogle 
county  when  thirteen  years  old.  After  the 
death  of  their  mother  the  brothers  bought  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  part- 
nership, adjoining  the  farm  of  their  father. 
They  lived  and  worked  in  partnership  for 
several  years,  later  purchasing  more  land. 
With  his  brother  William  he  bought  out 
the  other  brothers,  and  the  two  continued 
together  for  some  years,  owning  two  farms 
comprising  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
They  also  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 
stock  together  for  about  fifteen  years,  meet- 
ing with  fair  success.  They  then  dissolved 
partnership,  Edmond  D.  taking  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  Since  the  dissolu- 
tion of  co-partnership  he  has  confined  his 
operations  to  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  best 
farmers  in  the  section  where  he  resides. 

Mr.  Huggans  was  married  in  Ogle  coun- 
ty, December  29,  1892,  to  Miss  Jennie  Max- 
well, a  native  of  Whiteside  county,  Illinois, 


296 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


and  daughter  of  William  Maxwell,  a  native 
of  Scotland,  but  an  early  settler  of  that 
county,  where  he  yet  resides  and  is  living  a 
retired  life.  By  this  union  one  son  has 
been  born,  Allen  Maxwell. 

Mr.  Huggans  was  reared  a  Democrat 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  General  Hancock 
in  1S80.  Always  a  strong  advocate  of  tem- 
perance, and  firmly  believing  that  from  the 
old  parties  no  permanent  laws  can  ever  be 
obtained,  or  any  earnest  efforts  put  forth 
for  the  suppression  of  intemperance,  he  has 
for  the  past  eight  years  voted  with  the  Pro- 
hibition party.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  Mason, 
a  member  of  the  blue  lodge  and  chapter  at 
Polo  and  the  commandery  at  Dixon.  As  a 
citizen  he  is  loyal  to  the  best  interests  of  his 
adopted  county  and  state,  and  has  given  the 
best  years  of  his  life  to  the  permanent  im- 
provement of  the  count}'.  He  has  been  an 
industrious  man  and  the  results  are  shown 
in  the  fine  farm  that  he  owns  and  the  per- 
sonal property  that  he  possesses.  All  who 
know  him  hold  him  in  hitrh  esteem. 


GEORGE  W.  JONES  is  the  owner  of 
three  valuable  and  well-improved 
farms,  and  in  his  home  place,  which  is 
pleasantly  located  two  and  a  quarter  miles 
south  of  Stillman  Valley,  he  has  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  rich  and  arable  land.  He  is 
numbered  among  the  self-made  men  of  the 
county,  his  accumulations  being  the  result 
of  his  own  industry,  perseverance  and  good 
management,  and  the  exercise  of  a  natur- 
ally good  judgment,  both  in  regard  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  business  matters.  He 
came  to  Ogle  county  in  June,  1850,  and 
since  that  time  this  has  been  the  field  of 
his  operations,  and  the  center  of  his  inter- 
ests and  hopes. 


Mr.  Jones  was  born  in  Harlem  township, 
Delaware  county,  Ohio,  October  13,  1824, 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Jones,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
1801.  The  grandfather,  Samuel  Jones,  Sr. , 
was  a  native  of  Wales  and  a  pioneer  of 
Luzerne  county,  where  he  cleared  and  im- 
proved a  farm,  following  farming  there 
until  18 19,  when  he  removed  to  Delaware 
county,  Ohio,  and  in  Harlem  township 
again  developed  a  farm  from  wild  land. 
Samuel  Jones,  Jr.,  was  a  young  man  of 
eighteen  years  when  the  family  removed  to 
the  Buckeye  state,  and  was  of  great  assist- 
ance to  his  father  in  opening  up  the  farm. 
Here  he  married  Miss  Maria  Cockrell,  a 
native  of  Virginia  and  a  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Elizabeth  (Dawson)  Cockrell,  pioneers 
of  Delaware  county.  For  several  years 
after  his  marriage  Mr.  Jones  carried  on 
operations  as  a  farmer  in  Ohio,  but  in  1849 
came  to  Ogle  county  and  took  up  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  with 
Mexican  war  land  warrants.  In  Pine  Rock 
township  he  built  a  residence  and  developed 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  giv- 
ing to  his  children  the  other  one  hundred 
and  sixty-acre  tract.  He  died'  upon  that 
farm  July  3,  1889,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-eight  years,  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  His  first  wife  de- 
parted this  life  in  1845,  and  his  second  wife 
only  survived  him  three  months  and  eight 
days. 

George  W.  Jones,  our  subject,  is  the 
oldest  child  of  the  first  union,  which  was 
blessed  by  eleven  children,  four  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  years 
of  maturity  with  the  exception  of  one 
daughter.  By  the  last  marriage  there  were 
two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Oliver 
Perry,  next  younger  than   our  subject,  was 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


297 


a  soldier  of  the  Mexican  war  and  died  in 
Pueblo;  John  Butler  is  living  retired  in 
Minnesota;  Lorinda  married  William  Howe 
and  died  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio;  Eliza- 
beth is  the  present  wife  of  Mr.  Howe,  who 
still  resides  in  that  county;  Maria  Jane  mar- 
ried George  Lilley  and  is  now  deceased; 
Katie  Ann  died  in  Delaware  county  during 
childhood;  Elmira  is  the  wile  of  Lawrence 
Wren,  of  Ghana,  Ogle  county,  Illinois; 
Emma  is  the  wife  of  Nehemiah  Woodruff, 
of  Shamburg,  Page  county,  Iowa;  Lucy  Ann 
married  William  Gifford,  who  died  in  the 
service  of  his  country  during  the  Rebellion, 
and  she  later  married  Samuel  G.  Morrison, 
but  is  now  deceased,  and  Samuel  B.  is  a 
resident  of  Delmar  Junction,  Iowa.  The 
children  of  the  second  marriage  were  Will- 
iam H.,  who  died  after  reaching  manhood; 
Alice,  wife  of  O.  W.  Campbell,  of  Ashton, 
Lee  county,  Iowa;  Mary,  who  died  in  child- 
hood; Irene  M.,  widow  of  John  Giles  and  a 
resident  of  Texas,  and  Philip  P.,  a  resident 
of  East  Chain  Lakes,  Martin  county,  Min- 
nesota. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  George  W. 
Jones  was  reared  and  educated,  and  was 
there  married  November  23,  1848,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Jane  Woodruff, 
whose  brother  married  Mr.  Jones'  sister. 
She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  when  a 
child  of  three  years  was  taken  to  Ohio, 
where  she  was  reared.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife.  Ann 
Mary  is  now  the  wife  of  George  Smith,  a 
substantial  farmer  of  Marion  township.  Ogle 
county;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  D.  A. 
Harlaman,  of  the  same  township;  Emma  T. 
is  the  wife  of  Walter  Stagle,  a  farmer  of 
Marion  township;  Oliver  Perry  married  and 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-four  years,  leaving 
a  large  family. 

32 


In  1850  Mr.  Jones  came  to  Ogle  county, 
making  the  journey  in  a  home-made  cov- 
ered wagon  with  a  blue  box,  and  arriving 
at  his  destination  in  June,  after  twenty-two 
days  spent  upon  the  road,  and  they  brought 
with  them  their  few  household  effects  and 
wearing  apparel,  all  home-made.  They 
camped  out  at  night.  Mr.  Jones  left  Ohio 
with  thirty-six  dollars  and  arrived  here  with 
thirty-one,  which,  with  his  team  and  equip- 
ments, constituted  his  entire  worldly  pos- 
sessions. He  bought  a  cow  and  a  stove, 
and  began  life  here  in  earnest,  working  by 
the  day  for  others  for  the  first  year.  He 
then  operated  rented  land  for  several  years, 
his  first  purchase  consisting  of  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres  of  raw  land  in  Pine  Rock  town- 
ship, which  he  broke  and  cultivated,  and  to 
which  he  later  added  another  eighty  adjoin- 
ing, making  it  his  home  until  1882,  when 
he  sold  the  place  for  ten  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  eighty  dollars.  He  then 
bought  eighty  acres  in  the  same  school  dis- 
trict, but  sold  it  two  years  later  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Greene  county,  Iowa,  which  he  disposed  of 
six  years  later  at  a  good  profit.  He  also 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  three 
pieces  in  Pine  Rock  township,  this  count}', 
which  he  sold  at  the  end  of  that  year,  and 
at  the  same  time  owned  considerable  land 
around  Ghana.  He  is  st'.ll  the  owner  of 
three  fine  farms,  aggregating  five  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  acres.  This  includes  the 
home  farm  previously  mentioned,  filty-two 
acres  north  of  Stillman  Valley,  sixty-six 
acres  in  Pine  Rock  township,  and  forty 
acres  at  Black  Walnut  Grove,  and  is  valued 
at  over  forty  thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Jones  supported  Zachary  Taylor, 
Winfield  Scott  and  John  C.  Fremont  for 
the  presidency,  and  each  succeeding  candi- 


298 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


date  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has 
ever  taken  an  active  and  commendable  in- 
terest in  public  affairs.  He  has  held  a 
number  of  official  positions  of  honor  and 
trust,  the  duties  of  which  he  most  capably 
and  satisfactorily  discharged.  These  in- 
clude the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace, 
township  collector  and  trustee,  and  was 
also  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  earnest  and  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  are  held  in  high  regard  by  all 
who  have  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaint- 
ance. Mr.  George  W.  Jones  has  just 
passed  his  seventy-fourth  year;  his  sight  is 
good,  and  his  business  qualifications  are 
remarkably  good  for  his  age.  He  has  just 
deeded  each  of  his  four  children  land  in 
Ogle  county,  valued  at  two  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars. 


LEWIS  PETRIE,  a  well-known  farmer 
of  Lincoln  township,  resides  on  a  well 
improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  on  section  15,  and  which  is  one  mile 
north  of  Haldane.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
county,  born  in  Maryland  township.  May  7, 
1849.  His  father,  Jonas  Petrie,  was  a 
native  of  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
born  April  i,  1809,  while  his  grandfather, 
Philip  Petrie,  probably  of  the  same  county, 
was  of  German  parentage.  The  latter  was 
a  commissioned  officer  in  the  Revolutionary 
army,  and  the  sword  that  he  carried  in  the 
service  is  now  in  possession  of  our  subject. 
His  death  occurred  in  1854,  in  Maryland 
township.  Ogle  county. 

Jonas  Petrie  was  reared  in  his  native 
county  and  there  married  Miss  Emily 
Weaver,  also  born  in  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  and    they  became  the  parents  of 


eight  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature 
years,  and  but  one  now  deceased.  Frances 
married  Daniel  Stoffer,  and  they  now  reside 
in  Adeline,  Ogle  county;  David  resides  in 
Black  Hawk  county,  Iowa;  Jonas  is  living 
in  Union  county,  Iowa;  Jacob  came  west, 
but  married  and  remained  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  Maryland  township.  Ogle  county, 
Illinois.  He  is  the  deceased  one.  Upton 
resides  in  Iowa  Falls,  Iowa;  Freeland  re- 
sides in  Clinton,  Iowa;  Mary  C.  is  the  wife 
of  Samuel  Bovey,  of  Black  Hawk  county, 
Iowa;  Lewis,  of  this  review,  completes  the 
family. 

In  early  manhood  Jonas  Petrie  was  en- 
gaged in  freighting  over  the  mountains  of 
his  native  state.  The  favorable  reports 
from  old  friends  and  neighbors  who  had 
come  to  Ogle  county  induced  him  to  come 
also.  He  arrived  in  this  county  with  his 
family  in  May,  1840,  and  first  located  in 
Mt.  Morris  township.  He  only  remained 
there  a  year  or  two,  however,  and  then 
entered  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Maryland  township,  to  which  he  removed. 
His  farm  was  within  two  miles  of  the  pres- 
ent village  of  Adeline.  He  there  reared 
his  family,  and  later  moved  to  Forreston, 
where  he  lived  a  retired  life,  dying  there 
July  23,  1880.  His  wife  survived  him  but 
a  few  months,  passing  away  in  November 
of  the  same  year.  They  were  laid  to  rest 
in  the  cemetery  at  Adeline.  They  were 
highly  esteenied  people.  By  his  friends 
and  neighbors  he  was  elected  to  various 
local  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  He  was 
a  member  and  active  worker  in  the  United 
Brethren  church,  as  was  also  his  wife. 

On  the  old  home  farm  in  Maryland  town- 
ship, Lewis  Petrie  grew  to  manhood,  and  in 
the  district  schools  received  his  education. 
He  remained  at  home,   assisting  his  father 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


299 


in  the  management  of  the  farm  until  the 
latter's  removal  to  Forreston.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  August 
24,  1869,  to  Miss  Margaret  Ellen  Heitman, 
who  was  born  near  Hagerstown,  Washing- 
ton county,  Maryland,  and  daughter  of 
Joseph  Napoleon  Heitman,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  removed  to  the  United  States 
when  a  young  man,  locating  in  Maryland, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  of  stone  mason. 
He  was  married  in  Martinsburg,  Virginia,  to 
Miss  Anna  Fry,  a  native  of  what  is  now 
West  Virginia,  After  his  marriage  he  came 
to  Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  arriving  in 
that  county  in  1S52.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Petrie  five  children  have  been  born.  Anna 
May  died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  Charles 
A.  will  graduate  in  the  Northwestern  Dental 
College  in  the  class  of  1899;  he  has  taught 
seven  terms  of  school  in  his  home  district. 
Carrie  A.  is  the  wife  of  Oliver  Long,  a 
farmer  of  Lincoln  township.  Daisy  A.  and 
Howard  A.  are  yet  at  home,  and  are  stu- 
dents in  the  home  school. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Petrie  located 
on  the  old  home  farm,  which  he  operated  a 
number  of  years,  and  in  the  meantime  pur- 
chased the  farm  where  he  now  resides  and 
to  which  he  removed  with  his  family  in  1 8S2. 
Since  his  removal  to  his  present  farm  he  has 
made  many  improvements  on  the  place,  in- 
cluding the  erection  of  a  large  and  neat  resi- 
dence, large  barn  and  various  outbuildings, 
and  the  planting  of  orchard  and  shade  trees. 
He  now  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
township. 

Politically,  Mr.  Petrie  is  a  Democrat,  the 
principles  of  which  party  he  has  advocated 
during  his  whole  life.  His  first  presidential 
vote  was  cast  for  General  Hancock.  For 
about  twenty  years  he  has  served  as  school 
director,  and  for  a  large  part  of  the  time  as 


president  of  the  board.  No  other  office  has 
he  cared  for,  and  he  only  would  serve  as 
school  director  from  the  fact  that  he  took 
great  interest  in  the  public  schools.  A  life- 
long resident  of  the  county,  he  has  always 
had  its  best  interests  at  heart,  and  has  done 
what  he  could  to  subserve  those  interests. 


WILLIAM  STOCKING, .senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  William  Stocking  & 
Company,  bankers  of  Rochelle,  is  well- 
known  throughout  Ogle  and  adjoining  coun- 
ties as  a  man  of  strict  honor  and  integrity, 
possessing  fine  business  qualifications,  one 
having  the  best  interests  of  his  adopted  city 
and  county  at  heart,  and  who  has  doubtless 
done  as  much  as  any  other  one  man  to  ad- 
vance those  interests.  He  was  born  in  Ash- 
field,  Franklin  county,  Massachusetts,  Jan- 
uary 3,  1827,  and  is  the  son  of  Herod  and 
Lydia  (Ames)  Stocking,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  same  county  and  state,  the 
former  born  in  April,  1795.  By  occupation 
the  father  was  a  farmer  and  followed  that 
vocation  during  his  entire  life.  In  1S32  he 
moved  with  his  family  to  Cuyahoga  county, 
Ohio,  and  seven  years  later  to  Ogle  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  settling  in  Monroe  township, 
where  he  took  up  a  claim  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  government  land  and 
at  once  began  the  development  of  a  fine 
farm.  On  that  farm  he  spent  the  greater 
portion  of  his  life,  dying  in  1888,  at  the  age 
of  ninety-three  years.  A  few  years  prior 
to  his  death  he  retired  from  active  life,  pass- 
ing away  at  the  residence  of  his  son.  Al- 
ways an  active  man,  he  retained  the  full 
possession  of  his  faculties  till  the  last,  and 
outlived  his  second  wife.  During  the  sec- 
ond war  with  Great  Britain  he  served  his 
country  as  one  of  its  brave  defenders.      Po- 


300 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


litically  he  was  a  stanch  Democrat.  Herod 
Stocking  was  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Aba- 
gail  (Smith)  Stocking,  both  of  whom  were 
probably  born  in  Massachusetts,  the  former 
living  to  the  age  of  ninety  years,  and  the 
latter  until  eighty-five  years  old.  Of  the 
ten  children  born  to  Herod  and  Lydia  Stock- 
ing, two  only  are  now  living,  Lewis,  of 
Lynnville  township,  and  our  subject. 

William  Stocking  was  five  years  old 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Cuya- 
hoga county,  Ohio,  and  but  twelve  years 
old  when  he  arrived  with  them  in  Ogle 
county,  and  here  his  entire  life  has  since 
been  spent,  a  period  of  three  score  years. 
He  well  remembers  the  trip  from  Ohio  to 
Illinois,  coming  through  as  they  did  with 
teams.  The  country  was  new  and  it  was 
quite  interesting  to  the  boy.  His  educa- 
tion, which  was  begun  in  the  common 
schools  of  Ohio,  was  completed  in  the  prim- 
itive schools  of  Ogle  county,  attending  as 
he  did  generally  during  the  winter  months. 
But  in  those  primitive  schools  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  a  practical  business  life  which 
has  been  successful,  and  which  has  brought 
him  honors  and  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 

Continuing  witli  his  father,  and  assisting 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  he  then  took 
up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  from 
the  government  and  the  first  year  broke 
twenty  acres,  thus  beginning  life  for  himself. 
His  first  crop  of  wheat  he  hauled  to  Mil- 
ford  with  an  o.\  team  and  sold  for  forty-five 
cents  per  bushel.  Success  seemed  to  crown 
his  efforts  from  the  start,  and  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  one  thousand  acres  in  one  body, 
lying  in  White  Rock  and  Lynnville  town- 
ships. For  some  years  he  was  extensively 
engaged  in  buying  and  selling  stock,  and  in 
that  line  of  business  was  likewise  successful. 


In  1872  he  became  interested  in  the  Ro- 
chelle  National  Bank,  and  was  connected 
with  that  institution  until  iSSi,  when  he 
sold  his  stock  and  severed  his  connection 
with  the  bank.  He  then  bought  a  control- 
ling interest  in  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Rochelle,  which  was  later  changed  into  a 
private  bank  and  business  continued  under 
the  firm  name  of  William  Stocking  &  Co. 
The  bank  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  sound 
financial  institutions  of  the  county,  and  has 
a  large  line  of  deposits. 

In  Monroe  township,  Ogle  county,  June 
27,  1S47,  Mr.  Stocking  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lydia  Crill,  a  native  of 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  and  daughter 
of  Henry  Crill,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  Monroe  township.  Four  children  were 
born  of  this  union.  Horace  married  Alma 
Weeks,  and  is  now  living  on  the  home  farm. 
They  have  four  children.  Dexter  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years.  Aurora  married 
George  Terry,  a  manufacturer  of  Chicago, 
in  which  city  they  reside.  George  E.  is 
connected  with  the  bank  in  Rochelle.  He 
married  Helene  S.  Stanton,  by  whom  he  has 
three  children. 

In  politics  Mr.  Stocking  is  a  Republican 
and  for  years  has  been  active  in  the  councils 
of  the  party.  He  has  been  likewise  active 
in  county  and  municipal  affairs,  and  while 
residing  in  White  Rock  township  served  as 
supervisor  three  terms,  and  also  five  terms 
in  the  same  office  in  Flagg  township,  since 
removing  to  Rochelle.  On  the  board  he 
was  one  of  the  most  active  and  influential 
members.  As  a  member  of  the  city  council 
of  Rochelle,  he  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  water  works  and  was  chiefly  in- 
strumental in  securing  so  fine  a  plant,  and 
took  part  in  putting  in  the  same.  Since 
1881   he   has  served  as  mayor  of  the  city,  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


^oi 


term  of  office  which  has  probably  no  parallel 
in  the  state  in  the  same  office.  He  has  been 
of  great  assistance  in  getting  the  city  of  Ro- 
chelle  free  from  bonded  mdebtedness.  That 
his  services  have  been  appreciated,  a  refer- 
ence to  the  length  of  time  which  he  has 
served  is  all  that  need  be  said. 


SOLISTINE  GUIO,  is  a  well  known  citi- 
zen of  Ogle  county,  residing  about  four 
miles  north  of  Polo,  on  section  32,  Lincoln 
township,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a 
well-improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres,  and  also  owns  eighty  acres  additional 
in  the  same  township.  He  was  born  in 
Summit  county,  Ohio,  near  Akron,  October 
14,  1S35.  His  father,  Peter  Guio,  was  a 
native  of  Canada,  of  French  extraction,  but 
who  emigrated  to  Ohio  when  a  young  man, 
locating  on  a  farm  in  Summit  coimty.  He 
there  married  Miss  Josephine  Moushang,  a 
French  lady,  who  was  reared  in  Summit 
county,  Ohio.  They  became  the  parents  of 
four  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  mature  years.  Of  the  family,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters  are  now  living. 
The  living  are  Solistine,  of  this  sketch; 
Peter,  who  resides  near  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  where  he  owns  a  ranch,  and  also 
keeps  a  public  house  and  stage  station; 
Levina,  widow  of  J.  B.  Lamb,  of  Chicago; 
and  Mrs.  George  Culver,  of  Kalamazoo, 
Michigan.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  in  Ohio  in  1845,  and  about  four  years 
later  the  father  removed  with  the  family  to 
Branch  county,  Michigan,  and  settled  near 
Gilead,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
reared  the  family.  He  died  there  about 
1854. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  Ohio  and  Michigan,  being 


about  fourteen  years  old  when  he  accom- 
panied his  father  to  the  latter  state.  He 
had  good  common  school  advantages  in  his 
native  state,  and  also  attended  the  common 
schools  of  Michigan  for  a  short  time. 
When  about  seventeen  years  old  he  com- 
menced life  for  himself,  working  on  a  farm. 
He  continued  at  that  work  in  Michigan  un- 
til the  spring  of  i860,  when  he  went  to 
Kansas  with  the  idea  of  making  that  his 
home.  However,  he  tiid  not  long  remain 
there,  but  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  came 
to  Ogle  county  and  commenced  working  by 
the  month.  After  being  thus  employed 
about  one  year,  he  rented  a  farm  and  began 
farming  for  himself.  He  later  bought  a 
threshing  machine,  and  during  the  seasons 
for  thirty-five  years  was  engaged  in  operat- 
ing the  same,  in  all  probability  being  the 
oldest  operator  of  a  threshing  machine  in 
Ogle  county. 

Mr.  Guio  was  married  in  Ogle  county 
February  27,  1S6S,  to  Miss  Mary  Pyfer, 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  daughter  of  George  Pyfer,  also  a  native 
of  the  same  county  and  state,  who  there 
married  Mary  Sweigaurd,  likewise  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  He  moved  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in  1857,  and 
here  Mrs.  Guio  grew  to  womanhood  and 
was  mostly  educated.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Guio  nine  children  have  been  born.  Ro- 
sella,  living  with  her  parents.  Louisa  is 
the  wife  of  Eugene  Reed,  a  farmer  of  Buf- 
falo township.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  James 
Mayburn,  of  Ogle  county,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Nellie,  a  bright  little  girl  of  three 
summers.  George,  who  is  assisting  in  car- 
rying on  the  home  farm.  Henry,  Oliver, 
Amos,  Lillie  and  Fanny,  complete  the 
family. 

After  their  marriage,  j\lr.  and  Mrs.  Guio 


^02 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


commenced  their  domestic  life  on  a  farm 
near  where  they  now  reside.  His  first  pur- 
chase of  land  was  a  tract  of  eighty  acres, 
and  later  purchasing  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  adjoining,  he  has  now  a  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  all  of  which  is 
under  cultivation.  Coining  to  this  county 
a  poor  man,  by  his  own  industry,  assisted  by 
his  estimable  wife,  he  has  accumulated  a 
fine  property  and  is  now  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  county. 

Politically  Mr.  Guio  gives  his  support  to 
the  Republican  party  on  national  issues, 
but  in  local  elections  he  votes  independent- 
ly, casting  his  ballot  for  the  men  he  con- 
siders best  qualified  to  fill  the  offices  for 
which  they  aspire.  For  nineteen  years  he 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board, 
a  part  of  which  time  he  was  president  of  the 
board.  He  has  also  served  as  road  com- 
missioner. His  wife  and  daughter,  Rosella, 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  The  entire  family  are  highly  es- 
teemed wherever  known. 


ABRAHAM  FELKER  WEAVER,  a  well- 
known  farmer  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen  of  Rockville  township,  Ogle  county, 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
December  2,  1838.  His  father,  Samuel 
Weaver,  was  born  in  Huntingdon  county, 
Pennsylvania,  June  27,  1799,  and  was  mar- 
ried November  14,  1824,  to  Elizabeth  Fel- 
ker,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  June  14,  1805.  He 
died  August  14,  1839,  and  she  passed  away 
June  4,  1875.  I'l  their  family  were  seven 
children,  namely:  John,  born  June  24, 
1825,  died  July  14,  1825;  Catherine  Wilt, 
born  June  23,  1826,  married  Daniel  Binkley, 
of  Washington   county,  Maryland;  George, 


born  November  15,  1S29,  died  October  i, 
1884;  Elizabeth,  born  July  20,  1832,  died 
February  27,  1837;  Mary  A.,  born  Novem- 
ber 24,  1834,  died  June  18,  183S;  Louisa, 
born  September  5,  1836,  died  October  25, 
1894;  and  Abraham  F.  completes  the 
family. 

Our  subject  was  only  eight  months  old 
at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  was 
reared  by  his  mother  in  his  native  county, 
where  he  acquired  his  primary  education. 
In  July,  1S57,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years, 
he  came  alone  to  Ogle  county,  where  his 
brother  had  located  two  years  before,  and 
the  first  summer  he  worked  for  various 
persons  in  the  county.  For  one  year  he 
was  in  the  employ  of  Charles  Samis,  and 
for  si.\  months  was  with  Daniel  Zellars.  He 
then  purchased  a  half  interest  in  a  thresh- 
ing maching,  and  in  the  fall  of  i860,  when 
the  threshing  season  was  over,  he  hired  out 
to  Benjamin  Swingley  for  three  months. 
The  following  year  he  was  again  engaged  in 
threshing,  and  at  the  end  of  the  season  en- 
tered the  Mt.  Morris  Seminary,  where  he 
pursued  his  studies  for  three  months.  He 
and  his  cousin,  David  Felker,  then  bought  a 
new  machine,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863 
Mr.  Weaver  rented  a  small  farm  which  he 
operated  until  harvest  time,  when  he  re- 
sumed threshing  while  making  his  home 
with  his  uncle  Abraham  Felker.  With  his 
thresher  he  traveled  extensively  through 
the  southern  part  of  the  state.  At  the  end 
of  this  season  he  returned  to  Maryland, 
where  he  spent  four  or  five  months.  In 
1862  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land, 
consisting  of  eighty  acres,  in  Forreston  town- 
ship, which  he  sold  about  1867.  He  then 
purchased  alarm  in  1870,  with  like  improve- 
ments, and  in  1876  moved  on  the  same. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  1864,  Mr.  Weav- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


303 


er  enlisted  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Fortieth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under 
Captain  James  W.  Cartwright  and  Colonel 
Lorenzo  H.  Whitney,  and  was  mustered  in 
at  Dixon.  After  the  regiment  was  equipped 
at  Springfield,  they  proceeded  to  Cairo  and 
on  to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  to  Lafay- 
ette. Mr.  Weaver's  company,  together 
with  Companies  I  and  F,  were  detailed  to 
guard  a  bridge  five  miles  from  Lafayette, 
which  the  rebels  burned  at  every  opportu- 
nity. Our  subject  was  wounded  September 
5,  1864,  in  a  skirmish  with  Forrest's  men 
and  is  now  a  pensioner  of  the  government. 
They  returned  to  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
where  they  remained  for  two  or  three  weeks. 
While  there  the  time  for  which  they  enlisted 
expired,  bat  they  were  held  for  nearly  three 
months;  a  part  of  which  time  he  was  on  the 
sick  list.  They  were  mustered  out  of  serv- 
ice at  Camp  Fry,  at  or  near  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Weaver  married  Miss  Jennie  W. 
Briggs,  who  was  born  March  30,  1851,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Louisa  E.  (Case) 
Briggs.  Her  father  was  born  June  16, 
1806,  and  died  July  11,  1856,  and  her 
mother  was  born  August  31,  18 10,  and  died 
May  10,  1891.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  "Weaver 
were  born  four  children:  Grace  E.,  born 
January  7,  1877;  Mabel  L.,  September  5, 
1879;  Charles  H.,  July  3,  1882;  and  Lil- 
lian E.,  May  17,  1887.  All  are  living  with 
the  exception  of  the  youngest,  who  died 
February  13,  1888.  Our  subject  has  also 
been  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his 
estimable  wife,  who  passed  away  October 
30,   1892. 

Politically  Mr.  Weaver  is  a  silver  Demo- 
crat, and  he  has  most  capably  and  satis- 
factorily served  as  school  director  for  fifteen 
years  and  as  road  commissioner  for  three 
years. 


ADDISON  COFFMAN,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative and  prominent  agriculturists 
of  Ogle  county,  operates  a  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  eighty-four  acres  on  sec- 
tion 12,  Maryland  township,  and  also  has 
another  well  improved  and  valuable  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  the  same 
township,  which  he  rents.  He  is  one  of 
Ogle  county's  honored  sons,  his  birth  occur- 
ring on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  Au- 
gust 24,   1843. 

His  father,  Samuel  W.  Coffman,  was  a 
native  of  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
born  in  181  i,  and  was  a  son  of  John  Coff- 
man, who  was  born  on  the  Atlantic  ocean, 
while  his  parents  were  removing  from  their 
old  home  in  Germany  to  the  United  States. 
They  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Washing- 
ton county,  Maryland.  There  Samuel  W. 
Coffman  grew  to  manhood  and  married 
Catherine  Doney,  a  native  of  the  same 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Timothy  Downey, 
also  an  early  settler  of  the  county.  Mr. 
Coffman  engaged  in  farming  there  until 
1 840,  when  he  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois, 
in  company  with  two  other  families.  He 
entered  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  acres  in  Maryland  township,  on  which 
his  son  now  resides,  erected  thereon  a  log 
house  and  began  to  improve  and  cultivate 
his  land.  He  also  entered  other  tracts,  but 
later  sold  these.  In  subsequent  years  his 
first  home  here  was  replaced  by  a 
more  commodious  and  modern  residence, 
and  the  wild  land  on  which  he  located  was 
converted  into  a  fine  farm.  His  last  years 
were  spent  in  retirement  in  the  village  of 
Bailey ville,  Illinois,  where  he  died  in  1887. 
His  first  wife  had  died  in  1876  and  he  later 
married  again. 

By  the  first  union  there  were  ten  chil- 
dren, six  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom 


304 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


two  sons  and  four  daughters  reached  man 
and  womanhood,  namely:  John  D.,  who  is 
living  retired  in  Chicago;  Mrs.  Naomi  Dunn, 
of  Freeport,  Illinois;  Catherine,  deceased 
wife  of  Valentine  Wallace;  Susan,  wife  of 
S.  W.  Griffith,  of  Marshalltown,  Iowa;  and 
Matilda,  a  resident  of  Freeport. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm  and  had  very  limited  school 
advantages.  He  remained  with  his  father 
until  reaching  manhood  and  then  took 
charge  of  the  homestead,  which  he  later 
purchased  of  the  other  heirs.  His  whole 
life  has  been  devoted  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  he  has  met  with  marked  success, 
his  landed  possessions  now  aggregating  five 
hundred  and  forty-four  acres  of  fertile  and 
valuable  land,  which  he  has  placed  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 
Upon  the  home  farm  he  has  erected  a  large 
barn  with  a  basement. 

In  Maryland  township,  June  29,  1879, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Coffman 
and  Miss  Sarah  Wagner,  a  native  of  Ogle 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Wagner, 
who  settled  here  as  early  as  1840. 
By  this  union  three  children  were  born: 
Samuel  and  Jonathan  Emory,  who  assists 
their  father  in  the  operation  of  the  farm, 
and  Eusebia,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years.  The  wife  and  mother  departed  this 
life  in  18S5,  and  Mr.  Coffman  was  again 
married  in  Maryland  township,  December 
5,  1887,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Ennna  Stover,  a  native  of  the  township  and 
sister  of  his  first  wife.  In  November,  187 1, 
she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  John 
Stover,  and  they  went  to  New  York  city 
on  their  wedding  trip.  Returning  they 
stopped  in  Chicago  and  left  that  city  on  the 
night  of  the  great  fire.  Mr.  Stover  located 
in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  where  he  en- 


gaged in  farming  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  July,  1875.  He  left  two  daugh- 
ters, Marian  and  May,  who  are  both  well 
educated  and  the  former  is  now  a  stenog- 
rapher in  Freeport.  There  is  one  son  by 
the  second  marriage:  Frank  F. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  1864,  Mr.  Coff- 
man has  been  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party,  but  he  has  never  cared 
for  office,  though  he  has  served  for  three 
years  as  commissioner  of  highways.  He 
is  one  of  the  leading  and  popular  citizens  of 
his  community  and  wherever  known  he  is 
held  in  high  regard. 


WILLIAM  M.  CLARK,  a  practical  and 
successful  farmer,  residing  on  section 
30,  Pine  Creek  township,  is  a  native  of 
Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  No- 
vember 14,  1832,  and  is  the  son  of  Isaac 
and  Nancy  (Campbell)  Clark,  both  natives 
of  County  Antrim,  Ireland.  Isaac  Clark 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1832  and  lo- 
cated in  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  remained  until  1850  and  then  re- 
moved to  Jefferson  county,  in  the  same 
state,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  a  good  and  faithful  citizen  of 
his  adopted  country  and  state  and  filled  a 
number  of  local  offices,  serving  as  collector, 
constable  and  school  director.  He  died 
when  about  seventy-one  years  of  age.  His 
wife  survived  him  and  died  in  1895,  when 
eighty-two  years  of  age.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity.  William  M.  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  Thomas  remained  in 
Pennsylvania  until  1887,  and  then  came  to 
Ogle  county,  where  he  remained  two  years, 
going  from  here  to  the  state  of  Washington, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


305 


which  is  his  present  home.  Elizabeth  is 
the  wife  of  George  A.  Currier,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mary  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Mont- 
gomery. They  left  Jefferson  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, came  to  Ogle  county,  where  they 
remained  ten  years,  then  went  to  Wright 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  now  reside.  Sar- 
ah married  David  Currier,  of  Clarion  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania.  Nancy  married  Peter 
Butler,  now  of  Jefferson  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Samuel,  when  less  than  eighteen 
years  of  age,  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Third  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry, 
was  captured  at  Plymouth,  North  Carolina, 
spent  some  time  in  Andersonville  prison, 
from  which  he  was  taken  to  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  and  from  there  to  Florence, 
South  Carolina,  where  his  death  occurred 
about  two  weeks  before  peace  was  declared. 
James  remained  in  Jefferson  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, until  about  1874,  when  he  went 
to  California,  and  from  there  to  Oregon. 
Later  he  went  to  British  Columbia,  where 
he  accumulated  a  fortune,  after  which  he 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  Jefferson  county 
until  iSSo,  when  he  went  to  the  state  of 
Washington,  and  is  now  living  on  Puget 
Sound.  Issac  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven  years.  John  died  when  six  years  old. 
Elizabeth  married  George  A.  Currier  and 
resides  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  jouth  in  Jefferson  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. When  thirteen  years  old  he  was 
apprenticed  to  learn  the  shoemaker's  trade, 
but  after  serving  si.\  months,  left  his  master 
and  returned  home.  He  was  then  hired  out 
by  his  father  for  five  dollars  per  month  to 
work  on  a  farm.  When  sixteen  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  blacksmith  to  learn  his  trade. 
When  his  employer  broke  up  some  months 

after,  he  abandoned  the  idea  of  learning  the 
33 


trade,  and  for  some  three  years  was  em- 
ployed in  and  about  the  iron  works.  From 
that  time  until  1854  he  was  engaged  in  lum- 
bering, at  which  he  cleared  about  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  two  hundred  of  which  he  gave 
to  his  father.  With  the  remainder  he  went 
to  California  and  located  in  Plumas  county, 
and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in  mining  for 
others.  He  then  went  to  Sierra  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  mining  on  his  own  ac- 
count. He  was  there  at  the  time  the  vig- 
ilance committee  was  organized  to  rid  the 
the  county  of  rascally  officials.  He  re- 
mained in  California  until  November,  i860, 
engaged  in  mining  with  fair  success.  He 
returned  home  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama.  In  February,  i86i,  he  came  to 
Ogle  county  on  business,  and  liking  the 
country,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Pine  Creek  township, 
which  he  rented  out  until  after  his  marriage. 
On  the  1 2th  of  July,  1866,  Mr.  Clark 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Amanda 
Yates,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Catherine 
(Ninick)  Yates,  the  former  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  the  latter  of  German  parentage. 
Mrs.  Clark  was  born  in  Frederick  county, 
Maryland,  and  when  seven  years  old  came 
with  her  mother  to  Ogle  county,  her  father 
having  died  when  she  was  but  three  years  of 
age.  She  was  born  March  12,  1839,  and 
was  one  of  a  family  of  nine  children.  Of 
these  John  resided  in  Ogle  county  until  his 
death,  about  1893.  Lucinda  married  Em- 
ery Foxwell,  a  well-known  banker  of  Balti- 
more, but  is  now  deceased.  George  died  in 
Ogle  county  June  7,  1878.  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried Benjamin  Cummings,  for  years  a  resi- 
dent of  Ogle  county,  but  who  died  in  Kan- 
sas. She  now  resides  in  Vinton,  Iowa. 
Mary  E.  died  in  childhood.  Isaac  died  at 
the   age    of    seventeen.      Rebecca    married 


3o6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Joseph  Mumma,  of  Ogle  county.  Edward, 
when  sixteen  years  old,  went  to  the  state 
of  Washington,  where  he  now  resides,  en- 
gaged in  farming. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark 
lived  for  a  year  and  a  half  upon  the  first 
farm  that  he  purchased.  In  1868,  they  re- 
moved to  their  present  place  of  residence, 
which  then  consisted  of  one  hundred  acres. 
He  has  since  added  to  his  possessions  until 
he  has  now  a  section  of  good  land,  which 
he  has  leased  for  a  number  of  years.  Much 
of  his  time  has  been  j^iven  to  stock  raisinj,', 
it  being  his  aim  to  use  up  all  the  grain  and 
hay  raised  on  his  farms.  He  usually  feeds 
from  two  to  five  car  loads  of  cattle  and  hogs 
per  year.  He  has  always  been  a  stanch 
Democrat,  and  never  hesitates  to  advocate 
the  principles  of  his  party.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  Master  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  having 
joined  the  latter  order  in  1856.  He  is  a 
member  of  both  subordinate  lodge  and  the 
encampment.  As  a  farmer,  he  has  proved 
a  success,  keeping  up  with  the  times  in  the 
various  improvements  made,  and  entering 
heartily  into  his  work.  In  regard  to  the 
future  he  is  an  agnostic  in  belief. 


CHARLES  FISHER.— Wherever  there 
is  pioneer  work  to  be  done  men  of 
energy  and  ability  are  required,  and  success 
or  failure  depends  upon  the  degree  of  those 
qualities  that  is  possessed.  In  wresting  the 
land  of  Ogle  county  from  its  native  wilder- 
ness; in  fitting  it  for  the  habitation  of  men; 
in  developing  the  natural  resources  of  the 
community,  few  if  any  have  done  more  than 
Mr.  Fisher  and  it  is  mete  and  proper  that 
for  the  arduous  and  important  labor  he 
performed   he   should  receive  due  reward. 


Here  he  has  made  his  home  since  the  8th 
of  June,  1839,  and  for  many  years  he  was 
actively  identified  with  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  Byron  township,  but  is  now  living 
retired  in  the  village  of  Byron  in  the  pleas- 
urable enjoyment  of  his  accumulations. 

Mr.  Fisher  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Westboro,  Worcester  county,  Massachu- 
setts, July  2 1,  181S.  The  early  home  of  his 
ancestors  was  in  England,  but  the  family 
was  one  of  the  first  established  in  the  old 
Bay  state.  His  grandfather,  Samuel  Fisher, 
and  his  father,  Nahum  Fisher,  were  both 
born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Worcester 
county,  the  latter  March  15,  17S8.  On  at- 
taining man's  estate  he  became  prominently 
identified  with  public  affairs,  and  for  several 
terms  most  ably  and  satisfactorily  repre- 
sented his  district  in  the  state  legislature. 
He  also  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for 
many  years,  and  his  decisions  were  rendered 
without  fear  or  favor.  Daring  the  war  of 
18 12  he  was  one  of  the  gallant  defenders  of 
his  country,  and  afterward  received  a  pen- 
sion in  recognition  of  his  services.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  was  engaged  in 
surveying  for  a  time,  and  was  an  excellent 
business  man  of  known  reliability.  He 
married  Miss  Betsy  Harrington,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Westboro,  Worcester  county,  born 
May  15,  1787,  and  after  her  death,  which 
occurred  October  2,  1S51,  he  was  again 
married.  His  death  occurred  in  his  native 
place  March  27,   1865. 

By  the  first  marriage  there  were  ten 
children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  man  and  womanhood,  but 
only  three  sons  are  now  living:  Charles,  of 
this  review;  Samuel  D.,  a  resident  of  West- 
boro, Massachusetts;  and  Joseph,  who  lived 
retired  at  Montpelier,  Vermont,  for  many 
years,  where  he  was    a    neighbor    and    ac 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


307 


quintance  of  Admiral  Dewey.  He  died 
December  22,  1898. 

Reared  in  Westboro,  Charles  Fisher  ob- 
tained an  excellent  education,  being  a 
student  in  the  Leicester  and  Westminster 
Seminaries  and  also  the  Baptist  Academy 
at  Worcester.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
commenced  teaching  and  for  two  winters 
successfully  followed  that  profession  in  his 
native  state.  In  May,  1839,  he  started  for 
Illinois  in  company  with  a  brother  and  a 
sister,  Mrs.  Parsons  and  her  children,  driv- 
ing two  teams.  The  trip  was  a  long  and 
tedious  one  and  they  did  not  arrive  at  their 
destination  until  June  8.  Though  not  a 
professor  of  religion  at  that  time,  Mr.  Fisher 
observed  every  Sabbath  during  the  journey. 
In  Ogle  county  he  joined  his  brother-in-law, 
Luke  Parsons,  who  had  located  here  three 
years  previovsly.  Our  subject  purchased 
a  claim  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in 
Byron  township,  of  which  fifteen  acres  had 
been  cleared,  but  later  sold  that  place  and 
purchased  Mr.  Parsons'  farm  after  the  death 
of  his  brother-in-law.  He  then  devoted  his 
energies  to  its  further  improvement  and 
cultivation,  and  as  prosperity  crowned  his 
efforts  he  was  subsequently  able  to  purchase 
an  adjoining  tract  of  sixty  acres,  making  in 
all  a  fine  and  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  ten  acres  near  the  present  village  of 
Byron,  in  Bjron  township.  Being  the 
owner  of  the  horses  with  which  he  had 
driven  from  his  eastern  home,  he  was  able 
to  be  of  use  to  the  community  in  which  he 
located  by  engaging  in  teaming  between 
this  county  and  Chicago,  hauling  lumber, 
and  other  supplies  for  the  settlers.  In 
this  way  he  not  ofily  aided  those  around 
him  but  also  added  not  a  little  to  his  in- 
come. 

On  the  loth  of  November,  1850,  in  By- 


ron township,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Fisher  and  Miss  Harriet  N.  Salisbury,  who 
was  born  in  Townsend,  Windham  count)', 
Vermont,  August  2,  1827,  a  daughter  of 
Barnard  and  Arethusa  (Duncan)  Salisbury, 
also  natives  of  the  Green  Mountain  state. 
The  father  was  born  in  Brattleboro,  March 
30,  1786,  and  was  descended  from  a  family 
of  German  origin,  which  at  an  early  day 
was  founded  in  England,  and  from  there  its 
representatives  came  to  America,  settling 
in  New  England.  Mr.  Salisbury  was  a 
pioneer  of  Townsend,  Vermont,  where  he 
ever  afterward  made  his  home,  successfully 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  On  re- 
turning from  a  visit  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife  he  was  taken  ill  with  cholera  at  Pulas- 
ki, New  York,  and  died  July  4,  1854.  His 
wife  passed  away  December  27,  1832.  In 
the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  ten 
children,  of  whom  nine  reached  years  of 
maturity,  but  only  Mrs.  Fisher,  Mrs. 
Arethusa  Mervvin,  of  New  Haven,  Connecti- 
cut, and  Henry  Salisbury,  of  Schenectady, 
New  York,  are  now  living.  Coming  west 
in  1849  to  visit  a  sister,  she  accepted  a  po- 
sition as  teacher  in  Ogle  county,  and  while 
thus  engaged  she  became  acquainted  with 
her  future  husband.  Theirs  was  the  first 
marriage  celebrated  in  the  Byron  church. 
The  children  born  of  this  union  are  Harriet 
E.,  wife  of  J.  B.  Tinker,  a  business  man  of 
Mason  City,  Iowa;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  George 
Rood,  of  Byron,  Ogle  county;  Alice  A.,  wife 
of  Charles  B.  Rosier,  a  carpenter  of  Byron, 
Illinois;  Charles  M.,  a  business  man  of  Ma- 
son City,  Iowa;  Arthur  C,  a  lawyer  by  pro- 
fession, who  is  now  serving  as  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Third  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry at  Porto  Rica;  Elsa  L.,  at  home;  and 
Nahum  H.,  a  business  man  of  Janesville, 
Wisconsin. 


30S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RPXORD. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  his  farm  in  the  new  residence 
which  had  just  been  completed,  but  has 
since  been  enlarged  and  remodeled.  Good 
barns  and  other  outbuildings  were  also 
erected,  and  under  the  skillful  management 
of  our  subject  the  farm  was  made  to  yield 
bountiful  harvests  in  return  for  the  care  and 
labor  bestowed  upon  it.  For  thirty-seven 
years  he  successfully  engaged  in  its  opera- 
tion, but  in  1887  rented  it  and  removed 
to  the  village  of  Byron,  where  he  erected 
a  neat  residence  and  has  since  lived  re- 
tired. 

In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Fisher  was 
originally  a  Whig,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for 
William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840,  but  in 
1856  he  joined  the  newly  organized  Repub- 
lican party,  and  of  later  years  has  been  a 
supporter  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Prohibition  party,  as  he  is  a  strong  temper- 
ance man.  He  served  as  commissioner  of 
highways  for  about  fourteen  years,  and  for 
several  years  was  a  most  active  and  promi- 
nent member  of  the  school  board,  doing 
much  to  advance  the  grade  of  schools  in 
this  section.  He  provided  his  own  children 
with  good  educational  advantages,  all  being 
graduates  of  the  graded  schools  of  Byron, 
while  some  of  the  sons  attended  Wheaton 
and  Mt.  Morris  Colleges,  and  the  younger 
members  were  students  in  the  Rockford 
Business  College.  All  became  successful 
and  popular  teachers  with  the  exception  of 
the  oldest,  who  never  followed  the  profes- 
sion. For  over  half  a  century  the  parents 
have  been  worthy  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church  at  Byron,  and  their  lives 
have  ever  been  in  harmony  with  its  teach- 
ings. Mr.  Fisher  has  served  as  deacon  since 
1 88  I ,  and  as  a  public-spirited  and  progressive 
citizen  he  gives  his  support    to  all    enter- 


prises which  he  believes  calculated  to  ad- 
vance the  moral,  educational  or  material 
welfare  of  his  town  and  county. 


DAVID  H.  LAMONT,  dealer  in  hard- 
ware, stoves  and  tinware,  Holcomb, 
is  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  the 
place,  an  enterprising  citizen,  and  one  who 
enjoys  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  en- 
tire community  in  which  he  lives.  He  is  a 
native  of  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois,  born 
September  27,  1863,  and  is  the  son  of  Hans 
and  Alice  (Lamont)  Lamont.  Although  of 
the  same  name,  the  parents  were  not  re- 
lated. They  were  both  natives  of  Ireland, 
and  became  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
three  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  The  liv- 
ing are  Mary,  Sarah,  John,  Stewart,  Alice 
and  David.  The  deceased  are  William, 
Thomas  and  Albert.  In  1848,  a  year  that 
Irishmen  have  cause  to  well  remember,  he 
came  to  the  United  States  and  for  ten  years 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
railroad,  in  the  meantime  accumulating  a 
little  money  with  which  to  begin  life  in 
earnest.  In  1858  he  came  west  and  located 
in  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois,  where  he  con- 
tinues to  reside.  He  was  a  good  man  and 
made  friends  wherever  he  lived. 

In  his  native  county  our  subject  grew  to 
manhood  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  com- 
menced to  learn  the  tinner's  trade  with  his 
brother  John,  and  has  since  continued  to 
follow  the  trade  with  a  reasonable  degree  of 
success  and  satisfaction.  In  iSgohe  started 
a  tin  and  hardware  store  in  Stillman  Valley, 
which  he  continued  to  run  for  three  years, 
but  believing  there  was  a  better  opening  in 
Holcomb,  he  removed  to  the  latter  place, 
where   he   now  carries  a   line  line   of  hard- 


DAVID    H.   LAMONT. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1 1 


ware,  stoves  and  tinware,  and  has  built  up 
an  excellent  trade. 

On  the  19th  of  February,  1896,  Mr. 
Lamont  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Dora  A.  Gates,  a  native  of  Ogle  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Gates,  who  is  now 
deceased,  but  who  was  an  early  settler  of 
that  county,  and  a  man  greatly  esteemed 
wherever  known. 

In  politics  Mr.  Lamont  is  an  unquali- 
fied member  of  the  Republican  party,  a 
party  with  which  he  has  been  identified 
since  attaining  his  majority.  Soon  after 
his  removal  to  Holcomb  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  the  place,  an  office  which  he 
has  since  continued  to  hold  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  patrons  of  the  office.  He  is 
at  present  a  member  of  the  school  board  at 
Holcomb,  giving  of  his  time  freely  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  its  public  schools. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Globe.  Religiously  he  is  a  Baptist, 
and  in  the  work  of  the  church  he  takes  an 
active  interest,  and  is  at  present  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school.  He  makes 
a  good  superintendent,  and  the  school  has 
flourished  under  his  charge.  As  a  business 
man  he  attends  strictly  to  business,  and  is 
ever  ready  to  encourage  any  enterprise  that 
he  believes  will  best  conduce  the  interests 
of  his  adopted  city  and  county.  He  enjoys 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  entire 
community  in  which  he  lives. 


BENJAMIN  D.  SEIBERT,  deceased, 
though  not  numbered  among  the 
pioneers  of  Ogle  county,  was  yet  an  early 
settler,  and  a  man  who  attained  promi- 
nence in  the  industrial  affairs  of  the  county, 
and  was  numbered  among  its  most  enter- 
prising and  prosperous  citizens.    Like  many 


of  the  best  citizens  of  the  county  he  was  a 
native  of  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
born  in  Hagerstown,  April  9,  1816.  He 
was  the  son  of  John  Seibert,  also  a  native 
of  the  same  county  and  state,  and  who  was 
by  occupation  a  farmer.  The  father  never 
came  west,  l)ut  spent  his  entire  life  in  his 
native  state. 

In  his  native  county  our  subject  grew  to 
manhood  and  there  received  a  common 
school  education.  The  knowledgje  obtained 
in  the  school  room  was  supplemented  by 
that  gained  in  the  school  of  experience,  by 
contact  with  his  fellowmen.  He  was  always 
observing,  and  with  an  eye  to  the  main 
chance,  he  was  quite  successful  in  whatever 
he  undertook.  In  1858  he  came  to  Ogle 
county  and  located  in  Mt.  Mcjrris  township, 
about  four  miles  north  of  the  village,  where 
he  purchased  three  hundred  acres  of  good 
land  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
From  time  to  time  he  added  to  his  posses- 
sions until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  the  owner  of  over  one  thousand  acres 
of  excellent  farming  land. 

Mr.  Seibert  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Hannah  Thompson,  a  native  of  Can- 
ada, and  daughter  of  Henry  and  Sarah  B. 
(Straw)  Thompson,  the  former  born  in 
Connecticut  in  1791,  and  the  latter  in  New 
Hampshire  in  1800.  Her  father  died  in 
Canada  in  1847,  while  her  mother  survived 
him  many  years,  dying  at  the  residence  of 
Mrs.  Seiber,  December  29,  1878.  They 
were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seibert 
three  sons  were  born,  all  of  whom  are  yet 
living.  John  V.,  born  March  17,  1870, 
married  Florence  Wolfe,  and  they  have 
one  child,  also  named  Florence.  They  re- 
side in  Mt.  Morris.  Benjamin  D.,  born 
March    20,     1872,    resides    in    Mt.    Morris. 


312 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Alfred  T. ,  born  September  i,  1874,  is  at- 
tending the  law  department  of  the  Illinois 
University,  in  Chicago. 

While  Mr.  Seibert  was  the  owner  of 
several  fine  farms  in  Ogle  county,  he  gave 
his  time  principally  to  the  real  estate  and 
loan  business.  He  had  considerable  Chi- 
cago property  and  much  farming  land 
throughout  northern  Illinois.  A  brother, 
Dr.  John  Seibert,  was  a  well-known  physi- 
cian in  Chicago  before  the  great  fire  in  that 
citv.  He  also  practiced  medicine  in  Mil- 
waukee for  about  ten  years.  He  was  a  ripe 
scholar,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania.  During  his  life  he  amassed 
considerable  property  in  his  adopted  city 
of  Chicago.  He  died  in  that  city  October 
9,   1896. 

After  a  long  and  useful  life,  Mr.  Seibert 
passed  to  his  reward,  April  9,  18S9.  His 
wife  died  April  7,  1S95.  Both  were  devout 
Christian  people,  he  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  and  she  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal.  For  many  years  she  was 
president  of  the  Women's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  of  Mt.  Morris,  and  in  both 
temperance  and  church  work  was  quite 
active.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 
Both  enjoyed  the  love  and  esteem  of  a  large 
circle  of  friends,  and  their  death  was  sin- 
cerely mourned. 


GI'lORGE  BRAND  is  now  retired  from 
the  labors  of  a  long  and  active  life 
and  is  spending  his  declining  days  in  the 
midst  or  ease  and  plenty  at  his  comfortable 
home  in  Polo.  For  many  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  his  posi- 
tion financially  is  the  result  of  his  own  un- 
aided industry,  coupled  with  the  sound  com- 


mon sense  and  excellent   business  capacity 
with  which  nature  endowed  him. 

Mr.  Brand  was  born  near  Utica,  New 
York,  October  12,  1828,  and  is  a  represent- 
ative of  a  good  old  Scotch  family,  his  par- 
ents being  Jaraes  and  Jenette  (Ferris)  Brand, 
natives  of  Dumfrieshire,  Scotland.  The  fa- 
ther was  born  in  the  village  of  Ecclessechan, 
January  16,  1799,  and  was  a  cousin  of 
Thomas  Carlyle,  a  native  of  the  same  vil- 
lage. The  grandfather,  William  Brand,  was 
a  man  of  strong  religious  convictions  and 
was  one  of  the  organizers  and  buildings  of 
the  first  church  in  Ecclessechan.  He  spent 
his  entire  life  in  Scotland,  and  when  a  young 
man  followed  the  weaver's  trade.  He  was 
a  son  of  Robert  Brand,  of  whom  little  is 
known  at  the  present  time. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  James 
Brand,  our  subject's  father,  was  apprenticed 
to  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  and  then 
went  to  Newfoundland,  sojourning  there  for 
eighteen  months.  On  his  return  to  Scotland, 
he  was  married  in  1822  to  Jenette  Farries, 
who  was  born  in  Ecclessechan,  March 
10,  1799,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Lucy 
Farries,  who  in  later  years  crossed  the  Atlan- 
tic to  Prince  Edwards  Island,  where  they 
spent  their  last  days.  They  came  to  Utica, 
New  York,  in  18S0.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brand 
became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  namely: 
William  and  Lucy,  both  born  in  Ecclesse- 
chan; George,  born  in  Utica,  New  York; 
James,  born  in  Toronto,  Canada;  Jenette, 
John  (deceased)  and  Robert,  all  born  in 
Canada;  and  Henry,  Mary  and  Anna,  born 
after  the  family  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illi- 
nois. After  their  marriage  the  parents  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  their  native  village  until 
1828,  when  they  sailed  from  Greenock, 
Scotland,    bound  for    America,     but    were 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


313 


becalmed  two  weeks  on  the  coast  of 
Ireland,  finally  landing  in  New  York  city 
after  six  weeks  spent  upon  the  water.  The 
family  first  located  at  Utica,  New  York, 
where  they  made  their  home  until  1830,  and 
then  removed  to  Toronto,  Canada,  spending 
one  year  at  that  place.  The  father  then 
purchased  a  farm  twenty  miles  north  of  the 
city,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  almost  unbroken 
forest  they  lived  for  some  years.  It  was 
during  this  time  that  the  McKenzie  rebellion 
occurred,  with  which  he  was  a  sympathizer. 
While  living  there  he  worked  at  his  trade, 
as  a  shipbuilder,  on  the  lakes.  Selling  his 
land  in  Canada  in  1840,  he  came  to  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  and  located  on  a  farm 
northwest  of  Polo,  in  Brookville  township, 
where  he  was  actively  engaged  in  farming 
until  1852.  He  died  in  April,  1873,  and  his 
wife  March  13,  1871,  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  them  for  their  sterling 
worth  and  many  excellencies  of  character. 
George  Brand  had  little  opportunity  of 
attending  school  up  to  the  time  the  family 
left  Canada,  but  he  made  the  best  of  his 
advantages  after  coming  to  Illinois,  and  is  a 
well-informed  man.  He  remained  with  his 
father  until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  and 
then  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  for 
which  he  went  partly  in  debt.  During  the 
busy  season  he  operated  a  corn  sheller  and 
threshing  machine  and  continued  in  that 
vocation  for  thirty-four  consecutive  years. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  he  soon  lifted  the 
debt  on  his  first  purchase,  and  from  time  to 
time  he  bought  more  land  until  he  owned 
two  fine  farms,  one  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  and  the  other  of  one  hundred 
acres.  These  he  sold  in  1875  and  1876, 
and  purchased  two  farms  a  short  distance 
north  of  Polo,  aggregating  two  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  acres.     He  successfully  engaged 


in  general  farming  and  stock  raising  until 
1888,  when  he  retired  from  active  life  and 
removed  to  Polo,  where  he  is  now  enjojing 
a  well-earned  rest. 

At  Freeport,  Illinois,  March  21,  1854, 
Mr.  I3rand  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Leonora  Sanburn.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father, Jonathan  Sanburn,  was  probably  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  descended 
from  John  or  William  Sanburn,  who,  with 
their  grandfather.  Rev.  Stephen  Bachelder, 
came  to  this  country  in  1630,  from  Holland, 
whither  they  had  Hed  from  England  because 
of  religious  persecution.  They  were  sons 
of  John  Sanburn,  of  England.  John  P. 
Sanburn,  Mrs.  Brand's  father,  was  born  in 
New  Hampshire,  in  1797,  and  in  early  life 
removed  to  Montreal  and  later  to  Toronto, 
Canada,  whence  he  subsequently  moved  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in  1839,  and  bought 
a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  near 
Buffalo  Grove.  Here  he  died  in  1872.  In 
York  township,  York  county,  Canada,  he 
married  Miss  Susan  Johnson,  who  was  born 
there  in  1801,  and  died  in  1866.  Her 
father,  Abraham  Johnson,  was  born  near 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  about  1772,  and 
died  about  1867-8.  Throughout  life  he 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  Dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812  he  moved  to  Canada, as 
he  was  a  British  sympathizer,  his  parents 
having  been  Tories  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  He  first  located  in  Nova  Scotia, 
but  later  made  his  home  near  Toronto.  He 
married  a  Miss  Fisher  and  to  them  were 
born  thirteen  children,  of  whom  six  are  now 
living,  and  of  these  Mrs.  Brand  is  the  third 
in  order  of  birth. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brand  are  as  follows:  Lester  A.,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  grocer}'  business  with  Cyrus 
Nicodemus,  in  Polo,  married  Mary  Wolf,  ol 


314 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Brookville,  Ogle  county,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Alpha  and  Iva;  Mary  died  at  the 
age  of  nine  months;  George  Mortimer,  a  bag- 
gage clerk  at  the  Union  depot,  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  married  Annie  Rates,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Milton  and  Leonora; 
John  James,  who  is  employed  in  a  shoe 
factory  in  Rockford,  Illinois,  first  married 
Ella  Hanna,  by  whom  he  has  one  son, 
George,  and  for  his  second  wife  married 
Emma  Hawes;  Hiram  Douglas,  a  success- 
ful dentist  of  Tacoma,  Washington,  married 
Ellen  Lemon  and  they  have  two  children, 
Ellen  and  Iva;  Robert  Miles,  a  promising 
young  attorney  of  Chicago,  married  Luella 
Gibson;  Kate  A.  is  the  wife  of  Sherman 
Donaldson,  a  farmer  living  near  Polo,  and 
they  have  one  son,  George;  and  Ambrose 
Ale.xander,  who  married  Ellen  Rumell,  is  a 
dentist  of  Chadwick,  Carroll  county,  Illi- 
nois. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Brand  is  an 
independent  Democrat,  and  for  fifteen  years 
he  most  acceptably  served  as  school  director 
in  his  district.  He  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  the 
blue  lodge  and  chapter  in  Polo  and  the  com- 
mandery  in  Dixon.  He  is  a  pleasant, 
genial  gentleman,  of  high  social  qualities 
and  has  an  extensive  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances  in  Ogle  county,  who  esteem 
him  highly  for  his  genuine  worth. 


AUSTIN  WRIGHT  SPOOR,  deceased, 
was  for  many  years  a  well  known  citi- 
zen of  Ogle  county,  having  many  friends, 
and  enjoying  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
with  whom  he  was  brought  in  contact.  He 
was  born  in  Clarence  Hollow,  Erie  county. 
New  York,  August  i<j,  1837,  a" J  was  the 
son  of  Orsemus  and   Sophia  (Cole)   Spoor, 


both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York, 
the  former  born  September  12,  1802.  He 
was  the  son  of  William  and  Christine  Spoor, 
the  former  born  January  20,  1769,  and  the 
latter  July  30,  1774. 

Orsemus  Spoor  was  reared  in  his  native 
state,  and  there  married  Sophia  Cole.  In 
1840,  he  came  west  with  his  wife  and  fami- 
ly, locating  first  in  Buffalo  Grove,  Illinois, 
but  in  the  spring  of  1841  removing  to  By- 
ron, Ogle  county,  where  in  partnership 
with  William  Wilkinson,  he  erected  the 
first  grist  mill  built  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  county.  He  died,  however,  in  the  fall 
following,  leaving  a  widow  with  a  family  of 
si.x  children  to  care  for.  In  addition  to  his 
Ogle  county  interests  he  had  some  property 
in  Chicago,  but  not  knowing  its  location 
his  widow  and  children  lost  track  of  it  and 
never  acquired  rights  in  it.  After  surviving 
her  husband  eleven  years,  his  widow  was 
called  to  her  reward,  dying  in  1852. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  three 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Ogle  county,  and  but  four  years  old  when 
his  father  died.  He  remained  with  his 
mother  until  twelve  years  old  when  he  went 
to  East  Troy,  Wisconsin,  to  make  his  home 
with  an  uncle,  Sylvanus  Spoor.  After  re- 
maining about  three  years  in  the  family  of 
his  uncle,  he  felt  an  earnest  desire  to  return 
home,  fearing  that  something  was  wrong. 
On  his  way  back  he  stopped  over  night  at 
the  house  of  an  acquaintance,  where  he 
learned  from  acquaintances  retnrning  from 
his  mother's  funeral  that  she  was  dead. 

Deciding  on  remaining  in  Byron,  Mr. 
Spoor  made  his  home  with  his  brother,  who 
was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  and  for 
a  time  assisted  him  in  the  work,  and  later 
was  his  brother's  partner  for  about  two 
years.      He  then  engaged    in   carrying  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


315 


mail  between  Byron  and  Rockford  for  one 
year.  The  following  year  he  drove  the 
stage  between  Rockford  and  Dixon,  and 
was  then  engaged  in  farm  work  for  two 
years.  Following  this  he  carried  mail  be- 
tween Byron  and  Stillman  Valley,  and  be- 
tween Kishwaukee  and  Rockford  for  four 
years. 

The  war  for  the  union  being  in  prog- 
ress, Mr.  Spoor  determined  to  assist  in  main- 
taining the  union,  and  accordingly  in  July, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Ninety- 
second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  service  September  4,  fol- 
lowing. For  the  first  twelve  months  he 
was  on  detached  duty,  driving  an  ambulance 
wagon,  after  which  he  was  assigned  to  duty 
at  the  headquarters  of  General  Kilpatrick 
as  veterinary  surgeon.  The  war  closing, 
he  was  mustered  out  of  service  June  22, 
1865,  at  Concord,  North  Carolina. 

Returning  to  his  home,  in  1866,  Mr. 
Spoor  secured  a  position  as  traveling  sales- 
man for  a  Chicago  house,  and  for  several 
years  was  upon  the  road.  On  the  23d  of 
September,  1869,  at  Polo,  Illinois,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Brand,  a 
native  of  Polo,  and  daughter  of  James  and 
Janet  (Farries)  Grand,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Scotland.  James  Brand  was 
born  in  the  village  of  Ecclessechan,  Dum- 
friesshire, Scotland,  January  16,  1799,  and 
was  a  second  cousin  to  the  renowned  Thom- 
as Carlyle,  who  was  born  in  the  same  vil- 
lage. At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade. 
After  serving  his  time  he  came  to  America, 
where  he  remained  about  eighteen  months, 
working  as  a  journeyman,  then  returned  to 
Scotland,  and  in  1822  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Janet  Farries.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  remained  in  Scotland  until  1827, 
34 


when  he  again  came  to  the  United  States, 
sailing  from  Greenock  and  landing  in  New 
York,  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks.  For  two 
weeks  he  was  becalmed  in  mid-ocean.  With 
his  family,  he  first  made  his  home  in  New 
Hartford,  near  Utica,  New  York,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  building  power  looms  in 
cotton  factories.  In  1830  he  removed  to 
Toronto,  Canada,  where  he  lived  one  year 
and  then  bought  a  farm  twenty  miles  north 
of  that  place,  and  was  there  during  the  Ca- 
nadian rebellion,  in  which  he  took  no  active 
part,  though  his  sympathies  were  with  those 
in  rebellion.  Selling  his  farm,  in  1840,  he 
came  to  Ogle  county  and  settled  on  a  farm 
northwest  of  Polo,  in  Brookville  township. 
After  some  twelve  years  of  active  farm  life 
in  Illinois,  Mr.  Brand  lived  in  ease  and  re- 
tirement until  called  to  the  upper  and  better 
world,  his  death  occurring  April  5,  1S73. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  for  years 
served  as  school  treasurer  and  director.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Old  School  Presby- 
terian church,  and  was  very  strict  in  his 
family.  James  Brand  was  a  son  of  Will- 
iam Brand,  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
first  church  in  the  village  of  Ecclessechan,  a 
weaver  by  trade,  and  who  died  in  his  na- 
tive town.  He  was  the  son  of  Robert 
Brand.  Janet  Farries  was  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Lucy  Farries,  her  father  being 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  who  emigrated 
to  Prince  Edward  island,  where  his  death 
occurred. 

To  James  Brand  and  wife  ten  children 
were  born.  William  and  Lucy,  the  latter 
being  the  wife  of  W.  A.  Hatfield,  were  born 
in  Scotland.  George  was  born  in  New  York. 
James,  Jr.,  Janet  (widow  of  Benjamin 
Walkie,)  John  and  Robert  born  in  Canada. 
Mary,  now  Mrs.  John  Elward,  and  Anna, 
now  Mrs.  Spoor,  were  born  in  Illinois. 


3i6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


To  our  subject  and  wife  two  sons  were 
born,  Harry  and  Albert,  both  of  whom  assist 
the  mother  in  conducting  the  hotel.  The 
latter  was  married  October  12,  1898,  to 
Miss  Mary  Agnes  Perrine,  daughter  of  John 
Perrine,  of  Oregon.  The  sons,  it  may  truly 
be  said,  were  born  to  hotel  life,  having  given 
their  time  to  little  else  since  their  age  would 
permit  active  work  in  any  line.  They  are 
accommodating  young  men,  and  their  mother 
thoroughly  understands  the  wants  of  the 
traveling  public,  and  each  try  to  make  life 
pleasant  to  those  who  make  the  Spoor  House 
their  temporary  abode.  A  more  homelike 
house  cannot  be  found,  while  the  table  is 
well  supplied  with  all  the  delicacies  of  the 
season. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Spoor  opened  a 
grocery  and  confectionery  store  in  Polo, 
which  he  conducted  for  two  years,  when  he 
sold  out,  and  the  following  year  was  with 
the  Elward  Harvester  Company.  He  was 
ne.xt  engaged  in  the  produce  business  with 
Charles  F.  Barber,  continuing  in  that  line 
until  1879,  when  he  moved  to  Oregon, 
leased  the  American  House  for  five  years 
and  conducted  the  same  with  signal  ability. 
He  then  leased  the  Sinissippi  House  four 
years,  but  in  the  spring  of  1888  purchased 
the  American  House,  niade  many  substan- 
tial improvements  in  the  same,  refurnished 
it  and  renamed  it  the  Spoor  House.  He 
conducted  the  house  in  first-class  style  un- 
til his  death  May  28,  1894.  In  politics  Mr. 
Spoor  was  a  Democrat,  and  for  a  time 
served  as  an  alderman  from  his  ward,  but 
would  not  accept  any  other  office,  prefer- 
ring to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  interests.  In  1878  he  united  with 
the  Episcopal  church  and  continued  a  faith- 
ful member  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Fraternally  he  was   a    member   of  the   Ma- 


sonic order,  blue  lodge  and  chapter. 
Knights  of  the  Globe  and  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  A  worthy  citizen,  a  kind 
and  loving  husband  and  father,  his  death 
was  sincerely  mourned  by  all  who  knew 
him  in  this  life.  Like  her  husband,  Mrs. 
Spoor  is  also  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church.  She  is  greatly  esteemed  by  all 
and  her  friends  are  many,  not  only  among 
those  among  whom  she  has  spent  her  en- 
tire life,  but  by  all  who  have  accepted  her 
hospitality. 


DANIEL  H.  STAUFFER,  one  of  the 
progressive  farmers  of  Ogle  county, 
owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  on  section  19, 
Pine  Creek  township.  He  was  born  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  February  4,  1853,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  E.  and  Rebecca  (Haight) 
Stauffer,  the  former  being  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, but  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Polo, 
Illinois.  In  1S54,  John  E.  Stauffer  left 
Ohio  with  his  family  and  moved  to  Elkhart 
county,  Indiana,  where  they  made  their 
home  for  thirteen  years.  Soon  after  the 
close  of  the  Civil  war,  they  came  to  Ogle 
county,  locating  on  the  place  which  is  now 
the  home  of  our  subject.  On  that  farm  the 
father  toiled  until  1880,  when  he  rented  the 
place  and  moved  to  Polo  where  he  has  since 
lived  a  retired  life.  To  John  E.  and  Re- 
becca Stauffer  twelve  children  were  born, 
ten  of  whom  are  now  living.  John  W.  is 
now  residing  in  Glendale,  Arizona,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  fruit  business.  Sarah 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Cyrus  Nicodemus,  a  mar- 
chant  of  Polo.  George  W.  is  a  farmer  of 
Pine  Creek  township.  Christina  is  the  wife 
of  Solomon  Solenberger,  a  retired  farmer 
of  Polo.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  oi  Abraham 
Miller,  of  Buffalo  township.     Ananias  is  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    KECOKD. 


3^7 


farmer  of  Buffalo  township.  William  is  a 
farmer  of  Pine  Creek  township.  Rebecca 
is  the  wife  of  Frank  McDowell,  of  Polo. 
Anna  is  making  her  home  with  her  parents 
in  Polo. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  thirteen 
years  old  when  he  came  to  Ogle  county. 
His  education,  commenced  in  the  public 
schools  of  Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  was 
completed  in  the  public  schools  of  Ogle 
county.  He  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he 
rented  a  portion  of  the  home  place  and 
worked  it  on  shares.  The  following  year 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Pine  Creek 
township,  but  had  to  assume  the  greater 
part  of  the  purchase  price.  This  eighty 
was  about  three  miles  from  his  present 
home,  and  on  the  Dixon  road.  It  is  now 
owned  by  John  Ambrose.  Removing  to  his 
new  purchase,  he  there  lived  for  fourteen 
years,  having  in  the  meantime  added  eight- 
een acres  to  the  tract.  In  1890  he  sold  the 
place  and  bought  the  old  homestead  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  In  1S92  he 
erected  his  present  commodious  and  com- 
fortable residence,  and,  since  becoming  the 
owner,  he  has  erected  all  the  other  build- 
ings now  on  the  place.  He  has  followed 
general  farming,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  best  farmers  in  the  county. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1876,  Mr. 
Stauffer  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Maggie  C.  Spickler,  daughter  of  C.  B.  and 
Sarah  (Plumb)  Spickler,  her  father  being  a 
retired  merchant  in  Polo.  By  this  union 
there  have  been  seven  children,  two  of 
whom  are  deceased — Florence,  Charlie  B., 
Ollie  C,  Ellen  R.,  Henry  M.,  Bertha  P. 
and  Emma  R.  The  parents  met  with  a 
sad  bereavement  in  the  loss  of  their  two 
eldest  sons.     On  New  Years  day,  1896,  the 


boys  were  skating  on  Rock  river,  and  both 
fell  into  an  air  hole  and  were  drowned. 

Politically  Mr.  Stauffer  is  a  Republican, 
having  been  an  advocate  of  the  principles 
of  the  party  since  casting  his  first  vote. 
Iveligiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  and  for  ten  years  served  as 
deacon  in  the  same.  He  has  always  taken 
an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  church, 
being  a  firm  believer  in  tlie  Christian  re- 
ligion and  in  the  teachings  of  his  church. 
His  wife  is  also  a  member  and  active  worker 
in  that  body.  Both  are  highly  esteemed  by 
all  who  know  them.  Mr.  Stauffer  has  been 
quite  successful  in  life,  and  his  success  has 
been  attained  by  his  own  efforts,  assisted  by 
his  faithful  helpmeet.  He  is  the  owner  of 
one  of  the  finest  homes  and  best  farms  in 
this  rich  and  productive  county. 


T  EONARD  ANDRUS,  deceased,  the 
1— <  founder  of  the  village  of  Grand  Detour, 
and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ogle  county, 
was  a  man  of  energy,  and  one  who  clearly 
saw  the  possibilities  of  the  beautiful  Rock 
river  countr}'.  He  was  born  in  Cornwall, 
Vermont,  in  1805,  and  was  a  son  of  Cone 
Andrus,  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He 
traced  his  ancestry  back  for  many  gener- 
ations on  both  his  father's  and  mother's 
side,  both  families  being  early  residents  of 
the  New  England  states.  His  father's  fam- 
ily went  from  Connecticut  to  Vermont,  and 
later  to  Malone,  New  York,  in  which  place 
he  grew  to  manhood.  After  due  prepara- 
tion he  entered  Middleberry  College,  where 
he  spent  two  years.  He  did  not  complete 
the  full  course,  but  on  the  death  of  his  fa- 
ther he  left  college  and  returned  home. 
Cone  Andrus  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and    while   of    retiring    disposition,    was    a 


3i8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


man  of  good  business  ability.  One  of  his 
brothers  was  the  father  of  the  celebrated 
Bishop  Andrews.  In  his  family  were  four 
children  who  grew  to  maturity:  Leonard, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  William,  who 
died  in  Malone,  New  York;  Lucius,  who 
spent  his  life  in  Brooklyn, New  York; Albert, 
who  lived  and  died  in  Malone,  New  York; 
and  George,  who  lived  in  Malone  until  late 
in  life,  and  then  moved  to  New  Jersey, 
where  his  death  occurred.  Cone  Andrus 
died  in  Malone,  New  York. 

After  attaining  his  majority  Leonard  An- 
drus went  to  Rochester,  New  York,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  until 
1S33,  meeting  with  fair  success.  Not  sat- 
isfied, however,  and  believing  the  west  a 
better  place  for  a  young  man,  in  the  fall  of 
1S33,  he  came  west  as  far  as  Constantine, 
Michigan,  where  he  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1S34,  when  he  made  his  way  to 
the  Ohio  river,  and  started  down  that 
stream  to  St.  Louis,  with  the  idea  of 
making  that  city  his  future  home.  Before 
locating,  however,  he  concluded  to  go  on  a 
prospecting  tour  through  northern  Illinois, 
having  heard  something  of  the  beauty  of 
that  country,  and  believing  that  the  time 
would  soon  come  when  it  would  be  settled 
by  a  thrifty  and  enterprising  people. 

Arriving  at  Dixon  he  took  a  canoe  and 
went  up  the  river  until  he  came  to  the  great 
bend,  the  beauty  of  which  and  the  possi- 
bility of  founding  here  a  great  manufactur- 
ing point,  for  which  there  seemed  sufficient 
water  power,  he  made  his  claim.  At  that 
time  there  were  but  few  settlements  in  all 
this  region,  and  they  were  far  between. 
The  settlement  at  Kellogg's  grove  and  at 
Dixon  were  those  nearest  to  this  point. 
Returning  east  he  settled  up  his  business, 
and  in  the   spring  of   1S35    returned,  stop- 


ping, however,  at  Constantine,  Michigan, 
where  he  had  relatives  living.  From  that 
point  Willis  and  Willard  A.  House,  twin 
brothers,  accompanied  him.  Mrs.  Sarah  I. 
House,  the  wife  of  Willard  A.  House,  came 
a  little  later,  arriving  here  July  4,  1835. 
She  was  the  first  white  woman  in  Grand 
Detour.  She  later  gave  birth  to  a  daugh- 
ter, Gertrude,  who  was  the  first  white  child 
born  in  Grand  Detour. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  Mr.  Andrus  became 
associated  with  Flint  &  Walker,  proprietors 
of  the  old  stage  line,  which  connection  was 
continued  but  a  short  time.  In  1836,  in 
company  with  Russell  Green,  Amos  Bos- 
worth,  William  G.  Dana,  Marcus  and  Den- 
nis Warren,  he  formed  the  Hydraulic  Com- 
pany, for  the  improvement  of  the  water 
power  and  the  erection  of  mills,  and  in 
1837  the  company  commenced  to  build  the 
dam,  race  and  sawmill  and  make  other  im- 
provements. Among  the  number  to  come 
to  Grand  Detour  was  John  Deere,  who 
afterwards  became  the  noted  plow  manu- 
facturer, and  who  made  a  world-wide  repu- 
tation and  a  colossal  fortune.  Mr.  Deere 
was  a  blacksmith,  and  opened  a  shop,  and 
in  addition  to  the  job  work  that  came  to 
him,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
shovels  and  pitchforks.  With  Mr.  Andrus, 
two  years  later,  he  formed  a  partnership, 
and  under  the  firm  name  of  Andrus  & 
Deere  they  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
plows.  The  fame  of  the  Grand  Detour 
plows  was  soon  established  throughout  the 
west,  and  the  firm  did  a  good  business.  Mr. 
Deere  later  withdrew  and  moved  to  Moline, 
where  he  continued  the  business  and  estab- 
lished his  fame. 

The  Hydraulic  Company  built  the  first 
grist  mill  in  northern  Illinois.  It  was  to 
have  commenced  running  on  the  4th  of  July, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


319 


1830,  and  was  to  form  part  of  the  celebra- 
tion of  that  day,  but  it  failed  to  start,  and 
it  was  one  year  later  before  it  was  in  suc- 
cessful operation.  Its  success  was  immedi- 
ate, and  it  had  more  patronage  than  it  could 
well  accommodate,  with  its  three  run  of 
stone. 

When  Mr.  Deere  removed  to  Moline, 
Mr.  Andrus  continued  the  business  alone 
until  it  became  too  large  for  him  to  manage 
without  help,  when  he  took  in  Amos  Bos- 
worth,  his  brother-in-law,  as  a  partner, 
which  partnership  continued  until  Mr.  Bos- 
worth's  death,  in  1S62.  After  running  the 
business  alone  again  for  a  time  Mr.  Andrus 
formed  a  partnership  with  Theron  Cummins, 
which  partnership  lasted  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Andrus. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  183S,  Mr.  Andrus 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Ann 
Bosworth,  a  native  of  Royalton,  Vermont, 
and  daughter  of  Amos  and  Susan  (Wheelock) 
Bosworth,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives 
of  Royalton,  Vermont,  and  who  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Grand  Detour.  By 
this  union  three  children  were  born — Caro- 
line C,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years; 
William  C,  and  Leonard,  of  the  Dixon 
National  Bank,  Dixon,  Illinois. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Andrus  was  a  Henry 
Clay  Whig,  a  great  admirer  of  that  grand 
old  statesman.  On  the  dissolution  of  the 
Whig  party,  he  became  a  stanch  Republic- 
an, and  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  Re- 
publican principles  until  his  death.  He  was 
always  in  public  life,  and  filled  almost  every 
local  official  position.  He  also  served  as  a 
member  of  the  legislature,  making  a  good, 
working  member  of  that  body.  His  ac- 
quaintance with  the  public  men  of  his  day 
was  quite  extensive,  and  his  influence  was 
always  felt.      He  was  a  man  of  the  people, 


and  had  at  heart  the  interests  of  the  people. 
The  founder  of  the  village  of  Grand  Detour, 
he  was  connected  with  almost  every  enter- 
prise that  was  introduced  into  the  village. 
He  was  a  pioneer  among  pioneers,  and  ex- 
perienced all  the  hardships  conmion  to 
those  who  engage  in  the  development  of  a 
new  country,  but  he  lived  to  see  his  adopted 
county  and  state  take  front  rank,  and  most 
of  the  great  inventions  that  have  made  our 
whole  country  famous.  In  the  development 
of  the  country  and  the  various  industrial 
enterprises,  he  certainly  bore  well  his  part, 
and  his  name  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 
His  death,  which  occurred  February  18, 
1867,  was  entirely  unexpected,  having  con- 
tracted pneumonia  and  living  thereafter  but 
a  few  days.  His  death  was  a  sad  loss  to 
the  business  and  local  interests  of  his 
adopted  count}',  of  which  he  was  such  a 
worthy  citizen. 


GEORGE  B.  HIESTAND,  the  leading 
liveryman  of  Oregon,  Illinois,  was 
born  in  Leaf  River  township.  Ogle  county, 
October  28,  1S54,  and  is  the  son  of  Benja- 
min and  Lydia  (Rice)  Hiestand.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  by  occupa- 
tion was  a  farmer.  He  came  to  Illinois  in 
the  thirties,  and  located  in  Leaf  River  town- 
ship, where  he  took  up  a  section  of  land 
from  the  government,  which  he  improved 
and  cultivated  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  February  6,  1S55.  Leaf 
River  at  that  time  was  one  of  the  best 
towns  in  the  county.  In  politics  Benjamin 
Hiestand  was  a  Whig,  taking  great  interest 
in  the  political  discussions  of  the  day.  A 
strong  temperance  man  he  advocated  the 
cause  of  temperance  publicly  and  privately. 
For  some  years  he  served  as  school  trustee, 


320 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


and  held  other  offices  of  honor  and  trust. 
He  was  a  leading  and  influential  man  in  his 
township,  and  was  held  in  high  respect 
wherever  known.  His  wife,  Lydia,  was  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Rice.  She  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
a  devoted  wife  and  mother.  She  died  June 
13,  1884,  at  the  old  homestead,  which  was 
so  long  her  home.  They  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children.  Susan,  now  the  widow 
of  David  Kendall,  resides  in  Leaf  River. 
Urillais  the  wife  of  Thomas  L.  Potter, 
and  they  reside  in  Mt.  Morris.  Mary,  who 
married  Charles  Gaffin,  died  March  21, 
1898.  Jacob  and  John  H.  both  died  young. 
Thomas  resides  in  Mt.  Morris  township. 
George  B.  completes  the  family. 

George  B.  Hiestand  was  reared  on  the 
old  farm,  and  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
township  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. This  was  supplemented  by  a  term  at 
Mt.  Morris  Seminary.  He  was  but  four 
months  old  when  his  father  died.  As  soon 
as  old  enough,  in  connection  with  his  broth- 
ers, he  carried  on  the  old  farm.  Later,  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  Thomas  he 
purchased  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs, 
and  together  they  carried  on  the  farm  until 
1888,  when  George  purchased  his  brother's 
interest  and  then  leased  it  for  three  years. 
In  1S93  he  sold  the  place  to  William  Ha- 
german,  and  then  removed  to  the  village  of 
Leaf  River,  and  in  1895  came  to  Oregon 
and  opened  up  a  livery  stable  on  Fourth 
street,  which  he  has  since  conducted.  He 
has  a  finely  equipped  stable  with  stock,  and 
is  withal  a  very  accommodating  man. 

Mr.  Hiestand  was  married  September  4, 
1878,  to  Miss  Adell  Bly,  daughter  of  Rath- 
burn  and  Emily  (Richardson)  Bly.  She  is 
a  native  of  Ogle  county.  Hej  father  was 
in  the  Civil  war  and  lost  his  life   in    battle. 


By  this  marriage  are  two  children,  Clarence 
L.  and  Lydia  E. ,  both  of  whom  are  yet 
at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiestand  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  While  re- 
siding in  Leaf  River  he  served  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  alderman.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe 
and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


WALLACE  REVELL  is  one  of  the 
honored  veterans  of  the  Civil  war 
whose  devotion  to  his  country  was  tested 
not  only  by  service  on  the  field  of  battle 
but  in  the  still  more  deadly  dangers  of  a 
southern  prison.  This  gallant  soldier  is 
now  most  capably  and  satisfactorily  serv- 
ing as  postmaster  of  Stillman  Valley,  and 
is  also  successfully  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  at  that  place. 

Mr.  Revell  was  born  near  Niagara, 
Ontario,  Canada,  July  19,  1842.  His 
father,  William  Revell  was  born  in  England, 
in  1S17,  and  in  1S34  crossed  the  broad  At- 
lantic with  his  father,  William,  Sr. ,  and 
family,  settling  near  Hamilton,  Ontario, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  was 
married  in  Canada  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Bart- 
lett,  a  native  of  that  country.  He  was  a 
tailor  by  trade  and  continued  to  follow  that 
occupation  in  the  Dominion  until  184S,  and 
when  he  removed  to  Conneaut,  Ashtabula 
count)',  Ohio,  but  did  not  remain  there  long 
coming  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in  April, 
1850.  Here  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  raw  land  in  Scott  township, 
erected  thereon  a  house,  and  then  turned 
his  attention  to  the  ardous  task  of  develop- 
ing a  good  farm  from  wild  land.  During  those 
early  dajs  the  familye.xperienced  many  of  the 
hardships  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


321 


life.     The  father  was  one  of  the  most  in- 
dustrious    and     enterprising     men     of    the 
county  and  was  fairly  successful  in  his  under- 
takings.     He  continued  to  work  at  his  trade 
until  1S58,  after  which    he   devoted   his  en- 
tire time  to  agricultural  pursuits.      He  died 
in  1885,  and  his  wife,  who  still  survives  him, 
now    makes  her  home   with   her  daughter, 
Mrs.     Graham.      Wallace     is  the  oldest  of 
their     six     children,     four    sons    and     two 
daughters,    all   of    whom    reached   years   of 
maturity,  but  two  sons  are   now  deceased. 
Wallace  Revell  was    a  lad  of  eight  years 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ogle  county, 
and    upon  the  home  farm   he  grew  to    man- 
hood, acquiring  a   good  knowledge  of  work 
and     a      fair     common-school     education. 
Prompted  by   a  spirit   of    patriotism  he  en- 
listed   August    II,    1862,    in    Company    K, 
Ninety-second   Illinois  Volunteer    Infantry, 
as  a  private,  and  with  his  regiment  was  as- 
signed to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland.    He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Franklin,  Ten- 
nessee,   and    Chickamauga,    and   spent   the 
fall  and  winter   of  1S63    as    courier   at  Gen- 
eral   Thomas'     headquarters.      In     March, 
1864,    he  joined    his    regiment   in   northern 
Alabama,    near    Chattanooga,    they    having 
been  mounted  in   July,   1863,  and  afterward 
served  as  mounted  infantry.    In  April,  1864, 
they  went  into  camp  at   Ringgold,  Georgia, 
and  while    doing   picket    duty    on    Taylor's 
Ridge,    on  the   morning    of   April  23,   1864, 
Mr.    Revell,    with   twenty    of   his   regiment, 
was  taken  prisoner,  after  being  twice  wound- 
ed in  the  skirmish    by  gunshots  through  the 
left  fore  arm  and  right  hip.      He   was  first 
taken  to   Atlanta,    where    he   was    held   for 
about    four   weeks,  and    the   following   four 
months  were  spent  as  a  prisoner  in  Ander- 
sonville,   where  with    others  he  experienced 
all  the   horrors  and    privations    of   southern 


prison    life.       About   one  thousand   of    the 
men  were  then  taken  to   Charleston,    South 
Carolina,    where    they    were    confined  in  a 
prison  camp   for  four   weeks.      From  Octo- 
ber,   1864,    until    February    24,    1S65,    Mr. 
Revell  remained   a  prisoner,  and   was  then 
exchanged  at  Richmond,  Virginia.      He  suf- 
fered most  while  at  Charleston,  as  the  pris- 
oners   were     confined    on    a    low    piece    of 
ground.     The  prisoners  were  furnished  with 
spades  and  by  digging  holes  about  four  feet 
deep  got  the  bracksh  water  contained  there- 
in and  were  forced  to  drink.      It  made  near- 
ly all  ill  and  many  died.      On  being  released 
our  subject   was  still   sick  andwas  sent    to 
the  hospital  at  Wilmington,  Delaware.    He 
had   not   fully   recovered   when  discharged. 
For  two  years  after  the  war,  Mr.  Revell 
remained    at   home,  and   then    rented  land, 
purchased  a  team,  and   began   life  for  him- 
self.     He  was  married  December  11,   1868, 
the  lady  of  his  choice    being    Miss  Adelaide 
L.  Clayton,  a  daughter  of  James  M.  Clay- 
ton, whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work.      To  them    were    born   four  children, 
namely:     Charles  W.,  who   is  with    his  fa- 
ther in  the  store   and  is  also  serving  as  dep- 
uty  postmaster;   Nellie  M.,    wife   of  J.    D. 
Scoon,  of  West  Superior,  Wisconsin;  Matie, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  and  Ches- 
ter A.,  who  is  attending   the    home    school. 
After  his   marriage,  Mr.    Revell   located 
in  Monroe  township  where  he  subsequently 
bought   a   small   farm,    which   he    operated 
for  eight  years  and  then  sold  in  1876.      Dur- 
ing the  following  fifteen  years  he  lived  upon 
rented  land  and  continued  to  engage  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  but  in    1890  removed  to 
Stillman  Valley  and   established  himself  in 
the  grocery   business,    which   he   has    since 
successfully  conducted.      He  carries  a  large 
and  well  selected  stock  and  bears  an  excel- 


322 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


lent  reputation  for  fair  and  lionorable  deal- 
ing. In  the  fall  of  1897  he  was  appointed 
postmaster,  and  is  now  acceptably  filling 
that  office.  He  has  been  a  pronounced 
Republican  in  politics  since  casting  his  first 
vote  for  General  U.  S.  Grant  in  1868,  and 
in  religious  faith  he  and  his  wife  are  Bap- 
tists. Socially  he  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  society,  has  filled  all 
the  chairs  in  his  lodge,  is  past  grand,  and 
and  has  represented  the  local  order  in  the 
grand  lodge.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  past  commander 
of  W.  C.  Baker  Post,  No.  551,  G.  A.  R., 
of  Stillman  Valley. 


HENRY  GRAEHLING,  who  resides  on 
section  22,  Eagle  Point  township,  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  that  hardy  race 
that  have  done  so  much  to  build  up  this 
new  country,  and  who,  however  lowly  their 
condition  in  life  on  their  arrival  here,  by  in- 
dustry and  economy  manage  to  accumulate 
a  competency,  leaving  to  their  children 
sufficient  means  to  give  them  a  good  start 
in  life.  He  was  born  in  Alsace,  Loraine, 
Germany,  June  28,  1828,  and  in  his  native 
land  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  his  youth 
learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  although 
reared  on  a  farm.  Like  many  other  youths 
in  the  old  country,  he  dreamed  of  better 
opportunities  afforded  in  America  than  in 
the  crowded  cities  of  the  old  world.  He 
determined  to  here  try  his  fortunes,  and 
the  resolve  was  put  into  execution.  Bid- 
ding farewell  to  the  friends  of  his  youth  he 
set  sail  for  the  promised  land,  and  landing 
at  New  York,  he  proceeded  to  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  arrived  July  11, 
1S50,  joining  there  some  German  friends. 
Securing  work  in   a   vise   factory,    he    there 


worked  three  years,  saving  in  that  time 
some  four  hundred  dollars,  which  he  lost 
through  a  broker  or  banker.  He  was  so 
discouraged  that  he  did  not  have  the  heart 
to  longer  remain  in  that  city.  From  there 
he  went  to  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in 
farming. 

Mr.  Graehling  was  married  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  August  8,  1853,  to  Miss 
Walburga  Beck,  who  was  born  in  Wurtem- 
burg,  Germany,  February  25,  1835,  and 
who  came  with  her  brother  and  sister  to  the 
United  States  in  1851,  the  family  locating 
in  Pittsburg.  By  this  union  ten  children 
were  born,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Mary  is  now  the  wife  of  Fred  Diehl,  of 
Carroll  county,  Illinois.  Alexander  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Whiteside  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  owns  a  good  farm.  James 
is  a  farmer  of  Carroll  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  is  the  owner  of  a  good  farm.  George 
W.  also  is  the  owner  of  a  good  farm  in 
Carroll  county,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
farming.  Henry  is  a  farmer  of  Ogle  county. 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  Peters,  of 
Carroll  county.  Gustaf  Adolph  and  Fred 
Wilhelm  yet  reside  at  home.  John  and 
Albert  were  the  deceased.  They  have  in 
all  fourteen  grandchildren. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Graehling  took  up  their  residence  in  Alle- 
gheny City,  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Graehling 
working  at  his  trade.  In  September,  1856, 
he  came  west  to  Chicago,  and  there  con- 
tinued seven  months,  working  at  his  trade, 
his  time  being  principally  given  to  horse- 
shoeing. His  wife  joined  him  in  the  spring 
of  1857,  and  in  April  of  that  year  they  went 
to  Sugar  Grove,  Lee  county,  where  he  again 
worked  at  his  trade  a  few  months  and  then 
moved   to   Eagle   Point,  Ogle   county,  con- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3^3 


tinuing  there  at  his  trade.  He  there  made 
his  first  purchase  of  real  estate,  becoming 
the  owner  of  a  small  plat  of  ground,  and  a 
little  house  and  shop.  He  remained  there 
until  September,  i860,  when  he  moved  to 
the  place  where  he  now  resides.  He  first 
purchased  five  acres  of  ground,  a  piece  of 
brush  and  stumps,  moved  here  his  shop, 
and  commenced  to  clear  the  land.  Later 
he  purchased  five  acres  more,  and  still  later 
two  and  a  half  acres.  He  improved  his 
little  tract,  but  in  1S65  sold  his  personal 
property  and  moved  to  Polo  and  gave  his 
time  exclusively  to  his  trade  for  one  year. 
In  the  spring  of  1866,  he  returned  to  his 
place  in  Eagle  Point  and  worked  at  his  trade 
in  connection  with  farming.  From  time  to 
time  as  his  means  would  permit,  he  pur- 
chased some  land  until  he  had  a  good  sized 
farm.  In  1879  he  bought  an  adjoining  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres,  and  still 
later  forty  acres  more.  His  ne.xt  purchase 
was  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-four 
acres  in  Carroll  county.  At  one  time  he 
owned  five  hundred  acres  of  e.xcellent  land, 
but  has  sold  off  to  his  sons  a  portion,  but 
still  owns  three  hundred  acres.  His  farm 
is  well  improved,  and  he  has  erected  on  it 
a  large  and  neat  house,  big  barn  and  other 
outbuildings. 

Politically  Mr.  Graehling  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  his  first  presidential  vote  being 
cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860.  The 
party  ticket  he  has  continued  to  support 
from  that  time  to  the  present.  Religiously, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  at 
Polo,  his  wife  being  a  member  of  the  same 
body.  For  forty-two  years  they  have  been 
residents  of  Ogle  county,  and  both  are  well 
known  and  highly  respected.  Beginning 
life  in  limited  circumstances,  they  have  en- 
dured together  many  toils  and  privations. 
35 


For  some  years  fortune  did  not  seem  to 
favor  them,  but  they  toiled  on  and  have 
now  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  they 
have  laid  by  enough  to  sustain  and  keep 
them  in  old  age,  and  that  their  children  are 
also  well  provided  for.  They  know  further 
that  what  they  have  gained  has  been  by 
honest  industry. 


SAMUEL  DOMER,  deceased,  was  for 
more  than  fifty  years  an  honored  citi- 
zen of  Ogle  county,  one  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  born  September  3, 
1 818,  near  Sharpsburg,  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  In  1839  he  left  his  native  state 
and  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  one 
year,  when  for  some  reason  he  returned  to 
his  old  home  and  there  remained  until 
1845,  when  he  came  to  Ogle  county,  which 
remained  his  home  until  called  to  the  upper 
and  better  world.  He  was  a  brickmaker  by 
trade,  and  on  locating  in  Mt.  Morris  town- 
ship, in  1845,  he  made  the  brick  and  built 
his  own  home.  He  soon  gave  up  his  trade 
for  the  more  profitable  and  healthy  occupa- 
tion of  farming. 

Mr.  Domer  was  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Steffa. 
After  a  wedded  life  of  but  two  years,  Mrs. 
Domer  passed  away.  They  had  one  child, 
which  died  in  infancy.  On  the  loth  of 
March,  1852,  Mr.  Domer  wedded  Miss 
Rachel  Varner,  a  native  of  Fayette  county, 
Ohio,  born  January  9,  1829,  and  daughter 
of  William  Herman  and  Cynthia  Ann  (Knox) 
Varner,  who  were  also  natives  of  the  same 
county,  the  former  born  January  19,  180S, 
and  the  latter  April  4,  18 10.  When 
Mrs.  Domer  was  but    a  year  and  a  half  old 


324 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


her  parents  moved  to  Fort  Wa3'ne,  Indi- 
ana. In  1837,  when  she  was  but  eight 
years  old,  they  moved  to  Lee  county,  lUi- 
nois,  and  in  1850  came  to  Ogle  county, 
where  she  has  since  resided.  On  the  22d 
of  June,  1S92,  her  motherdied  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years.  Her  father  died  about 
1837,  in  Indiana.  They  were  the  parents 
of  three  daughters,  Mrs.  Domer  being  the 
eldest;  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  William  Turner,  of 
Lee  county,  Illinois;  Mary  L. ,  wife  of 
John  Etnyre,  of  Paine's  Point,  Illinois. 

To  Samuel  and  Rachel  Domer  were  born 
eight  children:  Martha  Frances,  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1854,  married  Charles  Reber. 
She  died  February  16,  1876.  Lydia  Ann, 
born  November  27,  1855,  died  September 
9,  1S62.  Andrew  J.,  born  July  29,  1857, 
married  Ida  Lewis,  and  to  them  four  chil- 
dren have  been  born:  Maude,  Earl,  Min- 
nie and  Laura.  They  reside  in  Kansas, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming.  William 
H.,  born  April  20,  1S59,  married  Kate 
Alter,  and  four  children  have  blessed  their 
union — Jesse,  Ethel,  Percy  and  Bessie. 
They  are  living  in  Mt.  Morris.  Samuel  O., 
born  May  21,  1863,  married  Emma  Shuber, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Floyd  and 
Edna.  They  are  living  in  Polo,  Illinois. 
Franklin  V.,  born  September  30,  1S68, 
married  Effie  Brooks,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Mary  Eva.  They  are  living  in 
Oregon  township.  Frederick  W. ,  born 
April  29,  1870,  married  Anna  Fridley,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Ray  V.  They  are 
living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Mt.  Morris 
township.  Sarah  A.,  born  July  10,  1873, 
married  William  W.  Koontz,  and  they  re- 
side on  the  home  place  in  Mt.  Morris  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Domer  'Commenced  farming  on  a 
farm   of    one   hundred    and   si.xty   acres,  on 


which  he  lived  for  twenty-two  years.  He 
then  purchased  another  farm,  to  which  he 
added  from  time  to  time  until  he  had  a  farm 
of  four  hundred  acres,  all  of  which  he  had 
under  improvement.  This  he  disposed  of 
and  purchased  two  hundred  and  ten  acres 
in  Mt.  Morris  township,  upon  which  he 
lived  about  twenty  years.  In  1895  he 
rented  the  farm  and  moved  to  Mt.  Morris, 
to  spend  his  remaining  years  in  retirement. 
He  was,  however,  not  long  for  this  world, 
as  the  summons  came  for  him  to  depart  July 
4,  1898.  He  died  of  dropsy  and  heart 
disease,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the 
cemetery  at  Silver  Creek,  Ogle  county. 
In  politics  he  was  originally  an  old-line 
Whig,  but  on  the  dissolution  of  that  party 
he  became  a  Dem.ocrat,  with  which  party 
he  acted  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Interested  in  the  public  schools,  for  many 
years  he  served  as  school  director.  He 
never  cared  to  push  himself  forward  in  any 
manner,  but  was  quiet  and  unassuming  in 
manner,  content  to  fulfill  his  daily  duties  of 
farm  and  home  lite,  leaving  to  others  the 
more  exacting  responsibilities  of  public  life. 
He  left  a  large  circle  of  relatives  and  friends 
to  mourn  his  loss.  His  widow,  who  is 
highly  esteemed  for  her  many  excellent 
qualities  of  head  and  heart,  is  yet  living  in 
Mt.  Morris,  where  her  friends  are  many. 


M 


ARTIN  A.  FREI,  a  leading  and  suc- 
cessful merchant  of  Forreston,  came 
to  the  county  in  1866  and  has  here  spent 
one-third  of  a  century.  He  was  born  in  the 
village  of  Nuettermoor,  Cantor  Leer,  Ger- 
many, October  10,  1852,  and  is  the  son  of 
Aldirk  and  Anna  (Brandt)  Frei,  both  natives 
of  Germany.  In  his  native  village  he  re- 
ceived his  education    and,    there   remained 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECOKU 


325 


until  he  was  thirteen  years  old,  when  the 
family  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  in  Forreston  township,  Ogle  county, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  farming.  From 
1866  until  1S79  our  subject  remained  on 
the  farm  and  assisted  in  the  farm  work,  be- 
coming a  thorough  and  scientific  farmer. 
He  has  yet  living  one  brother  and  five  sis- 
ters. Hilka  is  the  wife  of  John  Geisman, 
living  near  Shannon.  Renskea  is  the  wife 
of  T.  Buisker,  a  farmer  of  Lincoln  town- 
ship. Gerhardina  is  the  wife  of  B.  Temple, 
a  farmer  residing  near  Shannon.  John  re- 
sides two  miles  west  of  Baileyville,  in 
Stephenson  county.  Lena  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  VanDeest,  a  farmer  of  Forreston 
township.  Margaret  is  the  wife  of  L.  Pam- 
mer,  residing  at  Ashton,  Iowa.  An  older 
brother,  Frederick,  preceded  the  family  to 
the  United  States.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
offered  his  services  to  his  adopted  country, 
and  dying  while  yet  in  the  service  was  bur- 
ied at  Monterey,  Tennessee.  The  father  of 
this  family  died  August  18,  1870,  and  the 
mother,  August  26,   1877. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1S77,  Mr. 
Frei  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Annie 
DeGrote,  daughter  of  F.  and  Tina  DeGrote. 
She  was  born  in  Woquard,  Emden,  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  America  in  1866  in 
company  with  her  parents,  who  settled  in 
Ridott.  By  this  union  four  children  have 
been  born — Ollie  J.,  Tina,  Fred  and  Henry 
F.  Of  these,  Ollie  and  Fred  are  assisting 
their  father  in  the  store.  The  family  are 
well  known  and  highly  esteemed. 

In  1879  Mr.  Frei  left  the  farm  and  went 
to  Freeport.  where  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business,  remaining  there  until  1885, 
when  he  came  to  Forreston  and  started  a 
general  dry  goods  and  grocery  business,  in 
which  he  has  since  continued  with  gratify- 


ing success.  He  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Rutherford  B.  Ha\cs,  and  has 
since  been  a  stanch  and  uncompromising 
Republican.  He  has  been  town  trustee  for 
more  than  si,\  years,  and  has  been  on  the 
school  board  for  three  terms,  and  is  the 
present  secretary  of  that  body.  He  is  the 
secretary  of  the  Retail  Merchants  Associ- 
ation, and  has  held  different  offices  of  the 
community.  A  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed church,  he  has  been  superintendent 
of  its  Sunday-school  for  the  past  si.\  years, 
and  has  been  a  worker  of  the  Sunday-school 
since  1885.  He  is  a  self-made  and  success- 
ful business  man,  affable  and  courteous  in 
address,  and  interests  himself  in  all  im- 
provements, and  is  a  factor  in  the  develop- 
ment of  his  adopted  city  and  county  along 
all  lines.  He  is  popular  and  influential, 
and  his  friends  are  many  throughout  Ste- 
phenson and  Ogle  counties. 


ALFRED  R.  BINKLEY,  now  living  a 
retired  life  in  Mt.  Morris,  is  a  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  born  in  Wash- 
inton  county,  Maryland,  January  13,  1847, 
and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Catherine 
(Weaver)  Binkley,  the  former  born  in 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1S18, 
and  the  latter  in  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, in  1826.  By  occupation  the  father 
was  a  farmer,  and  was  a  strong,  robust  man 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  i  S60.  He 
was  taken  sick  with  some  stomach  trouble 
on  Friday  and  died  the  following  Tuesday. 
The  mother  is  yet  living  in  Morganville, 
Washington  county,  Maryland.  They  were 
the  parents  of  si.\  children,  our  subject  be- 
ing their  first  born.  Calvin  married  Sevilla 
Butterbaugh,  and  they  reside  in  Maryland 
township,    Ogle    county,   where    he    is    en- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


gaged  in  farming,  owning  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land.  William  died  in  early 
childhood.  Ida  married  Abram  Hawes, 
and  they  reside  in  Morganville,  Maryland, 
where  he  follows  his  trade  of  carpentering. 
Charles  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  years.  Daniel  married  Eva 
Downey,  and  they  live  in  Morganville, 
Maryland,  where  he  follows  farming. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  in 
his  native  state  until  he  was  sixteen  years 
old,  when  he  came  to  Ogle  county,  and 
here  attended  school  until  1864,  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fortieth 
regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  Com- 
pany I,  with  which  he  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  on  picket  duty  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  and  was  in  several 
skirmishes.  On  receiving  his  discharge  at 
Camp  Fry,  Chicago,  he  returned  to  Ogle 
county,  where  he  remained  a  few  months. 
He  then  went  east,  and  for  five  years  was 
clerk  in  a  general  store  at  Green  Castle, 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  after  which 
he  again  came  to  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  county, 
and  clerked  for  a  time.  Later  he  purchased 
a  restaurant,  which  he  gradually  turned  into 
a  general  store,  in  which  line  of  business  he 
continued  until  -in  July,  1895,  when  he 
was  compelled  to  retire  on  account  of  ill 
health. 

Mr.  Binkley  was  married  February  12, 
1878,  to  Miss  Laura  B.  Sprecher,  of  Mt. 
Morris,  and  daughter  of  Philip  and  Letha 
(Castle)  Sprecher.  They  now  reside  in  a 
comfortable  home  in  Mt.  Morris.  Mrs. 
Binkley  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Brethren  church,  in  the  work  of  which  she 
is  deeply  interested.  She  is  one  of  a  fam- 
ily of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living.  Fraternally  Mr.  Binkley  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 


lic, in  which  he  keeps  alive  the  memory  of 
the  days,  when  yet  a  youth  he  went  out  in 
defense  of  his  country's  honor,  and  for  the 
restoration  of  the  Union.  He  has  lived  to 
see  not  only  the  Union  restored,  but  its 
boundaries  extended,  good  feeling  existing 
among  those  who  wore  the  blue  and  the 
grey,  and  a  more  fraternal  feeling  than  ever 
existed  before. 


PETER  SMITH,  banker,  capitalist  and 
retired  farmer,  was  a  natural  financier 
who  aided  much  in  the  development  of 
Ogle  county.  He  was  the  son  of  Edward 
and  Anna  (Tebow)  Smith,  and  was  born  in 
Franklin,  Bergen  county,  New  Jersey,  De- 
cember 21,  1808.  His  American  ancestry 
runs  back  to  one  of  the  members  of  a  little 
Swedish  colony,  who  settled  in  Bergen 
county.  New  Jersey,  in  1624.  When  twelve 
years  old  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  New 
York  city,  where  he  attended  school  and  ac- 
quired a  good  common-school  education. 
His  first  business  venture  was  in  buying  and 
selling  fruit,  and  when  but  sixteen  years 
old  he  engaged  in  the  poultry  business,  and 
afterwards  carried  on  the  manufacture  of 
mustard  and  cayenne  pepper,  in  which  busi- 
ness he  continued  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old.  For  the  succeeding  ten  years 
he  was  in  the  wood  business,  and  also  in 
buying  and  selling  horses,  purchasing  his 
stock  in  the  state  of  Ohio  and  selling  in  New 
York.  He  met  with  success  in  each  line  of 
business,  but  he  believed  that  he  could  do 
still  better  in  the  West.  Coming  to  Ogle 
county,  he  settled  in  White  Rock  township 
and  a  few  years  later  he  entered  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  Marion  and  Pine  Rock 
townships    (although    there    were    then    no 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


329 


townships),  and  erected  a  log  cabin,  i6x  24 
feet,  and  one  and  a  half  stories  in  height. 
For  miles  around  neighbors  turned  out  and 
assisted  him  in  its  erection,  the  time  requir- 
ing but  one  da}-.  \\'ith  his  wife  and  two 
children  he  there  laid  the  foundation  for  his 
large  fortune.  While  developing  his  own 
farm  he  kept  a  breaking  team  of  five  yoke 
of  cattle  to  assist  other  early  settlers  in  the 
neighborhood.  By  energy  and  good  judg- 
ment it  was  not  long  before  he  owned  over 
one  thousand  acres  of  land.  His  ability 
lay  in  wisely  directing  the  work  of  others. 
He  was  collector  and  constable  in  Marion 
township  and  school  director  about  fifteen 
years.  He  continued  farming  and  stock 
raising  until  December,  1875,  when  he 
moved  to  Rochelle.  For  several  years  he 
was  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Rochelle.  In  1883  he  sold  out  his  interest 
in  this  bank,  making  his  investments  in  well 
improved  farms  and  loans.  Mr.  Smith  was 
a  life-long  Democrat,  but  had  no  taste  for 
holding  office.  He  died  November  24, 
1886,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years, 
leaving  a  fortune  of  a  quarter  of  a  million 
dollars. 

May  12,  1 83  I,  Mr.  Smith  married  Sarah 
Foster  in  New  York  city.  She  was  born  in 
County  Armagh,  North  of  Ireland,  July  12, 
1809,  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  them,  five  of 
whom  died  in  infancy;  a  daughter,  Emma, 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four.  The  fol- 
lowing survive:  Abbie  A.,  who  married 
Minor  Parker,  deceased,  resides  at  Steward; 
Margaret,  who  married  Austin  Noe,  deceased, 
resides  at  Rochelle;  Caroline,  the  wife  of 
Patrick  O'Mara,  resides  in  White  Rock 
township;  Susan  M.  married  Aron  Cass, 
deceased,  mention  of  whom  is  made  in  an- 
other   article;     George    F.    married     Mary 


Jones,  and  now  lives  on    the  old  homestead 
in  Marion  township. 

Mrs.  Smith  by  her  sound  sense,  indus- 
try and  economy  was  a  great  aid  to  her 
husband.  She  was  always  a  Presbyterian. 
She  died  July  9,  1897,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight. 


FRANKLIN  F.  PEEK,  who  resides  on 
section  34,  W^Dosung  township,  is  a 
well-known  citizen  of  Ogle  county,  which 
has  been  his  home  since  1838.  He  was 
born  in  Bethel,  Windsor  county,  Vermont, 
March  2,  1832,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Lucretia  (Lamb)  Peek,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  \'ermont.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  politically  was  a 
strong  Whig  and  an  active  worker  in  the 
party.  He  came  with  his  family  to  Ogle 
county  in  1838,  coming  by  water  from  Buf- 
falo to  Detroit,  and  from  there  to  Ogle 
county  by  teams,  being  five  weeks  on  the 
road,  arriving  in  July.  He  stopped  about 
three  months  at  Grand  Detour,  where  his 
brother-in-law,  John  Deere,  afterward  the 
famous  plow  man,  was  then  located.  John 
Deere  first  married  Demis  Lamb,  a  sister  of 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  and  came  west 
and  established  himself  at  Grand  Detour 
where  he  was  working  at  his  trade  of  black- 
smith. He  had  not  then  begun  the  manu- 
facture of  plows,  which  later  brought  him 
both  reputation  and  colossal  fortune.  While 
residing  at  Moline  his  first  wife  died  and  he 
later  married  her  sister,  Lucina  Lamb. 

In  the  fall  of  1838  John  Peek  bought 
the  claim  to  two  hundred  acres,  which  he 
afterward  entered,  now  the  home  of  our 
subject.  That  place  he  put  under  improve- 
ment and  made  it  his  permanent  home. 
He  became  quite  successful  financially,  and 


330 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


was  well  known  throughout  the  county. 
He  was  quite  active  in  political  affairs,  but 
never  an  office-seeker.  At  the  time  of  his 
settlement  on  his  claim  there  was  little  else 
but  wolves  and  rattlesnakes  in  the  vicinity. 
There  was  but  one  house  between  his  place 
and  Dixon,  and  no  settlement  north  until 
Oldtown,  or  Buffalo  was  reached.  At  that 
time  and  for  years  after  Chicago  was  the 
chief  market,  and  to  that  place  they  hauled 
their  grain  and  other  produce.  With  a 
four-ox  team  they  could  haul  sixty  or  sixty- 
five  bushels  of  wheat,  and  with  a  two-horse 
team  about  thirty-five  or  forty  bushels,  and 
ten  days  were  required  to  make  the  trip 
with  oxen.  Our  subject  speaks  of  one  trip 
of  ten  days  on  which  he  accompanied  his 
father,  of  not  having  but  one  warm  meal 
during  the  whole  time.  They  usually  car- 
ried their  provisions  with  them  for  they 
could  not  afford  to  pay  out  what  little  was 
obtained  for  their  produce  for  meals.  The 
money  was  too  badly  needed  for  other  pur- 
poses. He  tells  of  holding  a  lantern  while 
the  grain  was  being  unloaded  at  Chicago, 
and  the  scoop  shovel  used  for  the  purpose 
was  left  in  the  wagon  and  brought  home 
with  them,  being  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the 
neighborhood.  But  think  of  unloading 
grain  in  the  city  of  Chicago  by  the  light  of 
a  lantern  ! 

John  and  Lucretia  Peek  were  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  all  save  one  born  in 
Vermont,  and  all  lived  to  maturity,  eight  of 
the  number  yet  living.  Samuel  C.  has  been 
a  resident  of  Calaveras  county,  California, 
since  1S59;  William  P.,  who  resides  in 
Amadore  county,  California,  has  been  a 
prominent  citizen  there  since  1852.  He  has 
filled  a  number  of  important  offices  in  his 
adopted  county,  serving  as  supervisor 
several  years,  and  as  a  member  of  the  state 


legislature  two  terms;  George  N.  is  a  re- 
tired farmer  residing  in  Polo;  Jeannette 
married  Fenwick  Anderson,  of  Bureau  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  who  has  been  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  and  politican,  and  extensive  land 
owner.  She  died  January  9,  1899;  Frank- 
lin F.,  our  subject,  was  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Mellona,  who  is  single,  makes  her 
home  with  her  brothers  and  sisters;  John 
D.  died  when  about  thirty-five  years  old; 
Henry  P.  is  a  resident  of  Oregon,  Illinois; 
Horace  W.  is   a    farmer   of    South  Dakota. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  six 
years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
in  Ogle  county.  The  first  school  he  attend- 
ed here  was  at  Sugar  Grove,  four  miles 
from  his  home.  While  attending  that  school 
he  boarded  with  a  family  in  the  neighbor- 
hood and  did  chores  for  his  board.  One 
year's  time  would  probably  cover  the  entire 
period  of  his  school  life,  his  attendance  be- 
ing in  the  winter  months  for  a  very  short 
time.  When  he  attained  his  majority  he 
began  life  for  himself,  working  at  various 
occupations.  Much  of  the  prairie  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  home  he  assisted  in  breaking 
and  otherwise  improving.  In  1861  he  went 
to  Calaveras  county,  California,  where  he 
remained  until  October,  1864,  when  he  re- 
turned home  on  account  of  his  father's 
death  and  took  charge  of  the  home  farm. 
He  has  since  carried  it  on,  his  mother  mak- 
ing her  home  with  him  until  her  death  in 
February,  1873.  Soon  after  her  death  he 
purchased  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs, 
becoming  sole  owner. 

Mr.  Peck  was  married  April  2,  1874,  at 
the  home  of  his  uncle,  John  Deere,  in  Mol- 
ine,  to  Mrs.  Mattie  Wood,  widow  of  Beeler 
Wood,  of  Moline,  and  daughter  of  Asa  and 
Luchera  (Warren)  Eaton,  her  mother  being 
of  the  family  of  General  Warren,  of  Revo- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


331 


lutionary  fame.  The  eldest  brother  of  her 
mother,  Daniel  Warren,  was  a  colonel  in 
the  war  of  18  12.  Mrs.  Peck's  first  marriage 
was  celebrated  in  Moline,  where  she  lived 
until  her  husband's  death  one  year  later. 
She  was  born  in  Windsor  county,  Vermont, 
where  she  grew  to  womanhood.  She  re- 
ceived a  good  education  at  South  Wood- 
stock, Vermont,  at  the  Green  Mountain 
Liberal  Institute,  and  when  but  eighteen 
engaged  in  teaching  in  her  native  state. 
Two  years  later  she  came  west  to  Cham- 
paign county,  Illinois,  where  she  had  a 
cousin  living,  who  was  the  only  acquaintance 
in  that  locality.  She  taught  the  first  tern] 
of  school  at  Philo,  in  that  county,  and  then 
took  a  position  in  the  public  schools  of  Ur- 
bana,  where  she  remained  two  years.  From 
there  she  went  to  Decatur,  where  she  also 
remained  two  years,  and  then  went  to 
Moline,  where  she  was  teaching  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Wood.  She  was 
induced  to  go  to  Moline  from  the  fact  that 
Mrs.  Deere  was  an  old  Vermont  friend. 
She  is  one  of  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  yet  living.  Besides  her- 
self, the  living  are  George  W.,  of  Geneseo, 
Illinois;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Savage,  of 
Polo,  Illinois;  Frederick  W. ,  who  remains 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Vermont;  and  Dr. 
David  D. ,  a  practicing  physician,  of  3147 
Indiana  avenue,  Chicago. 

Since  taking  possession  of  the  old  home- 
stead, Mr.  Peek  has  followed  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising,  feeding  usually  the 
grain  he  grows  on  the  place.  He  has  been 
a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  the 
party,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker. 
Since  1891,  e.xcept  two  years,  he  has  been 
serving  as  supervisor  of  his  township,  filling 
the  position  to  the  general  satisfaction  of 
those  interested.      He  has  ever  been  active 


in  educational  matters,  serving  many  years 
on  the  school  board.  It  is,  however,  as 
one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  the 
township  that  he  is  best  known.  On  the 
old  homestead  he  has  made  many  improve- 
ments, adding  to  the  beauty  and  value  of 
the  place.  The  old  Galena  and  Dixon 
stage  road  used  to  cross  the  farm,  and  a 
magnificent  row  of  hard  maple  trees  now 
on  the  place  was  set  out  by  our  subject's 
father  along  the  road.  He  has  made  a  suc- 
cess in  life  and  has  gained  the  esteem  and 
respect  of  his  many  acquaintances,  not  only 
for  his  integrity  and  upright  character,  but 
for  his  ability  and  good  judgment  as  well. 
Mrs.  Peek  is  a  cultivated  and  highly  re- 
fined lady,  of  scholarly  attainments.  Their 
home  and  genial  hospitality  is  shared  and 
appreciated  by  their  many  friends  and 
guests.  In  the  summer  of  1875  they  visit- 
ed their  old  home  in  Vermont,  and  al- 
though he  had  left  it  when  but  si.x  years 
old,  Mr.  Peek  was  yet  able  to  recognize 
some  of  the  old  landmarks. 


WILLIAM  H.  STEFFA,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  December  21, 
1S57,  in  Rockvale  township,  Ogle  county. 
He  is  the  son  of  David  and  Martha  (Hill) 
Steffa,  who  were  born  in  Maryland,  the 
former  March  19,  1823,  and  the  latter  in 
1S31.  By  occupation  Mr.  Steffa  was  a 
farmer,  and  came  to  Ogle  county  in  1S41 
with  his  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steffa  had 
ten  children,  namely:  Jacob  E.,  li\ing  in 
Kansas;  15arbara  A.,  also  living  in  Kansas; 
Ella,  living  in  Nebraska;  W^illiam  H.,  of 
whom  we  are  writing;  Andrew  David,  a  res- 
ident of  Iowa;  J.  F.  and  O.  B.,  of  Rock- 
vale;  J.  M.,  of  Kansas;  Effie,  of  Rockvale; 
and  Lottie,  who  died   when  twenty  years  of 


332 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


age.  Mr.  Steffa  is  living  with  his  son,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  His  wife  died  Octo- 
ber 26,  1891. 

Our  subject  attended  school  and  helped 
his  father  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  started  out  for  himself,  going  first  to  the 
farm  of  Joseph  Wagoner,  where  he  remained 
for  one  year  and  then  worked  by  the  month 
for  eighteen  years, after  which  time  he  rent- 
ed tlie  farm  of  Joshua  Thomas  for  a  period 
of  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  Mr.  Steffa  moved  to  Hamilton  county, 
Nebraska,  where  he  made  his  home  for  one 
year,  moving  later  to  Scott  county,  Kansas, 
where  he  resided  for  eighteen  months,  and 
where  he  purchased  a  valuable  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  si.xty  acres,  still  in  his  pos- 
session. He  afterward  returned  to  Ogle 
county,  where  he  still  resides,  and  where  he 
is  still  occupied  in  the  management  of  the 
highly  cultured  farm  on   section  17. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1890,  Mr. 
Steffa  married  Mrs.  Mary  Haney,  who  was 
born  October  29,  1S4G,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  E.  T.  and  Margaret  (Howard)  Mallory. 
Mr.  Mallory  is  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, and  was  born  February  18,  1818. 
His  first  wife  was  from  Scotland,  where  she 
was  born  February  13,  1812.  When  nine 
years  of  age,  Mrs.  Mallory  moved  with  her 
parents  to  London,  Canada,  where  she  met 
her  first  husband,  John  McGuffin,  a  Cana- 
dian, by  whom  she  had  six  children.  She 
afterward  married  Edward  T.  Mallory,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  five  children. 
Mary,  the  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Ellen,  who  was  born  July  23,  1849,  is  the 
widow  of  Olwyn  Trask,  and  resides  in  Aus- 
tin; Frances  A.,  born  April  5,  185  i,  is  the 
wife  of  Frank  Robinson,  a  carpenter,  also 
living  in  Austin;  Edward  T.  was  born  Au- 
gust   14,    1853.      He    was   president    of  the 


Minnesota  Stoneware  Company,  at  Red 
Wing,  Minnesota,  where  his  widow  still  re- 
sides. 

The  youngest  child,  Thomas  Howard, 
was  born  February  13,  1854.  He  married 
Ann  Steffa,  and  they  reside  in  Chicago, 
where  Mr.  Mallory  is  a  traveling  salesman 
for  a  large  brickware  concern.  Edward 
Mallory  lent  his  support  to  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  actively  interested  in  all 
public  affairs,  and  was  school-director  and 
constable  at  the  time  of  his  demise,  which 
occurred  November  28,  1856.  Mr.  Mallory 
returned  to  England  to  visit  the  home  of 
his  childhood,  and  later  with  reference  to 
some  legacies  which  were  left  to  him.  Mrs. 
Mallory's  death  occurred  February  13,1 862. 
Her  father  was  one  of  the  patriots  who 
fought  in  the  Canadian  rebellion. 

Mrs.  Steffa,  the  wife  of  our  subject,  was 
twice  married.  Her  first  husband  was  Pat- 
rick Haney,  whom  she   married    March  19, 

1863,  Eleven  children  graced  this  mar- 
riage, as  follows:     George  E. ,  born  April  6, 

1864,  married  Mary  Ebersole,  and  together 
with  their  seven  children,  they  reside  in 
Manson,  Iowa.      William  S.,  born  June  17, 

1865,  married  Minnie  Lewis.  They  have 
two  children,  and  live  near  Bailyville,  Kan- 
sas. Olive  E.  was  born  March  3,  1867. 
She  married  C.  A.  Rosecrans,  and  they  have 
one  child.  Their  home  is  in  Chicago,  where 
Mr.  Rosecrans  is  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
hardware  basiness.  Henry  B.  was  born 
September  29,  1868,  and  married  Mabel 
Morton.  They  have  one  child  and  live  in 
Mount  Morris  township.  Lucy  Ann  was 
born  April  16,  1870,  and  died  two  days 
after  her  birth.  John  H.  was  born  April 
24,  1 87 1,  and  makes  his  home  in  Chicago, 
where  he  is  in  the  employ  of  his  brother-in- 
law.      Mary  Edith,  born  July  i,   1873,  mar- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


333 


ried  Henry  Lohafer.  They  have  one  child 
and  lives  near  Mount  Morris.  Maggie  Irene 
was  born  February  9,  1876,  and  is  living  at 
home.  Homer  C.  was  born  March  26, 
187S,  and  is  attending  college  at  Mount 
Morris.  Bessie  Pearl,  born  January  26, 
1880,  died  of  appendicitis  December  3, 
1897.  Walter  P.  was  born  January  13, 
1883,  and  is  living  at  home,  attending  the 
district  school.  Mr.  Haney  was  a  Demo- 
crat and  gave  his  support  to  that  party  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  July  19,  1882. 
Mrs.  Steffa  is  the  possessor  of  three  hun- 
dred acres  in  the  estate  on  which  they  re- 
side. In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  ardently  supports  the  party  to 
which  he  belongs.  He  is  a  clear-sighted 
man  of  business,  and  has  a  very  high  stand- 
ing  in   the   community  in  which  he  resides. 


REV.  JAMES  H.  MORE,  M.  D.— Only 
those  lives  are  worthy  of  record  that 
have  been  potential  factors  in  the  public 
progress  in  promoting  the  general  welfare 
or  advancing  the  educational  or  moral  inter- 
ests of  the  community.  Dr.  More  has 
rounded  the  psalmist's  span  of  three  score 
years  and  ten,  has  always  been  found  true 
to  his  church,  to  his  country  and  to  his 
friends,  and  the  world  is  certainly  far  better 
for  his  having  lived. 

The  earliest  ancestor  of  the  family  of 
which  our  subject  has  any  knowledge  is 
John  More,  who  was  of  the  Grant  clan  of 
the  Highlands  of  northern  Scotland,  and 
who  was  married  at  Forrest  to  Isabel  Dun- 
can, December  22,  1735.  Their  son  John, 
who  was  born  February  24,  1745,  was  mar- 
ried in  1770,  to  Betty  Taylor,  of  Elgin, 
Scotland,  and  they  lived  happily  together 
for    the    long    period    of    fifty-three    years. 

36 


Their  two  children  were  both  born  in  Scot- 
land, but  in  the  autumn  of  1772  the  family 
emigated  to  America.  They  spent  the  win- 
ter in  New  York  city,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1773  ascended  the  Hudson  river  to  Cats- 
kill,  crossed  the  mountains  and  proceeded 
through  the  wilderness  to  what  is  now  Del- 
aware county,  New  York.  Coming  to 
a  favorable  spot  where  the  large  trees  of 
the  forest  indicated  a  fruitful  soil,  they 
stopped,  and  in  that  wild  region  made  for 
themselves  a  home.  Two  children  were  born 
in  Scotland,  and  six  children  in  America. 
From  these  worthy  pioneers  are  descended 
many  who  have  won  distinction  in  the  pul- 
pit, on  the  rostrum,  at  the  bar,  and  in  com- 
mercial, financial,  medical  and  educational 
circles  as  well  as  in  the  humbler  walks 
of  life. 

James  More,  grandfather  of  the  Doctor, 
was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  in  the  family 
of  eight  children  born  to  John  and  Betty 
More.  He  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Delaware 
county.  New  York,  January  10,  1782,  and 
died  May  19,  1866.  He  married  Roxana, 
daughter  of  John  and  Patience  (Post)  Ben- 
jamin. Of  the  six  children  born  of  this 
union,  John  Benjamin  More,  the  second  in 
order  of  birth ,  was  born  November  21,1 804, 
and  died  in  Polo,  Illinois,  February  24,  1886. 
In  1829,  he  married  Miss  Louisa  Jane  Kel- 
ley,  who  was  born  in  Middletown,  Delaware 
county.  New  York,  November  6,  1S09,  a 
daughter  of  Phineas  and  Rosalind  Kelley. 
She  makes  her  home  with  our  subject  and 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  her  mental  and 
physical  faculties.  Her  father,  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  was  born  in  Dutchess  county, 
New  York,  December  6,  1777,  and  died  at 
age  of  sixty-seven  years.  He  was  a  son  of 
David  Kelley,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  who  married  a  Miss  Ellis.     Mrs.  More's 


334 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


maternal  grandfather  was  Jonathan  Kehey, 
whose  mother  was  Priscilla  King,  and  he 
married  Grace  Godfrey,  a  daughter  of  John 
Godfrey. 

Dr.  More,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Halcottsville,  Delaware  county, 
New  York,  August  31,  1826,  a  son  of  John 
S.  and  Louisa  J.  (Kelley)  More,  and  his 
boyhood  was  passed  in  the  town  of  Roxbury, 
that  county,  his  education  being  obtanied 
in  the  common  schools  and  the  academies 
at  Prattsville  and  Fergusonville,  where  he 
prepared  for  college.  He  successfully  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  for  several  terms 
in  Ro.xbury,  and  later  entered  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Buffalo, 
New  York,  where  he  was  graduated  June  27, 
1853.  Coming  west,  he  located  at  Buffalo 
Grove,  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in  May,  1854, 
and  the  following  August  began  the  practice 
of  his  chosen  profession  with  Dr.  W.  W. 
Burns.  In  1856  he  embarked  in  the  drug 
and  book  business  in  Polo,  but  four  years 
later  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist 
church  as  a  member  of  the  Rock  River  Con- 
ference, being  first  stationed  at  Harvard  and 
later  at  Richmond,  McHenry  county.  At 
the  latter  place  he  joined  the  Union  army 
as  chaplain  of  the  Ninety-fifth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  which  participated  in  many 
important  engagements  in  Missouri,  Tenn- 
essee, Mississippi,  Alabama,  Arkansas  and 
Louisiana.  The  regiment  was  at  first  in  the 
Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  but  later  formed 
a  part  of  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  under 
General  A.  J.  Smith,  and  was  mustered  out 
in  August,   18G5. 

After  the  war.  Dr.  More  continued  his 
labors  in  Roek  R  iver  Conference,  was  sta- 
tioned at  Mt.  Morris  two  years  and  Kanka- 
kee one  year,  and  in  1 868  was  appointed 
presiding  elder  of  the  Dixon  district,  where 


he  remained  for  four  years.  During  the 
following  three  years  he  had  charge  of  the 
church  at  Sterling,  was  at  Sycamore  two 
years,  presiding  elder  of  the  Freeport  dis- 
trict four  years,  and  for  a  year  and  a  half 
was  pastor  of  the  Western  Avenue  church, 
Chicago.  While  there  his  health  failed  and 
he  was  forced  to  resign, in  1883.  Going  to 
Biddle  county.  South  Dakota,  he  opened 
up  a  farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  found  no  church  facilities  for  the 
people  of  that  locality, the  young  folks  were 
desecrating  the  Sabbath,  and  he  organized 
churches  and  held  services  around  at  differ- 
ent settler's  cabins.  When  it  became 
known  that  he  was  also  a  physician,  he  was 
forced  into  the  practice  of  medicine  again. 
He  took  a  great  interest  in  the  political 
affairs  of  the  territory,  was  a  delegate  to  the 
constitutional  convention,  and  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  public  schools  and  school 
lands,  embodied  in  the  organic  law  of  the 
state  the  best  provisions  for  the  safety  of 
school  funds  of  any  state  in  the  Union. 
From  thiswise  legislation  the  state  now  has 
two  million  dollars  drawing  seven  per  cent 
interest;  in  each  township  two  sections  have 
been  set  apart  for  school  purposes,  and  such 
safe  guards  thrown  around  the  school  funds 
as  will  prevent  loss  by  dishonest  officials. 
The  credit  of  this  is  almost  wholly  due  to 
the  efforts  of  Dr.  More,  and  it  almost  seems 
that  he  was  sent  by  Providence  to  the  terri- 
tory for  that  purpose. 

On  leaving  Dakota,  December  23,  1886, 
Dr.  More  returned  to  Margaretville,  Dela- 
ware county.  New  York,  where  he  engaged 
in  various  commercial  enterprises  until 
1890,  when  he  returned  to  Ogle  county. 
He  has  since  served  as  pastor  of  the  Meth- 
odist church  at  Forreston  for  three  years, 
but  is  now  living  retired  in  Polo,  where  he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


I  1  r 


has  renewed  old  friendships.  He  has  ever 
taken  a  prominent  part  in  local  politics, 
especially  in  all  that  is  conducive  to  the 
welfare  of  the  city,  and  being  elected  alder- 
man in  1S91,  he  immediately  made  his  in- 
fluence felt,  as  he  had  done  in  other  towns 
where  his  lot  had  been  cast.  He  was  the 
chief  factor  in  securing  the  local  prohibition 
at  Sycamore  while  residing  there,  and  the 
city  council  of  Polo  soon  realized  that  im- 
provements must  be  made  in  the  streets  and 
sidewalks.  The  Doctor  was  instrumental 
in  establishing  the  street  grade  and  park 
system  which  has  made  Polo  one  of  the 
neatest  little  cities  of  its  size  in  the  state. 
He  was  appointed  engineer  and  superin- 
tendent of  public  works,  and  for  a  nominal 
salary  has  given  many  days  of  valuable  time 
to  surveying  and  grading  the  streets,  etc., 
since  1895. 

On  the  2 1st  of  January,  1857,  in  Polo, 
Dr.  More  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Harriet  E.  Frisbee,  also  a  native  of  Ro.x- 
bury,  Delaware  county.  New  York,  and  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  George  and  Maria  (Smith) 
Frisbee.  Her  father,  who  was  also  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  minister,  was  born  in 
Rensselaerville,  New  York,  March  23,  1796, 
and  died  at  Mt.  Morris,  Illinois,  November 
4,  1855.  He  came  west  in  1846  by  way  of 
canal  and  lakes,  having  a  son  who  had 
located  at  Buffalo  Grove  four  years  previ- 
ously. After  spending  one  year  in  Mt. 
Morris,  Rev.  Frisbee  took  up  his  residence 
in  Buffalo  township,  Ogle  county.  His 
first  wife  had  died  in  1853,  and  he  subse- 
quently married  again  and  returned  to  Mt. 
Morris,  where  his  last  days  were  passed. 
The  genealogical  record  of  the  Frisbee  family 
is  as  follows:  Edward  Frisbee,  of  Brad- 
ford, Massachusetts,  had  twins,  Ebenezer 
and  Silence,  who  were   born   at  that  place 


September  5,  1673.  Ebenezer  was  married 
at  Bradford,  April  21,  1703,  to  Hannah 
Page,  and  their  first  born  was  Ebenezer, 
who  was  born  there  April  14,  1704,  and  was 
married  at  the  same  place,  December  24, 
1731,  to  Silence  Brackett.  Triplets  were 
born  to  them,  April  2.S,  1736,  and  one  of 
these,  Benjamin,  married  Margaret  Holley, 
by  whom  he  had  nine  children.  Benjamin 
Frisbee,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  More, 
was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth  in  this  fam- 
ily. He  was  born  in  Sharon,  Connecticut, 
August  17,  1768,  and  died  in  Roxbury, 
New  York,  February  18,  1841.  He  was 
married  about  1790,  to  Ruth  Dolph,  who 
was  born  in  Wethersfield,  Connecticut, 
April  18,  1 77 1,  and  died  in  Roxbury,  New 
York,  May  8,  1835.  Rev.  George  Frisbee, 
Mrs.  More's  father,  was  the  second  child  in 
their  family.  The  first  to  come  to  the  new 
world  was  Bathazar  and  Alice  De  Wolf, 
who  settled  in  the  Connecticut  Valley. 
They  became  the  parents  of  several  chil- 
dren, among  whom  was  Edward,  who  was 
born  in  1642.  To  Edward  De  Wolf  and 
his  wife  Rebecca  was  born  Charles,  1673 
(died  1 731),  who  married  Prudence  White. 
Of  their  nine  children,  Joseph,  the  young- 
est, was  born  in  17  17  and  was  killed  during 
the  French  and  Indian  war,  before  Louis- 
burgh,  in  1757.  In  1737  he  had  married 
Tabitha  Johnson,  and  the  youngest  of  their 
three  children  was  Abda,  who  also  entered 
the  Colonial  army  in  the  French  and  In- 
dian war,  as  did  several  of  his  cousins.  It 
was  at  this  time  that  the  name  was  changed 
by  these  young  men,  who  considered  it  too 
Frenchy,  although  it  had  been  born  by  En- 
glish-speaking people  for  several  genera- 
tions. They  adopted  the  name  of  D'olph 
or  Dolph.  After  his  return  from  the  war, 
Abda  Dolph  went  to  New  Hayen,  Connecti- 


336 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


cut,  where  he  was  married  March  i6,  1766, 
to  Mary  Coleman,  who  was  born  March  4, 
1745,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Ruth 
Coleman.  Their  daughter,  Ruth  Dolph,  was 
born  April  18,  1771,  and  was  married  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1 79 1,  to  Benjamin  Frisbee.  One 
of  the  eight  children  born  of  this  union  was 
Rev.  George  Frisbee,  Mrs.  Mere's  father. 

To  Dr.  More  and  wife  were  born  five 
children,  namely:  Mary  L. ,  who  married 
George  C.  Marsh,  secretary  of  the  Gates 
Iron  Works  and  a  resident  of  Ravenswood, 
Chicago;  George  Frisbee,  an  expert  elec- 
trician, now  located  at  Denver,  Colorado; 
Annie,  who  is  clerk  in  the  Sunday  school 
missionary  society  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  Chicago;  Faith,  who  is  engaged 
in  kindergarten  work  in  the  same  city;  and 
Pauline,  who  is  studying  in  a  kindergarten 
college  in  Chicago,  and  is  also  assisting  in 
the  Riverside  public  schools  in  kindergarten 
work. 

In  political  sentiment  Dr.  More  is  a 
stanch  Prohibitionist  and  has  always  made 
his  influence  for  good  felt  in  every  commu- 
nity in  which  he  has  made  his  home.  He 
is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason  and  belongs  to 
the  blue  lodge  and  chapter  at  Polo  and  the 
commandery  at  Di.xon.  His  circle  of  friends 
is  only  limited  by  his  circle  of  acquaintances, 
and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  man  in  Ogle 
county  is  held  in  higher  respect  or  esteem 
than  Dr.  More. 


REV.  JOHN  J.  McCANN  is  the  effi- 
cient pastor  of  the  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
church,  Oregon,  Illinois.  He  was  born  in 
Providence,  Rhode  Island,  October  25, 
1862,  and  is  the  son  of  George  T.  and  Cath- 
erine (Wynne)  McCann.      His  father  was  a 


native  of  Manchester,  England,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  with  his  parents,  the  fam- 
ily locating  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
where  the  parents  later  died.  Felix  Mc- 
Cann, the  paternal  grandfather,  married 
Mary  Coleman,  whose  father,  Thomas  Cole- 
man, was  a  colonel  in  the  English  army,  and 
who  was  thrown  from  his  horse  and  killed. 
Felix  and  Mary  McCann  were  the  parents 
of  four  children — John,  James,  Susannah 
and  George  T. ,  the  latter  being  the  father 
of  our  subject.  By  trade  George  T.  McCann 
was  a  weaver,  and  a  good  one.  He  first 
came  west  on  a  prospecting  tour,  and  for  a 
time  resided  in  Chicago,  from  which  place 
he  went  to  Aurora.  In  Aurora  he  first 
found  employment  in  the  woolen  mills  of 
Mr.  Stolp,  a  factory  that  did  a  large  and 
profitable  business  during  the  Civil  war  and 
for  some  years  after.  He  had  to  abandon 
that  business,  however,  on  account  of  his 
health.  This  was,  however,  shortly  before 
the  war.  He  took  his  family  east  again, 
and  resided  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 
During  the  latter  part  of  the  Civil  war  he 
enlisted,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service 
as  a  member  of  the  First  Rhode  Island 
Light  Artillery,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  struggle.  His  brother  James  was 
all  through  the  Rebellion,  serving  in  a  com- 
pany of  heavy  artillery  from  Rhode  Island. 
He  came  west  again  in  July,  1866,  and  lo- 
cated in  Aurora,  Illinois,  where  he  yet  re- 
sides, being  foreman  in  one  of  the  depart- 
ments of  the  Aurora  Silver  Plate  Factory. 
Mrs.  Catherine  McCann  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  her  parents  dying  in  that  country 
when  she  was  a  small  child.  She  was  the 
youngest  of  the  family.  To  George  T.  and 
Catherine  McCann  nine  children  were  born, 
five  of  whom  are  yet  living — John  J.,  our 
subject;  Agnes,  living  with  our  subject;  An- 


REV.  JOHN  J.   McCANN. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


339 


drew    and    George    C,    now    residing    in 
Chicago. 

Father  McCann  was  but  four  years  old 
when  the  family  moved  the  second  time  to 
Aurora,  Illinois.  After  attending  the  pub- 
lic school  and  being  one  year  in  the  high 
school  in  that  city,  he  entered  St.  Viateur's 
College,  Bourbonnais,  Illinois,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1877,  where  he  remained  five  years  in 
the  study  of  the  classics  and  philosophy. 
Leaving  college,  he  studied  theology  and 
kindred  sciences  in  St.  Mary's  Seminary, 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  finishing  the  regular 
course  of  clerical  studies  January  6,  188S, 
at  which  time  he  received  ordination  at  the 
hands  of  Cardinal  Gibbons.  His  first  min- 
istry was  as  assistant  pastor  of  St.  James 
church,  Chicago,  where  he  remained  four 
years,  and  was  then  at  St.  Phillips  church, 
Chicago,  for  six  months.  Leaving  Chicago, 
for  a  year  and  a  half  he  was  at  St.  Mary's 
church,  Joliet,  and  for  one  year  at  St. 
Michael's  church.  Galena.  He  was  then 
appointed  pastor  of  the  mission  of  Oregon, 
Polo  and  Forreston,  by  Archbishop  Feehan. 
This  was  in  November,  1S94.  Since  then 
he  has  annexed  to  his  charge  the  Catholic 
missions  at  Byron  and  Ashton.  He  organ- 
ized the  first  Catholic  congregation  and 
built  the  first  Catholic  church  at  Byron,  in 
1895.  The  mission  at  Oregon  was  organ- 
ized in  1850,  by  Rev.  John  Quigley,  C.  M., 
of  LaSalle,  who  with  other  priests  celebrat- 
ed mass  in  private  houses,  and  in  the  court 
house  until  1862,  when  they  erected  a  small 
stone  church  in  which  services  were  held 
until  the  present  fine  church  building  was 
erected  in  1891  by  the  Rev.  D.  B.  Toomey. 
It  is  a  large  brick  structure,  with  a  seating 
capacity  of  five  hundred,  and  will  cost  when 
completed  twenty  thousand  dollars.  The 
Oregon  mission  has  about  seventy  families, 


that  at  Polo  about  sixty-five  families,  about 
forty  families  in  Ashton,  and  about  sixty 
families  in  Byron.  They  have  services  in 
each  of  these  places  once  every  two  weeks. 
All  the  congregations  are  in  a  flourishing 
condition,  and  that  at  Polo  have  in  contem- 
plation the  erection  of  a  church  building. 
Father  McCann  is  a  zealous  pastor  and  a 
hard  worker  in  the  interests  of  his  people 
and  Christianity.  He  is  a  man  of  marked 
ability  and  popular  with  all  classes,  with 
many  friends  and  well-wishers  throughout 
Ogle  and  adjoining  counties. 


JOHN  R.  NETTZ  is  numbered  ainong 
the  thriving  farmers  of  Grand  Detour 
township,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
fine  land.  He  is  a  native  of  Ogle  county, 
and  was  born  in  Pine  Creek  township, 
October  26,  1853.  His  parents,  Henry  and 
Margaret  (Smice)  Nettz,  are  natives  of 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  his  father 
being  born  in  1S16.  By  trade  he  was  a 
carpenter,  an  occupation  he  followed  until 
coming  to  Ogle  county  in  1S51.  On  his 
arrival  here,  he  located  in  Pine  Creek 
township,  where  he  purchased  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  ct)nnection  with  his 
trade.  When  his  sons  became  old  enough 
he  relinquished  into  their  hands  the  manage- 
ment of  the  farm,  and  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  religiously  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  being  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  church  in  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship. In  his  family  were  six  children,  five 
of  whom  are  yet  living.  Thomas  F.  died 
in  his  twenty-first  year.  Otho  J.  is  a  farmer 
of  Cass  county,  Iowa.  Edward  A.  is  living 
on  the  old  home  farm  in  Pine  Creek  town- 


340 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


ship.  John  R.  is  next  in  order  of  birth. 
Daniel  B.  and  Samuel  B.  are  twins.  They 
reside  in  Monroe,  Wisconsin. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  home  farm  in  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship, and  was  educated  in  the  common 
school.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and 
until  he  attained  his  majority  gave  his  time 
faithfully  to  his  father.  On  arriving  at 
man's  estate,  he  worked  on  farms  for  wages 
for  several  years.  On  the  5th  of  August, 
1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Marthe  Wragg,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Nancy  (Thompson)  Wragg,  of  whom  further 
memtion  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  John  B. 
Wragg,  on  another  page  of  this  work.  By 
this  union  two  children  have  been  born,  a 
son  and  daughter,  George  M.,  and  Cora  M. 
both  of  whom  are  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Nettz  cultivated 
a  rented  farm  in  Woosung  township  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  rented  what  is  known 
as  the  Hershey  farm  in  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship, where  he  remained  ten  years.  In 
1S93  he  purchased  his  present  farm,  which 
is  located  on  sections  5  and  14,  Grand 
Detour  township.  During  the  same  year 
he  erected  a  line  barn  and  remodeled  the 
dwelling  house,  sine  which  time  he  has  made 
other  permanent  and  valuable  improve- 
ments. 

For  the  past  si.\  years  Mr.  Nettz  has 
served  as  school  director  of  his  district,  and 
in  September,  1897,  was  elected  road  com- 
missioner, which  office  he  is  at  present  fill- 
ing. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  his 
first  presidential  vote  having  been  cast  for 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  in  1876.  He  is  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Pine  Creek  Christian 
church,  of  which  body  his  wife  is  also  a 
member.  His  success  in  life  is  largely  due 
to  his  own  industry,  integrity  and  business 


ability.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  held  in 
high  esteem,  and  they  have  many  rfiends 
in  Ogle  county,  especially  in  Pine  Creek, 
Woosung  and  Grand  Detour  townships, 
where  their  entire  lives  have  been  spent. 


WILLIAM  WATTS,  deceased,  who 
resided  on  section  23,  Pine  Creek 
township,  belonged  to  that  sturdy  class  of 
pioneers  who  left  comfortable  homes  in  the 
south  and  east  and  braved  the  hardships  of 
frontier  life  and  succeeded  in  transforming  a 
wild  country  into  one  of  the  most  produc- 
tive countries  in  the  known  world.  He  was 
a  native  of  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
born  January  29,  18 18,  and  is  the  son  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  (Knudson)  Watts,  the 
forn^.er  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  the 
latter  born  in  Washington  county,  Maryland. 
In  his  youth  Thomas  Watts  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  but  later  engaged  in 
farming,  an  occupation  in  which  he  con- 
tinued throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  never  came  west,  and  he  and  his  wife 
both  lived  in  Maryland.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  named  children — 
John,  Nancy,  Rachel,  Sarah,  Joseph,  Eliza- 
beth, Thomas,  William,  Frisby  and  Abra- 
ham. 

In  his  native  county  \\'illiam  Watts  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  in  the  district 
schools,  attending  the  same  as  the  opportu- 
nity was  afforded  him  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  old,  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
carpenter's  trade.  After  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  three  years  he  worked  as  a 
journeyman  in  his  native  state  until  1840, 
when,  in  company  with  George  Swingley, 
Walter  1].  McCoy  and  John  B.  Ghana,  he 
left  Hagerstown  on  horseback  and  started 
west,  traveling  through  Pennsylvania,  Ohio 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


341 


and  Indiana,  taking  about  a  month  in  mak- 
ing the  trip  to  Ogle  county.  They  went 
first  through  the  southern  part  of  IlHnois, 
passing  through  Springfield,  the  state  capi- 
tal, which  was  then  but  a  small  village,  ar- 
riving in  due  time  at  Mount  Morris. 

On  his  arrival  here,  Mr.  Watts  com- 
menced to  work  at  his  trade,  assisting  in 
the  erection  of  the  first  dwelling  house  in 
the  place.  After  completing  the  frame  of 
the  dwelling  house,  he  went  to  work  on  the 
old  seminary  building,  which  was  then  in 
course  of  construction,  and  continued  on 
that  work  until  it  was  completed  in  the 
spring  of  1S42.  He  then  purchased  the 
claim  of  Major  Hitt  to  a  half  section  of  land 
for  which  he  paid  five  dollars  per  acre.  The 
major  who  is  the  uncle  of  the  present  con- 
gressman is  yet  living  in  Ottawa,  Illinois,  at 
the  age  of  ninety  years.  Although  purchas- 
ing the  land,  Mr.  Watts  did  not  at  once 
commence  farming,  but  continued  to  work 
at  his  trade  until  1850.  At  that  time  the 
land  was  still  in  its  primitive  condition,  al- 
though about  fifty   acres  had   been  broken. 

On  the  29th  of  October,  1849,  Mr. 
Watts  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
AnnaAnkeny,  a  native  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  born  January  22,  1S32,  and 
the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  An- 
keny,  also  natives  of  the  same  county  and 
state,  who  came  to  Ogle  county  in  1837, 
locating  in  Mount  Morris  township.  By  this 
union  there  were  born  eleven  children,  one 
of  whom  died  in  early  childhood.  Thomas 
married  Martha  Avey  and  they  have  two 
children.  They  reside  in  Buffalo  township 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming.  Albert 
married  Miss  Vickey  Weller.  He  is  a  farmer 
of  Mount  Morris  township.  William  mar- 
ried Ella  McNett,  and  they  have  one  child. 
He  is  a  farmer  of    Mount  Morris  township. 


Ella  married  Albert  Fahrney,  and  they  have 
three  children.  He  is  a  farmer  of  Buffalo 
township.  James  is  living  with  his  father 
and  running  the  home  place.  John  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one.  Mary  and  Martha, 
twins,  are  living  at  home.  Frisby  married 
Ella  Felker.  He  is  a  farmer  of  Pine  Creek 
township.  Oliver  married  Ada  Mumma, 
and  he  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
at  Mount  Morris. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Watts,  with  his  young  bride,  started  for 
their  old  home  in  Maryland,  making  their 
bridal  tour  with  a  horse  and  buggy.  After 
spending  the  winter  visiting  relatives  and 
friends,  they  returned  to  Ogle  county  in  the 
spring  of  1850  and  settled  upon  the  farm 
that  Mr.  Watts  had  purchased  several  years 
previous,  and  at  once  began  the  battle  of 
life.  For  forty-nine  years  they  traveled 
life's  journey  together,  and  she  was  to  him 
a  helpmeet  indeed,  seconding  him  in  all  his 
efforts  for  success  in  this  world.  She  was 
withal  a  loving  mother  and  her  memory  is 
held  in  grateful  remembrance.  The  sum- 
mons came  to  her  suddenly  in  February, 
1898,  her  death  being  attributed  to  heart 
failure.  Mr.  Watts  survived  his  wife  about 
one  year,  when  he,  too,  was  called    to  rest. 

When  Mr.  Watts  came  to  Ogle  county 
there  were  but  a  few  log  houses  in  the  town 
of  Oregon,  and  the  whole  country  was 
almost  in  its  natural  state.  Wild  game 
was  yet  in  abundance,  and  continued  plen- 
tiful for  several  years.  He  was  blessed  in 
many  ways,  and  by  his  own  industry  and 
wise  management  the  original  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  were  added  to  until 
he  became  the  owner  of  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred acres  of  as  fine  and  productive  land  as 
there  is  in  Ogle  county.  In  addition  to  the 
cultivation    of  his    farm,    in   times    past   he 


34; 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


gave  considerable  attentiorrto  raising  thor- 
oughbred horses. 

Although  more  than  four  score  years 
have  passed  since  Mr.  Watts  was  born  into 
this  world,  he  was  hale  and  hearty,  with 
strength  of  mind  and  body  well  preserved 
until  the  last.  The  years  that  have  come 
and  gone  since  he  was  born  have  been 
eventful  ones.  His  birth  was  cotemporane- 
ous  with  that  of  the  great  state  of  Illinois, 
which  at  that  time  had  but  few  more  inhab- 
itants than  has  Ogle  county  at  the  present 
time.  A  long  and  bloody  civil  war  was 
fought,  four  millions  of  slaves  were  made 
free,  and  in  the  lapse  of  time  the  bonds 
that  held  the  union  together  have  been 
strengthened,  and  there  is  no  longer  the 
sectional  feeling  that  divided  the  country, 
but  we  are  truly  one  people.  In  what  is 
now  the  northern  part  of  Illinois,  there  was 
not  a  white  man  living  at  the  time  of  his 
birth.  Railroads,  steamboats,  telegraphs, 
telephones  and  the  many  useful  labor-sav- 
ing agricultural  inventions  were  unknown. 
It  has  certainly  been  a  grand  age  in  which 
to  live,  and  in  the  progress  and  develop- 
ment of  the  country  Mr.  Watts  bore  his 
part.  Reared  a  Democrat,  he  always  voted 
that  party  ticket,  but  never  aspired  to  office- 
holding,  believing  he  could  do  more  good 
by  attending  strictly  to  his  personal  affairs. 


SE.  BROWN,  who  has  been  actively 
engaged  in  business  in  Eorreston  for 
many  years,  is  one  of  the  honored  sons  of 
that  place,  and  his  life  is  a  verification  of 
the  fact  that  the  inevitable  law  of  destiny 
accords  to  a  tireless  energy,  industry  and 
ability  a  successful  career.  Prominent  in 
business  circles  of  Forreston  stands  Mr. 
Brown,  who   conducts   a  restaurant,  bakery 


and  confectionary  at  that  place.  He  was 
born  August  ii,  1844,  in  Schuylkill  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  at  the  early  age  of  two 
years  was  left  motherless.  Upon  reaching 
his  fourteenth  year  he  was  apprenticed  to 
the  shoemaking  trade,  at  which  he  worked 
until  1S64,  when,  on  the  1 3th  of  September, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Two  Hundred 
and  Tenth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  State 
Volunteers.  Shortly  after  entering  the 
service  he  was  taken  ill  and  sent  to  the  regi- 
mental hospital,  but  owing  to  the  lingering 
condition  of  his  disease  he  was  transferred 
to  the  McDougal  general  hospital,  from 
whence  he  was  discharged,  and  also  mus- 
tered out  of  service,  receiving  his  discharge 
papers  May  31,  1865.  In  1865  he  returned 
to  Dauphin  county,  and  worked  in  the 
coal  mines  from  the  spring  of  that  year 
until  fall,  when  he  again  took  up  his  trade 
of  shoemaking,  which  he  pursued  through- 
out the  winter  of  1865-66. 

On  the  sixth  of  April,  1S66,  Mr.  Brown 
came  to  Illiuois  to  join  his  brother  who  had 
preceded  him,  and  settled  at  Lanark,  Car- 
roll county.  Upon  joining  him,  he  worked 
as  a  farm  laborer  until  1867,  when  he  was 
employed  by  Jonas  Beck,  for  whom  he 
worked  the  following  eight  months.  On 
the  24th  of  November,  1867,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Nancy  Beyers,  a  daugh- 
ter of  J.  G.  Beyers,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Ogle 
county,  and  at  that  time  a  prosperous  farm- 
er of  Brookville  township.  Two  children 
have  blessed  this  marriage,  namely:  Agnes, 
living  at  home;  and  John  William,  express 
agent  at  Forreston  for  the  American  Ex- 
press Company.  In  the  fall  of  1868  Mr. 
Brown  rented  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Brookville  township,  which  he  subsequently 
increased  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
and  which  he  worked   until    1S94.      On  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


343 


eighth  ol  January  he  removed  to  Forreston 
and  went  into  business  in  the  location  which 
he  now  owns  and  occupies.  Mr.  Brown  is 
one  of  a  family  of  six  children.  George,  the 
eldest,  is  deceased.  J.  P.  is  a  prosperous 
farmer  in  Otter  Creek,  Carroll  county,  Illi- 
nois. David  is  a  farmer  in  Dauphin  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  E.  O. 
Ready,  of  Kewanee  Illinois.  Susanna  is 
deceased.  The  sixth  child  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

Mr.  Brown  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  cast  his  first  ballot  for  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 
He  is  a  self-made  man,  and  his  valuable 
farm  lands  in  Iowa,  and  the  business  prop- 
erty in  Forreston  are  the  results  of  his  en- 
ergy and  good  managment,  ably  assisted  by 
his  wife,  who  seconds  his  efforts  by  her  con- 
stant zeal  and  activity.  He  is  among  the 
most  progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens 
of  Forreston,  and  gives  his  support  and  co- 
operation to  measures  tending  toward  its 
growth  and  development. 


HOWARD  A.  MORRIS.— America  owes 
much  of  her  progress  and  advance- 
ment to  a  position  foremost  among  nations 
of  the  world  to  her  newspapers,  and  no  line 
has  the  incidental  broadening  out  of  the 
sphere  of  usefulness  more  than  this  line  of 
journalism.  Ogle  county  has  enlisted  in  its 
newspaper  fields  some  of  its  strongest  intel- 
lects—  men  of  broad  mental  grasp,  cosmo- 
politan ideas  and  notable  business  sagacity. 
Prominent  among  these  is  Howard  A.  Mor- 
ris, of  Rochelle,  the  successful  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Herald.  He  comes  of  a 
good  old  Connecticut  family  who  have  lived 
for  generations  in  the  town  of  Danbury, 
and  whose  ancestry  dates  back  to  the  land- 
ing   of   the    Mayflower.      His    great-grand- 

37 


father  was  Bethel  Morris.  His  grand- 
parents were  Samuel  Morris,  who  died 
in  Danbury  in  1864,  and  Phoebe  (Starr) 
Morris,  who  died  in  1871  at  the  residence  of 
her  son  in  Chicago.  His  maternal  grand- 
parents were  Oliver  and  Polly  (Benedict) 
Vail.  The  former  went  to  Connecticut 
when  a  boy,  and  by  his  frugality  and  in- 
dustry he  acquired  a  small  farm,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  while  on 
a  visit  to  his  brother  in  Syracuse,  New 
York,  he  was  the  the  owner  of  large  and 
valuable  tracts  of  land  near  Adrian,  Mich- 
igan. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Granville 
White  Morris,  who  was  born  in  Danbury, 
Connecticut,  on  the  17th  of  November, 
1822.  He  attended  the  district  school  from 
the  age  of  four  years  until  reachinghistwelfth 
year,  and  from  that  time  until  his  sixteenth 
year  he  was  employed  in  his  father's  woolen 
mills  during  the  summer,  attending  an 
academy  in  the  winter  seasons.  The  four 
years  following  he  worked  in  the  mills  of 
Dick  &  Sanford  at  Sandy  Hook,  and  in  1 842 
purchased  from  his  father  the  woolen  mills 
aforementioned.  These  he  ran  until  184S, 
when  he  accepted  the  office  of  sheriff  and 
served  until  1862,  under  Philo  T.  Barnum, 
a  brother  of  the  famous  showman  of  that 
name,  and  at  the  same  time  kept  the  coun- 
ty house  and  jail. 

In  1862  he  opened  the  Turner  House  in 
Danbury,  which  he  ran  for  a  year,  and  in 
1S63  came  west  to  Rockford,  returning  the 
following  year  for  his  family,  which  he  took 
to  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1865  to 
Rockford,  where  they  remained  for  ten 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  they 
moved  to  Chicago  where  Mr.  Morris  was 
employed  as  general  agent  by  an  insurance 
company,    traveling  over   a   territory  com- 


344 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


prising  Illinois,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Minnesota, 
Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Indiana  and  Missouri. 
In  1876  Mr.  Morris  visited  Washington,  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  and  the  following  spring 
went  south  intending  to  locate  in  Georgia, 
but  was  taken  ill  and  returned  home,  locat- 
ing in  Creston,  Illinois,  and  a  few  months 
later  removed  to  Malta,  Illinois,  where  he 
established  the  Malta  Mail  and  the  Creston 
Times.  In  1881  he  sold  the  former  and 
combined  the  latter  with  the  Rochelle  Her- 
ald, of  which  he  was  editor  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  March,  1893. 

Our  subject,  Howard  A.  Morris,  was 
born  on  the  8th  of  December,  1851,  in  Dan- 
bury,  Connecticut,  and  came  west  with  his 
parents  in  1864.  He  received  his  schooling 
in  the  common  schools  of  Rockford,  attend- 
ing later  the  Rockford  Business  College, 
where  he  remained  eighteen  months.  In 
1876  he  was  employed  as  a  traveling  sales- 
man by  an  insurance  firm  in  Wheeling,  West 
Virginia,  and  the  two  years  following,  for  a 
Detroit  firm.  The  fourth  year  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  Chicago  Baking  Com- 
pany, and  spent  most  of  his  time  between 
Chicago  and  Omaha,  Nebraska.  In  1880 
he  joined  his  parents  in  Malta,  remaining 
until  the  following  year  when, in  connection 
with  his  father,  established  the  Rochelle 
Herald,  of  which  his  father  was  editor  until 
his  death  in  1883.  Since  that  time  he  has 
been  editor  and  sole  proprietor.  On  the 
9th  of  September,  1880,  Mr.  Morris  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Julia  Pease,  a 
daughter  of  Dan  Pease,  who  was  born  in 
Middlefield,  Massachusetts,  and  his  wife 
Rachel  (Burzell)  Pease,  a  native  ofBuffalo, 
New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  Owen  and 
Mary  Burzell.  Four  children  have  graced 
this  marriage,  namely:  Mary  Josephine, 
Jennie  M.,  Howard  A.,  Jr.,  and   Helen  M., 


Howard  A.  having  died  at  the  age  of  five 
year.  Mr.  Morris  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge  and  Chapter  of  Rochelle,  and 
Sycamore  Commandary,  K.  T.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican,  always  giving  his  sup- 
port and  ballot  to  that  party.  He  is  an 
honorable  and  straightforward  man  of  busi- 
ness, and  by  this  and  his  courteous  and 
affable  manner,  commands  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


SAMUEL  P.  MUMMA,  the  well-known 
stock  dealer  of  Mt.  Morris,  is  a  native 
of  Ogle  county,  born  in  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship, October  i,  1844,  and  is  the  son  of 
Daniel  S.  and  Naomi  (Malone)  Munima, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  the  former  born  June  17, 
18  18,  and  the  latter  September  29,  1820. 

Daniel  S.  Mumma  was  reared  in  his 
native  state  and  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  eight- 
een he  came  west,  making  the  journey  on 
horseback,  in  company  with  his  brother. 
They  were  so  favorably  impressed  with  the 
country  that  they  returned  east,  disposed  of 
their  property,  and  in  1837  came  to  Ogle 
county  for  permanent  settlement,  thus  be- 
coming pioneers  of  the  county.  On  his 
arrival  he  made  claim  to  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  of  land  in  Pine  Creek  township, 
on  which  he  resided  for  about  eight  years, 
when  he  disposed  of  the  same  and  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres,  on  which  he  lived  for  some  sixteen 
years.  He  then  rented  the  place  to  his  son 
and  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Pine  Creek 
township,  on  which  he  lived  about  fourteen 
years,  when  he  moved  to  Mt.  Morris  and 
lived  retired  until  his  death.  Daniel  S. 
Mumma    was    the   son    of    John   and  Mary 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


345 


(Shafer)  Mumma,  both  of  whom  were  also 
natives  of  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
and  who  there  spent  their  entire  lives,  living 
to  a  good  old  age.  They  were  the  parents 
of  six  children. 

After  residing  here  about  three  years,  Mr. 
Mumma  returned  to  Maryland  and  wedded 
Naomi  Malone,  daughter  of  James  and 
Susanna  (Albert)  Malone,  also  natives  of 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  and  who 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children — Elias, 
Maria,  James,  Mary,  Naomi,  Susan,  Jane, 
Ruan,  Lizzie.  In  his  native  state,  James 
Malone  passed  to  his  reward,  and  later  his 
widow  came  to  Ogle  county,  where  her  last 
days  were  spent. 

To  Daniel  S.  and  Naomi  Mumma  ten 
children  were  born.  James  L. ,  born  April 
15,  1 841,  married  Sophia  Etnyre,  and  they 
reside  in  the  village  of  Mt.  Morris;  six  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  of  whom 
three  are  now  living.  Mary  A. ,  born  August 
7,  1842,  married  William  Griswold,  by  whom 
she  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  are 
deceased;  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griswold  are 
deceased,  the  latter  dying  January  19,  1890, 
and  the  former  October  23,  of  the  same 
year.  Samuel  P.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Margaret,  born  August  26,  1S46, 
married  A.  N.  Ankney,  and  they  have  one 
child;  he  is  living  retired  in  Mt.  Morris. 
Amanda  died  in  infancy.  Benjamin  F., 
born  August  1 1 ,  1 849,  married  Laura  Shafer, 
and  they  have  one  child;  he  died  July  5, 
1888,  the  result  of  an  accident;  she  later 
married  Frank  Stonebraker,  and  they  now 
reside  in  Hagerstown,  Maryland.  Henry 
C. ,  born  September  9,  1851,  married 
Amanda  Young,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren; they  reside  on  the  home  place  in  Pine 
Creek  township,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
farming.      Estella  F. ,    born   February   26, 


1853,  married  Joseph  Middlekoff,  and  they 
have  three  children;  he  is  a  farmer,  and 
they  reside  in  Pine  Creek  township.  Ella, 
born  February  28,  1855,  is  living  with  her 
mother  in  Mt.  Morris.  Elizabeth  S.,  born 
August  15,  i860,  married  Harvey  Griswold, 
and  they  have  two  children;  he  is  a  farmer 
in  Rockvale  township. 

Daniel  S.  Mumma  died  at  his  home  in 
Mt.  Morris,  September  10,  1888.  His 
death  was  calm  and  peaceful,  drooping  away 
like  a  summer  flower  in  autumn.  His  widow 
yet  survives,  and  is  living  a  peaceful  and 
contented  life,  and  waiting  for  the  summons 
to  "come  up  higher." 

After  passing  through  the  grammar  school 
of  Pine  Creek  township,  Samuel  P.  Mumma 
entered  Rock  River  Seminary,  finishing  his 
school  life  in  that  institution.  After  leav- 
ing the  Seminary,  he  returned  to  his  father's 
farm  and  there  remained  seven  years,  assist- 
ing in  farm  labor.  He  then  went  to  Mt. 
Morris  and  opened  the  first  meat  market  in 
the  place,  and  continued  in  that  line  of  bus- 
iness for  nine  years,  in  the  meantime  en- 
gaged to  some  extent  in  dealing  in  stock. 
Closing  out  his  meat  market,  he  went  into 
the  grain  and  stock  business,  in  which  he 
continued  for  four  years.  Desirous  of  giv- 
ing his  attention  exclusively  to  the  stock 
business,  he  disposed  of  his  grain  interests, 
since  which  time  his  whole  time  and  atten- 
tion has  been  given  to  the  purchase  and 
sale  of  stock. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1870,  Mr. 
Mumma  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Louisa  Swingley,  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  born  February  11,  1844, 
and  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Catherine 
(Hershey)  Swingley,  both  of  whom  were 
also  natives  of  the  same  county  and  state. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children — 


346 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Ellen,  John,  Oliver,  Louise,  Ann,  Laura, 
Alice  and  Grace.  The  latter  is  now  de- 
ceased. Benjamin  Swingley  came  to  Ogle 
county  in  1845  and  located  in  Mt.  Morris 
township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  at 
which  he  continued  until  1891,  when  he 
moved  to  the  village  of  Mt.  Morris,  where 
he  is  now  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years.  His  wife  died  June  21,  1893,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mumma  five  children 
have  been  born:  Willis,  born  December 
22,  1870,  married  Annie  Rice,  and  they  are 
living  in  Mt.  Morris.  Ada,  born  October 
9,  1873,  married  Oliver  Watts,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  in  Mt. 
Morris.  Edgar,  born  September  24,  1876, 
is  assisting  his  father  in  the  business,  doing 
much  of  the  buying.  Grace,  born  April  8, 
1880,  is  living  at  home.  Olie,  born  No- 
vember 23,   1884,  died  September  17,   1886. 

In  politics  Mr.  Mumma  is  a  Democrat, 
a  party  with  which  he  has  been  identified 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Horatio  Seymour,  in  186S.  He  has  served 
his  township  and  village  as  school  director 
for  a  number  of  years,  constable  for  a  few 
years,  member  of  the  village  board,  and 
clerk  of  the  same.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe,  and 
religiously  is  a  Lutheran,  as  is  also  his  wife, 
holding  membership  in  the  church  at  Mt. 
Morris. 

It  is  as  a  business  man  and  stock  dealer 
that  Mr.  Mumma  is  best  known,  handling 
about  eighty  car  loads  per  year,  and  doing 
a  business  amounting  to  fully  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  per  year.  He  is  a  good 
judge  of  stock  and  is  always  willing  to  live 
and  let  live.  The  farmers  of  the  commu- 
nity know  that  they  can  trust  him,  and  for 
that  reason  he  handles  such  a  large  amount 


of  stock  per  year.  His  reputation  as  a  fair 
dealer  is  beyond  question.  As  a  citizen,  he 
is  fully  abreast  of  the  times,  and  is  always 
willing  to  practice  what  he  preaches,  doing 
his  share  in  the  development  of  his  village 
and  county. 


GARDNER  S.  PRESTON.— Prominent 
amongthe  early  settlersof  Ogle  county, 
who  have  witnessed  the  marvelous  develop- 
ment of  this  section  of  the  state  during  the 
past  half  century,  and  who  have,  by  honest 
toil  and  industry,  succeeded  in  acquiring  a 
competence,  are  now  able  to  spend  the  sun- 
set of  life  in  quiet  and  retirement,  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
and  who  is  a  resident  of  the  pleasant  village 
of  Stillman  Valley. 

Mr.  Preston  was  born  in  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  |une  11,  1828,  and  is  descended 
from  a  familyof  English  origin,  which  was 
founded  in  New  England  at  an  early  day  in 
the  history  of  this  country.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Noah  Preston,  was  one  of  the 
heroes  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  was 
wounded  while  fighting  for  liberty.  He 
was  an  early  settler  of  Connecticut,  and  in 
1806  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  where  he  reared  his 
family. 

Lyman  Preston,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  1800,  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  Oneida  county.  New  York, 
where  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hannah  Gillett,  a  native  of  Herkimer  coun- 
ty, that  state.  Her  father.  Rev.  Truman 
Gillett,  was  a  minister  of  the  Free  Will 
Baptist  church  and  a  missionary  to  Canada 
among  the  Moravians.  Lyman  Preston  en- 
gaged   in    agricultural    pursuits    in    Oneida 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


347 


county  until  1S50,  when  he  brought  his 
family  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  here 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  about 
1S53.  His  estimable  wife  long  survived 
him,  passing  away  in  the  spring  of  1898, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years  In 
their  family  were  the  following  children: 
Mrs.  Fanny  Lawson,  now  a  resident  of  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin;  Gardner  S.,  of  this  re- 
view; Lyman,  a  business  man  of  Provi- 
dence, Rhode  Island;  Mrs.  Helen  Lewis,  of 
Stillman  Valley;  and  Juliette,  who  married 
Colonel  York  and  at  an  early  day  removed 
to  Kansas,  where  her  death  occurred. 

Gardner  S.  Preston  is  wholly  self-edu- 
cated, as  his  school  advantages  in  early  life 
were  limited.  He  was  reared  upon  the 
home  farm  in  Oneida  county.  New  York, 
remaining  with  his  father  until  he_  attained 
his  majority,  and  in  the  fall  of  1849  he 
came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where  his 
father  had  traded  for  property  some  time 
previous.  He  located  on  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Ma- 
rion township,  fenced  it  and  commenced 
the  work  of  cultivation  and  improvement. 
He  built  a  stone  or  gravel  house  in  which 
he  lived  for  over  twenty  years  while  open- 
ing up  his  farm,  but  it  was  finally  replaced 
by  a  more  commodious  and  modern  frame 
residence.  He  also  built  good  barns  and 
outbuildings,  set  out  fruit  and  ornamental 
trees,  and  continued  to  improve  his  place 
until  he  had  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
township.  He  added  to  the  original  pur- 
chase until  he  now  has  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  has 
been  acquired 'through  his  own  industry  and 
good  management  as  he  came  to  this  region 
almost  empty-handed. 

Mr.  Preston  has  been  twice  married,  and 
by  the  first  wife  had    four  children  who  are 


still  living,  namely:  Curtis,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  engaged  in  farming  in  Monroe 
ownship.  Ogle  county;Carrie,wife  of  George 
Bird,  of  Marion  township;  Frank,  who 
went  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and  since  1893 
has  been  engaged  in  the  vegetable  busi- 
ness in  California;  and  J.  W.,  who  is  now 
a  farmer  of  Cass  county,  Iowa.  On  the 
2Sth  of  June,  1872,  Mr.  Preston  was 
married  in  Ogle  county  to  Miss  Lillie  Trax- 
lar,  a  native  of  the  county,  and  a  daughter 
of  Peter  Traxlar,  who  came  to  this  section 
from  Canada  during  the  'forties.  There  are 
two  children  by  this  marriage:  Lyman,  like 
his  brothers,  is  married  and  lives  on  the  old 
home  farm;  and  Maude  is  her  father's  house- 
keeper. This  is  her  last  year  at  the  Rock- 
ford  F"emale  College,  where  she  has  been 
giving  special  attention  to  music.  Mrs. 
Preston,  who  was  a  most  estimable  lady, 
passed  away  in  February,  1895,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  the  Stillman  Valley  cemetery. 
She  was  a  sincere  and  consistent  Christian, 
an  active  member  of  the  Congregational 
church,  and  much  esteemed  and  beloved  for 
her  many  Christian  virtues. 

Mr.  Preston  has  also  been  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Congregational  church  of 
Stillman  \'alley  for  nearly  forty  years.  He 
is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  but  has 
never  cared  for  the  honors  or  emoluments 
of  public  office,  though  he  has  most  credita- 
bly served  as  highway  commissioner  for 
twenty  years,  was  treasurer  of  the  board, 
and  for  several  years  was  an  efficient  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education.  His  sup- 
port is  never  withheld  from  any  object 
which  he  believes  will  prove  of  public  ben- 
efit, and  he  is  justly  numbered  among  the 
valued  and  useful  citizens  of  the  community. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1895,  he  re- 
moved to  Stillman  Valley,  where  he    is  sur- 


548 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


rounded  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances who  appreciate  his  sterling 
worth. 


GEORGE  W.  HAMMER,  residing  on 
section  36,  Lincoln  township,  is  num- 
bered among  the  active  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  Ogle  county.  His  home  farm 
comprises  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres, 
and  is  a  well  improved  place,  while  his  farm 
of  seventy-four  acres  in  Buffalo  township  is 
also  well  improved.  He  is  a  native  of  Ogle 
county,  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides, September  7,  1845,  and  is  the  son  of 
John  and  Eliza  (Witmer)  Hammer,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  the  former  born  in  1806,  and  the 
latter  in  18 13.  They  were  married  in  their 
native  county,  and  in  1838  moved  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Springfield,  and  there  re- 
sided until  1S42.  John  Hammer  was  a 
harness  maker  by  trade,  and  was  working 
at  his  trade  while  residing  in  Springfield. 
Leaving  that  city,  he  came  to  Ogle  county 
and  settled  in  Mount  Morris  where  he  con- 
tinued to  work  at  his  trade  for  about  three 
years.  During  that  time  he  entered  eighty 
acres  of  land,  which  was  a  portion  of  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1845,  he  removed  to  the  tract  that 
he  had  purchased,  erected  a  small  frame 
house,  and  there  resided  while  otherwise 
improving  the  place.  He  later  purchased 
more  land  and  had  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres.  On  his  farm  he  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  brick,  which  he  contin- 
ued three  seasons,  during  which  time  he 
made  the  brick  that  went  into  his  own  brick 
residence  that  he  had  built.  On  that  farm 
he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death  in 
January,  1879,  at   the  age  of  seventy-three 


years.  His  wife  survives  him  and  now  re- 
sides in  Mount  Morris  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living  and  have 
families  of  their  own.  Benjamin  resides  in 
Polo.  John  W.  is  living  in  Dixon,  Illinois. 
D.  Harry  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Chicago. 
Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Malachi  Newcomer, 
a  substantial  farmer  of  Ogle  county.  George 
W.  IS  the  subject  of  this  review.  Ida  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  Baker,  a  farmer  of  Pine 
Creek  township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  which  he 
helped  to  improve.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  district  school,  but  the  oppor- 
tunities that  were  given  him  were  well 
improved,  and  he  is  to-day  a  well-informed 
man.  He  continued  to  remain  at  home 
until  his  father's  death,  when  he  bought  the 
interest  of  the  other  heirs  and  succeeded  to 
the  home  place.  Since  coming  into  pos- 
session he  has  made  a  number  of  valuable 
improvements  upon  the  place,  including 
the  erection  of  a  large  basement  barn, 
together  with  cribs,  sheds  and  various  out- 
buildings. Everything  about  the  place 
shows  the  effect  of  a  master  mind,  one  that 
fully  understands  what  he  desires  and  puts 
into  execution  his  plans.  He  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  best  farmers  and  stockraisers 
in  the  county. 

Mr.  Hammer  was  married  in  Pine  Creek 
township,  b\'bruary  3,  1S70,  to  Miss  Mary 
C.  Miller,  a  native  of  Ogle  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  David  F.  Miller,  a  pioneer  of 
Ogle  county,  from  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Pine  Creek  township.  By  this  union  eight 
children  have  been  born,  of  whom  D.  O., 
the  eldest,  is  assisting  in  carrying  on  the 
home   farm.      Clarence  is  now  a  student  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


349 


Mt.  Morris  College.  Edith  is  the  wife  of 
Albert  Coffman,  a  farmer  of  Buffalo  town- 
ship. Daisy  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  Ora  Fos- 
ter, a  professional  teacher,  residing  near 
Anderson,  Indiana.  Eva  is  yet  residing  at 
home.  Minnie  is  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Ogle  county.  George  M.  and 
Ray  are  attending  the  home  school.  Ruth 
died  at  the  age  of  two  months. 

Mr.  Hammer  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  U.  S.  Grant  in  1868,  and  from 
that  time  to  the  present  has  been  a  consist- 
ent Republican.  He  has  never  held  or  de- 
sired public  office,  having  no  taste  for  such, 
and  willing  that  those  aspiring  for  official 
honors  may  have  all  they  wish.  His  busi- 
ness interests  have  commanded  his  time  and 
attention.  He  is  well  known  as  a  man  of 
strict  integrity  and  honor,  one  deserving  of 
the  confidence  of  the  community  which  has 
alvvavs  been  his  home. 


WILLIAM  ALFRED  HAMMOND,  a 
well-known  and  successful  farmer 
and  veterinary  surgeon  residing  on  section 
30,  Leaf  River  township,  a  mile  and  a  half 
northeast  of  the  village  of  Leaf  River,  is  one 
of  the  active,  enterprising  and  substantial 
citizens  of  Ogle  county,  with  whose  interests 
he  has  been  identified  since  1855.  He  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
March  1 1,  1836,  a  son  of  William  Hammond, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  the  same  county,  in 
1807.  The  family  were  pioneers  of  that 
region  and  the  grandfather,  Peter  Ham- 
mond, was  of  German  ancestry.  On  reach- 
ing manhood  the  father  married  Miss  Louisa 
Santman,  also  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  where  they  continued  to  make  their 
home  for  some  years,  his  time  and  attention 
being  devoted   to  farming.      In  1855  he  re- 


moved with  his  family  to  Ogle  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  the  following  year  located  on  the 
farm  where  our  subject  now  lives.  A  small 
house  had  previously  been  built  and  thirty- 
five  acres  placed  under  cultivation,  and  to 
the  further  improvement  and  operation  of 
the  place  he  gave  his  attention  for  seven 
years.  In  1861,  however,  he  returned  to 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  where  he 
lived  retired  until  called  from  this  life  about 
1866.  His  wife  survived  him  a  number  of 
years  and  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
two. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
eleven  children,  of  whom  eight  are  still  liv- 
ing, namely:  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Eakle,  of 
Bakerville,  Maryland;  Rev.  Josiah  L. ,  a 
Lutheran  minister,  now  located  in  Iowa; 
William  A.,  of  this  review;  Mrs.  W.  L. 
Palmer,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work;  Isaiah,  a  farmer  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland;  C.  E.,  a  baker  of  Ster- 
ling, Illinois;  Mrs.  Susan  Miller,  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Maryland,  and  Franklin  P., 
a  dentist  of  Texarkana,  Te.xas. 

The  education  of  our  subject  has  been 
acquired  through  reading,  study  and  ob- 
servation since  reaching  years  of  matur- 
ity, as  he  had  no  school  privileges  during 
his  youth.  He  was  nineteen  years  of  age 
when  he  accompanied  the  family  on  their 
removal  to  Ogle  county,  and  was  of 
great  assistance  to  his  father  in  opening 
up  and  carrying  on  the  home  farm.  In 
1 86 1  he  purchased  the  place  and  has  made 
the  farm  what  it  is  to-day — one  of  the  best 
in  Leaf  River  township.  It  comprises  two 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  is 
well  improved.  Mr.  Hammond  has  rebuilt 
and  remodeled  the  house,  and  the  other 
buildings  are  in  harmony  therewith.  For 
twenty-eight  years  he  has  successfully  en- 


3?o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


gaged  in  the  practice  of  veterinary  surgery, 
and  has  built  up  a  good  practice.  In  1873 
he  removed  to  Rockford,  where  for  three 
years  he  gave  liis  entire  time  to  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  but  at  the  end  of  that 
time  he  returned  to  his  farm  and  has  since 
engaged  in  farming  in  connection  with  his 
practice. 

At  Freeport,  Illinois,  March  14,  1861, 
Mr.  Hammond  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  Williard,  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  who  came  with  her 
father,  Jacob  Williard,  to  Ogle  county  in 
1854,  when  a  child  of  eleven  years,  and  set- 
tled in  Leaf  River  township.  Five  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  as  follows:  Alcindia, 
wife  of  Dr.  Ira  O.  Paul,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Winnebago,  Illi- 
nois; William  J.,  who  is  married  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Mount, Morris  township. 
Ogle  county;  Sarah  V.,  wife  of  James  B. 
Shierk,  a  farmer  living  near  Egan,  this 
county;  Franklin,  a  painter,  residing  at 
home;  and  Gertrude,  wife  of  F.  J.  Marks, 
a  telegraph  operator  holding  a  position  at 
Rosalia,  Washington. 

Politically  Mr.  Hammond  is  a  stanch 
Democrat,  but  has  never  cared  for  political 
preferment.  His  honorable,  upright  life 
commends  him  to  the  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact, 
and  he  has  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances who  fully  appreciate  his  sterling 
worth. 


HON.  ISAAC  RICE,  deceased,  for  three 
score  years  was  a  resident  of  Ogle 
county,  and  it  is  but  just  to  say  that  few 
men  living  here  were  better  known  or  more 
highly  respected  among  those  with  whom 
they  associated.     He  was  a  native  of  Wash- 


ington county,  Maryland,  the  birthplace  of 
some  of  the  best  men  and  women  that  have 
made  their  home  in  Ogle  county.  He  was 
born  October  28,  1826,  and  was  the  son  of 
Jacob  and  Mary  (Roland)  Rice,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Washington  county, 
Maryland.  The  Rice  family  were  originally 
from  Germany,  the  great  grandparents  of 
our  subject  being  natives  of  that  country. 

Jacob  Rice  was  by  occupation  a  farmer, 
following  that  calling  during  his  entire  life. 
In  1837,  in  company  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  John  Wagner,  he  came  to  Ogle  coun- 
ty. Leaving  their  old  home  in  Maryland, 
on  horseback  they  passed  through  the 
states  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  but  did  not 
find  any  place  to  suit  their  fancy  until  they 
arrived  in  Ogle  county,  July  4,  1837. 
While  making  their  tour  of  observation 
they  left  their  families  in  Ohio.  As  soon 
as  they  determined  on  a  location  they  sent 
for  their  families,  and  in  the  meantime  a 
double  log  house  was  erected,  into  which 
Mr.  Rice  moved  with  his  family  on  their 
arrival.  It  is  said  that  during  the  following 
winter  about  twenty  persons  found  shelter 
and  a  home  in  that  log  cabin. 

To  Jacob  and  Mary  Rice  eleven  children 
were  born.  Barbara  married  Samuel  May- 
silles,  of  Washington  county,  Maryland. 
They  never  came  west.  She  is  now  de- 
ceased. David  married  Catherine  Avey. 
They  came  west,  and  he  died  in  Ogle  coun- 
ty some  years  ago.  Joshua  is  deceased. 
John  came  to  Ogle  county  and  located  in 
Leaf  River  township.  He  married  Eliza 
Kendall,  but  is  now  deceased.  Susan, 
widow  of  Elias  Thomas,  is  now  living  in 
Mt.  Morris  township.  Lydia  married  Ben- 
jamin Hiestand,  of  Leaf  River  township, 
but  is  now  deceased.  Elizabeth  married 
Ezra  Thomas,  of  Mt.  Morris  township,  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


351 


is  now  deceased.  Jacob  and  Mary  were 
twins.  The  former  is  deceased.  The  lat- 
ter is  the  widow  of  Daniel  Etnyre,  of  Ore- 
gon, Illinois.  Isaac  was  next  in  order  of 
birth.  William  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1840,  Mary 
Roland  Rice  departed  this  life,  leaving  the 
husband  and  eleven  children  to  mourn  her 
loss.  Later  Jacob  Rice  married  Miss 
Catherine  Funk,  a  native  of  Maryland. 
"Aunt  Kittie, "  as  she  is  familiarly  called 
by  all  who  know  her,  is  yet  living  at  the  age 
of  one  hundred  and  two  years,  and  is  yet  in 
excellent  health  and  spirits,  her  lovely  char- 
acter making  of  her  a  friend  to  everyone. 
Born  during  the  first  administration  of  John 
Adams,  Washington  was  yet  alive,  and  she 
has  therefore  lived  while  yet  there  was  one 
ex-president,  and  under  the  administration 
of  twenty-three  presidents,  surviving  all  save 
three.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Mennonite 
church,  clinging  to  the  faith  of  her  fathers, 
and  trusting  in  the  redeeming  grace  of  her 
Savior. 

On  coming  to  Ogle  county,  Jacob  Rice 
purchased  some  twelve  hundred  acres  of 
land,  all  of  which,  with  the  assistance  of  his 
sons,  he  soon  had  under  improvement.  He 
was  a  man  of  marked  character,  an  mde- 
fatigable  worker,  a  kind  husband,  an  indul- 
gent father,  a  good  neighbor,  and  left  the 
world  better  for  his  having  lived.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  River  Brethren,  as  was 
also  his  first  wife,  the  mother  of  his  chil- 
dren. He  died  on  his  farm  in  Mt.  Morris 
township,  April  25,  1870. 

Isaac  Rice  was  eleven  years  old  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Ogle  county. 
While  yet  residing  in  his  native  state,  he 
attended  the  common  schools  a  few  terms, 
and    the  year   following  the   arrival  of    the 

38 


family  in  Ogle  county  his  father  erected  a 
log  school  house  on  his  place,  and  in  the 
first  school  taught  therein  he  was  a  pupil. 
On  the  opening  of  Rock  River  Seminary  he 
became  a  pupil  in  that  institution.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  he  taught  his  first  term 
of  school  in  the  school  house  erected  by  his 
father.  For  that  school  he  received  eight- 
een dollars  per  month.  Desiring  to  enter 
the  medical  profession,  he  went  into  the 
office  of  Dr.  Francis  A.  McNeil,  of  Mt. 
Morris,  reading  under  his  instructions  until 
ready  to  enter  a  medical  college.  In  the 
winter  of  1852-3  he  entered  Rush  Medical 
College  from  which  he  was  graduated  with 
the  class  of   1855. 

On  receiving  his  diploma.  Dr.  Rice  re- 
turned to  Mt.  Morris,  and  with  his  late 
preceptor  began  practice.  He  continued  in 
the  profession  but  a  few  months,  however, 
when  he  rented  some  land  and  commenced 
farming.  In  i860,  he  made  his  first  pur- 
chase of  land,  and  until  1876  he  engaged 
exclusively  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
He  then  moved  to  the  village  of  Mt.  Mor- 
ris and  one  year  later,  with  Major  Charles 
Newcomer,  he  established  the  Bank  of  Mt. 
Morris.  He  never,  however,  abandoned  his 
interest  in  agriculture,  but  continued  to  give 
more  or  less  attention  to  his  farms  until  his 
death.  He  became  an  extensive  land 
owner  and  his  farms  were  always  kept  in 
good  condition. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1857,  Dr.  Rice 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah 
Hiestand,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
(Newcomer)  Hiestand.  She  is  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  born  Janu- 
ary 27,  1836,  and  is  third  in  a  family  of  six 
children,  and  was  but  one  year  old  when 
her  parents  came  to  this  county.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  union.      Roland, 


35: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


born  February  lo,  1858,  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  months.  Anna,  born  March  22,  i860, 
died  when  she  was  eighteen  years  old.  Jo- 
seph L. ,  born  December  23,  1S66,  is  men- 
tioned elsewhere  in  this  work. 

In  politics  Dr.  Rice  was  a  thorough  and 
consistent  Republican,  voting  the  party 
ticket  and  advocating  its  principles  from  the 
very  birth  of  the  party.  He  was  a  great 
admirer  of  our  first  martyred  president, 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  supported  his  candi- 
dacy with  enthusiasm.  His  admiration  for 
Lincoln  increased  after  listening  to  the  de- 
bate between  Lincoln  and  Douglas  at  Free- 
port,  Illinois.  He  took  quite  an  active  part 
in  local  politics  and  for  two  terms  repre- 
sented his  county  in  the  lower  house  of  the 
general  assembly  of  the  state,  and  for  four 
years  was  a  member  of  the  state  senate. 
In  both  branches  he  took  an  active  and  lead- 
ing part  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
strong  members.  He  was  always  a  strong 
temperance  man,  and  while  a  member  of 
senate  endeavored  to  have  passed  some 
temperance  legislation.  He  introduced  the 
first  resolution  for  the  submission  of  the 
question  to  a  vote  of  the  people  in  regard  to 
the  manufacturing  of  distilled  spirits,  and 
also  introduced  what  was  known  as  the 
"Hind's  bill,"  which  empowered  women  to 
have  a  voice  in  licensing  the  sale  of  into.xi- 
cating  liquors.  While  both  measures  were 
defeated,  they  showed  conclusively  where 
the  Doctor  stood  on  the  temperance  ques- 
tion. 

Religiously  the  Doctor  was  a  Methodist, 
being  for  many  years  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church  at  Mt.  Morris.  In  all  the 
work  of  the  church  he  took  an  active  and 
abiding  interest.  The  Sunday  school  work 
of  the  church  called  forth  his  best  energies, 
and  for  some  years  he  was  the  efficient  su- 


perintendent of  the  school  of  his  home 
church.  His  talent  as  a  Sunday  school 
worker  was  recognized  by  his  election  as 
president  of  the  County  Sunday  School  As- 
sociation. 

Dr.  Rice  was  a  thorough  business  man, 
and  his  abilities  in  that  direction  is  unques- 
tioned. Commencing  life  with  very  little 
assistance  from  his  father,  he  began  adding 
to  his  possessions  until  he  was  numbered 
among  the  most  prosperous  men  in  the 
county.  His  gains  were  all  legitimately 
made,  and  not  by  oppressing  any  one.  He 
was  always  lenient  with  creditors  when  they 
were  disposed  to  do  right,  and  there  are 
many  men  in  Ogle  county  who  have  reason 
to  be  grateful  to  him  for  timely  assistance 
rendered  and  good  advice  given.  He  was 
one  of  the  original  stockholders  in  the  First 
National  Iiank  of  Oregon,  and  for  many 
years  owned  the  controlling  interest,  and  for 
twenty  years  was  president  of  the  same.  He 
retained  connection  with  the  Bank  of  Mount 
Morris  but  about  four  years,  when  he  sold 
out  to  his  partner  and  gave  his  attention  to 
the  bank  in  Oregon  and  his  extensive  pri- 
vate interests.  In  1893  he  established  the 
Citizens  Bank  of  Mount  Morris,  to  which  he 
gave  only  supervisory  care,  his  son,  Joseph 
L. ,  attending  principally  to  the  business. 
Always  careful  and  methodical,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  success  crowned  his  efforts. 
Whether  on  the  farm,  in  the  bank,  in  the 
church,  or  in  whatever  engaged,  the  same 
attention  was  given  to  the  minutest  details 
of  the  business  in  hand.  During  later 
years  he  lived  practically  retired,  traveling 
much  of  the  time,  making  numerous  trips 
abroad.  In  1889,  he  went  as  far  east  as 
Constantinople  and  in  1890,  and  again  in 
1892,  visited  England  and  the  continent. 
He  later  lectured  considerably  in  northern 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


->  r  ■» 


Illinois   on  his    travels    and    various    other 
subjects. 

Dr.  Rice  was  a  thoroughly  conscientious 
man,  one  who  endeavored  to  do  right  by 
his  fellow  man,  living  up  to  the  standard  of 
the  golden  rule.  His  death,  which  occurred 
May  3,  1897,  was  not  only  a  sad  loss  to  his 
family,  but  to  the  community  in  which  he 
had  so  long  resided.  He  had  been  ill  but  a 
few  days  and  his  death  was  unexpected. 
The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev. 
A.  S.  Mason  and  his  remains  laid  to  rest  to 
wait  the  resurrection  day. 


JOSEPH  L.  RICE,  president  of  the  Cit- 
izens Bank  of  Mt.  Moris,  Illinois,  is  a 
good  representative  of  the  younger  business 
element  of  Ogle  county.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  county,  born  in  the  township  of  Mary- 
land, December  23,  1866,  and  is  the  son 
of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Hiestand)  Rice,  pio- 
neers of  Ogle  county,  of  whom  mention 
is  made  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  His 
early  life  was  spent  upon  the  farm,  and  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  township 
he  began  his  education.  When  ten  years 
of  age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  the 
village  of  Mt.  Morris,  and  for  a  time  at- 
tended the  public  school  of  that  place. 
Later  he  entered  Rock  River  Seminary, 
and  after  pursuing  a  partial  course,  entered 
the  Nortwestern  University,  Evanston,  Illi- 
nois, with  the  intention  of  taking  the  com- 
plete classical  course.  At  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one, however,  he  was  compelled  to 
abandon  his  studies  on  account  of  weak 
eyes.  For  the  succeeding  four  years  he  was 
endeavoring  to  establish  his  impaired  sight. 
Believing  that  further  rest  and  travel  would 
be  beneficial,  he  went  abroad  in  1891, 
spending    several    months,     during    which 


time  he  visited  the  various  cities  and  places 
of  interest  in  England,  Ireland,  Scotland, 
Wales,  Holland,  Belgium,  Germany  and 
France.  While  in  England  he  visited  the 
noted  Oxford  University,  which  to  him  was 
one  of  the  most  interesting  sights  witnessed. 
He  returned  home  by  way  of  Liverpool  and 
New  York,  stopping  for  a -few  days  in  the 
latter  citv.  With  this  trip  he  was  well 
pleased,  the  only  regret  now  being  that  it 
was  not  more  extended. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  1893,  the  Cit- 
izens Bank  was  established  by  Mr.  Rice's 
father  with  our  subject  virtually  in  charge, 
his  father  giving  but  little  attention  to  the 
details  of  the  bus'ness.  On  the  death  of 
the  father  he  took  sole  charge,  latter  be- 
coming associated  with  his  cousin,  J.  H. 
Rice,  who  has  assumed  the  position  of 
cashier,  with  our  subject  as  president.  The 
bank  is  in  good  condition  and  in  January, 
1899,  purchased  the  business  and  good  will 
of  the  Bank  of  Mt.  Morris.  With  the  ab- 
sorption of  the  business  of  the  latter  bank, 
it  gives  the  Citizens  Bank  an  increased  line 
of  deposits  and  a  clientage  equal  to  any 
bank  in  the  county.  With  large  capital, 
good  business  methods,  and  the  confidence 
of  the  people,  the  bank  starts  on  a  new 
career.  Like  his  father,  he  is  trusted  by 
the  people,  all  having  a  good  word  to  say 
of  "Joe"  Rice,  as  he  is  familiarly  called. 
In  addition  to  his  interest  in  the  Citizens 
Bank,  he  is  the  largest  stockholder  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Oregon,  and  is  vice- 
president  of  the  same. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1S95,  Mr. 
Rice  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Em- 
ily Newcomer,  a  native  of  Ogle  county, 
ty,  born  May  31,  1871,  and  daughter  of  Al- 
bert and  Margaret  (Hitt)  Newcomer,  both 
of  whom  are  natives  of  Illinois. 


3  54 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


In  politics  Mr.  Rice  is  a  thorough  Repub- 
hcan  and  a  stanch  advocate  of  its  princi- 
ples. His  business  interests,  however,  have 
been  such  as  to  preclude  a  very  active  par- 
ticipation in  the  work  of  the  party. 


HIRAM  WOODIN  is  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising and  successful  agriculturists 
of  Ogle  county  as  well  as  one  of  its  most 
capable  financiers,  and  is  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Eagle  Point  township.  His  career 
proves  that  the  only  true  success  in  life  is 
that  which  is  accomplished  by  personal 
efforts  and  consecutive  industry.  It  proves 
that  the  road  to  success  is  open  to  all  young 
men  who  have  the  courage  to  tread  its  path- 
way, and  the  life  record  of  such  a  man 
should  serve  as  an  inspiration  to  the  young 
of  this  and  future  generations  and  teach  by 
incontrovertible  facts  that  success  is  am- 
bition's answer. 

Mr.  Woodin  was  born  July  3,  1837,  on 
the  same  farm  in  Hartford  county,  Connecti- 
cut, where  his  father,  Elias  Woodin,  was 
also  born.  The  latter  married  Miss  Fanny 
Spencer,  a  native  of  the  same  county  and 
a  daughter  of  Naaman  Spencer.  They  con- 
tinued to  make  their  home  on  the  old 
Woodin  homestead  in  Connecticut  for  a 
number  of  years,  the  father  of  our  subject 
being  engaged  in  its  operation  until  1843, 
when  he  brought  his  family  to  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  but  after  spending  the  winter  in 
Eagle  Point,  he  removed,  in  1844,  to  Car- 
roll county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
with  a  few  acres  broken  and  a  log  house 
erected  thereon.  The  country  was  still  very 
new,  deer  and  wolves  were  numerous,  and 
he  assisted  in  killing  a  bear  and  capturing  a 
cub  upon  his  own  place.  He  transformed 
his  wild  land  into  a  well  improved  farm,  the 


primitive  frontier  buildings  giving  place  to 
a  good  residence  and  substantial  outbuild- 
ings. He  died  there  in  the  spring  of  1864, 
but  his  wife  long  survived  him,  passing 
away  in  April,  1897.  Both  were  buried  in 
Union  cemetery,  Carroll  county,  where  a 
monument  marks  their  last  resting  place. 
Hiram  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in 
their  family  of  twelve  children  si.x  sons 
and  six  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached 
years  of  maturity,  and  five  sons  and  five 
daughters  are  still  living  and  are  heads 
of  families. 

Hiram  Woodin  was  a  lad  of  nine  years 
when  he  accompanied  the  family  on  their 
removal  to  Illinois.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  to  a  limited  extent,  but  is 
mostly  self-educated.  In  the  50s  he  used 
to  haul  grain  to  Freeport,  and  selling  the 
grain  was  paid  in  the  paper  money  of  those 
days.  After  holding  a  few  weeks  until  he 
desired  to  spend  it  he  would  find  it  de- 
preciated, often  being  worth  no  more  than 
fifty  cents  on  a  dollar.  Such  was  the  cir- 
culating medium  of  those  days.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  his  marriage, 
which  was  celebrated  in  Carroll  county, 
March  28,  1864,  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Jenkins, 
becoming  his  wife.  Her  parents,  Henry 
and  Lucinda  (Spencer)  Jenkins,  were  na- 
tives of  New  York  and  Connecticut,  respect- 
ively and  were  pioneers  of  Carroll  county, 
Illinois,  where  Mrs.  Woodin  was  reared  and 
educated.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
two  children;  Walter,  who  married  Ardella 
Hurless  and  occupies  the  old  home  farm; 
and  Fanny,  wife  of  Frederick  E.  Becker,  a 
farmer  and  stock  feeder,  of  Eagle  Point 
township.  There  is  also  one  grandchild, 
Archie  Woodin. 

For  one  year  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Woodin  continued  to  reside  in  Carroll  coun- 


HIRAM    WOODIN. 


MKS.   HIRAM    WOODIN. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


359 


ty,  but  in  1865  he  became  a  resident  of 
Eagle  Point  township,  Ogle  county,  where 
he  first  purchased  ninety  acres.  As  time  has 
passed  and  his  financial  resources  have  in- 
creased, he  has  added  to  his  landed  posses- 
sions from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has 
three  adjoining  farms,  aggregating  nine  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  and  productive  land. 
He  is  to-day  the  largest  land  holder  in  the 
township  and  the  success  he  has  achieved 
is  due  entirely  to  his  own  industry,  perse- 
verance and  sound  judgment.  Before  his 
marriage  he  became  interested  in  stock 
raising  and  had  built  up  a  large  and  profita- 
ble business  in  that  line.  He  now  feeds  and 
ships  on  an  average  of  eight  or  ten  car  loads 
of  cattle  annually  and  three  or  four  car 
loads  of  hogs.  His  first  shipment  of  stock 
was  in  1865  and  he  arrived  with  the  same 
in  Chicago  on  the  day  President  Lmcoln  was 
shot.  As  there  were  no  stock  yards  at  that 
time,  he  had  to  pile  up  ties  to  the  car  door 
and  drive  the  hogs  down  such  a  platform  to 
the  street.  This  was  accomplished  with 
great  difficulty  and  he  then  found  hard  work 
in  disposing  of  his  stock,  as  business  was 
practically  suspended  on  the  announcement 
of  the  assassination.  Mr.  Woodin's  son 
has  been  a  partner  in  the  stock  business  for 
the  past  twelve  years  and  now  has  charge 
of  most  of  the  shipping. 

At  each  presidential  election  since  i  cSCo 
Mr.  W'oodin  has  supported  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
never  sought  nor  desired  political  honors. 
Ever  a  friend  to  our  public  schools,  he  most 
efficiently  served  as  school  director  of  his 
district  for  some  years  and  has  given  his 
aid  to  every  enterprise  which  he  believed 
would  prove  of  public  benefit.  In  business 
affairs  he  is  energetic,  prompt  and  notably 
reliable,  and  through  his   own  well  directed 


efforts  has  worked  his  way  upward  to  a  po- 
sition of  affluence,  so  that  he  is  now  one  of 
the  most  substantial  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity. 


HON,  OGDEN  B.  YOUNGS,  who  was  a 
leading  and  prominent  citizen  of  Still- 
man  Valley,  resided  in  Ogle  county  for  over 
sixty  years,  arriving  here  in  October,  1S38. 
The  difference  lietween  the  past  and  the 
present  can  scarcely  be  realized,  even  by 
those  who  were  active  participants  in  the 
development  of  the  county.  The  present 
generation  can  have  no  conception  of  what 
was  required  by  the  early  settlers  in  trans- 
forming the  wilderness  into  a  well  settled 
and  highly  cultivated  county. 

Mr.  Youngs,  who  for  over  half  a  century 
bore  a  most  active  and  prominent  part  in 
the  work  of  development,  was  born  in  Cuy- 
ahoga county,  Ohio,  June  14,  1S22,  and 
was  a  son  of  Thomas  A.  Youngs,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  New  Jersey,  in  1790. 
The  grandfather,  Benjamin  Youngs,  was 
also  a  native  of  New  [ersey,  and  was  a  rep- 
resentative of  a  family  of  English  origin 
which  was  early  established  in  that  state. 
In  I S07  or  1S08,  he  removed  to  Canada, 
where  his  children  were  reared.  During  the 
war  of  18 1  2,  the  father,  Thomas  A.  Youngs, 
decided  he  did  not  care  to  fight  against  his 
native  land,  and  as  to  the  British  authori- 
ties in  Canada  were  enlisting  men  for  their 
army,  he  with  other  young  men  made  their 
way  to  Detroit,  where  they  were  taken 
prisoners,  being  suspected  as  spies  by  the 
American  army,  but  were  soon  released. 
They  made  their  way  round  the  lakes  to 
Buffalo,  New  York,  arriving  in  time  for  the 
battle  of  Lundy's  Lane.  When  General 
Scott  was  wounded  and  brought  to  Buffalo, 


360 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Mr.  Youngs  assisted  in  carrying  him  to  the 
hospital.  Being  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by 
trade,  the  father  of  our  subject  worked  at 
those  occupations  in  Buffalo  for  some  time 
and  later  settled  near  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  similarly  employed.  In  part- 
nership with  a  Mr.  Scoville,  he  erected  the 
first  sawmill  in  that  region  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  lumber.  Later  he  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  three  miles  from  Cleveland 
but  still  carried  on  operations  as  a  contrac- 
tor and  builder  for  many  years.  In  183S, 
however,  he  brought  his  family  to  Illinois, 
driving  across  the  country  with  two  teams, 
drawing  a  wagon  and  carriage.  They 
crossed  the  Chicago  river  on  a  ferry,  as  no 
bridges  had  then  been  built,  and  the  city  at 
that  time  contained  a  population  of  three 
thousand.  Their  destination  was  Ogle 
county  where  other  Ohio  families  had  set- 
tled, and  on  their  arrival  here  the  father 
bought  claims  to  several  hundred  acres  in 
Scott  and  Marion  townships,  entering  the 
land  some  years  later.  Their  first  home 
was  a  log  cabin  to  which  he  built  an  addi- 
tion, also  of  logs,  but  it  was  afterward  re- 
placed by  a  good  substantial  frame  residence, 
while  barns  and  other  outbuildings  were 
also  erected  and  a  good  farm  developed 
from  the  wild  land.  In  1S18,  near  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  Thomas  A.  Youngs  married 
Miss  Lydia  O'Brien,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
who,  when  a  young  girl,  removed  with  her 
father,  Benjamin  O'Brien, to  Ohio.  The  lat- 
ter was  a  native  of  Ireland  but  when  a  child 
came  to  America,  and  served  as  sergeant  in 
the  war  for  independence.  He  often  spoke 
with  justifiable  pride  of  seeing  General 
Washington.  Thomas  A.  Youngs  served 
as  captain  in  the  Ohio  State  Militia,  and 
after  coming  to  Ogle  county  was  justice  of 
the  peace  for  several  years,  and  filled  other 


positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  a  most  cred- 
itable and  acceptable  manner.  He  de- 
parted this  life  in  May,  1871,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty-one   years. 

Ogden  B.  Young  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  eight  children, 
four  sons  and  four  daughters,  who  reached 
years  of  maturity.  George,  the  eldest, 
married  and  settled  on  a  farm  adjoining 
the  old  homestead,  where  he  reared  his 
family  and  died  December,  1897.  Mary 
and  Ruth  are  still  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead. Sarah  Jane  is  the  widow  of  Rev. 
Cleveland  and  resides  in  California,  as  does 
also  her  sister,  Lydia  M.  Thomas  A.  is  a 
retired  farmer  of  Rockford,  Illinois.  Cap- 
tain John  F.  enlisted  in  1861  in  the  Fifth 
Kansas  Cavalry  and  served  through  the  war. 
Later  he  settled  on  a  cattle  ranch  in  Cali- 
fornia but  is  now  living  in  Arizona. 

Mr.  Youngs,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  sixteen  years  old  when  the 
family  came  to  Ogle  county.  He  had  re- 
ceived good  school  privileges  in  Ohio,  and 
also  attended  school  here  after  the  country 
became  more  thickly  settled  and  the  school 
more  proficient.  Being  thus  supplied  with 
a  fair  education  he  engaged  in  teaching,  and 
while  visiting  his  father's  family  in  Canada 
during  the  winter  of  1844-45  taught  school. 
After  his  return  to  Ogle  county  he  had 
charge  of  the  home  school  for  one  winter. 
He  took  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres  in  Scott  and  Marion  townships,  en- 
tered the  land  and  developed  a  good  farm. 
He  erected  a  frame  house  upon  his  place  in 
1853,  hauling  the  siding  and  finishing  lum- 
ber for  the  same  from  Chicago.  Here  he 
made  his  home  for  some  years  while  en- 
gaged in  the  arduous  task  of  converting 
the  wild  land  into  rich  and  highly  cultivated 
fields,  but  it  was  subsequently  replaced  by 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


361 


a  more  commodious  and  modern  residence. 
Good  barns  and  other  outbuildings  were 
also  erected,  making  it  one  of  the  well  im- 
proved farms  of  the  locality.  In  the  spring 
of  1893,  he  laid  aside  business  cares  and 
has  since  made  his  home  in  Stillman  Valley, 
enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 

In  Ogle  county,  July  19,  1853,  Mr. 
Youngs  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Emma  C.  Norton,  a  native  of  New  York, 
who  was  educated  in  that  state  and  success- 
fully engaged  in  teaching  there  and  later  in 
Illinois,  having  charge  of  the  school  in  Mr. 
Youngs'  district  for  a  time.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Gould  G.  Norton  and  a  sister  of  O. 
\V.  Norton,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Youngs  are  as  follows:  Thomas  G., 
who  is  now  in  Alaska,  leaving  his  wife  and 
two  children  in  Spring  Valley,  Illinois; 
Henry  J.,  who  owns  and  operates  a  farm  in 
Scott  township,  Ogle  county;  Mary,  wife  of 
Arthur  Norton,  who  lives  on  a  cattle  ranch 
in  Idaho;  Bertha  B. ,  wife  of  Harry  R. 
Smith,  a  farmer  of  Ogle  county;  Alice  M., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years;  and 
two  who  died  in  infancy. 

Originally  Mr.  Youngs  was  a  Jackson 
Democrat  in  politics,  casting  his  first  vote 
for  Franklin  Pierce  in  1852,  since  which 
time  he  has  never  missed  a  presidential  elec- 
tion. He  supported  John  C.  Fremont  in 
1856,  and  was  ever  afterward  an  ardent  Re- 
publican. He  most  capably  filled  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  few  terms,  and 
in  1868  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature, 
where  he  served  with  distinction  on  several 
important  committees,  including  those  on 
counties  and  agriculture.  At  intervals  he 
served  as  supervisor  of  his  township  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  has  also  been  assessor,  trus- 
tee and  a  member  of  the  school  board.      His 


public  and  private  life  were  alike  above  re- 
proach, and  he  had  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  all  who  knew  him,  while  as  an  honored 
pioneer  he  certainly  deserves  prominent 
mention  in  this  volume.  After  a  residence 
here  of  more  than  three  score  years  he  was 
called  to  his  reward.  His  estimable  wife  is 
one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Stillman 
Valley  Congregational  church,  and  like  her 
husband  she  has  many  friends  throughout 
this  section  of  the  state. 


HON.  JAMES  A.  COUNTRYMAN,  one 
of  the  regresentatives  of  the  tenth  sen- 
atorial district  in  the  house  of  representa- 
tives of  the  state  of  Illinois,  is  one  of  the 
best  known  and  highly  honored  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Ogle  county,  of  which  he  has  been 
a  resident  for  forty-four  years.  He  was 
born  in  Herkimer  county.  New  York,  May 
24,  1840,  and  was  partly  educated  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  native  state.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  Ogle  cour.ty  in 
1885,  the  family  locating  in  the  township  of 
Lynnville.  After  coming  to  the  county  he 
became  a  student  in  Rock  River  Seminary, 
at  Mt.  Morris,  and  attended  that  institution 
of  learning  for  several  terms. 

Daniel  Countryman,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Starkville,  Herkimer 
county.  New  York,  March  31,  1S15,  and 
obtained  his  education  in  the  primitive 
schools  of  the  early  day.  He  was  married 
in  his  native  county  to  Miss  Sally  Phillips, 
also  a  native  of  New  York,  and  who  was 
born  in  1S18.  Six  children  were  born 
to  them,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living — 
James  A.,  Calvin,  Carrie  E.  and  Jennie  V. 
Of  these,  the  first  named  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Calvin  is  now  in  business  in 
the  city  of    Rockford.      Carrie  E.  married 


462 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Benjamin  F.  Allen,  and  they  had  a  son  and 
daughter,  Ada  and  Daniel.  Jennie  V.  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Wesley  M.  Lon- 
genecker,  of  Rochelle,  and  one  daughter 
was  born  to  them,  Grace  E. 

Daniel  Countryman  was  a  stock  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  in  his  life  was  quite 
successful.  His  whole  life  was  spent  in  the 
discharge  of  duty.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  but  for  many  years 
he  advocated  with  voice  and  pen  church 
union  of  all  evangelical  denominations, and 
from  his  advocacy  of  this  a  very  strong  and 
flourishing  union  missicn  church,  located  at 
Lindenwood,  is  doing  much  good  in  that 
community.  His  generous  spirit  led  him 
into  constant  deeds  of  charity,  and  it  was 
fortunate  for  others  that  his  ability  and  fru- 
gality gave  him  ample  means  to  assist 
others.  He  lived  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
love  and  almost  adoration  of  his  family,  the 
esteem  of  his  friends,  and  with  the  respect 
of  all  that  he  ever  met.  He  died  as  he  had 
lived,  with  a  benediction  on  his  lips  for  all, 
and  he  left  a  large  circle  of  sorrowing  friends 
to  mourn  his  loss.  He  died  March  14, 
1883,  and  his  widow  August  10,1893.  She 
was  also  well  belo\  ed  by  all  who  knew  her, 
a  true  Christian  woman,  a  loving  mother, 
and  steadfast  friend  and  neighbor.  The 
famil\-,  which  is  of  German  origin  settled 
early  in  Herkimer  county,  New  York,  and 
there  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John 
I.  Countryman,  was    born. 

James  A.  Countryman  was  fifteen  years 
old  when  he  came  to  Ogle  county.  He  re- 
mained at  home  assisting  his  father  in  farm 
work  until  after  he  had  attained  his  major- 
ity. Farming  has  been  his  life  work,  and 
that  he  has  made  a  success  of  it  is  attested 
by  his  well  tilled  fields  and  the  excellent 
stock  upon  his  premises.      He  was  married, 


February  26,  1873,  to  Miss  Carrie  Klink- 
hart,  an  adopted  daughter  of  Moses  Coun- 
tryman and  wife.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  with  three  sons  and  one  daughter: 
Floyd  M.,  born  July  12,  1874;  F.  Belle, 
August  12,  1877;  Ralph  A.,  February  11, 
1882;  and  Jay  A.,  April  28,  1886. 

Mr.  Countryman  owns  the  greater  part 
of  the  original  family  homestead,  on  sec- 
tions 20  and  21,  consisting  of  eight  hundred 
and  eighty  acres,  which  is  under  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation.  He  is  a  general  stock 
farmer,  his  specialties  being  thoroughbred 
shorthorn  cattle,  of  which  he  annually  fat- 
tens and  prepares  for  the  market  a  very 
large  number  of  head,  for  which  he  secures 
the  highest  market  price.  He  is  also  a 
breeder  of  the  world-wide  and  justly  cele- 
brated Poland  China  hogs.  His  reputation 
in  this  line  is  very  extensive,  having  made 
four  shipments  of  the  same  to  Germany. 
He  has  been  for  many  years  a  breeder  and 
exhibitor  of  pure  bred  stock,  and  has  taken 
many  first  and  sweepstake  prizes  at  the 
American  Fat  Stock  Show  and  leading  fairs 
of  the  country.  It  is  but  natural  that  he 
should  take  great  interest  in  this  branch  of 
his  business. 

Since  first  exercising  the  right  of  fran- 
chise Mr.  Countryman  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  political  affairs,  and  has  exer- 
cised a  good  influence  in  the  party  councils 
of  his  party,  which,  it  is  needless  to  say,  is 
that  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
been  repeatedly  elected  and  filled  responsi- 
ble positions  in  his  township,  and  the  duties 
of  every  office  held  he  has  discharged  in  a 
faithful  manner.  He  was  first  elected  su- 
pervisor of  the  township  of  Lynnville  in 
1875  and  re-elected  in  1S76,  and  again  in 
1883-4-5-6,  then  again  in  1890,  since 
which   time  he   has   served   continuously  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


36; 


the  office  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his 
constituents,  a  period  of  fifteen  years.  For 
two  years  he  was  chairman  of  the  board. 
In  the  fall  of  i8gS  he  was  elected  one  of 
the  representatives  of  the  tenth  senatorial 
district  to  the  Forty-first  general  assembly 
of  the  state  of  Illinois,  and  took  his  seat  in 
that  distinguished  body  January  4,  1899. 
He  is  now  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
state  institutions,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
following  named  committees:  Agriculture, 
appropriations,  county  and  township  organ- 
izations, farm  drainage,  horticulture,  roads 
and  bridges,  and  state  and  municipal  in- 
debtedness. In  the  legislation  of  the  house 
he  has  taken  an  active  part,  and  has  made 
an  influential  member,  one  whose  presence 
is  felt.  The  life  of  such  a  man  is  well 
worthy  of  record,  and  is  certainly  an  in- 
centive to  the  young  to  do  well  his  part, 
that  in  time  they,  too,  may  receive  due 
honor. 


AUGUST  KANEY.— Among  the  enter- 
prising citizens  of  Forreston  township, 
there  is  none  more  energetic  or  thorough- 
going than  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch.  His  home  is  on  section  18, 
where  he  owns  a  valuable  and  well  improved 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  four 
miles  from  the  village  of  Forreston,  and  is 
successfully  engaged  in  both  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Kaney  was  born  in  Maryland  town- 
ship, July  12,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
Kaney,  who  was  born  in  Lude,  Prussia, 
March  9,  1817.  The  father  of  Henry  died 
when  his  son  was;  of  tender  age.  In  the 
common  schools  of  his  country  he  obtained 
,        his  education,  attending  the  same  until  he 

was  fourteen  years  old.      He   then    learned 
39 


the  blacksmith  trade,  and  had  but  completed 
his  term  of  service  when  he  was  forced  to 
serve  in  the  Prussian  army  for  three  years. 
Receiving  an  honorable  discharge  from  the 
army,  he  again  took  up  his  trade,  at  which 
he  continued  to  work  in  his  native  country 
for  some  years,  when  he  decided  on  coming 
to  the  United  States.  In  May,  1845,  after 
a  SIX  weeks'  voyage,  he  landed  at  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  from  which  place,  some  time 
during  the  year,  he  made  his  way  to  Shep- 
ardstown,  Virginia,  where  he  again  worked 
at  his  trade,  often  carrying  the  iron  that  he 
used  from  Harper's  Ferry  on  his  back. 
While  yet  residing  in  Shepardstown,  he 
was  united  in  marriage,  August  29,  1845, 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  F"osh,  who  was  born  in 
Saben  Hansen,  Germany,  May  17,  18 17. 
The  following  year  they  started  west  in  a 
one-horse  wagon,  driving  to  Dayton,  Ohio. 
Thence  they  proceeded  down  the  Ohio 
river  on  a  flat  boat  to  Cairo,  and  by  steamer 
up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to 
Peru,  and  from  there  drove  across  the 
country  to  Ogle  county,  joining  some  Ger- 
man friends  in  Maryland  township.  Leav- 
ing his  family  there  Mr.  Kaney  worked  in  a 
plow  shop  at  Grand  Detour,  and  a  year  or 
two  later  bought  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in 
Maryland  township,  on  which  he  built  a 
shop  of  his  own  and  engaged  in  blacksmith- 
ing  in  connection  with  the  development  and 
cultivation  of  his  farm,  but  finally  gave  his 
entire  time  to  agriculture.  In  1861  he 
bought  the  farm  on  which  our  subject  now 
resides — a  place  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres,  then  but  slightly  improved.  He  con- 
verted the  tract  into  a  nice  farm,  and  sub- 
sequently .bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  across  the  road,  and  still  later  a  tract 
of  similar  size  in  the  same  township.  He 
came    to  this  state    empty-handed,    and    it 


364 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


has  been  through  his  own  industry,  enter- 
prise, perseverance  and  economy  that  he  is 
now  one  of  the  most  substantial,  as  well  as 
one  of  the  honored  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Forreston  township.  He  and 
his  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wedding 
August  29,  1S95,  at  which  time  their 
children,  grandchildren,  and  great-grand- 
children gathered  at  their  home  to  rejoice 
with  them.  Since  then  he  has  been  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  estimable 
wife,  who  passed  away  October  10,  1897. 
To  them  were  born  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  married  and  became 
heads  of  families:  Henry  is  now  deceased; 
John  is  a  merchant  and  business  man  of 
Forreston;  Lewis  is  a  farmer  of  Forreston 
township;  August  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  August 
Kilker,  a  farmer  of  Maryland  township;  and 
Anna  M.  is  the  wife  of  William  M.  Richter, 
a  merchant  of  Forreston. 

August  Kaney  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  his  boyhood  home,  and  as 
soon  as  he  was  large  enough  to  be  of  any 
assistance  he  commenced  to  aid  in  the  farm 
work,  first  driving  a  team  used  in  breaking 
prairie.  His  early  life  was  passed  under 
the  parental  roof,  and  after  arriving  at 
man's  estate  continued  to  assist  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  farm.  In  Mt. 
Morris  township,  he  was  married  March  G, 
1879,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Zunidahl,  who  was 
born  and  reared  on  a  farm  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship. Ogle  county,  a  daughter  of  Christian 
Zumdahl.  They  began  their  domestic  life 
on  the  old  homestead,  and  since  taking 
charge  of  the  same  Mr.  Kaney  has  built  a 
large  neat  barn,  good  granary,  and  out- 
buildings, and  now  has  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved places  of  the  localit}'.  He  is  en- 
gaged  in  breeding  and  raising  a  good  grade 


of  Durham  and  short  horn  cattle  and  Poland 
China  hogs,  and  in  this  branch  of  his  busi- 
ness has  also  met  with  success. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kaney  have  four  children: 
August  J.,  Irvin  E.,  Elizabeth  D.  and  Ar- 
thur E.  all  attending  the  home  school,  and 
have  lost  three:  Edward,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  and  Ezra  and  Sylvia,  who 
both  died  at  the  age  of  two.  The  parents 
are  active  and  prominent  members  of  the 
Evangelical  church  at  North  Grove,  both 
have  been  teachers  in  the  Sabbath  school, 
while  Mr.  Kaney  has  served  as  its  superin- 
tendent three  years  and  is  one  of  the 
officers  of  the  church.  Formerly  he  was 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party  and 
voted  for  Grover  Cleveland,  but  is  now  a  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  stockholder  and  direct- 
or of  the  Forreston  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company  and  gives  his  support  to  all  en- 
terprises which  he  believes  calculated  to 
advance  the  moral,  intellectual  or  material 
welfare  of  his  township  and   county. 


AMERICUS  L.  MENDENHALL,  M.  D., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Kings,  Ogle  county,  Illinois, 
was  born  in  Winchester,  Ohio,  May  21, 
1846,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Elijah  and  Mary 
Angeline  (Graves)  Mendenhall,  the  former 
who  was  a  son  of  John  Mendenhall,  being  a 
native  of  Preble  county,  Ohio,  born  January 
29,  I  8 16.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Ohio,  and  was  a  graduate  of  the  Ohio 
Medical  College,  of  Cincinnati.  He  began 
practice  at  Somerville,  Ohio,  and  there  re- 
mained five  years,  moving  from  that  place 
to  Winchester,  in  the  same  state,  and  later 
to  Cincinnati,  where  he  remained  in  active 
practice  until  1872,  when  he  moved  to  In- 
dianapolis,   Indiana,    which    was   his  home 


THE    rnOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


5^-5 


until  his  death,  November  3,  1897.  His 
wife  died  two  days  later,  and  the  two  were 
buried  in  one  coffin,  their  remains  being 
interred  in  Oal^wood  cemetery,  Indian- 
apolis He  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
ablest  physicians  in  that  city,  and  one  of  the 
best  diagnosticians  in  the  profession.  A 
Republican  in  politics,  he  gave  but  little 
time  to  political  matters,  his  professional 
duties  requiring  his  entire  time.  In  his 
family  were  four  sons:  Alonzo,  born  August 
6,  1843,  is  a  practicing  physician  of  Cicero, 
Indiana.  Rev.  James  W.,  born  November 
8,  1844,  was  a  clergyman  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  for  the  four  years 
preceding  his  death,  which  occurred  June 
18,  1892,  was  editor  of  the  Methodist  Re- 
view, a  position  to  which  he  was  appointed 
by  the  general  conference.  He  had  just 
begun  his  second  term  of  four  years  when 
removed  by  death.  Americus  L. ,  our  sub- 
ject, was  next  in  order  of  birth.  Dr.  Win- 
field  S. ,  born  February  10,  1848,  died  Janu- 
ary 25,  1S99.  He  was  for  many  years  a 
practicing  physician  of  Springfield,  Illinois. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Miami  Medical  Col- 
lege, Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  From 
i860  to  1864  he  was  a  student  in  the  \\'es- 
leyan  University,  Delaware,  Ohio.  On  the 
1 2th  of  February,  of  the  latter  year,  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-third  regiment,  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  under  command  of 
Colonel  Hoge,  his  company  being  com- 
manded by  Captain  Thornton.  The  regi- 
ment was  attached  to  the  third  brigade, 
second  division,  twenty-fifth  army  corps,  of 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  With  his 
regiment  he  took  part  in  the  engagements 
at  Franklin  and   Nashville,  Tennessee,  and 


Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  and  also  in 
several  minor  engagements.  He  enlisted 
for  one  year,  but  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  being  mustered  out  of  the  service 
at  Camp  Denison,  Ohio,  May  29.    1S65. 

On  returning  home  our  subject  entered 
the  Richmond  Commercial  College,  at 
Richmond,  Indiana,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1 866.  He  then  took  a  posi- 
tion as  bookeeper  with  the  wholesale  house 
of  John  Shilito,  of  Cincinnati,  one  of  the 
largest  establishments  of  its  kind  in  the 
west.  He  remained  with  that  house  one 
year,  but  was  not  able  to  endure  the  con- 
finement, and  so  resigned  his  position  and 
entered  the  Miami  Medical  College,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, from  which  he  graduated  March  2, 
1869,  in  the  same  class  with  his  brother 
Winfield.  Receiving  his  diploma,  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Granville,  Indiana,  in  the  fall  of  1S69,  and 
there  remained  three  years.  In  1872  he 
came  to  Illinois,  locating  at  Kappa,  Wood- 
ford county,  where  he  built  up  an  excellent 
practice,  and  there  remained  until  1890, 
when,  on  account  of  failing  health  of  his 
wife,  he  removed  to  Smithfield,  Nebraska. 
He  remained  in  that  place  until  the  fall  of 
1 893  when  he  removed  to  Kings,  which  has 
since  been  his  home,  and  where  he  has  also 
built  up  a  good  general  practice. 

Dr.  Mendenhall  was  married  at  Muncie, 
Indiana,  November  30,  1870,  to  Miss  Louiss 
Smith,  a  native  of  that  city,  and  daughter 
of  William  M.  and  Phoebe  Smith,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Ohio.  She  died 
October  12,  1891.  leaving  four  sons:  Wil- 
bur, of  DesMoines,  Iowa;  Roscoe,  a  student 
of  the  law  school  of  DesMoines,  Iowa; 
Adelbert,  a  medical  student  of  the  Des- 
Moines Medical  College;  and  Walter,  a 
student   of  the  high  school  of  DesMoines. 


366 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


The  Doctor  was  again  married,  June  27, 
1895,  to  Miss  Alice  Green,  of  San  Diego, 
California,  and  daughter  of  Miner  P.  Green. 
She  was  born  in  Reedsburg,  Wisconsin, 
but  her  father  was  a  native  of  New  York. 

Dr.  Mendenhall  is  a  member  of  the  Illi- 
nois State  Medical  Society,  and  is  also  a 
member  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
North  Central  Illinois  Medical  Association, 
of  which  he  was  for  some  years  president. 
During  his  residence  at  Kappa,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Woodford  County  Medical 
Association.  A  student  of  his  profession, 
he  has  been  an  occasional  contributor  to 
various  medical  journals.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  Mason,  and  has  attained  the  Chapter 
degree.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  of  which  he  has 
served  as  physician.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, but  he  does  not  give  much  of  his 
time  to  political  affairs,  the  practice  of  his 
profession  being  more  to  his  taste.  In  the 
comparatively  short  time  that  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  Ogle  county  he  has  made  many 
friends,  and  has  the  confidence  not  only  of 
the  community  where  he  resides,  but  of  the 
medical  profession  of  the  county. 


HENRY  SHARER,  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Mt.  Morris,  is  one  among  the 
living  pioneers  of  Ogle  county,  who  has 
witnessed  its  growth  and  development  from 
a  wilderness  to  one  of  the  best  counties  in 
the  great  state  of  Illinois.  He  has  not  only 
been  a  witness  of  the  same,  but  was  act- 
ively engaged  in  the  great  work  of  transfor- 
mation, giving  many  of  the  best  years  of  his 
life  to  the  work.  His  first  visit  to  the  state 
was  when  he  was  a  youth  of  seventeen 
years.  At  that  time  he  traversed  a  goodly 
portion   of    the    state,   but    did  not    locate. 


Like  many  others  of  the  best  citizens  of 
Ogle  county,  Mr.  Sharer  is  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  born  March 
29,  1 8  1 7.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Anna 
(Newcomer)  Sharer,  the  former  a  native  of 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
latter  of  Washington  county,  Maryland. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children. 
Jacob,  born  in  1807,  married  and  had  two 
children.  He  came  to  Ogle  county  at  an 
early  day  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-six 
years.  Eliza,  born  in  1809,  married  Na- 
thaniel Swingley,  and  to  them  were  born 
eight  children.  They  were  also  among  the 
pioneers  of  Ogle  county.  Both  are  now  de- 
ceased, Eliza  dying  when  about  sixty-eight 
years  old.  The  third  child  was  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  The  mother  died  in  her 
native  county  when  fifty-six  years  old.  In 
1855,  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  the  father 
came  to  Ogle  county  where  his  last  days 
were  spent,  dying  at  the  residence  of  our 
subject  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 
While  residing  in  Maryland  he  engaged  in 
milling  and  farming,  but  after  coming  to 
Ogle  county  he  lived  a  retired  life.  John 
Sharer  was  the  son  of  Jacob  Sharer,  a  native 
of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  America 
when  in  his  prime,  locating  in  Lancaster 
county.  Eliza  (Newcomer)  Sharer's  ances- 
tors were  from  Switzerland,  the  first  of  the 
name  emigrating  here  at  an  early  day. 

In  his  native  state  Henry  Sharer  grew  to 
manhood.  After  receiving  his  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  day,  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  St.  Mary's  Col- 
lege, which  was  located  just  north  of  Fred- 
erick City,  Maryland,  where  he  remained 
three  years.  The  college  at  that  time  was 
under  the  management  of  Bishop  Purcell, 
the  noted  Catholic  divine,  one  of  the  best 
posted  and  most  popular  men  in  the  Catho- 


HENRY  SHARER. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


369 


lie  church.  Leaving  St.  Mary's  College,  he 
went  to  Jefferson  College,  located  near  Can- 
onsburg,  Pennsylvania,  an  institution  under 
control  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  pre- 
sided over  by  President  Brown. 

After  remaining  in  Jefferson  College  one 
year  Mr.  Sharer  returned  home  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years,  and  was  variously  em- 
ployed until  his  removal  to  Ogle  county  in 
1839.  On  the  8th  of  September,  that  year, 
he  left  his  old  home  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
the  new  and  growing  west.  In  company 
with  Jacob  Rice  and  his  sister,  Mrs.  Eliza 
Swingley,  who  had  been  in  the  west  but  had 
returned,  they  started  for  Illinois  in  a  doub- 
le-seated carryall.  They  passed  through 
the  states  of  Virginia,  Ohio  and  Indiana,  ar- 
riving in  Ogle  county  in  October,  being 
about  four  weeks  on  the  road.  At  the  time 
of  their  arrival  the  country  was  very  sparse- 
ly settled  and  very  little  of  the  virgin  soil 
had  been  upturned  by  the  plow.  The 
previous  year  our  subject's  father  came  to 
the  county  on  a  visit  and  had  entered  a  half 
section  of  land  which  was  occupied  by  our 
subject,  and  which  he  purchased  in  his  own 
name,  when  the  land  came  into  market  at 
the  regular  price  of  one  dollar  and  twenty- 
five  cents  per  acre. 

On  taking  possession  of  the  land  entered 
by  his  father,  Mr.  Sharer  at  once  com- 
menced its  improvement.  About  twenty 
acres  had  been  broken,  a  portion  of  which 
was  enclosed  by  a  sod  fence.  Erecting  a 
log  cabin  about  fifteen  feet  square,  he  lived 
in  that  while  making  improvements  on  the 
place.  That  cabin  was  replaced  a  few  years 
later  by  a  house  of  hewed  logs. 

In  1842,  in  company  with  EliasSnively, 
Mr.  Sharer  purchased  an  isolated  grove  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  in  what  is 
now    Creston    township,    to    which    he    re- 


moved. A  log  cabin  had  been  erected  on 
the  place  which  for  some  years  was  used  as 
a  tavern.  At  the  time  he  moved  to  his  new 
location,  his  nearest  neighbor  was  seven  and 
a  half  miles  away,  but  his  cabin  being  on 
the  main  thoroughfare,  and  no  house  on  the 
route  nearer  than  twelve  miles,  it  became 
almost  a  necessity  that  it  should  be  thrown 
open  for  the  accommodation  of  the  travel- 
ing public  and  seekers  of  a  new  home.  The 
house  was  on  the  stage  line  between  Galena 
and  Chicago.  In  its  construction  not  a  nail 
had  been  used;  the  roof,  which  was  made  of 
clapboards,  being  held  in  place  by  means  of 
long  poles  weighted  at  each  end.  While 
living  in  this  grove,  which  was  called  Bro- 
dies'  grove,  in  honor  of  a  former  owner,  he 
had  several  peculiar  experiences.  Brodie 
was  a  brother-in-law  of  the  notorious  Dris- 
coll,  and  was  probably  not  one  whit  better, 
having  the  reputation  of  being  a  notorious 
horse  thief,  and  having  to  Bee  the  country 
to  escape  a  like  fate  that  befell  the  Dris- 
colls.  It  was  at  Mr.  Sharer's  tavern  that 
the  Driscolls,  father  and  son,  ate  their  last 
dinner,  being  captured,  taken  to  Oregon, 
and  shot  the  next  morning  at  Washington 
Grove. 

For  some  years  the  nearest  market  was 
Chicago,  and  to  that  village,  as  it  then,  was 
Mr.  Sharer  hauled  his  grain,  and  for  his 
first  frame  house  hauled  the  lumber  from 
that  place.  At  the  time  he  settled  in  Ogle 
county  there  were  but  ten  or  twelve  houses 
in  Oregon,  and  Grand  Detour  and  Oregon 
were  the  only  two  villages  in  tiie  county. 
The  change  that  has  since  been  made  is 
truly  wonderful. 

On  the  eth  of  November,  1S45,  Mr. 
Sharer  was  united  in  marriage  w-ith  Miss 
Cornelia  Motter,  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  born  September  21,  1823. 


370 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


She  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Motter,  also 
a  native  of  the  same  county  and  state.  By 
this  union  five  children  were  born:  Morton 
N.,  born  August  i6,   1S46,  died  October  10, 

1846.  John    Jacob,    born    November    28, 

1847,  is  married  and  has  three  children. 
He  is  living  in  Mexico.  Anna  E.,  born 
September  10,  1849,  married  John  Swing- 
ley,  and  to  them  three  children  were  born. 
They  are  living  in  Mt.  Morris  township, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming.  Luella  M., 
born  August  11,  1851,  married  Went  worth 
Wheeler,  and  they  reside  in  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business.  They  have  one  child, 
Anna  M.  Cornelia  M.,  born  September  19, 
1S53,  died  in  infancy.  Three  days  after 
the  birth  of  the  last  named  Mrs.  Sharer 
gave  up  her  life,  her  death  being  mourned 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  relatives. 

On  the  26th  of  January,  1858,  Mr. 
Sharer  married  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  (Felker) 
Hewitt,  widow  of  Theodore  Hewitt.  She 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
August  II,  1832,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Catherine  (Wingert)  Felker, 
both  being  of  German  descent.  They  carpe 
to  Ogle  county  in  1855.  By  this  last  union 
one  child  was  born,  Charles  H.,  a  graduate 
of  Northwestern  University,  who  married 
Miss  Susannah  McCosh,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  have  fourchildren, — Charles 
Wentworth,  David  Max,  Sarah  Elizabeth 
and  Ruth.  He  is  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  in  Mt.  Morris. 

In  politics  Mr.  Sharer  is  a  Democrat, 
the  principles  of  which  party  he  has  advo- 
cated his  entire  life.  While  living  in  a  Re- 
publican community,  he  has  yet  been  hon- 
ored by  his  fellow-citizens  with  a  number  of 
local  office.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
town  board  eight  years,  was  school  director 


for  five  or  six  years  and  was  postmaster  of 
Mt.  Morris  for  four  years  under  Cleveland. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  Mason,  holding  mem- 
bership with  Mt.  Morris  Lodge,  No.  96,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.  His  wife,  who  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  died 
June  6,  1892.  Well  known  and  highly  es- 
teemed, everybody  has  a  good  word  for 
Henry  Sharer,  the  pioneer. 


E]T)ER  ISAAC  TRUMP,  a  well  known 
minister  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
known  as  the  Brethren  in  Christ,  now  in 
charge  of  the  Chicago  district  of  that  body, 
has  been  a  resident  of  Ogle  county  a  period 
of  thirty-six  years.  He  was  born  near  Can- 
ton, Stark  county,  Ohio,  May  i,  1830.  His 
father,  George  J.  Trump,  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  1S07,  and  was  the  son  of 
John  Trump,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
of  English  parentage.  In  a  very  early  day 
John  Trump  moved  to  Ohio,  and  located  in 
Stark  county,  being  among  its  very  earliest 
settlers.  He  located  in  the  dense  forest, 
erected  his  cabin  and  commenced  clearing 
off  the  timber  in  order  to  cultivate  the  soil. 
At  that  time  Indians  were  still  very  numer- 
ous in  the  vicinity. 

On  the  old  homestead  of  his  father, 
George  J.  Trump  grew  to  manhood,  receiv- 
ing a  limited  education  in  the  pioneer  schools. 
In  Stark  county,  Ohio,  he  married  Miss 
Rachel  Weaver,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Valentine  W'eaver,  who  moved  from 
Hagerstown,  Maryland,  to  Ohio  in  an  early 
day.  By  this  union  there  were  three  sons 
and  three  daughters:  Isaac,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  William,  a  farmer  of  Stark 
county,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Sarah  Gibbs,  a  widow, 
residing  in  Ohio;  Lydia,  wife  of  Daniel 
Smith,  of  Stark  county,  Ohio;  and  Levina, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


371 


wife  of  John  Barnett,  of  the  same  county 
and  state. 

George  J.  Trump  was  a  farmer  and  man- 
ufacturer of  lumber,  liaving  on  his  farm  a 
saw  mill,  from  which  he  supplied  much  of 
the  lumber  that  was  used  in  the  city  of 
Canton  in  the  early  days.  From  that  same 
mill  he  furnished  considerable  lumber  to  the 
Pennsylvania  Central  railroad  when  it  was 
being  constructed.  He  was  an  active,  en- 
terprising and  successful  business  man,  and 
was  well  known  throughout  northern  Ohio. 
His  entire  life  was  spent  in  his  native  coun- 
ty, where  his  death  occurred  February  5, 
1 88 1.  His  wife  survived  him  some  years, 
passing  away  in  January,   1896. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  his  native  county  and  in 
the  home  of  his  parents,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  after  he  attained  his  majority. 
His  educational  advantages  were  quite  mea- 
ger, but  he  received  a  good  business  train- 
ing in  his  father's  lumber  ofBce  and  in  the 
mill.  Referring  to  his  early  life  and  expe- 
rience, Elder  Trump  thus  writes. 

"In  1S38,  father  purchased  the  Rohrer 
farm,  two  miles  east  of  Canton,  and  on  the 
place  was  a  sawmill  on  the  stream  calleti 
Hnnishiling,  with  power  to  nm  the  mill  du- 
ring the  year.  At  that  place  I  spent  many 
happy  days,  the  cares  of  life  being  but  few. 
I  worked  on  the  farm  during  the  summer, 
and  during  the  winter  was  obliged  to  ride 
the  horses  over  the  grain  in  the  old  log  barn 
or  stable.  This  or  the  tlail,  was  the  only 
way  we  had  to  thresh  our  grain.  When 
this  was  done  and  there  was  nothing  else  to 
do  I  had  the  blessed  privilege  of  going 
through  the  dense  forest  to  a  little  log  shan- 
ty, called  a  school  house,  with  a  few  win- 
dows, slabs  for  benches,  wooden  pins  in  the 
logs  with  boards  laid  on  them  for  promoted 


scholars  to  scribble  on,  and  teachers  that 
would  rank  in  the  third  or  fourth  degree. 
The  first  morning  of  their  appearance  was  a 
scare  to  the  children,  as  they  came  with  a 
handful  of  gads.  This  was  called  the  gad 
system.  Then  the  result,  if  the  mind  did 
not  work,  as  they  called  it,  they  would  mark 
the  back.  Thus  it  would  continue  for  two 
or  three  months. 

"In  1845,1  was  obliged  to  leave  the 
farm  and  help  in  the  mill,  and  there  spent 
many  a  long  day,  and  often  until  two  o'clock 
at  night,  when  father  would  take  charge 
until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  it 
was  my  turn  again.  It  was  as  natural  for 
me  when  in  a  dangerous  place  to  call  on  the 
Lord  to  help  as  to  eat  when  I  was  hungry. 
This  was  about  the  experience  of  all  on  this 
line.  At  said  time  a  brother,  named  George, 
four  years  old,  was  drowned  near  the  mill, 
on  a  beautiful  Sunday  evening.  Oh,  how 
sad!  We  did  not  miss  him  until  the  evening 
meal,  when  every  seat  at  the  table  was  oc- 
cupied but  the  "high-backed  chair. "  Today, 
when  I  see  an  empty  chair,  I  think  of  that 
solemn  event.  In  1844,  my  parents  sent 
me  to  the  German  Reformed  church  to  cat- 
echise, as  they  called  it.  After  going  once 
a  week  for  five  or  six  weeks,  I  was  sprinkled, 
or  baptized  as  they  called  it.  By  thus  do- 
ing I  was  received  into  the  church,  but  am 
sorry  to  say  had  no  salvation  until  I  re- 
pented and  was  truly  and  hopefully  con- 
verted to  God.  I  was  then  baptized  by 
immersion.  This  is  salvation,  and  when 
thus  saved  we  know  it." 

Elder  Trump  was  married  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  March  27,  1S54,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Bowers,  a  native  of  Blair  county, 
Pennsylvania,  by  which  union  there  were 
four  children:  Jeremiah  W.,  a  farmer  of 
Buffalo  township;  Henry,  a  minister  of  the 


37^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


German  Baptist,  or  Brethren,  church,  re- 
siding in  Buffalo  township;  Isaac  B.,  who 
resides  near  Jackson,  Tennessee,  and  Irvine, 
who  carries  on  tlic  old  home  farm  in  Pine 
Creek  township. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Trump  purchased 
a  forty-acre  tract  of  land  in  the  timber,  on 
which  was  a  log  cabin  and  a  steam  saw- 
mill. He  at  once  commenced  clearing  the 
land,  and  the  same  season  erected  a  good 
residence,  at  the  same  time  operating  the 
sawmill.  For  the  next  eight  years  he  did 
the  work  of  two  men  at  the  mill,  while  still 
carrying  on  his  larm.  He  then  sold  the 
land,  but  retained  the  mill,  purchasing  an- 
other farm  in  the  vicinity,  which  he  culti- 
vated some  two  or  three  years,  in  connection 
with  his  milling  business.  He  then  sold  the 
mill,  but  retained  the  farm  six  years  longer, 
engaging  exclusively  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  1S63  Mr.  Trump  sold  his  farm  in  Ohio 
and  came  to  Illinois,  arriving  in  Dixon  April 
7  of  that  year.  He  did  not  remain  there, 
however,  but  purchased  a  farm  in  Pine 
Creek  township.  Ogle  county,  known  as  the 
Brubaker  farm,  where  he  actively  engaged 
in  farming  for  twenty  years.  He  then 
moved  to  Polo,  where  he  purchased  ten 
acres  of  land  and  built  the  residence  where 
he  now  resides.  While  yet  residing  on  the 
farm,  his  wife  dietl  March  13,  1876,  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Polo. 
She  was  a  noble  woman,  well  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  her,  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist,  known  as  Brethren  in  Christ, 
church,  and  died  in  the  assurance  of  faith. 
The  Elder,  in  speaking  of  this  wife,  said: 
"In  the  fall  of  1855  she  was  truly  and 
hopefully  converted  to  God,  which  was  an 
event  in  the  history  of  my  life  that  I  shall 
never  forget.  It  was  the  loudest  call  that 
ever  came  to  me.      I  do  not  think  anything 


less  could  have  moved  me  to  think  how 
poor  and  needy  I  was,  with  all  my  church- 
isms.  Her  Christian  life  was  a  constant 
sermon  to  me.  What  a  blessing  it  would 
be  if  every  home  had  Christian  parents.  It 
would  truly  be  heaven  on  earth  begun." 

Some  three  years  after  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  in  Albany,  Whiteside  county, 
Illinois,  December  22,  1879,  Mr.  Trump 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Mary 
Winger,  a  widow,  and  daughter  of  Abraham 
Zook,  an  early  settler  of  Whiteside  county, 
where,  a  child  of  eleven  years,  Mrs.  Trump 
was  taken,  and  where  she  grew  to  woman- 
hood, receiving  her  education  in  the  public 
schools.  She  there  married  John  G.  Win- 
ger, a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade.  After  their  marriage  they 
located  at  Shannon,  Illinois,  where  his 
death  occurred  October  16,  1870.  By  her 
marriage  with  Mr.  Trump  she  is  the  mother 
of  one  son,  Clayton  E.,  who  is  yet  residing 
at  home. 

Elder  Trump  was  converted  when  about 
thirty  years  old,  uniting  with  the  German 
Baptist  church,  having  faith  in  the  apostolic 
teachings  of  that  body.  He  soon  after  be- 
came an  active  worker  in  the  church,  and 
was  ordained  a  deacon,  serving  in  that 
office  seven  or  eight  years.  He  was  then 
elected  to  the  ministry,  second  degree,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  about  ten  years, 
being  then  promoted  to  the  eldership,  or 
bishopric,  which  is'the  third  degree.  While 
still  actively  engaged  on  his  farm,  he  trav- 
eled much  in  the  interest  of  the  church, 
devoting  about  one-half  his  time  to  minis- 
terial labors.  Since  removing  to  Polo  he 
has  devoted  the  whole  of  his  time  to  the 
work  of  the  church,  proclaiming  the  un- 
searchable riches  of  Christ,  and  teaching 
the  simplicity  of  His  gospel.      He  is  one  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


373 


the  best  known  among  the  Brethren,  hav- 
ing visited  churches  in  Illinois,  Indiana, 
Iowa,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Missouri,  Penn- 
sylvania, Michigan  and  Canada.  His  friends 
are  many  wherever  known,  and  his  highest 
aim  is  to  do  his  Master's  will  faithfully  and 
well. 


GEORGE  H.  SHARLAND.  — Honored 
and  respected  by  all,  there  is  no  man 
in  Ogle  county  who  occupies  a  more  envia- 
ble position  in  bus  ness  circles  than  Mr. 
Sharland,  the  well-known  dealer  in  granite 
and  marble  monuments  at  Rochelle,  not 
alone  on  account  of  the  brilliant  success  he 
has  achieved,  but  also  on  account  of  the 
honorable,  straightforward  business  policy 
he  has  ever  followed.  He  possesses  untiring 
energy,  is  quick  of  perception,  forms  his 
plans  readily  and  is  determined  in  their  exe- 
cution; and  his  close  application  to  business 
and  excellent  management  have  brought  to 
him  the  high  degree  of  prosperity  which  is 
to-day  his. 

Mr.  Sharland  was  born  June  14,  1854, 
in  Torquay,  Devonshire,  England,  a  son  of 
George  and  Sarah  (Shapley)  Sharland.  He 
is  the  oldest  of  their  three  children,  the 
others  being  Ellen,  wife  of  Emil  Hemmer, 
of  Chicago;  and  Charles,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  nickle-plating  business  in  Denver,  Colo- 
rado. The  father  died  in  1866  and  the 
mother  subsequently  married  R.  E.  Edg- 
combe,  who  died  in  Denver,  where  she  now 
makes  her  home.  Our  subject's  paternal 
grandfather,  John  Sharland,  was  also  en- 
gaged in  the  marble  and  granite  business 
in  Torquay,  England,  for  fity-four  years, 
and  was  then  succeeded  by  our  subject's 
father,  who  continued  operations  there  until 
his  death  in    1866.      The  business  was  car- 


40 


ried  on  by  the  family  for  the  following  two 
years,  and  after  the  mother's  second  mar- 
riage, her  husband  had  charge  of  the  same 
for  one  year.  In  1870  the  family  emigrated 
to  America  and  located  in  Brantford,  On- 
tario, Canada. 

During  his  boyhood  George  H.  Sharland 
commenced  learning  marble  cutting  with 
his  father  and  in  1871  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  completed  his  apprenticeship.  As 
business  was  dull  along  his  line  during  the 
panic  of  1873,  he  left  the  city  and  went  to 
Sycamore,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  with  N.  Latten  for  two  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  came 
to  Rochelle.  On  the  loth  of  March, 
1875,  in  company  with  his  stepfather,  he 
established  his  present  business.  The  part- 
nership only  existed  a  little  over  a  year 
and  since  then  Mr.  Sharland  had  been 
alone  in  business.  From  a  humble  begin- 
ning the  business  has  increased  until  it  is 
now  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  northern  Illi- 
nois outside  of  Chicago,  and  he  has  probably 
erected  more  fine  and  costly  monuments  than 
any  one  in  the  business  outside  of  the  large 
cities  of  the  state.  He  understands  thor- 
oughly every  detail  of  the  business,  is  a 
practical  mechanic  himself,  and  much  of 
his  success  is  due  to  his  careful  methods  of 
filling  orders.  His  trade  is  not  merely  local, 
but  he  has  received  orders  from  distant 
points  as  far  west  as  Nebraska  and  Los  An- 
geles, California,  and  his  present  business 
amounts  to  about  thirteen  thousand  dollars 
annually.  The  monuments  manufactured 
by  him  compare  favorably  in  superior  work- 
manship and  artistic  skill  with  those  pro- 
duced by  any  establishment  of  the  kind  in 
the  west.  All  the  work  in  his  shop  is  done 
under  his  personal  supervision,  and  his 
productions    prove  him    to    be    not  only  a 


374 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


skilled  mechanic  but  an  artist  and  sculptor 
of  undoubted  talent.  Having  business  re- 
lations with  the  largest  and  leading  quar- 
ries of  United  States  and  Europe,  he  has 
facilities  for  securing  the  best  materials  at 
a  minimum  price  and  these  advantages  he 
shares  with  his  patrons. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1877,  Mr. 
Sharland  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Mary  (Burton)  Stringfellow,  widow  of  Clark 
Stringfellow.  The  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  by  her  former  marriage 
had  three  children,  one  of  whom,  Dollie, 
died  in  childhood.  She  others  made  their 
home  with  our  subject  until  their  marriage. 
They  are  Nettie,  now  the  wifa  of  Horace  E. 
Carr,  who  is  engaged  in  the  job  printing 
business  in  Cleveland,  Ohio;  and  James  P., 
superintendent  of  the  Union  Central  Tele- 
phone Company,  of  Fremont,  Ohio.  Two 
children  were  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  but  both  died  in  infancy.  Politically 
Mr.  Sharland  has  always  been  a  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  but  aside  from 
voting  takes  no  active  part  in  political  af- 
fairs, preferring  to  give  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  interests. 


CHARLES  B.  NOBLE,  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  on  his  pleasant  farm,  on  sec- 
tion 8,  Buffalo  township,  and  which  is  with- 
in one  and  one  half  miles  of  the  corporate 
limits  of  Polo,  and  known  as  the  Winters 
farm,  is  an  almost  life-long  resident  of  the 
county.  He  was  born  in  Winnebago  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  December  5,  1838,  and  is  the 
son  of  Daniel  Noble,  a  native  of  Williams- 
town,  Massachusetts,  born  in  1S15.  The 
family  are  of  English  origin,  and  was  among 
the  pioneers  of  that  state.  Daniel  Noble 
was  a   graduate    of   Willianistown    College. 


In  1835  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Jo  Daviess  county,  and  was  therefore  num- 
bered among  its  pioneers.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Ogle  county,  November  2,  1837,  to 
Miss  Sarah  B.  Waterbury,  a  native  of  New 
York,  and  daughter  of  John  and  Phoebe 
Waterbury,  also  natives  of  the  Empire 
state,  but  who  were  pioneers  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty, locating  at  Eagle  Springs  in  1836.  Soon 
after  their  marriage,  Daniel  Noble  and  his 
wife  moved  to  Winnebago  county,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  March,  1S39.  After 
his  death,  Mrs.  Noble  returned  to  the  home 
of  her  father,  where  she  remained  until  her 
marriage,  February  30,  1845,  with  George 
D.  Dement.  By  this  second  marriage  she 
became  the  mother  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  John  E.  and  Daniel  W.  are 
deceased.  Wallace  E.  resides  in  the  state 
of  Washington.  Mrs.  Phoebe  Buno  and 
Mrs.  Louisa  Dallam  reside  in  Denver,  Col- 
orado. Helen  E.  makes  her  home  with  our 
subject,  with  whom  she  has  spent  the  great- 
er part  of  her  life.  Frank  L.  resides  in 
Alaska.  Mr.  Dement  died  in  1863,  and 
Mrs.  Dement  then  made  her  home  with  her 
eldest  son,  Mr.  Noble,  until  she,  too,  was 
called  to  rest,  July  15,   1893. 

Charles  B.  Noble  was  the  only  child  of 
his  parents.  After  the  death  of  his  father 
he  was  taken  and  reared  by  his  grandfather 
Waterbury,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
he  was  si.xteen  years  old.  His  education 
was  received  in  the  school  at  Eagle  Springs, 
and  well  does  he  remember  one  morning 
when  about  ten  years  old,  ingoing  to  school 
across  the  prairie,  and  when  within  one-half 
mile  from  his  home,  in  a  hazel  thicket,  a 
prairie  wolf  confronted  him  and  wanted  the 
first  claim  to  the  nice,  crisp  doughnuts  in 
his  dinner  bag.  The  small  boy  had  no  no- 
tion of  going  dinnerless  and  stood  his  ground 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


?75 


until  Mr.  Wolf  sneaked  off  into  the  brush 
again.  Keeping  a  sharp  look  behind,  the 
boy  lost  no  time  in  reaching  the  school 
house.  In  those  days  prairie  wolves  fre- 
quently invaded  the  farms  of  the  settlers. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Noble, 
in  earnest,  commenced  life  for  himself, 
purchasing  at  that  time  three  yoke  of  o.xen 
on  time,  and  giving  his  personal  note  in 
payment.  He  commenced  breaking  prairie 
in  Whiteside  county,  under  contract,  mak- 
ing his  home  with  his  mother.  The  first 
season  he  broke  one  hundred  acres  of  land 
and  made  three  hundred  dollars.  From 
the  proceeds  he  paid  for  his  team  and 
plows,  and  then  followed  breaking  for  two 
more  seasons.  In  that  time  he  turned  over 
about  three  hundred  acres  of  the  virgin  soil, 
at  times  using  as  many  as  seven  yoke  of 
o.xen  to  the  plow.  Often  his  plow  would 
stick  so  tight  in  the  red  roots  and  "devil's 
shoe  strings"  that  he  had  to  take  two  yoke 
of  oxen  and  hitch  them  to  the  back  of  the 
plow  to  haul  it  out.  With  the  prairie  grass 
knee-deep  and  wet  with  dew  until  about 
eleven  o'clock  each  day,  did  not  make  the 
work  a  pleasant  one. 

Renting  a  farm  in  what  is  now  Eagle 
Point  township,  he  commenced  farming, 
and  in  i860  had  a  crop  of  about  sixty  acres. 
In  the  spring  of  1861  he  put  in  a  crop  and 
harvested  the  small  grain.  The  war  for  the 
union  was  now  in  progress  and  men  were  in 
demand.  In  response  to  the  call  of  the 
president,  on  the  5th  of  September,  1S61, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Seventh  Illinois 
Volunteer  Cavalry,  at  the  same  time  fur- 
nishing to  the  government  two  horses,  one 
of  which  he  used  himself  and  the  other  by  a 
comrade.  With  his  regiment  he  joined  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  was  soon  after- 
wards detailed  Us  one  of  the  body  guard  for 


General  Rosencrans.  Just  before  the  battle 
oi  luka,  while  on  detailed  duty,  he  was  in- 
jured somewhat,  and  fever  setting  in  he  was 
taken  to  the  field  hospital,  and  a  short  time 
afterwards  was  moved  north  to  the  hospital 
at  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  As  soon  as  strong 
enough,  he  was  detailed  as  warden,  and  also 
for  a  time  was  acting  steward. 

In  1863  he  was  transferred  to  the  Vet- 
eran Reserve  Corps  and  sent  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  from  there  to  Camp  Douglas, 
Chicago,  to  guard  prisoners.  He  remained 
at  the  latter  place  until  February,  1864, 
when  he  was  ordered  to  Washington  City, 
and  there  put  with  the  troops  in  defense  of 
the  city,  participating  in  the  battle  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  city,  near  Forts  Stevens 
and  DeRussey.  Our  army  succeeded  in 
driving  the  enemy  back,  thus  saving  the 
capital.  While  with  that  corps,  he  served 
a  part  of  the  time  as  drummer.  After  three 
years  of  faithful  service,  he  was  mustered 
out  September  5,   1864. 

Returning  home  after  receiving  his  dis- 
charge, he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  the  old  Waterbury  home- 
stead and  again  engaged  in  farming.  He 
purchased  the  place  on  time,  and  after  a 
number  of  years  paid  off  the  obligation,  but 
it  was  after  a  long  and  hard  struggle.  He 
later  added  many  improvements  to  the 
place  and  there  continued  to  reside  until 
1876,  when  he  sold  and  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm,  a  place  of  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  A  part  of  the  purchase  price  of  this 
farm  he  secured  time  on,  but  has  been  so 
fortunate  as  to  pay  off  the  entire  claim,  and 
in  addition  has  made  some  substantial  im- 
provements. 

Mr.  Noble  was  married  in  Ogle  county, 
November  8,  1865,  to  Miss  Phebe  Roberts, 
who  was    born    in  Whiteside    county,    Illi- 


n(i 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


nois,  February  15,  1842,  but  was  reared  in 
Ogle  county.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Orrin 
and  Julia  A.  (Osterhoudt)  Roberts.  By 
this  union  there  are  ten  children — Jesse  D., 
Addie  J.,  Ella  S.,  Harriet  W.,  Esther  H., 
Lena  M.,  Ruth  A.,  Ohve  K.,  Stella  B., 
and  John  Calvin.  The  latter  died  when 
but  four  years  old.  The  first  named  is  liv- 
ing in  a  neat,  substantial  dwelling  built  by 
his  father  near  the  family  residence,  and  is 
now  carrying  on  the  home  farm. 

Politically  Mr.  Noble  is  a  Republican. 
His  grandfather  Waterbury  was  an  Aboli- 
tionist, and  kept  a  station  on  the  under- 
ground railroad,  and  his  views  on  the  "  pe- 
culiar institution  "  he  instilled  into  the  mind 
of  his  grandson,  and  the  lessons  thus  early 
learned  were  never  forgotten.  While  averse 
to  office  holding,  he  yet  served  some  years 
on  the  school  board.  With  one  exception, 
Mr.  Noble  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Polo  Presbyterian  church,  and  endeavor  to 
walk  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Master. 

Mr.  Noble  is  a  natural  mechanic,  and 
for  a  time  was  employed  as  a  traveling 
salesman,  and  in  repairing  and  setting  up 
threshing  machines,  being  with  the  J.  I. 
Case  Company.  For  about  eighteen  years 
he  run  both  horse  and  steam  rigs,  and  made 
a  success  of  it.  He  also  operates  one  of 
the  largest  sorghum  plants  in  northern  Illi- 
nois, and  by  extensive  experimenting  and 
closely  observing  the  results,  he  is  now 
manufacturing  a  very  fine  quality  of  syrup. 
In  the  past  few  years  he  has  manufactured 
over  thirty-five  thousand  gallons  of  superior 
syrup.  Notwithstanding  that  he  has  en- 
gaged in  these  outside  lines,  Mr.  Noble  has 
never  neglected  his  farming.  He  believes 
in  the  thorough  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and 
that  the  farmer  should  give  general  atten- 
tion to  stock  raising,  using  as  far  as  possible 


on  the  farm  all  grain  that  he  raises.  On 
account  of  failing  health,  however,  for  the 
past  twelve  years  he  has  practically  lived  a 
retired  life. 


JOHN  A.  McCREA,  who  is  now  living  a 
retired  life,  was  for  years  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  of  the  business  men  of 
Ogle  county,  of  which  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent since  1865.  He  is  a  native  of  Orange 
county.  New  York,  born  under  the  shadows 
of  the  Catskill  mountains,  September  5, 
1827,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Abigail 
McCrea,  the  father  being  a  native  of  Ire- 
land but  of  Scotch  parentage.  Soon  after 
his  marriage  William  McCrea  with  his 
young  wife  came  to  the  United  States  and 
located  in  Orange  county.  New  York, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  later 
moved  to  Monroe  county,  in  the  same  state, 
where  he  remained  a  number  of  years,  or 
until  he  joined  his  children  in  Ogle  county. 
The  last  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 
Creston,  where  his  death  occurred  April  4, 
1888. 

William  and  Abigail  McCrea  were  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  all  of  whom  grew 
to  mature  years,  and  of  which  number 
three  sons  and  four  daughters  are  yet  living. 
Abraham  settled  in  Malta,  Illinois,  where 
he  engaged  in  business,  but  is  now  deceased. 
Samuel  H.  located  at  Morrison,  Whiteside 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
grain  and  lumber  business.  He  later  re- 
moved to  Chicago  and  became  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  that  city.  He  served 
four  years  as  treasurer  of  Cook  county,  and 
was  president  of  the  board  of  trade  for 
some  years.  He  also  held  other  positions 
of  honor  and  trust  in  that  city,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1895.     John  A.,  the  sub- 


n 


JOHN    A.   McCREA. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


379 


ject  of  this  review,  is  next  in  order  of  birth. 
Leander  located  in  Carroll  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  resided  some  years,  then  moved 
to  Carroll  county,  Missouri,  where  he  is 
now  living.  Alfred  B.  resides  in  Creston, 
and  a  sketch  of  him  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  Mrs.  Catherine  Covey 
is  a  widow  residing  in  Sterling,  Illinois. 
Mrs.  Jane  Parsons  is  a  widow  residing  in 
Carroll,  Iowa,  with  a  son.  Mrs.  Maria  Kit- 
tle is  a  widow,  residing  in  New  Lisbon, 
Wisconsin.  Caroline  is  making  her  home 
with  our  subject. 

John  A.  McCreagrewto  manhood  in  Mon- 
Monroe  county.  New  York,  and  received  a 
good  education  in  the  schools  of  Roches- 
ter, New  York.  Attracted  by  the  dis- 
covery of  gold  in  California,  in  1849,  he 
set  out  for  the  new  Eldorado.  He  went 
by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  taking 
the  steamer  Empire  City  at  New  York,  for 
Chagres,  and  after  crossing  the  isthmus 
took  the  steamer  Oregon  for  San  Francisco, 
arriving  in  that  city  in  November,  1849. 
During  the  first  winter  he  engaged  in  run- 
ning a  boat  across  the  bay,  but  in  the 
spring  of  1850  went  to  the  mines  in  search 
of  the  yellow  metal.  He  continued  mining 
for  two  and  a  half  years  with  very  good 
success,  and  then  returned  home  by  the 
Nicaragua  route  through  Central  America. 
In  due  tinie  he  arrived  at  his  old  home  in 
Rochester,  New  York,  where  he  remained 
until  1854,  when  he  came  west  to  Branch 
county,  Michigan,  and  located  near  Cold- 
water,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  ten 
years.  Selling  his  farm,  he  went  to  Morri- 
son, Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  to  learn  the 
grain  and  lumber  business.  In  1865  he 
moved  to  Creston,  Ogle  county,  and  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  brother  Alfred  B., 
and  here  engaged  in  the  grain,  lumber  and 


coal  business.  They  commenced  in  a 
small  way,  but  later  built  an  elevator  and 
for  many  years  continued  together,  doing  a 
thriving  business,  amounting  from  two  hun- 
dred thousand  to  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars  per  year.  The  partnership  contin- 
ued until  1892,  when  our  subject  withdrew, 
and  has  since  practically  been  living  a  re- 
tired life.  He  has  invested  some  in  real  es- 
tate and  has  two  good  farms  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Creston  aggregating  four  hundred 
and  fifty  acres.  While  yet  in  partnership 
the  brothers  formed  a  stock  company  and 
started  a  tile  factory.  They  built  up  a 
large  trade,  selling  their  products  for  miles 
around. 

Mr.  McCrea  was  married  in  Linnville, 
Illinois,  in  1870,  to  Miss  Clara  E.  Bird,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  William 
Bird,  now  deceased.  She  is  a  well  educated 
lady,  and  previous  to  her  marriage  engaged 
in  teaching.  By  this  union  two  daughters 
were  born,  Ella  B.  and  Florence  E. ,  both 
living  at  home. 

In  1892  Mr.  McCrca  went  to  California 
to  look  after  some  mining  interests  in  which 
he  and  his  brother  were  interested.  He 
returned  again  in  1893  and  spent  the  greater 
part  of  that  year  in  the  mines.  He  has  now 
in  his  possession  some  fine  specimens  of 
gold,  which  he  took  himself  from  the  mines. 
He  has  made  several  trips  to  the  Pacific 
slope,  and  has  spent  two  winters  in  Cali- 
fornia since  retiring  from  business.  In  1896 
he  visited  Havana,  Cuba,  where  he  spent  a 
short  time,  and  during  the  same  trip  visited 
Galveston  and  New  Orleans,  crossed  the 
Rio  Grande  at  El  Paso  into  Mexico,  and  on 
to  southern  California.  He  takes  consider- 
able pleasure  in  traveling,  and  manages  to 
pick  up  a  great  deal  of  information. 

Mrs.  McCrea  is  a  worthy  member  of  the 


3So 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Methodist  church,  and  while  Mr.  McCrea  is 
not  a  member,  he  attends  the  church  with 
his  wife  and  contributes  of  his  means  to  its 
support.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  hold- 
ing membership  with  the  blue  lodge  at  Cres- 
ton,  the  chapter  and  commandery  at  Syca- 
more, and  Medinah  Temple,  Scottish  rite, 
of  Chicago.  He  is  well  known  in  Ogle  and 
adjoining  counties,  having  been  a  resident 
of  this  county  for  thirty-four  years,  a  little 
more  than  a  third  of  a  century.  His  friends 
are  many,  and  they  may  be  found  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  ocean.  With  the 
sturdy  self-reliance  of  the  Scotch  race  he 
has  made  a  success   in  life. 


IRA  METTLER,  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  the  village  of  Creston,  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  state  of  Illinois  since  1840. 
He  was  born  in  Northumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  27,  1S17,  and  is  the 
son  of  Relph  Mettler,  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, born  October  11,  1792,  and  a  grandson 
of  Henry  Mettler,  also  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  who  was  one  of  a  family  of  fif- 
teen children.  On  the  father's  side  the 
family  are  of  German  descent,  but  on  the 
mother's  side  of  English  descent. 

Relph  Mettler,  who  was  a  blacksniith 
by  trade,  grew  to  manhood  in  New  Jersey, 
but  when  a  young  man  moved  to  North- 
uuiberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
married  Mary  Ann  Housewert,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of  Solomon 
Housewert,  of  German  descent.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  nine  children  who 
grew  to  mature  years,  seven  of  whom  are 
yet  living.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Barnum,  a 
widow,  resides  in  Creston.  Ira,  of  this  re- 
view, is  next  in  order  of  birth.  Sarah  is 
deceased.      Mrs.  Rhoda    Dudley   resides   in 


Cayuga  county.  New  York.  Mrs.  Fidelia 
Miller  is  a  widow  residing  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri. Mrs.  Harriet  M.  Powell  is  a  widow 
residing  in  College  Springs,  Iowa.  Mary 
Ann  grew  to  womanhood,  but  is  now  de- 
ceased. William  J.  resides  in  Creston,  Illi- 
nois, and  James  Iliff  lives  in  Great  Falls, 
Montana. 

Relph  Mettler  carried  on  his  trade  a  few 
years  in  Northumberland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  1822  moved  to  Seneca  county. 
New  York,  and  started  a  blacksmith  shop, 
in  which  he  worked  a  few  years,  and  then 
purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  wild  land 
in  Tompkins  county.  New  York,  and  there 
moved  his  family.  He  began  at  once  to 
clear  the  place  of  its  heavy  timber,  prepara- 
tory to  its  cultivation,  and  in  due  time  had 
a  good  farm.  But  the  west  was  now  hold- 
ing out  its  attractions,  and  he  decided  on 
coming  to  Illinois.  In  1840  he  traded  his 
farm  in  New  York  for  land  near  Rockford, 
Illinois,  and  then  came  west  and  set- 
tled on  the  place  which  he  began  to  im- 
prove. In  the  fall  of  1841  he  returned 
easton  business,  and  came  back  by  way 
of  the  great  lakes.  While  on  the  lakes 
he  was  exposed  to  bad  weather,  which 
caused  his  sickness  and  death,  November 
17,  1841.  His  wife  survived  him  many 
years,  dying  May  27,  1876. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Illinois  and  assisted  in  open- 
ing up  tlie  home  farm.  After  his  father's 
death  he  remained  with  his  mother  some 
three  or  four  years,  and  later  purchased  a 
thresher  and  engaged  in  threshing  grain  for 
a  number  of  years  during  the  season.  He 
also  engaged  in  hauling  freight  to  and  from 
Chicago,  and  in  breaking  prairie  for  a  few 
years.  His  first  purchase  of  land  consisted 
of  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  in  Win- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


?8i 


nebago  county,  which  he  improved,  and  in 
1855  purchased  the  old  home  farm,  which 
he  operated  for  three  years.  He  then 
traded  that  farm  for  land  and  town  property 
at  Creston  and  moved  to  the  place,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  in  con- 
nection with  farming.  He  assisted  greatly 
in  building  up  the  town,  and  also  improved 
several  farms,  being  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  and  real  estate  men  in  the 
county. 

In  1850  Mr.  Mettler  went  to  his  native 
state  for  his  grandfather  Housewert.  While 
eone,  in  New  York,  he  met  Miss  Delia 
Young.  It  is  the  old  story.  He  returned 
east,  and  on  the  5th  of  June,  1853,  they 
were  united  in  marriage.  By  this  union 
there  were  three  children,  only  one  of 
whom  is  now  living,  Edna  M.,  wife  of 
Professor  A.  D.  Stowell,  now  of  Hannibal, 
Missouri.  Stella  grew  to  womanhood,  and 
died  August  27,  1876,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years.  Lewis  Burke  died  November 
25,  i860,  at  the  age  of  four  years.  The 
mother  of  these  children  departed  this  life 
February  16,  1864.  She  was  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Congregationalist  church, 
while  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Stowell,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

On  the  26th  of  April,  1870,  in  DeKalb 
county,  Mr.  Mettler  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Riddle,  born  east  of  Kno.x- 
ville,  Tennessee,  and  daughter  of  John  and 
Susan  (Anderson)  Riddle.  Her  father  first 
moved  with  his  family  from  Tennessee  to 
Indiana,  and  in  1S36  moved  to  DeKalb 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  entered  a  tract 
of  several  hundred  acres  of  land  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  business  ability,  and  was  often 
called  on  by  his  neighbors  to  transact  for 
them  some  business.      He  served  as  justice 


of  the  peace,  assessor  and  supervisor,  as 
well  as  in  other  official  positions,  and  prac- 
ticed law  in  the  justices'  courts.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  si.xty-nine  years.  His  wife 
survived  him  a  few  years. 

In  early  life,  Mr.  Mettler  was  an  aboli- 
tionist and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  James  G.  Birney.  On  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party,  he  became  a  Re- 
publican, and  continued  to  vote  that  party 
ticket  for  many  years.  A  strong  temperance 
man,  and  in  favor  of  the  entire  prohibition 
of  the  liquor  traffic,  he  has  for  some  years 
been  voting  the  Prohibition  ticket.  While 
not  desiring  official  position,  he  has  been 
honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  several 
offices  of  honor  and  trust.  He  has  been 
assessor  of  his  township,  road  commissioner, 
member  of  the  town  board,  justice  of  the 
peace  and  police  magistrate,  having  been 
elected  by  a  good  majority.  He  has  also 
served  as  delegate  to  the  county  and  state 
conventions  of  his  party.  Mr.  Mettler  and 
his  wife  are  strong  believers  in  the  Chris- 
tian religion,  taking  the  Bible  as  their  guide 
and  rule  of  practice. 

A  resident  of  northern  Illinois  almost 
three  score  years  Mr.  Mettler  is  well  known, 
especially  in  Winnebago,  DeKalb  and  Ogle 
counties,  and  he  and  his  most  estimable 
wife  are  held  in  high  esteem. 


THOMAS  P.  FRANTZ,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  meat  market  business  at  Hol- 
comb,  Illinois,  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war. 
He  is  a  native  of  Allegany  county,  Mary- 
land, born  September  7,  1841,  and  is  a  son 
of  George  and  Rebecca  (Friendj  Frantz, 
both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of  the  same 
state,  and  of  their  si.\  children,  lour  are  yet 
living — William  B. ,  Thomas  P.,  Joseph,  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


George  D. ;  John  W.  and  Julia  A.  are  de- 
ceased. The  paternal  grandfather,  Joseph 
F"rantz,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  a  man  of  considerable  prominence, 
serving  in  various  local  offices,  including 
justice  of  the  peace  and  county  commis- 
sioner, in  the  latter  office  continuing  four 
years.  In  1S35  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  legislature  and  served  with  signal 
ability.  He  was  a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  a 
great  admirer  of  "  Old  Hickory,"  and  advo- 
cated the  principles  of  the  party  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  about  1850.  George 
Frantz,  the  father,  was  also  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability,  and  also  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  some  years.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and  stock  deal- 
er, and  was  a  well-known  man  in  Allegany 
county,  Maryland. 

Thomas  P.  Frantz,  our  subject,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county 
and  state  and  was  educuted  in  Cumberland, 
Maryland.  Before  he  attained  his  majority 
the  war  for  the  union  was  in  progress,  and 
his  sympathies  being  on  the  side  of  the 
union,  he  enlisted  September  2,  1861,  in 
Company  I,  Second  Maryland  Volunteer 
Infantry,  at  Cumberland,  Maryland,  to 
serve  three  years  or  during  the  war.  For  a 
little  more  than  three  years  he  was  in  active 
service,  and  was  many  times  under  fire  of 
the  enemy.  At  one  time  at  Suspension 
Bridge,  with  three  others,  he  volunteered 
to  lay  plank  across  the  bridge.  The  bullets 
rained  like  hail  from  the  enemy's  guns,  but 
they  accomplished  the  work  which  they  set 
out  to  do  without  receiving  a  scratch.  The 
experience,  however,  was  not  very  pleasant 
and  he  would  not  care  to  repeat  it  unless 
absolutely  necessary.  On  the  31st  of  Oc- 
tober, 1864,  at  Cumberland,  Maryland,  with 
his  regiment  he  was  mustered  out  of  service. 


Returning  to  his  home,  after  receiving 
his  discharge,  Mr.  Frantz  again  commenced 
work  at  his  trade  of  stone  mason,  and  there 
remained  for  two  years,  at  which  time  he 
determined  on  emigrating  to  Illinois.  In 
1867  he  located  near  Mt.  Morris,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  in  connection  with  farming, 
and  there  remained  some  years.  In  1875 
he  came  to  Holcomb  and  engaged  in  his 
present  business  and  has  here  since  contin- 
ued to  reside,  building  up  a  most  satisfac- 
tory trade. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1870,  Mr.  Frantz 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  C. 
Hastings,  a  native  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  Edmond  Hastings,  who  for 
many  years  had  been  a  resident  of  Ogle 
county.  By  this  union  there  was  born  one 
son,  John  A.,  who,  grown  to  manhood,  is 
now  in  partnership  with  his  father,  and  is  a 
young  man  of  good  business  ability. 

In  politics  Mr.  Frantz  is  an  uncompro- 
mising Republican,  and  while  never  aspiring 
to  official  position,  has  yet  served  as  town- 
ship collector  and  other  minor  positions. 
In  whatever  he  has  been  asked  to  do  he  has 
tried  to  do  well.  He  is  a  good  citizen  and 
is  held  in  high  esteem. 


GEORGE  M.  REED,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  Daysville, 
is  a  well  known  citizen  of  the  county,  hav- 
ing been  identified  with  its  interests  for 
some  sixty  years.  He  was  born  February 
7,  1836,  in  Gilsom,  New  Hampshire,  and  is 
a  son  of  Lyman  and  Mehitable  (Clark)  Reed, 
the  former  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  De- 
cember 25,  1807,  and  the  latter  of  New 
Hampshire,  born  April  24,  18 14.  Lyman 
Reed  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  followed 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3^3 


that  occupation  during  almost  his  entire  life. 
In  1839  he  located  at  Daysville,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  becoming  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  the 
place  and  of  Ogle  county.  In  early  life  he 
was  politically  a  Democrat,  but  on  account 
of  the  attitude  of  his  party  on  the  slavery 
question,  he  became  a  Republican  on  the 
organization  of  the  party,  and  continued  to 
advocate  its  principles  until  called  from 
this  life.  For  many  years  he  served  as 
postmaster  of  Daysville,  was  constable  for  a 
time,  and  also  filled  the  office  of  school  di- 
rector. His  death  occurred  January  8,  1866. 
His  wife  survived  him  many  years,  dying 
April  28,  1886.  They  were  the  parents  of 
si.x  children.  George  M.  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Mary  died  in  infancy.  Virgil 
E.  is  a  farmer  of  Nassau  township,  of  whom 
mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Lucy  i.'\.,  Bemis,  Edwin  E.  and  John  L.,  all 
reside  in  Oregon,    Illinois. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  three 
years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Ogle  county,  and  since  that  time  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  Daysville.  In  that  vil- 
lage he  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  its  schools 
received  a  common-school  education.  In 
his  youth  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade 
with  his  father,  and  followed  that  occupation 
for  some  years.  He  continued  to  reside  at 
home  and  assisted  his  father  until  he  was 
twenty-two  years  old,  when  he  commenced 
life  for  himself.  On  the  ist  of  November, 
1858,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  A.  Thompson,  a  native  of  England, 
born  November  I,  1834.  She  died  Septem- 
ber 20,  1873,  leaving  three  children.  Frank 
E.  is  a  prominent  attorney  in  Oregon,  and  is 
present  county  judge  of  Ogle  county,  having 
been  elected  to  that  position  in  the  fall  of 
1898.      He  married  Cora  Pankhurst,  daugh- 

41 


ter  of  the  bookkeeper  of  the  First  National 
Bank  at  Oregon.  Alice  E.,  now  deceased, 
married  Clarence  Gardner,  a  well  known 
attorney  of  Rochelle,  Illinois.  One  child 
was  born  of  their  union,  Freddie.  Georgia 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Reed  was 
celebrated  November  26,  1874,  when  he 
wedded  Miss  Elmira  A.  McCloud,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio,  December  11,  1847,  the 
daughter  of  Stephen  and  Ruth  (Simpson) 
McCloud,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  who  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
and  from  that  state  to  Daysville,  Illinois,  in 
1849. 

In  1868  Mr.  Reed  opened  a  general 
store  in  Daysville,  in  which  line  of  business 
he  has  continued  to  the  present  time  with  a 
fair  degree  of  success.  His  acquaintance 
throughout  the  county  is  very  extensive,  and 
wherever  known  he  is  held  in  the  highest 
esteem.  In  1859  he  was  elected  constable 
in  his  township  and  served  eight  years.  He 
has  also  served  as  township  collector  a  num- 
ber of  years,  as  school  director  for  twenty 
years,  and  as  town  clerk  for  twenty-seven 
years,  and  is  yet  filling  the  latter  office. 
For  twenty-three  years  he  has  served  as 
postmaster,  and  is  yet  occupying  that  posi- 
tion. For  a  time  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows,  but  does  not  now  affiliate 
with  the  order.  Religiously,  he  is  a  Meth- 
odist, holding  membership  with  the  church 
at  Daysville.  In  politics  he  is  a  thorough 
Republican,  and  has  voted  the  party  ticket 
since  attaining  his  majority.  As  a  business 
man  he  is  enterprising  and  reliable  at  all 
times.  He  carries  a  general  stock  of  such 
goods  as  are  in  demand  in  his  section.  An 
almost  lifelong  resident  of  the  county,  he 
has  not  only  witnessed  its  growth  and 
development,  but  has  contributed  his  part 


384 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


in  making  the  county  occupj'  its  present 
exalted  rank  among  the  counties  of  the 
state. 


MAJOR  J.  G.  GAMMON,  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  war,  and  for  nineteen  years 
connected  with  the  Illinois  National  Guards, 
is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  the  village  of 
Creston.  He  is  a  native  of  England,  born 
in  the  city  of  Bristol,  July  6,  1840.  His  fa- 
ther, Robert  Gammon,  was  also  a  native  of 
England,  and  was  professionally  a  sailor, 
following  the  sea  for  many  years.  His  wife 
died  when  the  Major  was  but  a  small  lad, 
and  he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  Henry 
Gammon,  who  had  no  children,  and  was 
living  in  Devonshire,  England.  In  1854, 
he  accompanied  his  uncle  and  aunt  to  the 
United  States,  the  family  first  locating  near 
Buffalo,  New  York,  where  they  remained 
two  years.  In  1856,  they  came  to  Illinois 
and  made  a  permanent  location  and  home 
in  De  Kalb  county,  where  the  uncle  pur- 
chased raw  land  and  opened  up  a  farm. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with 
his  uncle  and  assisted  in  the  improvement 
of  the  farm  until  January  4,  1862.  His 
adopted  country  was  then  in  the  midst  of  a 
Civil  war  and  was  calling  for  men.  He  had 
lived  long  enough  in  the  country  to  become 
attached  to  its  institutions,  and  to  all  in- 
tents and  purposes  he  was  a  thorough  Amer- 
ican. On  the  date  mentioned  he  enlisted 
in  Company  L,  Fifteenth  Illinois  Cavalry, 
and  at  once  went  with  his  regiment  to  the 
front.  On  his  arrival  at  the  scene  of  ac- 
tivities, he  was  put  on  detached  duty,  form- 
ing one  of  the  body  guard  of  General  Hal- 
leck,  and  later  he  was  in  like  service  under 
General  Grant.  At  Corinth,  he  rejoined  his 
regiment,    and   with    it    participated    in   the 


battle  at  that  place.  He  was  also  in  the 
engagements  at  Bear  Creek,  Tuscumbia, 
and  later  was  in  Arkansas,  hunting  and  skir- 
mishing with  bushwhackers  and  guerrillas. 
At  the  close  of  his  term  of  service,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1865,  he  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Helena,  Arkansas. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Gammon 
returned  home,  but  he  was  not  content  to 
remain  as  his  adopted  country  was  still  en- 
gaged in  the  struggle,  and  accordingly,  on 
the  6th  of  March,  186 15,  he  re-enlisted  for 
one  year,  and  joined  Company  G,  Fourth 
Regiment,  General  Hancock's  Veteran  Vol- 
unteer Corps,  and  went  to  Washington, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  doing  guard  duty 
until  the  final  close  of  the  war.  He  later 
was  sent  to  Camp  Chase,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  garrison  duty.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  second  term  of  service  he  was  dis- 
charged at  Todd's  barracks,  Columbus, 
Ohio. 

Mr.  Gammon  again  returned  to  De  Kalb 
count)-,  and  located  in  Malta,  but  soon  after 
made  a  trip  to  England,  and  visited  his  na- 
tive city.  He  was  married  May  31,  18C6, 
to  Miss  Jane  Bennett,  who  was  born  in 
Devonshire,  England,  and  a  daughter  of 
Henry  Bennett,  also  of  Devonshire.  Soon 
after  his  marriage  he  returned  with  his  bride 
to  his  home  in  De  Kalb  county  and  took 
charge  of  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  and  soon 
after  purchased  the  place,  and  took  care  of 
his  uncle  and  aunt  in  their  declining  years. 
He  continued  to  operate  the  farm,  which 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  fine  land,  until  1875,  when  he  removed 
to  the  village  of  Creston,  which  has  since 
been  his  home. 

In  1876  Mr.  Gammon  joined  the  Illinois 
National  Guards,  and  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant   of    his  company,    and   was 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


3S5 


soon  promoted  to  the  captaincy.  While 
serving  with  that  rank  he  took  the  company 
to  Braidwood  to  preserve  peace  and  protect 
property  at  that  place.  In  18S0  he  was 
commissioned  major  of  the  first  battalion, 
third  regiment.  While  in  the  service  he 
was  called  out  a  number  of  times.  During 
the  great  strike  at  Chicago  in  1894,  he 
spent  twenty-one  days  with  his  battalion  in 
that  city.  He  made  a  good  and  efficient 
officer,  and  the  men  all  had  confidence  in 
him. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gammon  have  three  chil- 
dren. Frank  A.  is  married  and  is  carrying 
on  the  home  farm  in  De  Kalb  county. 
Henry  Bennett  is  a  graduate  of  the  medical 
department  of  Michigan  University,  at  Ann 
Arbor.  During  the  Spanish-American  war 
he  was  hospital  steward  of  the  Thirty-fourth 
Michigan  Infantry,  and  was  with  his  regi- 
ment at  Santiago.  After  his  return  from 
the  service  he  was  taken  sick,  and  on  his 
recovery  was  placed  in  the  hospital  service 
at  Ann  Arbor.  Jessie  E.  is  now  the  wife 
of  B.  L.  Kittle,  of  Chicago,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Paul  and  Mildred.  In  the 
family  of  Frank  A.  Gammon  are  three  chil- 
dren, Neal,  Maud   A.    and    Clifford  Dewey. 

The  first  presidential  vote  cast  by  Ma- 
jor Gammon  was  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in 
1864.  He  has  been  a  stanch  Republican 
from  that  time  to  the  present,  and  has 
voted  for  every  presidential  nominee  of  the 
party.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  holding 
membership  with  the  blue  lodge  at  Creston, 
the  chapter  at  Rochelle  and  the  command- 
ery  at  Sycamore.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Post  No. 
12,  at  Sycamore.  Mrs.  Gammon  is  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  Congregationalist 
church,  in  the  work  of  which  she  takes  a 
lively  interest.      Both   are  highly  esteemed 


in  Creston  and  wherever  known,  the  Major 
having  many  friends,  not  only  in  De  Kalb 
and  Ogle  counties,  but  throughout  the 
state,  wherever  his  duties  have  called  him. 


DELOS  W.  BAXTER.— Not  by  gift  or 
purchase  or  by  influence  can  one  rise 
at  the  bar,  but  solely  by  merit  must  he  gain 
his  reputation,  his  ability  winning  him 
greatness,  and  enabling  him  to  pass  on  the 
highway  of  life  many  who  had  accomplished 
part  of  the  journey  ere  he  started  out. 
Among  the  members  of  the  legal  fraternity 
in  Ogle  county,  who  have  won  for  them- 
selves prominent  places  in  the  ranks  of  their 
professional  brethren,  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  and  who 
is  successfully  engaged  in  practicing  in  his 
native  city.  He  was  born  on  the  29th  of 
July,  1857,  in  Rochelle,  where  he  was  a 
pupil  of  the  common  and  high  schools  until 
his  eighteenth  }'ear,  when  he  entered  the 
law  department  of  the  Iowa  State  Univer- 
sity, graduating  in  i88r,  having  previously 
read  in  the  office  of  M.  D.  Hathaway.  He 
commenced  practicing  for  himself  on  the 
1st  of  July,  1882,  and  with  the  exception 
of  a  short  tmie  with  Mr.  Hathaway  and 
later  with  Mr.  Gardner,  he  has  conducted 
his  practice  alone. 

At  Huron,  South  Dakota,  our  subject 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Georgia  Ambrose, 
formerly  of  White  Rock  township.  Ogle 
county,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Ann 
(Hessj  Ambrose.  Politically,  Mr.  Ba.xter 
is  a  Republican,  who  staunchly  upholds  the 
principles  of  his  party.  He  has  been  state 
senator  since  1896.  He  is  vice-president  of 
the  Rochelle  National  Bank.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and 
chapter,    of  Rochelle,   and  Rockford  com- 


386 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


mandery,  K.  T.,  also  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a  striking  ex- 
amble  of  the  self-made  American,  who 
commands  the  respect  of  all  who  meet  him. 

The  father  of  this  gentleman,  Deloss 
A.  Baxter,  was  born  near  Ogdensburg,  New 
York,  on  the  23d  of  December,  1826.  He 
attended  the  common  schools  and  the  Can- 
ton Academy,  of  Canton,  New  York,  until 
the  age  of  seventeen,  when  he  learned  the 
harness-maker's  trade,  serving  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years.  During  the  winter 
of  1847  and  '48  he  clerked  in  a  hardware 
store  in  Ogdensburg,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1848  came  west  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  work- 
ing there  and  in  the  surrounding  towns  for 
three  years,  and  in  1851  removing  to  Paw- 
paw, Illinois,  where  he  opened  a  harness 
shop.  In  the  spring  of  1856  he  came  to 
Rochelle,  where  he  entered  the  same  line  of 
business,  and  in  1S98  he  retired,  selling  out 
to  his  son,  Burt  B.  Baxter.  Mr.  Baxter 
was  married  to  Mary  Wirick,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Mary  (McCoy)  Wirick,  natives 
of  Ohio,  on  the  8th  of  November,  1854. 
To  this  union  seven  children  have  been  born, 
here  given  in  order  of  birth:  Delos  W., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Allison  B.,  a  res- 
ident of  Chicago;  Guy  A.,  living  in  Texas; 
Bert  B.,  his  father's  business  successor; 
Blanche  P.,  the  wife  of  Clarence  E.  Gard- 
ner; Paul  G.,  an  official  at  the  state  peni- 
tentiary, at  Joliet;and  Mary  Maud,  a  teach- 
er in  Rochelle.  Deloss  A.  Baxter  departed 
this  life  at  Rochelle  on  December  1 1,   1898. 

The  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
Alexander  Baxter,  Jr.,  and  Philinda  (Bax- 
ter) Baxter.  Deloss  A.  Baxter  was  now  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. , 
and  chapter,  R.  A.  M.  He  was  made  a 
Mason  in  Ohio,  and  assisted  in  organizing 
the  lodge  in   Rochelle,  and   was  the  last  of 


the  original  charter  members  of  the  Masonic 
lodge  in  Rochelle.  In  politics  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, though  casting  his  first  presidental 
ballot  for  Franklin  Pierce,  and  his  popular- 
ity in  the  community  in  which  he  resided  is 
illustrated  by  the  fact  that  he  was  twice 
elected  mayor  of  Rochelle,  three  times  al- 
derman arid  in  1872  was  elected  township 
collector. 


CHARLES  KLEIN.— No  foreign  ele- 
ment has  become  a  more  important 
part  in  our  American  citizenship  than  that 
furnished  by  Sweden.  The  emigrants  from 
that  land  have  brought  with  them  to  the 
new  world  the  stability,  enterprise  and 
perseverance  characteristic  of  their  people 
and  have  fused  these  qualities  with  the  pro- 
gressiveness  and  indomitable  spirit  of  the 
west.  Mr.  Klein  is  a  representative  of  this 
class.  He  came  to  America  in  limited 
circumstances,  hoping  to  benefit  his  finan- 
cial condition,  and  his  dreams  of  the  future 
have  been  more  than  realized.  He  is  to- 
day a  successful  dealer  in  grain,  coal  and 
lumber  at  Kings,  and  occupies  a  very  pro- 
minent place  in  business  circles  in  Ogle 
county. 

Mr.  Klein  was  born  April  22,  1849,  in 
the  central  part  of  the  province  of  Jenkop- 
ing,  Sweden,  near  the  town  of  the  same 
name,  and  is  a  son  of  C.  P.  and  Johanna 
(Moberg)  Klein.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
and  had  a  thorough  technical  as  well  as 
practical  knowledge  of  that  occupation, 
having  been  regularly  educated  in  an  agri- 
cultural college,  as  was  required  in  that 
country,  to  fit  him  for  the  position  he  held, 
that  of  superintendent  of  a  large  agricultural 
property.  Our  subject  is  the  seven  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3^7 


of  whom  the  following  came  to  America: 
Elizabeth,  crossed  the  Atlantic  with  our 
subject  and  stopped  first  in  Chicago,  where 
they  had  acquaintance  living.  Later  she 
was  married  in  Rochelle  to  Charles 
Skepstedt,  but  is  now  living  in  Chicago.  A 
year  after  their  arrival  Sophia  came  to  the 
United  States,  and  she  is  now  the  wife  of 
Nels  Nelson,  a  farmer  of  Flagg  township. 
Ogle  county.  Five  years  later  Franz, 
Augusta  and  Hedda  also  came  to  America. 
Franz  is  now  a  resident  of  Rockford,  Illi- 
nois. Augusta  makes  her  home  with  our 
subject.  Hedda  married  Richard  Harding, 
a  farmer  of  Marion  township.  Ogle  county, 
and  later  they  removed  to  Lincoln  county. 
South  Dakota,  where  he  owns  and  operates 
a  farm. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Charles 
Klein  attended  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  land  and  assisted  his  father  in  his 
duties.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  and 
his  sister  Elizabeth  sailed  for  the  new 
world,  and  leaving  her  in  Chicago  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Chariton,  Iowa,  where  he  had 
friends  living,  and  where  he  was  employed 
for  one  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
came  to  Rochelle,  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  his 
sister  having  already  married  and  located 
here.  In  1871  he  commenced  working  on 
the  farm  of  A.  F.  Crawford,  near  Rochelle, 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  went  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  easily  found  employment, 
there  being  a  demand  for  laborers  after  the 
great  fire  which  destroyed  much  of  that 
city.  The  following  spring  he  returned  to 
Ogle  county  and  obtained  work  on  the  farm 
of  W.  H.  King,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  five  years.  During  this  time  he  attended 
the  public  schools  during  the  winter  terms 
and  thus  acquired  a  good  knowledge  of  the 
common   English   branches.     This  was  fol- 


lowed by  a  commercial  and  scientific  course 
at  Mt.  Morris  College.  In  1878  he  em- 
barked in  the  coal  and  lumber  business  at 
Kings,  and  two  years  later  became  inter- 
ested in  the  grain  trade  in  partnership  with 
W.  H.  King.  Since  1882,  however,  he  has 
been  alone  and  does  a  large  and  profitable 
business  in  all  branches.  Kings  has  become 
quite  a  grain  center  and  he  usually  ships 
from  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hun- 
dred car  loads  in  course  of  a  season. 

On  the  2 1st  of  June,  1879,  Mr.  Klein 
was  married  in  Chicago  to  Miss  Helen  Ole- 
son,  who  was  also  born  in  Sweden,  August 
27,  1 85 1,  but  during  her  infancy  was 
brought  to  this  country  by  her  parents, 
Daniel  and  Ingri  Christina,  who  located  in 
Lake  county,  Indiana,  where  the  father 
owned  a  farm  and  made  his  home  until  his 
death.  Mrs.  Klein  is  one  of  a  family  of 
eight  children,  the  others  being  Peter,  who 
still  owns  and  occupies  a  farm  in  Lake 
county,  Indiana;  Mari,  who  married  F. 
Johnson  and  lives  in  Chicago;  Lena,  wife 
of  John  Carleson,  a  photographer  of  Ro- 
chelle; Christine,  wife  of  J.  N.  Crona,  who 
is  in  the  United  States  mail  service  in  Chi- 
cago; Hannah,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Fents,  of  Chi- 
cago; Paul,  a  resident  of  St.  Louis,  and 
Anton,  who  was  formerly  a  photographer 
of  Rochelle,  and  from  t'->ere  removed  to  St. 
Louis,  where  his  death  occurred.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Klein,  namely;  Helen  Pauline,  who  was 
born  January  19,  18S4;  Carl  Reuben,  who 
was  born  July  24,  1886,  and  died  October 
16,  1892;  Crystal  Victoria,  who  was  born 
December  16,  1888;  Esther  May,  who  was 
born  March  30,  1893,  and  died  June  22, 
1893,  and  Reba  Ruth,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 30,  1S94.  The  year  previous  to  his 
marriage,    Mr.    Klein   erected  the  comfort- 


388 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


able  residence  in  Kings  which  the  family 
now  occupy.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party  and  its  prin- 
ciples, and  takes  quite  an  active  and  prom- 
inent part  in  public  affairs.  For  four  con- 
secutive years  he  served  as  town  clerk,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  in 
his  district  for  eight  years.  During  almost 
his  entire  residence  here  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Kings,  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in 
its  work,  serving  as  elder  for  ten  years  and 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for 
eight  years. 


THOMAS  GUEST,  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
Ogle  county,  passed  away  at  his  home  in 
Rochelle,  August  5,  1886,  after  a  life  of  in- 
dustry and  rich  in  those  rare  possessions 
which  only  a  high  character  can  give.  In 
all  the  relations  of  life  he  was  found  true 
and  faithful  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him, 
and  when  called  to  his  rest  and  reward  of 
the  higher  world  his  best  monument  was 
found  in  the  love  and  respect  of  the  commu- 
nity in  which  he  lived  for  so  many  years. 

Mr.  Guest  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Ontario,  Canada,  December  28,  1820,  a 
son  of  Thomas  and  Ann  (Todd)  Guest, 
who  were  natives  of  Ireland,  where  their 
marriage  was  celebrated  and  where  some  of 
their  children  were  born.  At  an  early  day 
they  emigrated  to  the  new  world  and  took 
up  their  residence  in  Canada,  where  the  fa- 
ther continued  to  make  his  home  until  called 
from  this  life  March  5,  i860.  By  occupa- 
tion he  was  a  farmer.  Immediately  after 
his  arrival  in  Canada,  he  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  was  always 
an   active  worker    in  the  church,  serving  as 


class  leader  and  in  other  official  positions. 
In  his  family  were  eight  children,  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  were  reared 
and  married  in  Canada,  and  remained  there 
with  the  exception  of  our  subject,  and  Rich- 
ard is  the  only  one  now  living.  In  order  of 
birth  they  are  as  follows:  James;  Mary,  the 
wife  of  Alexander  Gibson,  who  was  of  Scotch 
origin;  John;  Eliza,  wife  of  James  Brown- 
lee,  who  is  also  deceased;  Thomas,  our  sub- 
ject; Ann,  wife  of  John  Armitage,  deceased; 
Richard  and  Amelia. 

On  the  home  farm  in  his  native  pro- 
vince, Thomas  Guest  was  reared  to  man- 
hood and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  Dur- 
ing his  active  business  life  he  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  and  early  acquired 
land  of  his  own,  having  at  the  time  of  his 
removal  to  Illinois  two  hundred  acres  of 
good  land,  well  improved  with  excellent 
buildings.  He  was  married  in  Canada  May 
16,  1856,  to  Miss  Ann  Pettepiece,  who  was 
born  in  the  province  of  Ontario  December 
23,  1832,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Catherine  (Stokes)  Pettepiece,  natives  of 
Ireland  and  early  settlers  of  Canada.  She 
is  one  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  six  sons 
and  three  daughters,  and  herself  and  brother 
George  are  now  the  only  survivors.  All 
remained  in  Canada  but  Mrs.  Guest  and  her 
brother  Joseph,  who  also  came  to  Illinois 
and  died  here  in  1897. 

Immediately  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Guest  disposed  of  their  property 
in  Canada,  and  leaving  a  fine  home  came  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois.  In  Flagg  township 
he  purchased  a  quarter  section  of  land  on 
section  30,  on  which  he  made  his  home  for 
thirteen  years.  In  the  meantime  he  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Lee  county, 
Illinois,  and  five  hundred  and  twenty  acres 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3Sy 


on  sections  5  and  6,  Dement  township, 
near  Rochelle,  and  on  leaving  his  first  pur- 
chase he  removed  to  the  latter  place,  where 
he  resided  until  he  retired  from  active  life 
in  18S2,  spending  his  last  days  in  ease  and 
quiet  in  Rochelle. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guest  were  born  the 
following  children:  Aaron  W. ,  born  De- 
cember 9,  1S69,  is  engaged  in  business  in 
Rochelle;  Francis  J.,  born  July  3,  1861,  is 
a  farmer  of  Ogle  county;  George  W.,  born 
September  22,  1863,  is  a  retired  merchant 
of  Rochelle;  Anna  M.,  born  September  28, 
1865,  lives  with  her  mother;  Naomi,  born 
November  25,  1868,  died  December  30, 
1868,  and  Elsie  May,  born  July  15,  1872, 
is  the  wife  of  Peter  ^^■agner,  a  jeweler  of 
Denver,  Colorado.  The  children  were  all 
given  the  benefit  of  good  school  privileges 
and  are  graduates  of  the  high  school  of 
Rochelle,  while  Frank  and  Aaron  also 
attended  Wheaton  College. 

Mr.  Guest  always  took  an  active  and 
commendable  interest  in  public  affairs,  es- 
pecially educational  matters,  and  for  many 
years  was  a  most  efficient  member  of  the 
school  board.  He  was  a  life-long  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  an 
earnest,  consistent  Christian  gentleman. 
He  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen  and  the 
world  is  certainly  better  for  his  having 
lived.  As  a  citizen  he  was  honorable, 
prompt  and  true  to  every  engagement;  as  a 
man  he  held  the  honor  and  esteem  of  all 
classes;  and  as  a  husband  and  father  was  a 
model  worthy  of  all  imitation;  unassuming 
in  manner,  sincere  in  his  friendships,  stead- 
fast and  unswerving  in  his  loyalty  to  the 
right.  His  funeral  services  were  conducted 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Rochelle,  by 
Rev.  M.  M.  Bates,  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal minister,  and  his  remains  were  interred 


in  Lawn  Ridge  cemetery.  We  quote  from 
an  obituary  written  at  the  time  by  one  who 
knew  him  well;  "The  highest  encomium 
possible  to  be  given  any  one  can  be  truth- 
fully said  of  Thomas  Guest — 'He  was  an 
honest  man. 


GEORGE  W.  PERKINS,  the  present 
popular  mayor  of  Polo,  is  entitled  to 
distinction  as  one  of  the  most  progressive 
and  enterprising  men  of  Ogle  county,  and 
has  for  many  years  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  interests  of  Polo.  Upon  the 
commercial  activity  of  a  community  de- 
pends its  prosperity  and  the  men  who  are 
now  recognized  as  leading  citizens  are 
those  who  are  at  the  head  of  extensive  busi- 
ness enterprises.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
well-known  lumber  firm  of  Perkins  &  Petti- 
bone,  and  is  a  man  of  broad  capabilities 
who  carries  foward  to  successful  completion 
whatever  he  undertakes. 

Mr.  Perkins  is  a  native  of  Ogle  county, 
born  in  Buffalo  Grove,  November  11,  1850, 
and  is  a  son  of  Rufus  Perkins,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  New  York,  July  13,  1827,  and 
whose  parents  were  Timothy  and  Sarah 
(Vacty)  Perkins.  About  1838  or  1840  the 
father  came  west  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Buffalo  Grove,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  and  operated  the  same  until  1852. 
Having  an  attack  of  the  "gold  fever,  "  he 
started  for  California  across  the  plains. 
The  Indians  were  very  troublesome  and  the 
cattle  stampeded  several  times,  but  fortu- 
nately none  of  the  party  were  killed.  Dur- 
ing this  trip  Mr.  Perkins  made  what  he  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  famous  trades  of 
his  life.  Vegetables  were  the  articles  of 
food  most  needed  on  the  long  journey,  and 
he  succeeded  in  trading  an  injured  ox,  which 


390 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


would  have  had  to  have  been  abandon- 
ed, for  one  onion.  In  the  Golden  state  he 
engaged  in  mining  with  fair  success  and  be- 
came possessed  of  much  valuable  property 
on  the  Pacific  coast.  After  his  return  to 
Ogle  county,  in  April,  1863,  he  frequently 
made  trips  to  the  west  to  look  after  his 
possessions  there,  crossing  the  plains  four- 
teen or  fifteen  times.  Mr.  Perkins  became 
interested  in  the  lumber  trade  after  his  re- 
turn to  Ogle  county,  and  was  engaged  in 
that  business  until  his  retirement  from 
active  life  in  1875.  Upright  and  hon- 
orable in  all  his  dealings,  he  has  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  know 
him.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 
He  married  Miss  Maria  A.  Saltzman, 
who  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  February  26, 
1830,  and  died  October  8,  1891,  while  he 
passed  away  December  9,  1888.  Our  sub- 
ject is  the  older  of  the  two  children  born  to 
them.  Mary  G.,  who  was  born  during  the 
sojourn  of  her  parents  in  California,  was 
married  in  Polo,  November  2,  1876,  to 
Charles  D.  Reed,  a  native  of  Buffalo  town- 
ship, Ogle  county,  and  a  son  of  Luman 
and  Mary  (Hull)  Reed.  They  have  two 
children,  Rufus  Maynard  and  Julia  H.  The 
maternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
Peter  and  Polly  (Lynn)  Saltzman.  The 
grandfather,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  war 
of  1 81 2,  was  born  March  28,  1797,  and 
died  July  12,  1851,  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, while  his  wife  was  born  March  4, 
1804,  and  died  in  Tennessee,  July  19,  1879. 
George  W.  Perkins  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  California  in  1852,  but  in  1857 
he  returned  east  with  friends,  by  way  of 
Cape  Horn,  and  made  his  home  with  an 
uncle  in  Indiana  until  his  parents  returned 
to  Ogle  county,  where  he  joined  them.  He 
attended  school  in  Indiana  and  in  Polo  until 


he  attained  the  age  of  twenty  years,  and 
began  life  for  himself  in  the  spring  of  1870 
by  working  in  the  lumber  yard  of  Hunt  & 
Perkins,  his  father  being  the  junior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm.  Two  years  later  his  father 
purchased  the  interest  of  his  partner  and 
admitted  our  subject  to  the  firm,  the  name 
being  changed  to  Rufus  Perkins  &  Son.  In 
1873  the  latter  took  full  charge  and  carried 
on  operations  under  the  style  of  G.  W. 
Perkins,  with  branch  yards  at  Woosung 
and  Maryland.  In  1882  the  business  was 
merged  into  the  Minnesota  Lumber  Com- 
pany, which  at  one  time  owned  fourteen 
yards  in  different  towns,  and  Mr.  Perkins 
served  as  its  secretary  as  long  as  the  com- 
pany was  in  existence.  On  the  death  of 
Mr.  H.  D.  Barber,  a  leading  member  of 
the  firm,  in  1896,  the  affairs  of  the  com- 
pany were  dissolved  and  our  subject  asso- 
ciated himself  with  Chauncey  Pettibone, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Perkins  &  Petti- 
bone. They  do  an  extensive  and  profita- 
ble business,  which  is  largely  foreign,  ship- 
ping pine  lumber  principally  to  Liverpool, 
PZngland,  and  Glasgow,  Scotland. 

On  the  loth  of  November,  1875,  in  Polo, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Perkins 
and  Miss  Mary  L.  Buck,  who  was  born  in 
Americus,  Indiana,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of 
six  children,  whose  parents  were  Daniel  and 
Lucy  A.  (Humphrey)  Buck.  The  mother 
was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
July  10,  1833,  and  in  early  life  removed  to 
Americus,  where  she  gave  her  hand  in  mar- 
riage to  Daniel  Buck,  who  was  a  native  of 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  who  was  born  October 
10,  1829,  and  died  December  15,  1874.  In 
1856  he  removed  his  family  from  Indiana  to 
Polo,  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
dry  goods  trade.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perkins 
have    two    children:   Bryant    L.,  who   is    a 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


391 


graduate  of  the  Polo  schools  and  also  the 
Northwestern  University  at  Evaston,  Illi- 
nois, completing  the  scientific  course  in  the 
latter  institution  in  1898;  and  Clara,  who  is 
a  pupil  in  the  Polo  schools. 

Mr.  Perkins  is  a  stalwart  Republican 
and  while  not  a  politician  he  takes  great  in- 
terest in  public  affairs,  and  has  most  effi- 
ciently served  as  mayor  of  Polo  for  four 
years.  Never  were  the  reins  of  government 
in  more  capable  hands,  as  greater  improve- 
ments have  been  made  during  his  adminis- 
tration than  ever  before.  A  street  grade 
has  been  established,  a  park  system  adopted, 
the  city  lighted  by  electricity,  and  the  wa- 
ter works  extended.  Prior  to  his  election 
to  the  office  of  mayor,  Mr.  Perkins  was  a 
member  of  the  city  council  for  si.x  years,  du- 
ring which  time  the  beginning  of  the  water 
works  was  established  and  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  that  had  the  matter  in 
charge.  The  first  water  main  was  laid  on 
Mason  street  for  fire  purposes  and  has  since 
been  extended  until  now  there  are  six  miles 
of  mains  in  the  city.  Mr.  Perkins  was  city 
treasurer  two  years,  and  school  treasurer  of 
Polo  school  district  for  fourteen  years,  suc- 
ceeding the  first  treasurer,  J.  C.  Luckey, 
who  served  in  that  office  for  twenty  years. 
Mr.  Perkins  is  at  present  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education  and  under  the  direction 
of  the  present  board  there  is  being  erected 
one  of  the  finest  and  up  to  date  school 
houses  in  the  northern  portion  of  Illinois. 
As  a  citizen  he  ever  stands  ready  to  dis- 
charge every  duty  devolving  upon  him  and 
justly  merits  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 


LEWIS  STOCKING,  for   many  years  a 
leading  and  influential  farmer  in  Lynn- 
ville  township,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Massa- 

42 


chusetts,  February  25,  1820.  His  father, 
Herod  Stocking,  was  born  in  the  same 
county  and  state.  May  13,  1791,  and  there 
followed  the  honorable  occupation  of  a 
farmer.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Miss  Lydia  Ames,  their 
marriage  being  solemnized  January  12, 
1814.  She  was  also  a  native  of  Ashfield, 
Massachusetts,  and  was  born  April  14, 
1796.  By  this  union  there  were  ten  chil- 
dren— John  A.,  Joseph,  third;  Lewis,  Will- 
iam Chandler,  William,  second;  Jonathan 
S.,  Henry,  Horace,  and  Horace,  second. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  March  2, 
1847,  and  June  29,  1848,  Mr.  Stocking  wed- 
ded Miss  Lavina  Forbush. 

Herod  Stocking  moved  with  his  family 
to  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  in  1832,  and 
from  there  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in  1839. 
He  selected  a  location  for  his  future  home 
in  what  was  then  Monroe  precinct,  but  now 
Monroe  township,  which  continued  to  be 
his  home  until  his  death,  February  21, 
1884.  His  wife  died  February  2,  1865. 
They  were  both  good  people,  highly  re- 
spected, and  had  many  friends  in  the  coun- 
try of  their  adoption. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his 
boyhood  in  his  native  state,  and  his  youth 
in  Ohio.  He  came  with  his  parents  to 
Ogle  county,  but  soon  afterward  returned 
to  Ohio,  and  in  his  twentieth  year  began 
life  in  earnest  for  himself.  Previous  to  this, 
however,  he  had  worked  for  stipulated 
monthly  wages,  his  earnings  going  to  his  fa- 
ther. He  received  but  a  limited  education 
in  the  schools  of  Massachusetts  and  Ohio, 
but  in  the  school  of  experience  he  has  ob- 
tained much  valuable  knowledge. 

On  the  loth  of  December,  1843,  Mr. 
Stocking  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary    Burroughs,     of  Lorane,   Ohio.      She 


392 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


was  born  in  Alden,  Erie  county,  New  York, 
November  13,  1823.  Two  years  after 
their  marriage  they  came  to  Illinois,  mak- 
ing their  journey  with  ox  teams,  experien- 
cing many  hardships  on  the  way.  The 
townships  had  not  been  organized  on  their 
arrival  here,  and  they  settled  in  Monroe 
precinct,  in  that  part,  however,  which  is 
not  included  in  the  township  of  Lynnville. 
The  first  purchase  made  by  Mr.  Stocking 
was  eighty  acres  located  on  section  6,  for 
which  he  paid  one  dollar  and  twenty-five 
cents  per  acres  No  time  was  lost  in  the  im- 
proving of  the  place,  and  as  time  passed  he 
added  to  his  possessions  until  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  one 
eighty  of  which  is  on  section  7.  His  im- 
provements are  in  keeping  with  the  times 
and  he  is  rated  as  a  No.   i  farmer. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stocking  four  children 
have  been  born,  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter. The  oldest,  Layton  C,  died  in  in- 
fancy. Eda  A.  married  George  Yo,  former- 
ly of  England,  and  they  have  four  children, 
Bessy  M.,  Elva,  Alfred  and  Alice.  Milton 
D.  married  Sarah  Holmes,  of  Lynnville 
township,  and  to  them  two  children  were 
born,  Myrtle  H.  and  Iva  R.  Duane  C. 
married  Polly  Smith,  also  of  Lynnville 
township,  but  a  native  of  England.  They 
have  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  Lewis  C, 
Hazel  E.,  Elsie  G.  and  Spencer  D. 

Charles  Burroughs,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Stocking,  was  born  in  New  York  state,  July 
22,  1790.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  in  his  youth  learned  the 
hatter's  trade,  which  he  later  followed  in 
connection  with  farming.  He  married  Lu- 
cinda  Cunningham,  also  a  native  of  New 
York,  born  in  1796.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  as  follows:  Charles  C, 
Lucinda  M.,  Corydon  P.,  Gleason  S.,  Mary 


L. ,  Annie  L.,  Lorain  G.,  John  W.,  Vien- 
na, Philena  C.  and  Philinda  A.  (twins). 
Mr.  Burroughs  died  in  1S41,  and  his  widow 
in  1865.  Charles  Burroughs,  the  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Stocking,  came  to  this  coun- 
try prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  the 
records  going  to  show  that  he  was  a  sol- 
dier on  the  side  of  those  fighting  for  their 
independence  and  was  a  prisoner  on  one 
of  the  sugar  ships.  Herod  Stocking  was 
also  a  true  patriot,  and  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  Abram  Stocking, 
and  his  great-grandfather,  named  Abram, 
was  a  shipbuilder  in  Chatham,  on  the  Con- 
necticut river. 

In  their  religious  views  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stocking  are  Adventists,  and  in  his  political 
affiliations  he  is  a  thorough  Prohibitionist. 
He  is  truly  aself-niade  man,  and  all  that  he 
has  he  has  accumulated  by  his  own  industry, 
assisted  by  his  good  wife,  for  he  realizes  the 
truth  of  the  statement  of  Solomon,  that 
"  A  good  wife  is  from  the  Lord.  She  shall 
do  him  good  and  not  evil  all  the  days  of  his 
life,  and  her  children  shall  arise  and  call 
her  blessed. "  No  couple  in  Lynnville  town- 
ship are  held  in  higher  esteem. 


ALFRED  B.  iMcCREA,  who  has  been 
actively  engaged  in  the  grain,  lumber 
and  coal  business  in  the  village  of  Creston, 
since  the  fall  of  1865,  came  to  the  state  in 
1857.  He  was  born  in  Orange  county,  New 
York,  April  27,  1S38,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Abigail  (Harkness)  McCrea, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Ireland,  though 
the  former  was  of  Scotch  parentage.  Soon 
after  their  marraige  they  set  sail  for  the 
United  States,  and  were  three  months  on 
the  ocean.      One  son,   Abraham,   was  born 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


393 


on  the  ocean,  while  cii  route.  He  grew  to 
manhood,  settled  in  Malta,  DcKalb  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  grain,  lumber  and 
coal  business,  and  there  died  some  years  ago. 

On  his  arrival  in  the  United  States, 
William  McCrea  located  in  Orange  county. 
New  York,  but  later  moved  to  Monroe 
county  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Brighton, 
near  Rochester,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Still  later  he  removed  to  Wayne 
count}'.  New  York,  where  he  remained  for 
several  years.  From  Wayne  county  he 
joined  his  children  in  Illinois,  where  his 
death  occurred,  April  4,  18SS.  His  wife 
passed  away  some  years  before,  while  the 
family  were  still  living  in  New  York. 

In  his  native  state  our  subject  remained 
until  the  age  of  seventeen,  and  received  a 
good  education  in  the  Macedon  Academy. 
In  the  fall  of  1856  he  came  west  to  Hills- 
dale county,  Michigan,  where  he  engaged  in 
teaching  until  in  March,  1857,  when  he 
went  to  Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  and 
joined  his  brother  Samuel  H.,  who  was  in 
the  grain  business  at  Morrison.  The  latter 
later  moved  to  Chicago,  where  he  became 
quite  a  prominent  figure  in  business  and  pol- 
itics. For  some  years  he  served  as  president 
of  the  board  of  trade  of  that  city,  and  also 
served  a  term  of  four  years  as  county  treas- 
urer of  Cook  county. 

Mr.  McCrea  assisted  his  brother  in  the 
summer  seasons  and  taught  school  for  three 
winters.  In  the  spring  of  1859  he  made  a 
trip  to  Pike's  Peak,  driving  two  yoke  of  cat- 
tle and  one  yoke  of  cows.  He  went  into 
the  mountains  and  was  there  about  three 
months,  but  had  no  success  in  finding  the 
yellow  metal.  He  returned  to  the  state 
with  the  oxen,  but  minus  the  cows.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1S59-60,  he  taught  school, 
and  in  the  spring  of  i860  again   went  into 


his  brother's  office.  In  the  winter  of  1860- 
61,  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  Lasalle 
county. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  1861,  Mr. 
McCrea  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Eighth 
Illinois  Cavalry,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Farnsworth,  who  was  afterwards  made  a 
major-general.  Mr.  McCrea  enlisted  as  a 
private,  but  was  soon  promoted  quarter- 
master-sergeant. With  his  regiment  he 
participated  in  all  the  engagements  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  including  the  seven 
days'  fight  in  the  wilderness,  and  was  in 
the  advance  of  the  army  through  Maryland, 
participating  later  in  the  engagements  at 
South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  After  the 
latter  engagement  the  Eighth  Cavalry  was 
in  the  advance  at  Fredericksburg,  partici- 
pating in  that  battle  under  Burnsides. 
They  were  next  at  Chancellorsville,  and 
later  at  Gettysburg.  In  the  winter  of 
1863-64,  with  his  regiment  he  veteranized 
and  received  a  furlough  of  thirty  days.  On 
rejoining  the  army  with  his  regiment  he 
went  as  far  as  the  wilderness,  and  later  was 
called  back  to  assist  in  the  defense  of 
Washington.  Still  later  the  regiment  was 
in  the  fight  at  Frederick,  Maryland,  under 
General  Lew  Wallace,  and  the  last  regular 
engagement  in  which  our  subject  partici- 
pated was  at  Fairfax  Court  House.  During 
his  entire  tune  of  service  Mr.  McCrea  lost 
but  little  time  off  duty,  being  but  ten  days 
in  the  hospital  on  account  of  illness.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  the  regiment  was 
ordered  west  to  operate  against  the  Indians, 
but  on  reaching  St.  Louis  it  was  ordered  to 
Chicago,  where  it  was  mustered  out  of 
service. 

After  receiving  his  discharge  Mr.  McCrea 
spent  about  three  months  in  Palatine,  Cook 
county,  and  then  located  in  Creston,  where 


394 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


he  engaged  in  the  grain,  lumber  and  coal 
business.  Later  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  brother,  John  A.,  which  continued 
twenty-seven  years,  since  which  time  he  has 
conducted  the  business  alone.  His  business 
has  been  quite  an  extensive  one,  the  amount 
of  grain  handled  each  year  being  very  large, 
Creston  being  considered  one  of  the  best 
grain  markets  on  the  Northwestern  road. 

Mr.  McCrea  was  married  in  Philadelphia 
November  19,  1S68,  to  Miss  Matilda  L. 
Hunter,  a  native  of  that  city,  where  she 
was  reared.  Three  daughters  came  to  bless 
their  union — Jennie,  Ida  H.  and  Edith  B. 
All  have  been  given  good  educational  facili- 
ties, Ida  H.  now  taking  a  course  in  the 
State  Normal  at  Normal,  Illinois.  Mrs. 
McCrea  passed  to  her  reward  June  10,  1893, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Creston  ceme- 
tery. She  was  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Congregational  church. 

Politically  Mr.  McCrea  is  a  life-long  Re- 
publican, his  first  presidential  ballot  being 
cast  in  i860  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He 
has  taken  quite  an  interest  in  local  politics, 
but  has  never  sought  office.  He  has,  how- 
ever, served  in  several  official  positions,  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  village  board  for  several 
years,  and  one  term  president  of  the  board. 
He  was  elected  and  served  two  terms  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  making 
a  valuable  member  of  that  body  and  serv- 
ing on  several  important  committees.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  county  central 
committee  of  his  party,  and  is  now  chair- 
man of  the  congressional  committee,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  has  held  for  about  sixteen 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tionalist  church  of  Creston,  and  has  been 
an  active  worker  in  the  Sunday-school,  both 
as  a  teacher  and  superintendent.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  Master  Mason.      A  good  busi- 


ness man,  he  is  thoroughly  enterprising  and 
progressive,  and  enjoys  in  a  remarkable  de- 
gree the  confidence  of  those  among  whom 
so  many  years  of  his  life  has  been  spent. 


WILLIAM  J.  METTLER,  of  Creston, 
Illinois,  is  one  of  the  active  and  en- 
terprising farmers  of  Ogle  county,  owning 
and  operating  two  farms,  the  home  place, 
which  adjoins  the  corporate  limits  of  the 
village  of  Creston,  comprising  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  fine  land,  which  is  kept 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  A  resi- 
dent of  the  state  since  1S40,  and  of  Ogle 
county  since  1868,  he  was  born  in  Tomp- 
kins county.  New  York,  January  9,  1834, 
and  came  with  his  parents,  Relph  and  Mary 
Ann  (Housewert)  Mettler,  to  Winnebago 
county,  the  family  locating  about  six  miles 
southeast  of  Rockford.  His  father  died  the 
following  year,  and  the  mother  reared  the 
family.  Mr.  Mettler  remained  with  his 
mother  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  in 
the  meantime  receiving  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  He  later  at- 
tended Rock  River  Seminary,  at  Mt.  Morris, 
two  terms,  which  completed  his  school  life. 
In  1858  Mr.  Mettler  drove  across  the 
country  to  Texas,  from  which  he  returned 
the  following  year.  He  passed  over  the 
greater  part  of  northeast  Texas,  and  also 
through  Missouri,  Kansas,  Arkansas  and 
Louisiana,  visiting  at  the  time  the  city  of 
New  Orleans.  On  returning  home  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  the  old  home  place,  re- 
maining there  until  1864,  when  he  went  to 
Lee  county  and  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  and  remained  there  until  1S6S,  when 
he  came  to  Ogle  county  and  purchased  resi- 
dence property  in  Creston.  With  his 
brother  he  invented  a  tiling  machine  which 


WM.  J.   METTLER. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


397 


he  manufactured  and  operated  for  four 
years.  In  1869  he  purchased  his  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  in  Linnville 
township.  In  1884  he  moved  to  his  pres- 
ent place  of  residence,  the  farm  originally 
comprising  but  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  the  estate  of  Willis  S.  Roberts,  to 
which  he  later  added  a  like  number  of  acres, 
giving  him  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  He  has  remodeled  the  dwell- 
ing on  the  place,  and  has  built  one  of  the 
best  barns  in  the  township,  what  is  well 
termed  a  model  barn.  It  has  a  capacity 
for  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons  of  hay,  two 
hundred  and  fifty  tons  of  silo,  and  some 
three  thousand  bushels  of  grain,  with  base- 
ment room  for  fifty-four  head  of  cattle. 
The  plan  of  the  barn  originated  with  Mr. 
Mettler,  and  he  has  been  complimented 
over  and  over  again  on  its  convenience  and 
perfect  adaptability  for  the  purposes  in- 
tended. His  farm  is  rented  the  greater 
part  of  the  time,  but  he  has  given  his  per- 
sonal attention  to  its  cultivation  to  some  ex- 
tent, and  has  raised  much  grain.  He  has 
been  a  successful  farmer  and  financier,  hav- 
ing commenced  life  with  but  little  means, 
and  by  his  industry  and  thrift  has  acquireil 
valuable  property  and  is  regarded  as  among 
the  best  farmers  in  the  county. 

On  the  25th  of  February,  1S65,  Mr. 
Mettler  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Selina  H.  Roberts,  a  native  of  Putnam 
county.  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  Willis 
S.  and  Phcebe  S.  (Stevens)  Roberts,  the 
former  a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter 
of  Danbury,  Connecticut.  Her  father  came 
to  Ogle  county  in  1865  and  purchased  a 
farm  adjoining  the  village  of  Creston,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in 
1883.  His  wife  survived  him  some  years, 
dying  in   1896.      Both   were  laid  to  rest  in 


the  cemetery  at  Creston.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mettler  two  children  were  born:  Minnie, 
wife  of  Orson  N.  Phelps,  station  agent  at 
DeKalb,  Illinois,  and  Edgar  Willis,  who  is 
now  assisting  on  the  home  farm,  but  who 
received  a  good  education  in  the  schools  of 
Creston  and  a  Chicago  business  college. 
After  leaving  the  business  college,  he  held  a 
responsible  position  with  a  bank  at  Engle- 
wood,  Chicago,  for  one  year,  which  he  left 
to  assist  his  father  in  the  management  of  the 
home  place. 

Mr.  Mettler  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  lohn  C.  Fremont,  and  for  years 
voted  the  regular  party  ticket,  but  of  late 
he  has  been  voting  independent,  voting  for 
the  man  rather  than  the  party.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  Master  Mason,  holding  membership 
with  the  lodge  at  Creston.  He  is  a  man  of 
superior  business  ability,  ot  upright  char- 
acter and  moral  worth,  and  wherever  known 
is  held  in  high  esteem.  He  is  one  of  the 
few  left  who  came  to  this  section  in  pioneer 
times,  and  who  has  a  vivid  recollection  of 
early  events. 


WILLIAM  WALLACE  GOULD,  M. 
D.,  is  one  of  the  successful  physi- 
cians of  Ogle  county  an<l  a  prominent  resi- 
dent of  Rochelle.  He  has  much  natural 
ability,  but  is  withal  a  close  student  and 
believes  thoroughly  in  the  maxim  "there  is 
no  excellence  without  labor."  His  devo- 
tion to  the  duties  of  his  profession  there- 
fore, combined  with  a  comprehensive  un- 
derstanding of  the  principles  of  the  science 
of  medicine,  has  made  him  a  most  success- 
ful and  able  practitioner,  whose  prominence 
is  well  deserved. 

The    Doctor   was   born    in    the   town   of 
Hamburg,  Erie  county,  New  York,  July  16, 


398 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RPICORD. 


1826,  a  son  of  Emmons  S.  and  Maria 
(Greene)  Gould,  in  whose  family  were  three 
children,  namely:  Emmons  S.,  deceased; 
and  Wellington  R.,  who  is  now  living  in 
Canada,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 
The  father,  who  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
and  a  sergeant  in  the  war  of  1812,  died  a 
few  months  before  our  subject  was  born,  at 
about  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  and  the 
mother  died  at  his  birth.  Dr.  Gould  was 
then  reared  by  an  aunt  at  Buffalo,  New 
York,  until  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
his  literary  eilucation  was  acquired  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city.  When  his  aunt 
married  and  moved  to  a  farm,  he  accom- 
panied her,  and  the  following  eight  years 
were  passed  amid  rural  scenes,  working  for 
wages  upon  the  farm  after  he  attained  his 
majority.  He  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  Gobel,  at  Worthington, 
Ohio,  and  later  graduated  at  the  Berkshire 
Medical  College,  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts. 
He  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  chosen 
profession  at  Ingersoll,  Canada,  for  three 
years,  but  in  June,  i860,  came  to  Rochelle, 
then  known  as  Lane,  where  he  was  not 
long  in  building  up  a  good  practice,  which 
he  still  enjoys. 

In  Ingersoll,  Canada,  Dr.  Gould  was 
married,  February  22,  1854,  to  Miss  Mary 
E.  Chase,  a  native  of  Windsor,  Vermont, 
whose  parents  died  when  she  was  an  infant. 
She  was  adopted  and  reared  by  her  father's 
uncle,  Salmon  P.  Chase,  who  was  one  of 
the  distinguished  members  of  President 
Lincoln's  cabinet.  Of  the  five  children 
born  to  the  Doctor  and  his  wife,  Mary  E. 
and  Frank  C.  are  both  deceased.  Jo- 
sephine E.  is  the  wife  of  H.  D.  Judson,  of 
Aurora,  Illinois,  superintendent  of  the  Chi- 
cago division  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy   railroad,    and    they   have   had    four 


children:  Bessie;  Howard  M.;  Fred  H., 
deceased;  and  William  Wallace.  Mary 
Gertrude  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  \\'.  R.  P^ranklin, 
of  Rockford,  Illinois,  and  they  have  two 
sons,  Ralph  G.  and  William  R.  Anna 
Chase,  who  completes  the  family,  has  for 
four  years  taught  in  a  kindergarten  in  Chi- 
cago. All  the  daughters  are  graduates  of 
the  Rochelle  high  school. 

Fraternally,  Dr.  Gould  is  a  member  of 
the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy  of 
the  United  States;  the  American  Association 
of  Orificial  Surgery  ;the  Illinois  Homeopathic 
Medical  Society;  and  the  Northwestern 
Homeopathic  Medical  Society,  while  polit- 
ically he  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  Wherever  he  goes  the  Doctor  wins 
friends  and  has  the  happy  faculty  of  being 
able  to  retain  them.  His  popularity  has 
made  him  a  great  favorite  in  all  circles. 


JACOB  I.  KREBBS,  M.  D.— One  of  the 
most  exacting  of  all  the  higher  lines  of 
occupation  to  which  a  man  may  lend  his  en- 
ergies is  that  of  the  physician.  A  most 
scrupulous  preliminary  training  is  demanded, 
a  nicety  of  judgment  but  little  understood 
by  the  laity.  Our  subject,  who  is  a  prom- 
inent and  successful  physician  of  Polo,  Illi- 
nois, is  well  fitted  for  the  profession  which 
he  has  chosen  as  a  life  work,  and  his  skill 
and  ability  have  won  for  him  a  lucrative 
practice. 

Dr.  Krebbs  was  born  in  Selin's  Grove, 
Pennsylvania,  July  16,  1857,  and  on  the  pa- 
ternal side  is  of  German  descent,  his  grand- 
father, Jacob  Krebbs,  having  been  born  in 
Germany  and  when  a  young  man  emigrated 
to  America,  settling  in  the  Keystone  state. 
He  became  quite  wealthy  and  married  a 
Miss    Kiefer,  of  Pennsylvania.      Their   son, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RliCORD. 


399 


Alexander  Krepbs,  the  Doctor's  father,  was 
born  in  Sehn's  Grove,  in  1825,  and  died  in 
1S94.  He  was  a  member  of  a  Pennsyl- 
vania regiment  during  the  Civil  war  and 
after  peace  was  restored  made  his  home  at 
Elkhart,  Indiana,  until  called  from  this  life. 
For  twenty-eight  years  he  was  in  the  serv- 
ice of  the  Lake  Shore  railroad,  returning 
to  them  after  the  war.  Politically  he  was 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  soci- 
ally affiliated  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  religiously  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church.  The  Doctor's 
mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Eliz- 
abeth Thursbey,  was  also  a  native  of  Selin's 
Grove,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  1S62,  at 
the  age  of  ninety-eight  years.  Her  father, 
Thomas  Thursbey,  was  a  soldier  of  the  war 
of  1 81 2,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  lived 
to  the  extreme  old  age  of  ninety-nine  years. 
To  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  born 
two  children, the  younger  being  David  New- 
ton, now  a  resident  of  Chicago. 

Dr.  Krebbs  was  only  six  years  old  when 
his  mother  died,  at  which  time  his  father 
was  at  the  front,  valiantly  fighting  for  the 
old  flag  and  the  cause  it  represented.  His 
early  life  was  mostly  passed  in  Elkhart,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  worked  on  farms  during  the 
summer  months  and  attended  school  through 
the  wmter  season  until  seventeen  years  of 
age.  Coming  to  Eagle  Point,  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  he  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Mc- 
Pherson  one  summer,  and  then  entered  the 
medical  department  of  the  Iowa  State  Uni- 
versity at  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  but  did  not 
graduate  from  that  institution  until  March, 
1886.  Immediately  after  his  graduation  he 
opened  an  office  in  Hampton,  Iowa,  where 
he  engaged  in  practice  until  1S90,  in  which 
year  he  took  a  post  graduate  course  at  the 


Chicago  Policlinic  under  Drs.  Senn  and 
Fenzer.  He  remained  in  Chicago  until 
1896  and  for  five  years  held  the  chair  of 
surgery  in  the  Physio  Medical  College,  be- 
ing lecturer  and  clinic  surgeon.  He  has 
met  with  unusual  success  in  his  chosen  pro- 
fession and  is  especially  successful  in  the 
line  of  surgery.  On  leaving  Chicago  he 
came  to  Polo,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
he  succeeded  in  building  up  a  large  and  lu- 
crative practice  which  he  still  enjoys. 

In  Polo,  Dr.  Krebbs  married  Miss  Effie 
Ornsbee,  a  native  of  that  place  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  C.  N.  and  Fannie  (Porter)  Ornsbee. 
To  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  has  been  born  a 
son,  Claude  Naem.  In  his  political  affili- 
ations our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and 
while  a  resident  of  Chicago  served  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  health.  He  is  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason  and  a  member  of  the 
English  Lutheran  church.  Fraternally  he 
belongs  to  the  Chicago  Medical  Society  and 
the  State  Medical  Society  of  Iowa,  and  in 
the  ranks  of  his  professional  brethren  he  oc- 
cupies an  enviable  position. 


EL.  ROSECRANCE,  who  resides  on 
section  5,  Monroe  township,  and  one  of 
the  substantial  farmers  of  Ogle  county,  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  county  since  1855. 
He  was  born  in  New  York  state,  April  29, 
1829,  and  is  the  son  of  John  W.  and  Mary 
(Edson)  Rosecrance,  also  natives  of  the  same 
state.  By  occupation  his  father  was  a 
farmer,  which  vocation  he  followed  during 
his  entire  life,  having  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres.  He  died  in  1S50  in  his 
native  state,  his  wife  surviving  him  many 
years,  dying  at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  in 
1886. 


400 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  state  and  was  reared  to 
farm  Hfe.  His  education  was  mostly  ob- 
tained in  the  school  of  experience,  that  ob- 
tained in  the  school  room  being  very  mea- 
gre indeed.  The  opportunities  afforded  in 
the  prairie  state  for  the  enterprising  man 
had  come  to  his  ears,  and  he  determined  to 
here  try  his  fortune.  Accordingly  in  1855 
he  came  to  the  state  and  located  in  Still- 
man  Valley  where  he  resided  three  years. 
The  first  year  he  worked  by  the  month,  but 
the  second  and  third  years  he  rented  and 
cultivated  farms,  the  first  comprising  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  the  second 
eighty  acres.  He  then  moved  to  Monroe 
township  and  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  and  later,  in  1884,  forty  acres  addi- 
tional, giving  him  a  fine  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  all  of  which  is  under 
cultivation. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1852,  Mr. 
Rosecrance  was  united  in  marriage  at  Elbe, 
Genesee  county.  New  York,  with  Miss  Ad- 
die  L.  Norton,  daughter  of  Lochlin  and 
Laura  (Clark)  Norton.  By  this  union  two 
children  were  born.  Frank  E.  grew  to 
manhood  and  married  Stella  Chase,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Hanford) 
Chase,  who  were  early  settlers  of  Winne- 
bago county.  Frank  E.  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  the  town- 
ship and  is  operating  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres.  Hattie  M.  married  Arthur  Chase, 
son  of  Henry  and  Cathernie  Chase,  and 
they  now  reside  in  Cherry  Valley  township, 
Winnebago  county,  where  he  operates  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres.  After  forty-five 
years  of  married  life,  Mrs.  Rosecrance  was 
called  to  her  reward,  her  death  occurring 
April  16,  1898.  She  was  a  loving  wife  and 
mother,  a  kind   and   obliging  neighbor,  and 


her  death  was  deeply  regretted  by  all  who 
knew  her. 

Since  removing  to  his  present  farm,  Mr. 
Rosecrance  has  made  many  substantial  im- 
provements upon  the  place,  erecting  new 
barns,  putting  up  a  good  windmill,  setting 
out  orchards  and  ornamental  trees,  and  re- 
modeled the  house.  In  addition  to  gen- 
eral farming,  Mr.  Rosecrance  has  engaged 
in  stock  raising  to  some  extent,  giving  spe- 
cial attention  to  raising  Poland  China  hogs, 
and  Hereford  cattle.  He  generally  ships  his 
own  stock  to  Chicago. 

In  politics  Mr.  Rosecrance  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  has  served  as  highway  commis- 
sioner nine  years  and  school  director  ten 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  New  Milford.  A  resi- 
dence of  more  than  half  a  century  in  Ogle 
county  has  brought  him  in  contact  with  the 
best  people,  and  wherever  known  he  is  held 
in  high  esteem. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CHAPIN  MAY.— 
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 
Colonel  May  is  quietly  living  at  his  pleasant 
home  in  Rochelle,  surrounded  by  the  com- 
fort that  earnest  labor  has  brought  him. 
He  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Ogle  county, 
and  for  many  years  he  was  actively  identi- 
fied with  its  business  and  agricultural  in- 
terests. 

The  Colonel  was  born  in  Burlington, 
Otsego  county.  New  York,  March  8,  1815, 
a  son  of  Harmon  May,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  Windham  county,  Connecticut,  in  1780. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Joseph  May,  was 
also  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  the  family 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


40 1 


was  originally  from  Massachusetts.  Harmon 
May  followed  the  occupation  of  farming 
throughout  life,  and  at  an  early  day  re- 
moved to  Otsego  county,  New  York,  where 
he  died  in  1857,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Whig  and  in  religious  faith  a  Presbyterian. 
He  married  Miss  Sarah  Monroe,  who  was 
born  in  Burlington,  New  York,  in  1790, 
and  died  in  1834.  Her  parents  were  Will- 
iam and  Deborah  (Pope)  Monroe,  quite 
prominent  and  highly  respected  people  of 
Burlington.  Mr.  Monroe  also  engaged  in 
farming  as  a  life  work,  served  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace  for  many  years,  and  as  a  coun- 
try lawyer  wrote  many  deeds  and  settled 
many  estates  for  his  neighbors  and  friends. 
He  was  from  Massachusetts  and  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Otsego  county.  New  York, 
having  located  there  when  the  country  was 
almost  an  unbroken  wilderness,  and  the 
family  learned  the  true  meaning  of  the  term 
hard  times  in  their  pioneer  home.  Of  the 
seven  children  born  to  Harmon  and  Sarah 
(Monroe)  May,  only  two  are  now  living: 
David  C. ,  of  this  review;  and  Josiah,  who 
is  also  living  in  Rochelle. 

Colonel  May  was  reared  in  his  native 
township  and  acquired  his  education  in  a 
district  school,  where  ninety  pupils  were 
often  accommodated  in  a  small  room.  This 
he  attended  only  for  two  months  during  the 
winter  season,  walking  two  miles  and  a  half 
to  and  from  school.  On  attaining  his  ma- 
jority he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  and 
for  several  years  engaged  in  farming.  After 
his  marriage  he  bought  a  small  farm,  but 
sold  it  a  year  later  and  purchased  a  small 
hotel  in  the  town  of  Edmonston,  New  York, 
which  he  conducted  for  five  years  On  dis- 
posing of  that  property  he  bought   another 

farm  near  the  village,  owning  and  operating 
43 


the  same  for  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  sold,  and  in  March,  1855,  we  find 
him  a  resident  of  Rockford,  Illinois,  where 
he  carried  on  a  hotel  for  five  years.  It  was 
at  that  place  he  received  his  title  of 
"  colonel,"  in  the  following  manner;  The 
editor  of  a  Rockford  paper  was  passing  the 
hotel  one  Sunday  forenoon  and  stopped  for 
a  friendly  chat  with  the  landlord.  He  ac- 
cepted our  subject's  invitation  to  dinner. 
It  was  such  a  one  as  was  not  usually  served 
in  those  early  days  in  a  western  inn,  and  in 
the  notice  of  it,  in  the  following  issue  of 
his  paper,  the  editor  spoke  of  the  excellent 
dinner  to  which  he  had  been  invited  by 
"Colonel  May."  The  title  seemed  to  suit 
the  jovial  host  and  has  clung  to  him  up  to 
the  present  time.  On  leaving  Rockford  he 
came  to  Rochelle,  where  he  also  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  for  five  years  on  the 
site  of  the  present  hotel  De  Los.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  disposed  of  the  hotel 
and  engaged  in  business  as  an  agricultural 
implement  dealer  for  the  same  length  of 
time.  For  the  following  twenty  years  he 
lived  on  a  small  farm  near  the  town,  and 
engaged  in  raising  pure  blood  Devonshire 
cattle,  and  also  dealt  in  all  kinds  of  cattle, 
but,  in  1885,  he  sold  the  farm  and  returned 
to  Rochelle,  where  he  has  since  lived  re- 
tired. 

In  Burlington,  New  York,  November 
II,  1 84 1,  Colonel  May  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Rebecca  Clark  Staunton, 
and  now  for  over  fifty-seven  years  they 
have  traveled  life's  journey  together,  shar- 
ing its  joys  and  sorrows,  its  adversity  and 
prosperity.  Mrs.  May  was  born  in  South 
Kingston,  Rhode  Island,  November  12, 
1820,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Staunton, 
Jr.,  who  was  serving  as  sheriff  of  his  county 
at  the  time  of    his  death,  August  9,  1822. 


402 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


He  married  Eliza  Riter  Boss,  a  daughter  of 
William  Boss,  and  a  native  of  New  York 
state,  who  died  at  the  age  of  forty-one 
years.  The  Colonel  and  his  wife  had  one 
son,  Henry  R.  May,  who  was  born  in  Ed- 
monston.  New  York,  June  22,  1845,  ^■''d 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Rockford 
and  Racine  College.  After  holding  a  posi- 
tion in  a  store  for  a  time,  he  accepted  a 
place  with  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  railroad,  and  was  stationed  at  St. 
Paul,  Minnesota,  as  assistant  auditor,  but 
at  the  time  of  his  death  was  serving  as 
auditor  and  cashier  of  the  City  street  rail- 
way, of  St.  Paul.  He  died  December  6, 
1889,  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
made  many  friends,  as  he  was  of  a  singularly 
amiable  and  friendly  disposition,  and  was 
always  even  tempered  and  cordial  in  man- 
ner. He  married  Miss  Ida  Monroe,  in 
Rochelle,  a  daughter  of  Woodward  and 
Mary  Ann  (Wayman)  Monroe,  and  to  them 
were  born  two  sons:  Harry  M.,  who 
graduated  with  honors  in  June,  1898,  from 
the  Illinois  University  at  Champaign,  as  an 
electrical  engineer,  ranking  first  in  a  class 
of  si.\ty,  and  is  now  holding  a  responsible 
position  with  the  Union  Electric  Company, 
of  Chicago;  and  William,  who  is  attending 
the  Rochelle  high  school. 


ROBERT  N.  JOHNSON,  whose  farm 
lies  in  sections  2  and  3,  Taylor  town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  energetic  and  enterpris- 
ing farmers  of  Ogle  county.  He  was  born 
June  22,  1843,  in  Delaware,  Ohio,  and  is 
the  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Noe) 
Johnson,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Jesse  Johnson,  was  also  a 
native  of  Virginia,    but  removed  to  Ohio, 


with  his  family,  about  1800,  where  he  later 
died.  William  Johnson  was  a  farmer  and 
speculator,  an  enterprising  and  influential 
man  in  the  state  of  his  adoption.  In  his 
family  of  children,  our  subject  was  si.xth  in 
order  of  birth.  Of  the  others  John  lives  in 
Oklahoma;  Caroline,  the  widow  of  Samuel 
Maceer,  resides  in  Cunningham,  Kansas; 
Mary  Ann,  who  married  a  Mr.  Henry,  lives 
near  Delaware,  Ohio;  Abbacinde  married 
Thomas  Doty,  but  is  now  deceased;  Mor- 
gan is  a  business  man  in  Chicago;  Ahaz,  re- 
sides in  Alma,  Colorado;  Adam  lives  in 
Carthage,  Illinois;  Phebe  married  Liberty 
Walkup,  and  they  live  in  Rockford;  Clara 
died  at  the  age  of  si.xteen  years;  Clinton  re- 
sides near  Ashton,  Illinois;  while  the  re- 
maining one  died  in  infancy. 

The  sul)ject  of  this  sketch  remained  at 
home  until  eighteen  years  old,  assisting  in 
the  farm  work,  and  in  attendance  upon  the 
common  schools.  The  war  for  the  union 
being  in  progress,  he  enlisted  in  the  second 
battalion,  eighteenth  United  States  Infantry 
and  served  three  years.  During  1862  he 
was  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  the  battles  of 
Perryville  and  Stone  River,  besides  various 
lesser  engagements.  In  1863  he  was  in  the 
battles  of  Hoover's  Gap,  Chickamauga  and 
Mission  Ridge.  In  May,  Juneandjuly,  1864, 
he  was  with  General  Sherman  in  his  various 
campaigns,  and  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1864,  he  was  mustered  out  of 
service,  having  given  full  three  years  to  his 
country.  His  record  was  a  commendable 
one  during  the  entire  time. 

After  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  John- 
son returned  to  his  father's  farm  and  contin- 
ued to  assist  in  its  cultivation  until  the  fall 
of  1S67.  On  the  21st  of  September,  of 
that  year,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  Stevens,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


403 


Margaret  (Sharp)  Stevens,  who  were  anionj:; 
the  early  settlers  of  Ogle  county,  her  fa- 
ther being  a  native  of  Kentucky.  By  this 
union  there  have  been  six  children,  the  first 
and  second  dying  in  infancy.  William  grew 
to  manhood  and  married  Minnie  Chalmers, 
and  they  make  their  home  in  Rockford,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  is  employed  as  billing  clerk 
in  the  freight  department  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  railway.  Fred  S.  resides 
at  home  and  assists  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
February  24,  18S2,  and  September  28, 
1886,  Mr.  Johnson  married  Miss  Addie  Bly, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Rebecca  lUy,  who 
were  also  numbered  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Ogle  county.  B}-  this  union  there  is  one 
child,  Mildred. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  three  hundred  and  nine- 
teen acres  of  well  improved  land  and  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming.  Nearly  all  the 
improvements  upon  the  place  have  been 
made  by  himself.  He  has  but  lately  com- 
pleted a  new  and  elegant  dwelling,  two 
stories  and  attic,  and  his  barns  are  large 
and  commodious,  capable  of  sheltering 
many  head  of  stock.  One  wind-mill  is  in 
constant  use  pumping  water  for  the  stock. 
Since  1880,  Mr.  Johnson  has  been  engaged 
quite  extensively  in  stock  raising,  which  has 
been  a  valuable  part  of  his  business.  All 
the  accessories  of  the  place  are  such  as  to 
prove  conclusively  that  he  thoroughly  un- 
derstands his  life  work. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  political  or  official  honors,  and  he  has 
therefore  held  but  few  public  offices.  For 
one  term  he  served  as  road  commissioner, 
and  for  some  years  was  on  the  school  board. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  uniting  with  that  or- 
ganization for  the  reason  that  he   desired  to 


mingle  now  and  then  with  those  with  whom 
he  suffered  in  field  and  in  camp  during  the 
days  of  the  Civil  war.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican, believing  that  party  best  embod- 
ies the  principles  for  which  he  fought.  Mrs. 
Johnson  is  a  devoted  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  Whether  as  a  sol- 
dier, fighting  in  the  defense  of  his  country, 
or  as  a  private  citizen  engaged  in  tilling  the 
soil,  every  duty  laid  upon  him  he  dis- 
charges faithfully  and  conscientiously. 


CL  A  R  F,  N  C  F  F .  G  A  R  D  N  E  R .  —  Fore- 
most among  the  [irominent  citizens  of 
Rochelle,  stands  the  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch.  He  is  one  of  Illinois' 
native  sons,  having  been  born  in  Franklin 
township,  De  Kalb  county,  on  the  19th  of 
Februar}',  1865,  and  is  a  son  of  Edward 
and  Mary  Gardner.  The  former  was  born 
in  Lancastershire,  England,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  mother  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years,  sailing  from  Liverpool  on  the 
"John  and  Lucy,"  which,  owing  to  severe 
storms  off  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  was 
five  weeks  and  two  days  in  reaching  New 
York  harbor.  Upon  landing  they  came  di- 
rect to  Franklin  township,  where  Edward 
grew  to  manhood  and  followed  farming, 
having  acquired  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  valuable  land  in  that  locality.  In 
1 868  he  retired  Irom  farming  and  took  up 
auctioneering,  having  been  called  upon  to 
serve  in  that  capacity  upon  various  occa- 
sions before  leaving  the  farm.  Later  he 
removed  to  Belvidere,  where  he  now  resides. 
The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject 
were  Edward  Gardner,  Sr.,  a  native  of 
Lancastershire,  England,  who  died  three 
months  previous  to  his  son's  birth,  and  El- 
len Hargrave,  who,  a  number  of  years  after 


404 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


her  husband's  death,  married  Thomas  Moon, 
who  brought  the  family  to  America,  reach- 
ing Franklin  township  in  185 1. 

Clarence  E.  Gardner,  the  subject  of  this 
review,  attended  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  Rochelle,  graduating  from  the 
latter  in  1882.  He  attended  the  Evergreen 
Business  College,  of  Bloomington,  and  after 
graduating,  went  into  the  drug  business, 
which  he  gave  up  after  six  years  to  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Hathaway  &  Baxter,  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1891.  His  father 
was  a  successful  auctioneer,  and  his  son 
early  acquired  the  art.  Since  1886  he  has 
been  actively  engaged  in  this  line  of  busi- 
ness and  in  the  fall  and  spring  sales  he  is 
much  in  demand,  owing  to  his  successful 
method  of  selling.  In  addition  to  his  law 
practice,  Mr.  Gardner  has,  since  1894,  been 
interested  in  the  real  estate  business,  in 
which  he  is  as  successful  as  in  auctioneer- 
ing. He  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  ad- 
journing the  town  of  Rochelle,  and  is  inter- 
ested in  the  breeding  of  pure  blood  Jersey 
and  short  horn  cattle.  He  is  also  a  lover 
of  the  horse  and  possesses  some  very  fine 
roadsters. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  18S6,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Alice  E.  Reed,  sister  of  the  present 
county  judge,  Frank  S.  Reed,  and  one  son, 
Fred  Eugene,  was  born  to  them  October 
7,  1887.  Mrs.  Gardner  died  January  19, 
1SS9,  with  consumption,  shortly  after  her 
return   from  Colorado. 

On  November  26,  1891,  Mr.  Gardner 
married  Blanche  P.  Baxter,  of  Rochelle,  a 
daughter  of  Delos  A.  and  Mary  (Wirrick) 
Baxter,  whose  history  is  given  in  the  sketch 
of  Delos  W.  Baxter,  of  this  edition.  Mr. 
Gardner  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  is 
now  serving  his  fourth  term  as  city  attor- 
ney.     He  was  first  elected  before  being  ad- 


mitted to  the  Bar,  and  was  on  the  anxious 
seat  lest  he  fail  of  admission.  He  passed 
the  examinations  with  honors  and  in  due 
season  was  qualified.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  chapter  of  Ro- 
chelle and  Sycamore  commandery,  K.  T. , 
and  also  of  the  K.  O.  T.  G.,  of  Malta.  He 
is  a  brilliant  and  eminent  lawyer  and  an 
energetic  and  much  honored  citizen  of  Ro- 
chelle. 


DR.  JEROME  B.  SNYDER  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery in  Polo,  Illinois,  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  med- 
ical fraternity  in  Ogle  county.  He  was 
born  in  Pittstown,  Rensselaer  county.  New 
York,  February  28,  1844,  a  son  of  John  G. 
and  Elizabeth  (Rollins)  Snyder.  The  fa- 
ther, who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
spent  liis  entire  life  in  Rensselaer  county, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years.  In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat. The  mother  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
live  years.  To  them  were  born  eleven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  reached  years  of  matur- 
ity and  married,  but  two  sons  and  one 
daughter  are  now  deceased. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  the  Doc- 
tor remained  until  fifteen  years  of  age  and 
then  came  to  Illinois,  making  his  home  with 
a  brother  in  Earl,  La  Salle  county.  He 
continued  to  attend  school  during  the  win- 
ter months  until  seventeen,  and  later  worked 
in  the  office  of  his  brother,  who  was  a  promi- 
nent attorney  and  banker  of  that  place,  but 
was  clerking  in  a  store  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  war.  Responding  to  his  country's 
call  for  aid,  he  enlisted  at   Earl,  in    1861, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


405 


in  Company  I,  Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry  under 
Colonel  Dickny,  was  mustered  in  at  Otta- 
wa, and  was  first  sent  to  Cairo,  Illinois, 
where  the  regiment  made  their  headquarters 
for  two  or  three  months,  during  which  they 
engaged  some  in  scouting  in  Kentucky.  Dr. 
Snyder  participated  in  the  battles  of  F"ort 
Henry,  Fort  Donelson  and  Shiloh,  was 
wounded  in  the  last  engagemen,  and  sent  to 
the  hospital,  where  he  was  discharged  three 
months  later  on  account  of  physical  disa- 
bilities. Returning  to  Illinois,  he  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  Hinkley,  at  Leland,  for 
one  year,  and  later  attended  the  Chicago 
Medical  College,  continuing  his  reading 
during  the  summer  months  under  the  di- 
rection of  Dr.  D.  M.  Vosburg.  In  the 
spring  of  1864  he  was  admitted  to  practice, 
and  first  located  at  Grand  Detour,  where 
he  remained  for  five  years.  During  the  fol- 
lowing five  years  he  was  engaged  in  prac- 
tice at  Woosung,  and  in  1874  came  to  Polo 
where  he  was  not  long  in  building  up  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice,  which  he  still  enjoys. 
He  has  given  special  attention  to  surgery 
and  has  met  with  most  excellent  success  in 
his  chosen  calling. 

At  Earl,  Illinois,  Dr.  Snyder  was  married 
in  1867,  to  Miss  Maria  M.  Brown,  a  native  of 
that  place  and  a  daughter  of  Allen  and  Sarah 
(Burt)  Brown.  The  father,  who  came  to 
this  state  from  Massachusetts,  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven  years,  but  the  mother 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years 
and  continues  to  make  her  home  in  Earl. 
To  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
five  children,  namely:  Maria,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Frank,  a  resident  of  Gait,  Iowa,  who 
married  Minnie  Miller,  and  has  one  son,  Re.x; 
Gerald,  also  a  resident  of  Gait,  Iowa,  who 
married  Philo  Sweet  and  has  one  son,  Gerald ; 
Leone,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Polo  schools 


and  is  now  a  student  in  Stemmans  Musical 
College,  Dixon;  and  Ina,  a  pupil  in  the  Polo 
schools 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Dr.  Snyder 
has  been  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party,  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  of 
Polo  for  two  years,  president  of  the  board  of 
education  seven  years,  and  assistant  super- 
visor while  living  in  Woosung.  He  was 
United  States  examining  surgeon  four  years 
under  President  Cleveland's  adminitsration, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Ogle  County  Medical 
Association.  The  place  he  has  won  in  the 
medical  profession  is  accorded  him  in  recog- 
nition of  his  skill  and  ability,  and  the  place 
which  he  occupies  in  the  social  world  is  a 
tribute  to  that  genuine  worth  and  true  noble- 
ness of  character  which  are  universally  re- 
cognized and  honored. 


WILLIAM  RICE,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Ogle  county,  was  born  on 
the  15th  of  September,  1822,  in  Nunda 
township,  Livingston  county.  New  York, 
and  is  of  Welsh  extraction.  He  has  lived  in 
the  west  since  1837,  and  watched  with  inter- 
est the  remarkable  development  of  the  coun- 
try since  the  days  of  the  stage  coaches  and 
log  houses.  When  a  child  of  six  years,  his 
parents  moved  from  Livingston  to  Chatau- 
qua  county,  where  they  lived  until  1832  and 
then  removed  to  Geauga  county,  Ohio.  Dur- 
ing the  fall  of  1836  the  family  lived  in  Cass 
county,  Michigan,  but  believing  that  there 
were  broader  fields  for  advancement  farther 
west,  they  came  to  Illinois  and  took  up  a 
claim  in  White  Rock  Grove,  Ogle  county. 
Mr.  Rice  has  eight  brothers  and  sisters 
whose  names  are  here  given  in  order  of  birth : 
Erastus  N. ;  Alanson,  living  in  Iowa;  Aman- 


4o6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


da,  deceased;  Esther,  livinp;  in  Ogle  county; 
Edwin,  residing  at  Kings,  Ogle  county; 
Mary  Ann,  living  in  White  Rock  township; 
George,  residing  at  Oklahoma;  and  Mariana 
and  Emily  deceased.  In  184S  Mr.  Rice 
entered  government  land  in  company  with 
a  friend,  and  together  they  secured  a  quart- 
er section  in  Pine  Rock  township,  which 
fifty  years  ago  was  a  vast  expanse  of  wav- 
ing prairie  grass,  but  lies  to-day  in  great 
fields  of  green  and  yellow  grain. 

In  1854  Mr.  Rice  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mary  E.  Boyce,  a  native  of  Hart- 
ford, Washington  county,  New  York,  and  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Boyce,  Sr. ,  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  of  Ogle  county.  Eight 
children  have  graced  this  marriage.  Emma, 
the  eldest,  is  a  teacher  of  music,  and  is 
attending  the  Chicago  College  of  Music. 
Frank  is  living  at  home  and  has  assumed 
the  management  of  the  farm.  Benjamin 
and  Carrie  are  deceased.  Mattie  resides  at 
home  and  is  engaged  in  teaching  school. 
Stella  and  Freddie  are  also  deceased,  and 
Ethel  is  attending  school  at  Maywood,  near 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Rice  has  an  ine.\haustil)Ie  fund  of 
stories  and  anecdotes  of  pioneer  daj's;  the 
hauling  of  grain  to  Chicago  before  the  era 
of  railroads;  the  Driscoll  troubles,  etc.  He 
has  a  pleasing  personality  and  a  kind  and 
courteous  manner.  His  home  is  bright, 
cheerful  and  attractive,  and  at  once  im- 
presses strangers  with  its  hospitality,  good 
taste,  refinement  and  flomestic  lu.xury.  His 
children  are  bright  and  intellectual  and  his 
ideas  of  educational  advantages  are  reflected 
in  their  attained  qualifications.  No  other 
man  in  Ogle  county  stands  higher  in  popular 
esteem.  In  business  transactions  he  is  the 
soul  of  honor,  and  his  name  is  synonymous 
with  sterling  integrity  and  uprightness, 


GILBERT  B.  TREAT,  D.  D.  S.— 
Among  those  who  devote  their  time 
and  attention  to  the  practice  of  dental  sur- 
gery and  have  gained  a  leading  place  in  the 
ranks  of  the  profession  is  Dr.  Treat,  who 
has  spent  almost  his  entire  life  in  Polo, 
Illinois,  his  birth  occurring  there  December 
25,  1859.  His  father,  Lewis  J.  Treat,  was 
born  in  Glenwood,  Erie  county.  New  York, 
March  31,  1834,  a  son  of  Isbon  and  Apphia 
(Thompson)  Treat,  both  of  whom  attained 
the  age  of  about  eighty  years.  The  grand- 
father owned  and  operated  a  small  farm  in 
Erie  county.  New  York.  By  trade  the 
Doctor's  father  was  a  carpenter.  Before 
coming  west  he  married  Miss  Fannie 
Barden,  who  was  born  near  Collins  Center, 
Erie  county  New  York,  October  3,  1831,  a 
daughter  of  Gilbert  and  Salina  (Washburn) 
Barden,  farming  people  of  Erie  county. 
Her  paternal  grandfather  was  Jacob  Barden, 
and  her  maternal  grandparents  were  Rufus 
and  Mary  (Finney)  Washburn.  Soon  after 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Treat  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Polo  September  10, 
1855,  and  here  the  mother  made  her  home 
almost  continuously  since.  The  father  was 
selling  threshing  machines  throughout  Iowa 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  and  while 
in  Floyd  county,  that  state,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  Twenty-seventh  Iowa  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  \Miile  conveying  prisoners, 
— some  of  the  Ouantrell  guerrillas — to  places 
of  safety,  he  was  stabbed  and  killed  by  one 
of  them,  Shelby  Cole,  to  whom  he  had 
loaned  his  blanket  to  keep  him  warm.  This 
was  one  of  the  most  dastardly  murders 
committed  during  the  war.  Besides  his 
widow,  he  left  two  sons:  Gilbert  B.,  of 
this  review;  and  Lewis  Edward,  a  painter 
by  trade,  who  was  killed  June  23,  1898,  by 
falling  from  a  building  in  Polo,  on  which  he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


407 


was  at  work.  He  married  Rhoda  Strahh, 
to  whom  a  son,  Lewis  Edward,  Jr.,  was 
born  after  the  father's  death. 

The  childhood  and  youth  of  Dr.  Treat 
were  passed  in  Polo  and  Albert  Lea,  Min- 
nesota, and  his  education  was  obtained  in 
the  district  schools,  which  he  attended  until 
fifteen  years  of  age.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  dentistry  under  Dr.  W.  W.  Krape, 
now  of  Freeport,  Illinois,  who  was  the 
founder  of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe.  He 
remained  a  much  longer  time,  however,  in 
the  office  of  Dr.  Maid  well,  and  in  1879  be- 
gan practice  in  Polo,  where  he  has  carried 
on  operations  continuously  since,  with  the 
exception  of  the  time  spent  at  Sharon,  Wis- 
consin, in  1S84  and  18S5.  His  skill  and 
ability  in  his  chosen  profession  are  widely 
recognized  and  he  enjoys  a  good  practice. 

On  the  9th  of  June,  1892,  at  Mt.  Mor- 
ris, Ogle  county,  Dr.  Treat  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Clara  M.  Good,  who 
was  born  near  that  village,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Plum)  Good,  and 
granddaughter  of  John  Good,  all  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  father  died  in  1SG5, 
and  the  mother  passed  away  at  her  birth- 
place in  the  Keystone  state,  in  1S73.  The 
children  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife  are 
Earl  Murillo  and  Milbrey  Elizabeth. 

Dr.  Treat  is  a  pronounced  Republican  in 
political  sentiment,  and  for  several  years  he 
most  creditably  and  satisfactorily  served  as 
fire  marshal  in  Polo.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. He  is  a  man  of  strong  artistic  turn 
of  mind  and  is  an  excellent  amateur  artist, 
though  but  few  of  his  most  intimate  friends 
are  aware  of  the  fact,  as  he  makes  use  of 
this  talent  solely  for  his  own  pleasure.  He 
is  also  an  e.xpert  taxidermist,  having 
mounted   man}-  hundred  specimens  of  birds 


and  animals  from  this  region,  and  with  a 
friend  made  a  collection  that  was  disposed 
of  to  a  nuiseum  in  St.  Louis  for  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars.  Of  a  social,  genial  nature, 
he  has  become  widely  and  favorably  known, 
and  has  a  host  of  friends  throughout  Ogle 
county. 


AD.  CLARK,  an  enterprising  farmer  re- 
siding at  Flagg  Center,  and  whose 
farm  lies  in  sections  16  and  17,  Flagg  town- 
ship, was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides,  January  17,  1855,  and  is  the  son  of 
A.  D.  and  Melinda  (Diggers)  Clark,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Steuben  county. 
New  York,  the  former  born  October  14, 
1822,  and  the  latter  August  10,  1827.  He 
was  the  son  of  Silas  D.  and  Rhoda  (Web- 
ster) Clark,  the  latter  being  a  close  relative 
of  Daniel  Webster.  In  his  youth  Silas  D. 
Clark  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  but 
soon  abandoned  it  for  the  life  of  a  farmer. 
He  came  west  in  an  early  day,  but  becom- 
ing homesick  he  returned  to  New  York, 
where  his  death  occurred  when  past  seventy 
j'ears  old.  His  wife  survived  him  and  died 
when  past  eighty  years  of  age. 

A.  D.  Clark,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native 
county,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  was  united 
in  marriage,  April  26,  1843,  with  Miss  Me- 
linda Diggers,  daughter  of  Clark  B.  and 
Huldah  Biggers.  Her  father,  who  was  a 
farmer  in  Steuben  county.  New  Yark,  came 
west  in  the  early  forties  and  located  in 
Flagg  township,  Ogle  county,  and  lived 
there  for  a  number  of  years.  He  then 
moved  to  Winnebago  county,  Illinois, 
where  his  death  occurred  in  187S,  his  wife 
preceding  him  a  number  of  }ears.  To  A. 
D.  and    Melinda    Clark  seven  children  were 


4o8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


born:  Alonzo  B.,  a  farmer  living  in  Cow- 
ley county,  Kansas;  Silas  D.,  a  farmer  liv- 
ing in  Lafayette  township,  Ogle  county;  Os- 
car P.,  who  died  November  18,  1849,  at 
the  age  of  ten  months;  Rhoda  A.,  now  the 
wife  of  G.  Reed,  of  Lafayette  township; 
Amerett  B.,  who  married  E.  R.  Cooley,  of 
Pine  Rock  township;  Anson  D.,  our  subject, 
and  Frank,  a  farmer  of  Flagg  township. 

With  his  wife  and  one  child,  A.  D. 
Clark  came  to  Ogle  county  in  1845,  arriving 
here  on  the  i8th  of  September,  and  taking 
up  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  wild  land,  a  part  of  the  farm  where  our 
subject  now  resides.  For  the  land  he  paid 
the  government  price  of  one  dollar  and 
twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  He  broke  the 
land  and  built  a  small  log  cabin,  which  for 
some  years  was  not  only  used  as  the  home 
of  the  family,  but  as  a  tavern  and  postof- 
fice,  Mr.  Clark  serving  as  postmaster  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  a  good  farmer 
and  succeeded  in  improving  and  making  a 
valuable  place  of  over  five  hundred  acres,  a 
part  of  which  he  sold  to  his  son.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  yet  retained  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven  acres.  While  giving 
his  attention  especially  to  his  farm,  during 
the  civil  war  he  dealt  largely  in  horses,  buy- 
ing and  selling  to  the  general  government. 

In  politics,  A.  D.  Clark,  Sr.,  was  a 
Democrat.  He  was  township  trustee  for 
several  terms,  and  was  the  first  assessor 
and  the  second  township  clerk  of  Flagg 
township.  He  also  held  two  commissions 
from  the  governors  of  the  state  as  justice  of 
the  peace.  For  twenty-eight  years  he  was 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  at 
Flagg  Center.  He  was  a  true  Christian 
man,  one  having  at  heart  the  interests  of 
his  fellow  men.  During  the  later  years  of 
his  life  he  traveled  quite  extensively,  visit- 


ing Europe  and  Asia  in  1868.  He  enjoyed 
his  travels  and  it  was  a  pleasure  to  listen  to 
his  narration  of  places  visited  and  events 
connected  therewith.  He  died  on  the  old 
homestead,  November  21,  1893,  while  his 
good  wife  passed  away  June  3,   1891. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  old  home  farm,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  school  at  Flagg  Center,  which 
he  attended  during  the  winter  months,  his 
summers  being  spent  in  labor  on  the  farm. 
He  continued  in  school  until  he  was  twenty 
years  old,  when  he  rented  forty  acres  of  his 
father's  farm,  and  forty  acres  of  another 
man,  which  he  proceeded  to  cultivate.  He 
continued  to  farm  rented  land  until  1886, 
when  he  moved  to  Webster  county,  Ne- 
braska, where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  si.\ty  acres,  and  there  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1890,  when  he  returned  to 
Ogle  county,  where  he  has  since  continued 
to  reside.  He  now  owns  an  interest  in  the 
home  place,  and  is  engaged  in  general 
farming. 

Mr.  Clark  was  married  March  18,  1884, 
to  Miss  Lucy  E.  Mayberry,  born  June  25, 
1867,  and  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rachel 
(Thornberg)  Mayberry.  By  this  union  three 
children  have  been  born — PaulineM.,  Walter 
D.  and  Howard  A.  The  latter  died  in  infancy, 
and  Pauline  and  Walter  are  now  attending 
the  district  school  which  their  father  at- 
tended many  years  before. 

In  politics  Mr.  Clark  is  a  Democrat. 
While  in  Nebraska  he  served  as  road  com- 
missioner, and  since  his  return  has  served 
four  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Kyte  Camp, 
M.  W.  A.  Mrs.  Clark  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Both  are 
well  known  in  Ogle  county,  where  their 
friends  are  many. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


409 


PETER  COOPER,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 12,  about  two  miles  north  of 
Rochelle,  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Flagg 
township,  one  who  has  endured  all  the  trials 
incident  to  pioneer  life,  and  one  who,  com- 
mencing life  without  means,  without  friends, 
or  help  of  any  kind,  has  by  his  own  industry, 
thrift  and  enterprise,  gained  a  competency, 
and  well  provided  for  his  family  in  future 
years.  He  was  born  in  Marsh  county,  New 
Jersey,  August  22,  1823,  and  is  the  son  of 
Garrett  and  Sarah  (Smith)  Cooper,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  the  same  state,  the 
former  born  in  1791,  and  the  latter  in  1800. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  John  Cooper, 
was  also  a  native  of  Marsh  county.  New  Jer- 
sey, as  was  also  his  wife,  Catherine.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  Garrett  was  third  in  order  of  birth. 
John  Cooper  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  an 
occupation  which  he  followed  in  early  life. 
He  later  engaged  in  farming,  in  which  line 
he  continued  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his 
death  taking  place  in  his  native  state  during 
the  second  decade  of  the  present  century. 
His  wife  survived  him  a  number  of  years. 
Garrett  Cooper  grew  to  manhood  in 
Marsh  county.  New  Jersey,  and  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  and  when  arriving  at  man's  es- 
tate chose  farming  as  his  life  work.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Smith, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Sarah  Smith,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  New  Jersey,  the  for- 
mer born  November  10,  1775.  He  followed 
farming  as  a  means  of  livelihood,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  his  native  state,  where 
his  death  occurred  January  23,  1854.  His 
wife  died  November  21,  1857.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  Sarah, 
wife  of  Garrett  Cooper,  was  third  in  order  of 
birth. 

Garrett  Cooper  and   wife  came   to  Ogle 
44 


county  in  November,  1858,  and  here  the 
wife  passed  to  her  reward  in  October,  18C1. 
He  then  returned  east,  where  he  remained 
about  eighteen  years.  His  children  by  this 
time  had  all  made  for  themselves  homes, 
and  he  was  left  homeless.  Our  subject  then 
went  east  and  persuaded  his  father  to  once 
more  come  to  Ogle  county  and  spend  the 
remainder  of  his  life  with  him.  He  did  so, 
and  the  son  and  his  family  made  it  as  pleas- 
ant as  possible  for  the  old  man.  He  did 
not,  however,  long  survive,  and  passed  away 
in  June,  1890.  He  was  a  good  man,  one 
who  endeavored  to  live  right  with  his  fellow- 
men.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Jackson  Demo- 
crat. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  his  native  county  and 
state,  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  farm 
work,  while  attending  the  common  schools 
as  the  opportunity  was  afforded  him.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  left  school  and 
commenced  life  for  himself.  For  the  ne.xt 
five  years  he  worked  on  farms,  and  then 
learned  the  moulder's  trade  in  Marion, 
Ohio,  at  which  he  worked  for  about  two 
years.  Borrowing  twenty-five  dollars  of 
his  uncle,  George  Smith,  in  the  fall  of  1849 
he  left  Ohio  and  came  to  Ogle  county,  hav- 
ing previously  purchased  a  soldier's  land 
warrant  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,  for  which  he  gave  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars.  With  his  land  warrant 
he  took  up  a  tract  comprising  one  hundred 
and  seventy-two  acres,  paying  the  govern- 
ment for  the  twelve  acres  additional  at  the 
rate  of  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per 
acre.  He  then  returned  east,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  spring  of  1855,  when  he 
came  back  with  the  intention  of  making 
this  his  permanent  home.  He  now  boasts 
that    on    coming    here   he    built    his    house, 


4IO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


manufactured  the  furniture  for  it,  and  was 
married,  all  within  one  week. 

On  the  29th  of  May,  1855,  Mr.  Cooper 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E. 
Serick,  who  was  born  in  Henry  county, 
Ohio,  December  12,  1836,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  (Miller)  Serick,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  of  German 
origin.  They  located  in  Henry  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and 
there  the  remainder  of  their  lives  were 
spent.  In  their  family  were  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Cooper  was  eleventh 
in  order  of  birth.  Immediately  after  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  moved  into 
the  house  which  he  had  built,  and  in  which 
the  first  two  years  of  their  married  life  were 
spent.  It  was  a  car-roof  shanty,  12.x  16 
feet,  with  one  window  and  one  door.  It 
was,  however,  their  home,  and  the  begin- 
ning of  better  things.  In  two  years  they 
had  laid  by  enough  to  purchase  a  house 
located  on  another  farm,  for  which  they 
paid  three  hundred  dollars.  The  house 
was  removed  to  their  farm,  and  in  that  they 
lived  until  186S,  when  their  present  com- 
modious house  was  erected.  The  new 
house,  which  is  of  brick,  was  erected  on  an 
eighty-acre  tract  adjoining  his  original  pur- 
chase, and  compares  favorably  with  many 
of  the  more  modern  structures.  The  brick 
house  has  been  the  home  of  the  family  up 
to  the  present  time.  In  tiie  }'ears  that  have 
passed  fortune  seems  to  have  smiled  on  our 
subject.  In  the  home  place,  and  in  the 
adjoining  township  of  Dement,  he  has  some 
live  hundred  acres  of  excellent  land,  all  of 
which  is  under  cultivation.  He  has  also 
over  a  section  of  well  improved  land  in 
Gage  county,  Nebraska. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  fourteen  chil- 
dren were    born.      Mary  L.    married  Joseph 


Haines,  and  with  their  children  they  reside 
in  O'Brien  county,  Iowa.  Garrett  P.  is  a 
stock  buyer,  living  in  South  Omaha.  He 
married  Alice  Sweeney,  and  they  have  one 
child.  Oliver  is  living  in  Rochelle.  Edith 
A.  married  Fred  Crandall,  and  is  living  in 
Woodson  county,  Kansas.  They  have  four 
children.  Alma  K.  is  the  wife  of  Jonathan 
Lynn,  and  they  reside  in  Flagg  township. 
NettieE.  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  Al- 
bert C,  who  is  living  in  Rochelle,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  butcher  business,  mar- 
ried Anna  Strife  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren. Minnie  is  living  at  home  with  her 
father.  William  W.  died  as  the  result  of  an 
accident,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years. 
Charlie  is  living  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
married  Elsie  McDowell,  and  they  have 
one  child.  Lucinda  died  when  one  month 
old.  Howard  is  attending  the  Rockford 
Business  College.  Clifford  died  in  infancy. 
Florence  is  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Cooper  has  done  well  by  his  chil- 
dren, and  has  given  each  a  good  start  in 
life.  In  March,  1897,  he  gave  to  each  of 
his  ten  children  a  present  of  eight  thousand 
dollars,  a  sum  that  is  certainly  not  to  be 
despised.  Notwithstanding  he  has  passed 
his  three  score  years  and  ten,  he  is  yet  hale 
and  hearty,  and  gives  personal  attention  to 
his  business  interests.  He  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful farmer,  running  after  no  special  fads, 
but  content  to  go  along  in  the  even  tenor  of 
his  way,  giving  his  time  to  general  farming 
and  stock  raising,  looking  carefully  after  the 
little  details  of  his  business.  When  he 
came  to  this  section  it  was  but  thinly  set- 
tled, the  great  body  of  the  land  which  is 
now  paying  such  golden  tribute  to  the  hus- 
bandman was  untouched  by  the  plow.  The 
settlers'  cabins  were  yet  few  and  far  between. 
He  has  lived  to  see  a  remarkable   change. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


41  I 


one  that  can  scarcely  be  realized  even  by 
those  who  have  not  only  been  eye  witnesses 
but  active  participants  in  effecting  the  great 
transformation.  Scarcely  an  acre  of  un- 
tilled  land  is  to  be  found  in  all  this  section, 
and  thousands  of  acres  which  were  consid- 
ered worthless  by  reason  uf  their  swampy 
nature  have  been  reclaimed  and  are  now 
the  most  productive  lands.  Villages  and 
cities  have  sprung  up,  railroads  have  been 
built,  miles  upon  miles  of  telephone  and 
telegraph  wires  have  been  strung,  school 
houses  and  churches  dot  the  prairies,  and  a 
happy  and  contented  people  are  living  at 
peace  with  all  mankind.  Our  subject  has 
not  only  the  satisfaction  of  having  witnessed 
these  things,  but  he  has  the  double  satis- 
faction of  knowing  that  the  credit  is  due  to 
himself  and  other  pioneers  for  all  that  has 
been  done. 


ANDREW  C.  SPINK  is  a  prosperous 
farmer  residing  on  section  27,  Scott 
township,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a  fine- 
ly improved  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  which  is  kept  under  the  highest  state 
of  cultivation.  He  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  New  York,  June  10,  1S40,  and 
is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Julia  (Warner) 
Spink,  the  former  a  native  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  the  latter  of  Connecticut.  They  were 
the  parents  of  three  children — Andrew  C, 
Julia  and  Angelina. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Michael  Spink,  was  also  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  followed  the  sea  for  mAny  years 
as  commander  of  a  vessel,  and  sailed  al- 
most over  the  entire  known  world,  finally 
retiring  and  purchasing  a  farm  in  Washing- 
ton county.  New  York,  where  he  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  during  the  remainder 


of  his  life.  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Nathaniel  Wanier,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

When  our  subject  was  twelve  years  old 
his  parents  moved  to  Winnebago  county, 
Illinois,  where  his  father  purchased  a  farm 
of  eighty  acres  near  Rockfurd,  and  in  con- 
nection with  farming  followed  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter  which  he  had  learned  in  his 
youth.  His  death  there  occurred,  in  \^'JS, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  his  good 
wife  having  preceded  him  to  their  heavenly 
home  some  two  years  previously,  having 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  They  were 
greatly  esteemed  people  in  their  western  as 
well  as  in  their  eastern  home,  being  excel- 
lent people  who  delighted  in  doing  good  as 
the  opportunity  was  afforded  them.  Their 
death  was  sincerely  mourned  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends. 

After  spending  his  boyhood  in  his  na- 
tive state,  Mr.  Spink  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents,  and  remained  with  them  until 
after  he  attained  his  majority,  assisting  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm  and  at- 
tending the  district  schools  a  portion  of  the 
time,  principally  during  the  winter  months. 
The  habits  of  industry  acquired  in  youth 
have  remained  with  him  during  his  mature 
years,  as  is  shown  by  his  well  cultivated 
fields  and  the  excellent  appearance  of  his 
farm. 

On  the  23d  of  October,  18G3,  Mr.  Spink 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna 
Rogers,  who  was  born  in  England,  and  who 
accompanied  her  father,  John  Rogers,  to 
the  United  States  in  her  childhood.  F>y 
this  union  eight  children  have  been  born, 
six  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows:  Lilly, 
William,  Belle,  May,  Fred  and  Frank.  The 
deceased  were  Angeline  and  Charles. 

Mr.  Spink  was  elected  assessor  of  Scott 


412 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


township  in  1893,  re-elected  in  1895,  and 
again  in  1897,  filling  the  position  to  the  en- 
tire satisfaction  of  the  tax-payers  of  the 
township,  one  of  the  hardest  positions  that 
one  can  be  called  upon  to  fill.  He  has  also 
satisfactorily  performed  the  duties  of  road 
commissioner,  another  position  in  which  it 
is  difficult  to  satisfy  all  the  people.  For 
some  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  Scott  and  Marion  Townships  Fire 
Insurance  company,  which  is  doing  a  good 
business  in  insuring  the  farmers  of  the  two 
townships  at  a  comparatively  small  cost. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  holding  membership  with  the  blue 
lodge  at  Rockford.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  his 
membership  being  with  the  local  camp  at 
Davis  Junction.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, being  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles 
of  the  party.  While  a  citizen  of  the  county 
but  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Spink  is  well  known, 
especially  in  the  northeastern  part,  and  as 
a  citizen  he  is  held  in  high  esteem. 


FRED  FREDERICKSON,  the  leading 
tailor  of  Mt.  Morris,  is  a  native  of  Den- 
mark, born  in  Copenhagen  March  20,  1872, 
and  is  a  son  of  J.  P.  E.  and  Johanne  Marie 
(Skjellet)  Frederickson,  the  former  born 
September  12,  1849,  in  Storskoven,  Orsii, 
Fjerding,  Dronninglund,  Sogn,  and  the  lat- 
ter August  4,  1850,  in  Agersted,  Bakker, 
Wor,  Sogn.  J.  P.  E.  Frederickson  is  the 
son  of  Frederick  C.  Jensen,  Gjelstrup. 
The  latter  word  is  a  title  bestowed  upon 
him  for  bravery,  similar  to  that  which 
might  be  given  one  in  this  country  by  con- 
gress for  some  brave  act.  It  was  given  him 
for   his  courage   in   reconnoitering  the   de- 


fenses of  the  German  army  during  the  Dan- 
ish-German war  of  1848-51,  being  com- 
pelled in  so  doing  to  pass  through  a  line  of 
ten  thousand  German  soldiers.  In  addition 
to  the  title  he  was  given  eleven  thousand 
five  hundred  crowns. 

Frederick  C.  Jensen  was  a  poor  shep- 
herd boy,  and  when  fourteen  years  old  he 
entered  the  military  school  of  Denmark, 
completing  the  course  at  the  end  of  five 
years  with  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant. 
On  account  of  his  being  poor,  with  no  in- 
fluential person  to  back  him,  he  was  not 
given  a  post.  Rather  than  be  honorably 
discharged,  he  re-entered  the  military 
school  as  a  private.  After  about  two  years 
had  passed  the  colonel  in  command  of  the 
school  sent  a  petition  to  the  king  reciting 
the  facts  in  the  case,  and  within  twenty- 
four  hours  an  answer  was  received  compli- 
menting the  young  man  and  assuring  him 
that  something  would  be  done  for  him.  In 
the  meantime  he  would  be  sent  to  the 
naval  academy.  Time  passed,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five  he  graduated  from  the 
academy  with  the  rank  of  second  lieuten- 
ant. After  graduating,  the  king  shook 
hands  with  him  and  told  him  that  he  would 
be  looked  after.  He  was  then  offered  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant  in  the  army  or  sec- 
ond lieutenant  in  the  navy.  He  chose  the 
former  and  was  sent  to  Randers,  Synder, 
Jylland.  His  first  real  service,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  number  of  skirmishes  between 
Denmark  and  Germany,  was  in  the  war  of 
1838-51  between  Denmark  and  Germany. 
He  was  also  actively  engaged  in  the  Dan- 
ish-German war  of  1864,  during  which  time 
he  served  as  acting  lieutenant  general.  For 
fifty-six  years  he  served  his  country  in  act- 
ive service,  including  the  time  spent  in  the 
niilitary  school  and  the  naval  academy.     He 


FRED    FREDERICKSON. 


MRS.   FANNIE    FREDERICKSON. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


417 


is  now  living  a  retired  life,  receiving  a  pen-      himself  about  five  years  and  has  built   up   a 


sion  from  his  government. 

J.  P.  E.  Frederickson  is  one  of  a  family 
of  seven  children.  At  the  age  of  fourteen 
he  quit  school  and  commenced  to  learn  the 
cabinet-maker's  trade,  but  later  took  up 
painting,  and  is  to-day  a  fresco  painter  of 
superior  ability.  He  has  a  large  establish- 
ment in  a  si.x-story  building  of  his  own.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  he  married  Johanne  M. 
Skjellet,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children:  Fred,  F.  C. ,  Eida  M.  C. 
F.  (deceased),  Eida  M.  C.  F.,  R.  C.  (de- 
ceased), C.  L.,  Jensine,  K.  U.  M.  F.,  Mar- 
timus,  Thorald,  Elvinus,  Dusinus,  Inger  and 
Johannes. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  graduatecl  from  the  public 
school  and  was  then  apprenticed  in  a  large 
tailoring  establishment  in  Copenhagen  to 
learn  the  tailor's  trade.  After  serving  an 
apprenticeship  of  five  years  he  left  Copen- 
hagen for  Tronhjem,  Norway,  and  worked 
there  about  four  months,  going  from  there 
to  Christiana,  Norwa}',  where  he  remained 
a  short  time.  From  Norway  he  went  to 
Stockholm,  Sweden,  and,  after  traveling 
over  that  country  a  few  months,  he  returned 
home.  He  next  went  to  Hamburg,  Ger- 
many, and  after  traveling  over  the  principal 
portions  of  Germany  he  went  to  Calais, 
France,  where  he  remained  nine  weeks. 
He  then  returned  home  and  was  examined 
for  the  army,  but  was  rejected.  After  re- 
maining at  home  for  a  week  he  determined 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  United  States. 
Accordingly  he  took  a  steamer  for  New 
York,  and  after  landing  came  direct  to  Mt. 
Morris  and  commenced  work  for  Gregor 
Thompson.  After  working  for  him  a  short 
time  he  concluded  to  establish  a  business  of 
his  own.      He  has  now  been  in  business  for 


good  substantial  trade. 

Mr.  Frederickson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, September  17,  1893,  with  Miss  Fan- 
nie Wilson,  a  native  of  Ogle  county,  and 
daughter  of  James  M.  and  Margaret  (Downs) 
Wilson,  the  former  born  in  Perry  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  November,  1806,  and  the 
latter  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  March 
I,  18  16.  James  M.  Wilson  was  the  son  of 
William  Wilson,  a  native  of  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  and  who  later  removed  to 
Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  and  who  never  came 
west. 

James  M.  Wilson  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  state, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  quit  school  and 
commenced  to  learn  the  carpenter  trade  in 
Lancaster,  Pennsylvania.  After  learning 
his  trade  he  went  to  Urbana,  Ohio,  and 
there  remained  until  1836,  working  as  a 
journeyman.  He  then  moved  to  a  farm  in 
Logan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  two 
years,  moving  from  there  to  Clark  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  worketl  at  his  trade  for  four- 
teen years.  He  then  came  to  Ogle  county, 
purchased  a  farm  in  Pine  Rock  township, 
and  there  rei7iained  until  his  death,  August 
20,  1S74.  His  wife  survived  him  nine  years, 
dying  January  10,  1898,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years  and  ten  months.  They  were  the 
parents  of  fourteen  children — Sarah  J., 
Mary  E.,  William  O.,  Samuel  M.,  Alice  D., 
Melvina  R. ,  Adel  M.,  Margaret,  Fannie  H., 
Elizabeth,  Katherine,  Harry  B.,  Josephine 
and  one  who  died  in  infanc}'.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Wilson  was  a  Republican.  While  re- 
siding in  Clark  county,  Ohio,  lie  served  as 
deputy  sheriff  of  the  count}',  and  was  then 
elected  sheriff.  He  also  served  one  term 
as  justice  of  the  peace.  Fraternally  he  was 
a    Mason,   as    his    father    was   before    him. 


4iS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Religiouslj'  he  was  a  Baptist.  Two  of  his 
sons,  William  O.  and  Samuel  M.,  were 
members  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and 
served  through  the  Civil  war.  Of  the  four- 
teen children,  ten  are  yet  living. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Frederickson  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
Elysian  Lodge,  No.  56,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  and 
Mt.  Morris  Camp,  No.  452G,  M.  W.  A. 
Religiously  he  is  a  Lutheran,  as  is  also  his 
wife.  While  of  foreign  birth,  he  is  a  true 
American  citizen. 


WILLIAM  H.  BARKMAN,  a  well- 
known  blacksmith  of  Polo,  Illinois, 
and  one  of  its  highly  esteemed  citizens,  was 
b<jrn  near  Hagerstown,  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  February  6,  1S31,  a  son  of  Da- 
vid and  Rebecca  (Guyton)  Barkman,  who 
were  also  natives  of  that  county,  the  former 
born  in  Boonsboro,  in  iSoi,  the  latter  in 
1808.  The  father,  who  was  a  shoemaker 
by  trade,  came  west  in  1S63,  soon  after  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  his  place  having  been 
stripped  of  its  stock  and  fences  by  the  con- 
tending armies  passing  to  and  fro  contin- 
uously, "  leaving  nothing  but  the  house." 
On  reaching.Ogle  county,  he  bought  a  farm  of 
forty  acres  at  Franklin  Grove,  where  he 
Continued  to  make  his  home  until  called 
from  this  life  in  1875,  while  on  a  visit  to 
our  subject's  in  Polo.  He  retired  from  his 
trade  on  coming  to  this  state  and  devoted 
his  attention  e.\clusi\ely  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. His  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war 
of  1812.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died 
in  Ogle  county  in  1876.  There  were  ten 
children  in  the  family,  of  whom  he  is  the 
third  in  order  of  birth,  but  only  seven  are 
now  living. 

William  H.  Barkman  received  a  district 


school  education,  walking  each  day  three 
miles  to  the  school  house.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  he  began  his  business  career  by 
working  for  neighboring  farmers,  and  was 
thus  employed  for  four  years,  after  which  he 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  at  Beaver 
Creek,  where  he  worked  for  a  few  months. 
The  spring  of  1853  witnessed  his  arrival  in 
Illinois,  making  the  journey  by  railroad  to 
Rockford,  whence  he  soon  drifted  to  Grand 
Detour.  There  he  secured  employment  in 
the  Andrews  Plow  Works,  but  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  went  to  Buffalo  Grove,  the 
"Old  Town,"  where  he  worked  for  Mr. 
Curtis  until  the  first  of  the  following  year. 
Since  then  he  has  made  his  home  in  Polo, 
his  first  employment  here  being  with  Major 
Aplington,  who  was  in  charge  of  railroad 
construction.  He  remained  with  that  gen- 
tleman until  the  railroad  was  completed, 
and  then  entered  the  blacksmith  shop  of  Mr. 
Frost,  where  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
until  1857,  when  he  bought  out  his  employ- 
er and  has  since  engaged  in  business  on  his 
own  account  with  marked  success.  In  1861 
he  built  his  present  shop,  where  the  anvil 
has  rung  a  merry  tune  for  over  thirty-eight 
years. 

At  Mt.  Pleasant,  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  Mr.  Barkman  was  married  in 
July,  IS51,  to  Miss  Catherine  Bombarger, 
who  was  born  in  that  county,  January  i, 
1830,  a  daughter  of  Moses  and  Catherine 
(Bet/)  Bombarger.  Eight  children  have 
been  born  of  this  union:  Annie,  now  the 
wife  of  Harry  Hearst,  a  railroad  employe  in 
Colorado,  by  whom  she  has  two  children, 
Charles  and  Alice;  Elhannen,  a  traveling 
salesman  for  a  Chicago  house,  residing  in 
Decatur,  Illinois,  who  married  Rena  Hill,  of 
Tama  City,  Iowa,  and  has  three  children, 
Nina,  Inda  and  Robert;  Laura  Virginia,  who 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   KECORL'. 


419 


is  the  widow  of  Reuben  Wilder,  and  has 
four  children,  Nellie,  William,  Eva  and 
Harry;  Ida,  wife  of  W^illiam  Poffenbarj^er,  a 
blacksmith  of  Polo,  by  whom  she  has  one 
child,  Goldie;  William  E.,  who  is  in  the 
shop  with  his  father;  Delia,  widow  of  Ed- 
ward Farringer;  Alice,  deceased;  and  Mollie, 
wife  of  William  Filson,  a  cutter  in  a  shoe 
factory  in  Dixon,  Illinois. 

Socially  Mr.  Barkman  is  an  active  and 
prominent  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  of  Polo,  has  filled  all  its  chairs,  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  the  grand  lodge  four 
or  five  times.  The  Republican  party  has 
always  found  in  him  a  stanch  supporter  of 
its  principles,  and  he  has  been  an  influential 
member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  one 
term  and  city  council  for  several  terms.  He 
has  witnessed  the  entire  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  Polo,  and  can  well  remember 
when  this  region  was  all  wild  prairie  with 
only  a  railroad  grade  passing  through  the 
present  enterprising  little  city.  He  has 
been  an  important  factor  in  advancing  its 
moral  and  material  welfare  and  has  ever 
been  recognized  as  one  of  its  valueil  and 
useful  citizens.  There  is  no  one  still  living 
in  Polo  who  was  here  when  he  located  in 
the  village,  for  the  pioneers  are  fast  pass- 
ing away. 


BARZILLA  KNAPP,  justice  of  the  peace 
and  notary  public,  Creston,  Illinois, 
and  the  efficient  collector  of  the  township  of 
Dement,  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  the 
county,  of  which  he  has  been  a  resident  for 
forty-five  years,  or  since  1S54.  He  was 
born  in  Danbury,  Connecticut,  January  2, 
1822,  and  in  the  same  house  in  which  his 
father,  Hon.  James  Knapp,  was  born.  The 
family    is    of    English    ancestry,    and    were 


early  settlers  of  Connecticut,  the  grandfa- 
ther, James  Knapp,  Sr. ,  being  a  native  of 
the  state.  James  Knapp,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  twice  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Zeruah  Gregory.  She  was 
the  mother  of  Barzilla.  Her  death  occurred 
in  June,  i<S49.  James  Knapp  was  a  prom- 
inent man  in  his  native  state,  and  served 
two  or  more  terms  in  the  state  legislature. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and  owned 
and  operated  the  old  homestead  which  was 
in  possession  of  the  family  for  man)'  years. 
He  died  in  February,  1845. 

Barzilla  Knapp  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  his  native  county  and  assisted  his 
father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm.  His 
educational  advantages  were  good,  but  the 
knowledge  acquired  in  school  has  been 
largely  supplemented  by  reading  and  contact 
with  his  fellow  men.  In  early  life  he 
worked  in  a  mill  and  was  an  expert  miller. 
He  was  married  in  Danbury,  Connecticut, 
in  October,  1841,  when  in  his  twentieth 
year,  to  Miss  Ruth  A.  Roberts.  After  mar- 
riage he  carried  on  the  home  farm  for  his 
father  for  a  few  years  and  rendered  what 
assistance  he  could  to  his  father  in  his  de- 
clining years.  His  wife  died  in  184O,  leav- 
ing two  children — Charles  J.,  now  of  Crest- 
on,  Illinois;  and  Ruth  A.,  wife  of  Prof.  H. 
N.  Halleck,  of  Vinton,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Halleck 
was  well  educated  in  the  Creston  schools 
and  in  the  high  school  at  Rockford,  Illinois. 
She  was  a  teacher  for  a  number  of  years 
prior  to  her  marriage,  and  later  assisted  her 
husband  for  nearly  twenty  years.  Prof. 
Halleck  is  now  living  retired  in  Vinton, 
Iowa,  while  Mrs.  Halleck  is  engaged  in  the 
millinery  business  at  that  place. 

Mr.  Knapp's  second  union  was  celebrat- 
ed September  17,  1847,  when  he  was  unit- 
ed in  marriage  with  Miss   Melvina  A.  Read, 


420 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  daughter  of 
Tilly  W.  Read,  also  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut. After  marriage,  and  until  his  removal 
west,  Mr.  Knapp  engaged  in  farming  in  the 
summer  and  in  teaching  in  winters.  In 
1852  he  came  to  Illinois  on  a  prospecting 
tour,  after  passing  through  the  states  of  In- 
diana and  Michigan.  This  section  seemed 
to  him  more  attractive  than  any  other,  and 
he  accordingly  selected  a  location  in  Ogle 
county,  near  Brodies'  grove.  In  1854  he 
moved  here  with  his  family,  and  at  once 
commenced  the  improvement  of  his  tract  of 
two  hundred  acres.  Fences  had  to  be 
built,  dwelling  and  barns  erected,  the 
prairie  broke,  and  crops  planted. 

After  remaining  on  the  farm  until  1862, 
Mr.  Knapp  sold  out  and  moved  to  Rockford, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
until  1868.  He  then  sold  the  business  and 
removed  to  Creston,  where  he  lived  retired, 
building  up  his  impaired  health,  which  had 
been  broken  down  by  close  application  to 
his  work.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  by  re-elec- 
tion has  served  continuously  for  more  than 
thirty  years.  He  was  not  inexperienced  in 
the  duties  of  the  office,  having  served  in  the 
same  while  residing  in  this  county  prior  to 
going  to  Rockford.  In  18C9  he  was  ap- 
pointed notary  public  and  has  served  in  that 
office  to  the  present  time.  He  served  one 
term  as  supervisor  of  Dement  township  be- 
fore moving  to  Rockford.  Since  his  return 
he  has  served  eight  years  as  township  treas- 
urer, and  is  now  serving  his  eighth  year  as 
township  collector.  He  has  represented  his 
township  on  several  occasions  in  county  and 
judicial  conventions.  In  every  position  filled 
he  has  discharged  the  duties  devolving  on 
him  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner.  Since 
the  organization  of  the  party  he  has  been  a 


thorough  and  consistent  Republican,  but  in 
local  elections  he  votes  for  the  men  rather 
than  party. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Knapp  is  an  ancient  Odd 
Fellow.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Rockford 
lodge  while  residing  in  that  city,  and  was 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  lodge  in 
Creston,  and  remained  in  full  fellowship  un- 
til the  surrender  of  the  charter  of  the  lodge. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  although  he  is  not  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church,  he  yet  attends  with  his 
wife  and  assists  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
church  in  Creston.  As  a  citizen  he  is  held 
in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who  know  him, 
and  his  friends  are  numerous  in  Winnebago, 
De  Kalb  and  Ogle  counties. 


HUGH  L.  GRIFFIN,  an  enterprising 
young  business  man  of  Polo,  Illinois, 
was  born  in  that  city  April  24,  1870,  and 
the  greater  part  of  his  education  was  ob- 
tained in  its  public  schools,  though  he  at- 
tended the  Dixon  Commercial  College, where 
he  was  graduated  in  December,  1890.  He 
then  went  west  and  after  spending  a  short 
time  at  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  he  set- 
tled at  Port  Gamble  on  Puget  sound,  where 
he  was  in  the  office  of  a  lumber  firm  for  five 
years  and  a  half.  His  health  failing,  he  re- 
turned home  and  took  charge  of  the  livery 
business  left  by  his  father.  He  carried  on 
the  business  in  partnership  with  his  mother 
from  July,  1 896,  until  October,  1898,  when 
he  took  complete  control.  In  the  success- 
ful conduct  of  the  business  he  manifests 
good  executive  ability  and  sound  judgment, 
and  by  fair  and  honorable  dealing  he  has 
won  a  liberal  share  of  the  public  patronage. 
He  has  a  general  livery  and  feed  stable,  and 
is  also  interested  in  the  transfer  business. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


421 


Leander  Griffin,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  Royalton,  Niagara  county,  New 
York,  April  18,  1838,  and  came  to  Polo, 
April  25,  1861.  On  the  3d  of  the  following 
December  he  joined  the  boys  in  blue  as  a 
member  of  Company  L,  Fifteenth  Illinois 
cavalry.  His  company  served  as  body  guard 
for' General  Halleck  at  the  siege  of  Corinth, 
and  later  was  with  General  Grant  in  thesame 
capacity.  Mr.  Griffin  was  discharged  June 
24,  1862,  on  account  of  physical  disability 
and  returned  to  Polo.  He  then  engaged  in 
farming  until  1867,  and  after  a  very  short 
time  spent  in  the  grocery  business,  he  pur- 
chased a  livery  stable  the  same  year,  con- 
ducting the  same  quite  successfully  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan- 
uary 7,  1892.  He  was  unwavering  in  his 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  took  quite  an  active 
and  prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  serving 
as  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  and  as 
deputy  sheriff  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Ogle  County 
Agricultural  board  for  a  period  of  six  years, 
and  was  always  found  true  and  faithful  to 
every  trust  reposed  in  him. 

William  Griffin,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  one  of  the  defenders  of 
the  country  during  the  war  of  1812.  The 
grandparents,  James  and  Jane  (Brazee) 
Griffin,  came  west  at  an  early  day  and 
purchased  a  farm  near  Polo,  where  the 
former  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years.  The  Griffins  were  of  English  and 
Dutch  descent,  while  the  Brazees  were  of 
Scotch  and  Dutch  extraction. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1SG6,  Lean- 
der Griffin  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  C.  Hawkes,  who  was  born  at  Lock- 
port,     New    York,    May     14,     1845.      Her 

father,  Norman  Hawkes,  was  born  June  20, 

45 


1802,  in  Franklin  county,  Massachusetts,  of 
which  his  parents,  Zebra  and  Rebecca  (Sex- 
ton) Hawkes,  were  also  natives.  Norman 
Hawkes  was  married  in  1829  to  Miss  Sarah 
Smith,  a  daughter  of  Eleazer  and  Mehitable 
(Bartlett)  Smith,  and  in  the  spring  of  1844 
they  came  to  Illinois.  For  eighteen  months 
they  made  their  home  in  Chicago  and  for 
two  and  a  half  years  lived  in  Dixon,  but 
finally  took  up  their  residence  in  Buffalo 
township.  Ogle  county,  where  Mr.  Hawkes 
and  his  son-in-law,  Leavitt  Moore,  owned 
five  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  died  in  1884 
and  his  wife  passed  away  the  year  previous. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leander 
Griffin  were  Norman  H.,  deceased;  Hugh 
L. ,  our  subject;  Roy;  and  J.  Leavitt. 


WILLIAM  QUEST,  section  35,  Eagle 
Point  township,  is  an  active  and 
enterprising  farmer,  the  owner  of  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  forty-eight  and  a  half  acres 
of  valuable  land.  He  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  August  20,  1850,  and  is  the 
son  of  W.  C.  Quest,  a  native  of  Indiana 
county,  Pennsylvania,  born  June  9,  1829, 
and  who  in  his  youth  went  to  Allegheny 
City,  Pennsylvania,  to  learn  the  blacksmith 
trade.  He  was  married  October  9,  1848, 
to  Miss  Mary  D.  Hart,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, who  was  left  an  orphan  in  early 
childhood.  W.  C.  Quest  was  the  son  of 
Matthew  Quest,  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
one  of  three  brothers  who  left  their  native 
land  to  make  homes  elsewhere.  One  of 
the  brother  was  lost  at  sea,  and  one  settled 
in  London,  England,  where  he  amassed  a 
large  fortune.  Matthew  Quest  was  a  pio- 
neer of  Indiana  county,  but  later  moved  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Lena,  Stephenson  coun- 
ty, where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  jeweler. 


422 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


W.  C.  Quest  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
family  in  1856,  and  joined  his  father  in 
Stepheson  county,  and  there  worked  at  his 
trade  until  1S56,  when  he  came  to  Ogle 
county,  locating  in  Eagle  Point  township, 
where  he  built  a  shop  and  carried  on  busi- 
ness for  some  years.  The  last  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  at  the  home  of  his  son, 
where  his  death  occurred  April  20,  1895. 
His  wife  died  in  1893,  and  their  remains 
were  laid  to  rest  in  the  United  Brethren 
cemetery.  Of  their  family,  six  sons  and 
three  daughters  are  yet  living  One  son, 
Charles,  died  at  the  age  of  six  years. 
Of  the  living,  W.  H.  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;  Samuel  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Eagle  Point  township;  George  is  liv- 
ing in  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois;  Frank  is 
living  in  Hazelhurst;  Henry  is  a  farmer  of 
Ogle  county;  Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Law- 
rence Piper,  of  Carroll  county,  Illinois; 
Anna  is  the  wife  of  Sherman  Stephens,  of 
Nora,  Jo  Daviess  county;  and  Eva  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Tillman,  of  Ogle  county. 

W.  H.  Quest  was  nine  years  old  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ogle  county, 
and  here  his  life  has  been  spent.  He  had 
but  limited  school  advantages  in  early  life, 
and  is  mostly  self-educated,  since  arriving 
at  mature  years.  He  usually  worked  on  a 
farm  in  the  summer  months,  and  attended 
school  a  few  weeks  in  winter.  On  the  19th 
of  January,  18S5,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Emma  Schryver,  a  native  of 
Ogle  county,  and  daughter  of  Jesse  Schry- 
ver, a  substantial  farmer  of  Eagle  Point 
township,  who  is  a  brother  of  Erastus 
Schryver,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  By  this  union  there  are  six 
children — Jesse  A.,  Mary  Jane,  Gracie 
Pearl,  William  Walter,  Ida  D.  and 
Charles  H. 


After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Quest  rented  and 
farmed  for  a  few  years,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1S83  made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  forty-three  acres,  a 
place  which  had  been  very  much  run  down. 
He  got  possession  and  located  upon  the 
place  in  the  spring  of  18S4,  and  at  once  be- 
gan its  improvement.  He  has  since  remod- 
eled the  house,  built  to  and  made  a  good 
barn,  planted  an  orchard  and  set  out  shade 
and  ornamental  trees,  making  a  very  at- 
tractive place.  When  a  young  man  he 
commenced  threshing  grain  during  the  sea- 
son, a  business  which  he  has  kept  up  for 
thirtj-three  years.  For  the  past  twelve 
years  he  has  owned  and  operated  a  steam 
thresher.  He  is  now  making  a  specialty  of 
feeding  cattle  for  the  general  market,  and 
annually  feeds  and  ships  from  two  to  four 
car  loads,  and  in  addition  about  one  hundred 
head  of  hogs.  In  this  branch  of  his  business 
he  has  met  with  success.  He  had  but  little 
to  commence  life  with,  but  that  little  has 
been  well  used,  and  he  is  meeting  with  a 
just  reward  for  his  industry. 

Mr.  Quest  cast  his  first  presidential  bal- 
lot in  1S72  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  and  has 
since  cast  his  ballot  for  every  presidential 
nominee  of  the  Republican  party  to  the 
present  time.  He  has  taken  some  interest 
in  local  politics,  and  has  often  been  a  dele- 
gate to  the  conventions  of  his  party,  where 
he  has  used  his  influence  in  securing  good 
men  for  the  various  offices.  He  has  always 
been  in  favor  of  the  public  schools,  and  be- 
lieves in  having  good  ones.  He  has  served 
on  the  school  board  for  nine  years,  and  for 
the  same  length  of  time  was  clerk  of  the 
board.  He  is  now  serving  his  second  term 
as  commissioner  of  highways.  While  not 
members  of  any  church,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Quest 
attend  the  United  Brethren  church,  having 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


423 


been  reared  in  that  faith.  He  is  a  member 
of  Polo  Camp,  No.  10,  M.  W.  A.  A  man  of 
strict  integrity  of  character,  he  has  many 
friends,  especially  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county,  where  forty  years  of  his  life  has  been 
spent. 


DAVID  F.  HIBARGER  was  born  at 
Sharpsburg,  Washington  county,  Mary- 
land, on  the  30th  of  November,  1S32,  and 
is  a  son  of  David  and  Rachel  (Barnes) 
Hibarger.  The  former  was  also  born  in 
Sharpsburg,  December  7,  1796.  He  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  but  on  coming  west  he 
took  up  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  five  miles  from  Mount  Morris,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death,  January  1 1 ,  1 8  5  i . 
During  his  lifetime  he  was  a  prominent  and 
highly  respected  member  of  the  German 
Reformed  church.  His  wife  was  born  Oc- 
tober 26,  1791,  near  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
and  died  in  Ogle  county,  on  the  22d  of  Oc- 
tober, 1866.  Ten  children  have  been  born 
to  them,  here  named  in  order  of  birth: 
Adam  and  Daniel,  deceased;  Mary,  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Reynolds;  Catherine,  who 
married  Isaac  Long;  Saliel;  Calvin;  David, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Emily,  the  wife 
of  Edward  King,  now  deceased;  Ansevilla, 
also  deceased;  and  Otha  R.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Adam  Hi- 
barger, a  wagonmaker,  whose  wife  lived  to 
be  eighty  years  of  age. 

David  Hibarger,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view, attended  the  common  schools  of 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  until  the 
family  removed  to  the  west  in  1847,  one 
son  having  preceded  them  by  two  years. 
When  our  subject  was  twenty  years  of  age, 
he  learned  the  brickmason's  trade  at  Mount 
Morris,  which  he  followed  for  two  years,  and 


then  took  charge  of  the  home  farm  for  his 
mother,  his  father  having  previously  died. 
About  this  time  he  was  married,  and  for  two 
years  rented  the  farm  from  his  mother, 
renting  elsewhere  the  following  year.  In 
the  summer  of  1864  he  was  prospecting  in 
Colorado,  and  the  twu  years  following 
farmed  in  Lincoln  township.  Ogle  county. 
In  1866  he  removed  to  Polo,  Illinois,  where 
he  has  since  worked  at  his  trade.  He  has 
had  charge  of  the  brickwork  of  most  of  the 
buildings  in  Polo.  He  helped  build  the 
Harvester  shops  and  a  number  of  brick  resi- 
dences. Mr.  Hibarger  has  made  business 
trips  through  Colorado,  Iowa,  Minnesota 
and  Illinois,  and  in  1S71  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  remained  eighteen  months.  He 
has  also  spent  three  summers  in  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  1S57,  at  Mt. 
Morris,  David  F.  Hibarger  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mary  Catherine  Waltmeyer, 
who  was  born  in  Smithsburg,  W'ashington 
county,  Maryland,  April  27,  1839.  She  is 
the  eldest  of  a  family  of  si.\  children,  and  is 
is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine 
(Adams)  Waltmeyer,  who  came  west  in 
March,  1857,  and  settled  near  Mt.  Morris. 
The  former  was  born  in  York  county,  Penn- 
s\-lvania,  September  27,  1812,  and  was  a 
son  of  Phillip  Waltmeyer,  and  before  com- 
ing west  was  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  and 
was  also  constable.  Upon  reaching  Illi- 
nois he  purchased  a  farm  with  his  step- 
father, but  sold  his  share  and  rented  a  farm 
in  West  Grove  township,  which  he  retained 
for  several  years,  and  which  he  gave  up  to 
purchase  in  Lincoln  township.  He  lived 
for  a  time  at  Maryland  Station,  Illinois, 
and  later  at  Haldane,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  November,  1893,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years.       His  grandfather  took 


424 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


an  active  part  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
Mrs.  Waltmeyer  was  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Catherine  (Bentz)  Adams;  the  former 
was  a  son  of  George  Adams. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hibarger  are  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  the  eldest  being  Os- 
car, who  is  married  and  is  a  brickmason, 
living  at  St.  Louis.  Willis  married  Henri- 
etta Triber  and  lives  at  Aurora,  Illinois, 
where  he  is  employed  on  structural  iron 
work.  Of  their  five  children,  three  are  liv- 
ing, namely:  Eva,  Ada  and  Vera.  The 
third  son,  Oliver,  is  a  farmer  and  carpenter 
in  Brown  county,  Ivansas,  and  married  Anna 
Pulvermaher.  They  have  two  children, 
Carl  and  Wanda.  Cora  married  Blair  Sey- 
ster,  also  of  Brown  county.  The  fifth  child, 
Anna,  is  deceased,  and  David  is  employed 
on  a  farm  in  Iowa.  Frank  is  deceased, 
and  the  youngest  child,  Pearl,  is  a  success- 
ful teacher,  who  has  for  five  years  taught 
in  the  school  of  Lincoln  township.  Mr. 
Hibarger  is  a  Democrat,  giving  his  support 
to  that  party  at  each  election.  Among  his 
business  associates  he  is  held  in  the  highest 
repute  for  his  integrity  and  uprightness, 
and  in  the  social  circles  in  and  about  Polo 
he  and  his  family  are  held  in  the  highest 
esteem. 


JOHN  W.  SOUTH  WORTH,  who  is  prac- 
tically living  a  retired  life  in  the  city  of 
Rochelle,  was  born  April  17,  1856,  in  Dry- 
den,  New  York,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
G.  and  Malvina  A.  (Freeland)  Southworth, 
of  whom  a  sketch  is  found  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  He  attended  the  public  school  and 
the  academy  at  Dryden  until  the  age  of 
eleven  years,  when  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Lee  county,  Illinois,  the  family  lo- 
cating in  Reynolds  township,  where  his  fa- 


ther engaged  in  farming  for  seven  years,  and 
then  removed  to  a  farm  adjoining  the  city 
of  Rochelle,  Ogle  county.  In  the  district 
schools  of  Lee  county  our  subject  continued 
his  studies  until  the  removal  of  the  family 
to  Ogle  county,  when  he  attended  the 
schools  of  Rochelle  for  a  time.  Later  he 
went  to  Rockford  and  took  a  short  course 
in  Miss  Alice's  Business  College,  after  which 
he  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  in  Flagg 
township  until  his  marriage. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1882,  Mr. 
Southworth  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Katherine  DeCourcey,  who  was  born 
in  Ashton,  Lee  county,  Illinois,  May  21, 
1858,  and  daughter  of  David  and  Norah 
(Doody)  DeCourcey,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  county  Limerick,  Ireland.  David 
DeCourcey  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  with  his  father,  James  DeCour- 
cey, and  located  in  Ashton,  Illinois.  Soon 
after  his  arrival  he  went  to  work  for  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway,  and  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  company  for  a  period 
of  thirty  years,  serving  as  section  boss,  bag- 
gage master,  brakesman,  fireman,  agent  and 
other  positions.  After  leaving  the  railroad, 
he  bought  and  sold  grain  for  a  few  years, 
and  then  went  to  farming  in  Dement  town- 
ship. Ogle  county,  where  he  remained  one 
year.  He  then  went  to  Malta,  De  Kalb 
county,  and  was  there  ten  years.  His  next 
move  was  to  a  farm  in  Reynolds  township, 
Lee  county,  where  he  died  January  30, 
1898.  David  and  Norah  DeCourcey  were 
the  parents  of  eleven  children — Katherine, 
Margaret,  James,  Norah,  Edward,  Mary, 
David,  Helen,  Elizabeth,  Victoria  and  Celia. 
Mrs.  DeCourcey  is  still  living  in  Rochelle. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Southworth  three  children 
have  been  born:  Thomas  G.,  born  July  11, 
18S3;  Helen,  born  December  31,  1889;  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


425 


Ruth,  born  November  30,  1895.  The  two 
oldest  are  now  attending  the  public  schools 
of  Rochelle. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Southworth  lo- 
cated on  his  farm  in  Flagg  township,  and 
at  once  commenced  its  cultivation.  On  that 
farm  he  continued  to  reside  until  March, 
1893,  when,  having  built  one  of  the  finest 
residences  in  Rochelle,  he  moved  with  his 
family  to  the  city.  The  first  floor  of  his 
house  is  elegantly  finished,  the  parlor  and 
library  being  in  birch  and  cherry,  and  .the 
dining  room  in  cypress.  The  second  story, 
in  which  are  the  bed  rooms,  is  finished  in 
Georgia  pine.  Everything  about  the  place 
shows  excellent  workmanship.  The  library 
room  is  not  built  for  show,  but  is  well  filled 
with  the  best  literature  of  the  day. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Southworth  is  a  Repub- 
lican, having  voted  the  ticket  of  that  party 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
James  A.  Garfield.  He  is  now  serving  his 
third  term  as  alderman  from  his  ward,  the 
duties  of  which  office  he  discharges  with 
fidelity.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Wil- 
low Camp,  No.  44,  M.  W.  A.  Mr.  South- 
worth  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 
A  good  business  man,  Mr.  Southworth 
works  for  the  best  interest  of  his  adopted 
city  and  county,  and  enjoys  the  confi- 
dence and  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
been  brought  in  contact. 


PETER  GOVIG,  an  enterprising  farmer, 
residing  on  section  35,  Dement  town- 
ship, has  been  a  resident  of  Ogle  county 
since  1867.  He  is  a  native  of  Norway,  and 
was  born  near  Stevanger,  January  4,  1833, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Martha  (Randa) 
Govig,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of 
Norway,    the    former    born    December    3, 


1799,  and  the  latter  in  March,  1800.  In 
early  life  John  Govig  learned  the  trade  of  a 
shoemaker,  which  he  followed  for  some 
years;  but  later,  however,  he  engaged  in 
carpentering.  His  children  having  come  to 
this  country,  he  followed  them  with  his  wife 
in  1859,  and  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life 
with  his  son,  Peter,  where  his  death  occurred 
August  27,  1883,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years.  His  wife  died  in  September,  1884, 
and  her  remains  were  laid  to  rest  beside 
those  of  her  husband  in  the  Norwegian 
church  cemetery  in  Alto  township,  Lee 
county.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
sons  and  si.\  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew 
to  mature  years.  Melvina  married  Thole 
Sawyer,  and  they  located  in  LaSalle  county, 
Illinois,  where  her  death  occurred.  Dora, 
widow  of  Eber  Knudson,  resides  in  LaSalle 
county,  Illinois.  Lars  is  a  farmer  of  Lee 
county,  Illinois.  Martha  Jane  married  Nels 
Aske,  but  is  now  deceased.  Peter  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Mrs.  Melina  Foss, 
a  widow,  resides  with  our  subject.  Mrs. 
Bertha  Hill  resides  in  DeKalb  county.  Mrs. 
Martha  Hill  resides  in  Passadena,  California. 
John  is  a  resident  of  Ogle  county. 

Peter  Govig  grew  to  manhood  in  Nor- 
way, and  in  1857  came  to  the  United  States, 
where  he  joined  an  older  brother.  He  first 
located  in  LaSalle  county,  Illinois,  and 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  for 
about  two  years.  In  1859  he  made  a  trip 
to  Pike's  Peak,  starting  from  Leland,  Illi- 
nois, April  15,  with  three  yoke  of  o.xen.  He 
did  not,  however,  stop  at  the  Peak,  but 
pushed  on  to  California,  arriving  there  in 
September.  On  his  arrival  he  commenced 
chopping  timber  for  a  sawmill,  but  later 
went  to  mining,  in  which  he  met  with  little 
success.  In  the  spring  of  i860  he  made  up 
his  mind  to  return  east,  and  started  toward 


426 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Carson  Valley  and  Camp  Floyd,  and  then 
on  to  Gregory,  now  Colorado  City,  Colorado, 
where  he  again  went  to  mining,  at  which  he 
continued  three  years  with  varying  success. 
Leaving  Colorado  he  went  to  Montana, 
where  he  spent  about  four  years,  and  meet- 
ing with  fair  success.  In  i  866  he  returned 
to  Illinois  with  some  means  and  purchased 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  consisting 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  e.xcel- 
lent  land.  With  little  experience  in  farm- 
ing, he  commenced  work,  and  is  now  num- 
bered with  the  most  successful  and  practical 
farmers  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Govig  was  married  in  LaSalle  county, 
Illinois,  with  Miss  Berthena  Aske,  also  a 
native  of  Norway,  born  May  15,  1S50,  the 
marriage  ceremony  being  celebrated  Sep- 
tember 9,  1 868,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
twelve  children — John,  Elsie,  Peter,  Mary, 
Peter,  Nellie,  Nels,  Mabel,  Noah  A.,  Marth, 
Samuel  and  Daniel.  Of  these  the  first 
Peter  and  Nellie  are  deceased. 

Politically,  Mr.  Govig  is  a  Republican, 
but  he  has  never  asked  or  accepted  public 
office.  He  is  a  good  citizen,  however,  and 
lends  aid  and  support  to  all  worthy  meas- 
ures for  the  general  good  of  the  public.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  for  forty- 
two  years,  and  although  he  came  here  poor 
in  this  world's  goods,  by  his  industry,  thrift 
and  economy  he  has  accumulated  sufficient 
means  to  enable  him  to  live  in  comfort  and 
ease  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 


ROMANZO  G.  SHUMWAY,  of  Polo,  is 
one  of  the  leading  bankers  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state,  and  bears  a  wide  reputa- 
tion as  a  most  capable  financier  and  business 
man.  While  as  a  prosperous  business  man, 
he  has  given  close  attention   to   his  private 


affairs,  he  has  never  forgotten  or  ignored 
that  bond  of  common  interest  which  should 
unite  the  people  of  every  community  and  he 
has  always  been  ready  to  promote  progress 
in  every  line. 

Our  subject  traces  his  ancestry  back  to 
Peter  Shumway,  who  founded  the  family  in 
Massachusetts  as  early  as  1665.  His  son 
Peter  was  the  father  of  Oliver  Shumway, 
who  was  born  October  12,  1724.  The  lat- 
ler's  son,  Elijah  Shumway,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 24,  1754,  and  was  the  father  of  Lewis, 
who  was  born  August  18,  1776,  and  became 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  David  Shum- 
way, the  father,  was  born  March  27,  1S03, 
in  Jamaica,  Vermont,  where  he  lived  until 
reaching  man's  estate.  After  his  marriage 
he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1836  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Winnebago 
county,  where  he  entered  a  tract  of  land  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Kishwaukee  river,  near 
Rockford.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy 
and  thrift,  who  succeeded  in  accumulating 
a  competency  and  surrounded  his  family 
with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He  died  in 
1879.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Democrat, 
but  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  in  1856  he  joined  its  ranks  and  con- 
tinued to  fight  under  its  banner.  In  Ver- 
mont he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sallie  Greeley,  who  was  born  in  that  state 
in  1S06  and  died  in  Illinois  in  18S7.  Her 
father,  Solomon  Greeley,  married  a  Miss 
Smith,  who  died  young,  but  he  lived  to  an 
advanced  age  and  spent  his  last  days  in 
Illinois.  To  David  and  Sallie  (Greeley) 
Shumway  were  born  five  children,  and  our 
sul)ject  is  the  eldest  of  the  five  who  reached 
years  of  maturity. 

On  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Ober- 
lin,  Ohio,  Romanzo  G.  Shumway  was  born 
February  12,  1832,  and  was  therefore  but  a 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


427 


small  child  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Illinois.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
near  Rockford  and  attended  the  local 
schools  until  twenty  years  of  age.  On  at- 
taining his  majority  he  left  the  parental 
roof  and  clerked  for  a  time  in  a  drug  store 
in  Rockford.  Later  he  was  similarly  em- 
ployed in  a  drygoods  store  in  Di.xon,  and 
shortly  afterward  embarked  in  the  drug 
business  on  his  own  account  at  Milledgeville, 
with  a  branch  store  at  Lanark,  continuing 
operations  along  that  line  for  sixteen  or 
seventeen  years.  In  November,  1871,  he 
took  up  his  residence  in  Polo  and  became 
interested  in  a  private  bank,  which  was 
shortly  afterward  merged  into  the  Exchange 
National  Bank.  During  the  fifteen  years 
he  was  connected  therewith  he  served  as 
either  its  president  or  vice-president.  He 
still  carries  on  the  banking  business,  being 
interested  in  nine  different  banks  in  Illinois, 
Minnesota  and  ^^'isconsin.  A  man  of  keen 
discrimination  and  sound  judgment,  he  has 
met  with  marked  success  in  all  his  under- 
takings, and  his  good  executive  ability  and 
excellent  management  have  brought  to  the 
concerns  with  which  he  is  connected  a  high 
degree  of  prosperity. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  1S55,  Mr. 
Shumway  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eugenia  M.  Palmer,  a  native  of  Aurora, 
Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Dr.  W.  K.  and 
Anna  (Barnum)  Palmer,  the  former  born  in 
Lane,  Canada,  in  1803,  the  latter  in  1S06. 
Dr.  W.  K.  Palmer  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Illinois,  he  having  practiced  medicine  in 
Carroll  county  for  many  years,  moving  to 
Aurora  when  there  was  only  one  white  fam- 
ily living  there.  Her  paternal  grandparents 
were  Azariah  and  Anna  (Kerley)  Palmer, 
the  former  a  son  of  Azariah  Palmer,  Sr. 
Her    maternal     grandfather     was    Herman 


Barnum,  a  son  of  Daniel  Barnum,  who 
married  a  Miss  Hoskins,  a  daughter  of  Asa 
and  Elizabeth  (McCarthy)  Hoskins.  To  our 
subject  and  his  wife  were  born  three  children, 
as  follows:  Clara,  deceased,  studied  art  at 
Evanston,  Illinois,  was  a  painter  of  great 
promise  and  was  an  especially  fine  colorist. 
Anna  is  the  wife  of  W.  P.  Wagner,  cashier 
of  the  Citizens  National  Bank,  of  Green 
Ijay,  Wisconsin,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren: Perry  and  Eugenia.  Lucia  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Polo  high  school  and  La  Salle 
Seminary,  of  Auburndale,  Massachusetts. 

Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shumway  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  socially  was  formerly  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  In  his  political  affilia- 
tions he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  been 
honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  a  num- 
ber of  responsible  official  positions.  He 
has  served  as  school  treasurer  for  fourteen 
years;  as  supervisor  for  four  years;  postmas- 
ter of  Milledgeville  for  fourteen  years;  and 
a  member  of  the  Polo  school  board  for  six 
years.  The  duties  of  the  offices  were  al- 
ways most  faithfully  and  conscientiously 
discharged,  and  his  public  and  private  life 
are  alike  above  reproach.  His  strict  integ- 
rity and  honorable  dealing  in  business  com- 
mend him  to  the  confidence  of  all;  his 
pleasant  manner  wins  him  friends,  and  he 
is  one  of  the  popular  and  honored  citizens  of 
Polo. 


JESSE  F.  CATER,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 1  I,  Taylor  township,  is  well  known 
in  Ogle  and  Lee  counties  as  an  active 
and  enterprising  farmer,  one  who  endeav- 
ors to  keep  abreast  of  the  times.  His 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres  is 
always  kept  under  a   high   state  of  cultiva- 


428 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tion  and  well  supplied  with  all  modern  ma- 
chinery rendered  necessary  in  this  progress- 
ive age.  He  was  born  October  25,  1866, 
in  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  and  Susan  (Perry)  Cater,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  were  married,  and  afterwards 
still  resided  for  some  years.  In  18 —  they 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Bureau 
county,  about  ten  miles  east  of  the  county 
seat.  Purchasing  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  acres,  the  father  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  On  that  farm  he 
continued  to  reside  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  his  death  occurring  August  8,  1868. 
His  wife  is  yet  living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty-two 
years  old,  helping  in  the  work  of  the  farm, 
and  when  practicable  attended  the  district 
school.  He  was  married  September  20, 
1888,  in  Taylor  township,  to  Miss  Laura  E. 
Harris,  who  was  born  in  the  township  Oc- 
tober 16,  1866,  and  a  daughter  of  Ameriah 
and  Hannah  A.  (Northrup)  Harris.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Maine,  born  in  Tur- 
ner, Oxford  county,  October  24,  1822, 
while  her  mother  was  born  near  Halifax, 
Nova  Scotia,  July  12,  1826.  They  were 
married  August  29,  1847,  at  Grand  Detour, 
Ogle  county.  Mr.  Harris  was  a  well  edu- 
cated man,  and  for  some  years  engaged  in 
teaching  school,  devoting  his  days  to  the 
school  room  and  his  evenings  to  the  manu- 
facture of  brooms,  being  an  expert  broom- 
maker.  Saving  his  means,  he  invested  in 
land,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  June  13,  1893,  he  was  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  of  im- 
proved land  in  Taylor  township.  His  wife 
died  August  12,   1898.      For  more  than  fifty 


years  she  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Light  House,  and  was 
a  strong  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  that 
church.  In  their  family  were  seven  child- 
ren, Mrs.  Cater  being  the  only  one  now  liv- 
ing. John  B.  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years;  Sumner  B.  when  six  years  old;  Vesta 
E.  at  two  years;  addie  L.  at  two  years; 
Louisa  E.  at  one  month;  and  Lucia,  a  twin 
sister  of  Mrs.  Cater,  when  nearly  four 
years  old. 

Mr.  Cater  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight 
children.  Edward  married  Mary  Belknap, 
and  now  lives  in  Carson,  Iowa,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business;  Mary 
M.  married  Harry  Belknap,  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  and  they  reside  at  Goldfield,  Wright 
county,  Iowa;  William  H.  married  Hattie 
Scurr,  and  they  reside  in  Colfax,  Iowa, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness; Arvin  died  in  infancy;  Ella  J.  mar- 
ried Cyrus  Hills,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
creamery  business  at  Lamoille,  Illinois; 
Henry  M.  married  Carrie  Fish,  and  they 
live  in  Berlin  township.  Bureau  county,  Il- 
linois, where  he  is  engaged  in  farming; 
Katie  B.  married  Uri  Jacobs,  and  they  also 
reside  in  Berlin  township.  Bureau  county, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jesse  F.  Cater  are  the 
parents  of  two  children — Sumner  H.,  born 
February  12,  1891,  and  Orville  E.,  born 
December  29,  1894.  The  former  is  now  a 
pupil  in  the  pupil  schools. 

In  addition  to  general  farming,  Mr. 
Cater  devotes  considerable  attention  to 
stock  raising,  principally  well  bred  horses 
of  light  and  heavy  weight  stock,  and  Pol- 
and China  hogs.  He  annually  buys  a  num- 
ber of  head  of  cattle,  which  he  fattens  for 
the  Chicago  markets.  He  usually  attends 
to    his  own  shipments.      In   this   branch  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


429 


his  business  he  has  been  fairly  successful. 
He  is  not  a  politician  in  the  ordinary  sense 
of  the  term,  but  gives  that  time  to  his  du- 
ties of  citizenship  that  should  be  given  by 
all.  The  only  official  position  held  by  him 
has  been  that  of  clerk  of  the  school  board. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Light  House,  his  wife  also  being 
a  member  of  the  same  body.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican. 


FRANK  J.  CRAWFORD,  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Polo  Semi-Weekly  Visitor, 
was  born  in  Delhi,  Delaware  county.  New 
York,  November  10,  1843.  He  is  the  son 
of  William  S.  and  Orra  A.  (Sweet)  Craw- 
ford, the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
born  September  7,  1807,  and  the  latter 
born  in  Green  county.  New  York,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1 810.  They  were  married  Novem- 
ber 16,  183  I.  In  his  native  state,  William 
S.  Crawford  was  made  a  Mason  in  1828, 
and  the  principles  of  the  order  were  ever 
dear  to  him.  His  wife  died  in  Delhi,  Dela- 
ware county,  New  York,  April  18,  1S88, 
aged  seventy-seven  years  and  seven  months. 
He  is  still  living  in  his  native  state.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Cyrus  Sweet,  who 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12,  died  in 
1 86 1,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

In  his  native  county,  our  subject  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  public  schools, 
which  he  attended  in  the  winter  months 
until  he  was  thirteen  years  old.  When 
seventeen  years  old  he  went  to  Franklm, 
New  York,  and  commenced  to  learn  the 
printer's  trade,  at  which  he  continued  until 
in  August,  1862.  He  was  now  in  his 
eighteenth  year,  and  the  war  for  the  union 
had  been  in  progress  for  a  little  more  than 
one  year.      He   could   resist   the  call   of  his 

40 


country  no  longer,  and  as  a  private  he  en- 
listed in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-fourth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry, 
August  13,  1862,  at  Franklin,  Delaware 
county.  After  enlisting  he  went  into  camp 
at  Delhi,  where  the  regiment  was  thoroughly 
drilled,  and  on  the  8th  of  October,  follow- 
ing, having  received  marching  orders,  they 
set  out  for  the  seat  of  war.  At  Elmira, 
New  York,  they  stopped  long  enough  to  re- 
ceive Enfield  rifles  and  accouterments,  and 
then  proceeded  on  their  journey.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1863,  they  were  brigaded  with  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh,  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-second,  and  the  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-third  New  York  Vol- 
unteers. 

The  first  engagement  in  which  Mr. 
Crawford  participated  was  near  Suffolk, 
Virginia,  May  3,  18G3.  His  next  engage- 
ment was  on  John's  Island,  South  Carolina, 
July  2,  1864,  followed  by  another  July  9th, 
at  which  time  they  were  charged  by  the 
Confederates,  whom  they  repulsed,  and 
then  fell  back  to  their  line  of  earthworks. 
The  enemy  soon  following,  again  charged 
them,  attempting  to  capture  the  two  guns 
attached  to  their  brigade,  but  were  again 
repulsed  with  a  loss  of  five  to  seven  hundred 
men.  Mr.  Crawford  was  promoted  to  cor- 
poral April  10,  1863,  also  promoted  to  ser- 
geant May  30,  1865.  While  on  their  way 
from  Washington  to  Frederick  City,  Mary- 
land, July  12,  1863,  their  train  was  run 
into,  a  portion  of  it  wrecked,  and  many 
soldiers  were  injured.  The  regiment  was 
later  stationed  on  Folly  Island,  Seabrook, 
Kiowa,  James  and  other  islands  in  South 
Carolina.  While  there  they  suffered  very 
much  from  sickness. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  so  fortunate  as  to 
keep  a  diary   while  in    the  service.      From 


430 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


this  record  we  find  that  he  stood  guard 
fifteen  times,  was  corporal  of  the  guard  one 
hundred  and  sixty  times,  and  sergeant  of 
the  guard  forty-four  times.  The  following 
extract  from  his  diary  shows  what  a  soldier's 
life  used  to  be;  "Sunday,  July  19,1863, 
marched  twenty  miles  and  crossed  the 
Potomac  river  at  Berlin  on  pontoons;  Mon- 
day, marched  fifteen  miles;  Thursday,  called 
into  line,  and  marched  twenty  miles  with- 
out rations;  Saturday,  we  marched  eighteen 
miles."  Among  his  most  intimate  com- 
rades while  in  the  service  were  Lieutenant 
Boyd,  J.  H.  Cobine  and  Giles  M.  Tiffany. 
After  serving  three  years,  save  one  month, 
he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  serv- 
ice at  Elmira,  New  York,  July  13,  1865. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Craw- 
ford returned  to  his  old  home  at  Delhi, 
New  York,  and  for  a  few  weeks  worked  in  a 
printing  office  at  that  place.  For  several 
years  following  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
printer  in  various  offices  of  the  east,  and  in 
1876  came  west  and  located  in  Dixon,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  continued  to  work  at  his 
trade.  In  May,  1877,  he  came  to  Polo  and 
found  employment  in  the  office  of  the  Polo 
Press,  where  he  continued  for  nine  years. 
He  then  went  to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Polo,  and  went  into  the  clothing 
business  in  partnership  with  W.  R.  Miller, 
continuing  in  that  line  until  1890,  when  he 
sold  his  interest  in  the  establishment  and 
purchased  the  office  of  the  Polo  Semi- 
Weekly  Visitor,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  sole  editor  and  proprietor.  Under  his 
control,  the  Visitor  has  taken  front  rank 
among  the  local  papers  of  the  state.  While 
the  paper  advocates  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  it  gives  special  attention 
to  local  affairs,  espousing  all  measures  tend- 


ing to  advance  the   local  interests   of    Polo 
and  vicinity. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  1869,  Mr.  Craw- 
ford was  united  in  marriage,  in  Franklin, 
Delaware  county,  New  York,  with  Miss 
Aggie  D.  Field,  a  native  of  Andes,  New 
York,  born  February  4,  1851,  and  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Aseneth  (Ferguson)  Field,  the 
former  born  in  Green  county.  New  York, 
June  II,  1 82 1,  and  the  latter  in  Andes,  New 
York,  September  15,  1824.  They  were 
married  December  5,  1842.  Mrs.  Field 
died  August  16,  1857,  while  her  husband  is 
still  living  in  the  east.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crawford  two  children  were  born:  Lulu 
May,  born  in  Delhi,  Delaware  county,  New 
York,  June  12,  1872,  died  at  Walton,  New 
York,  December  17,  1S74;  EarlF.,  born  in 
Polo,  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  October  2,  1877, 
is  now  assisting  his  father  in  his  printing 
office. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Crawford  is  a  charter 
member  of  Polo  post.  No.  84,  G.  A.  R., 
and  has  held  office  in  the  post  continuously 
since  its  organization,  a  period  of  eighteen 
years.  He  is  past  commander,  and  for 
some  six  or  eight  years  has  been  serving  as 
adjutant  of  the  post,  a  position  that  he  still 
holds.  He  is  past  master  of  Mystic  Tie 
lodge.  No.  187,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  past 
high  priest  of  Tyrian  chapter.  No.  Gi,  R. 
A.  M.,  of  Polo,  Illinois,  and  is  a  member 
of  Dixon  commandery,  No.  21,  K.  T. ,  also 
a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican,  being  a  stanch  advocate 
of  the  principles  of  the  party,  his  views 
being  plainly  expressed  through  the  columns 
of  his  paper.  From  1881  to  1885,  inclu- 
sive, he  served  as  city  clerk  of  Polo.  Be- 
fore coming  to  Polo  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Congregationalist  church,  but  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


431 


and  one  of  the  official  members,  holding  the 
office  of  steward.  In  the  work  of  the 
church  he  takes  considerable  interest.  As 
a  citizen  he  is  held  in  high  esteem. 


JAMES  TAYLOR. — As  a  representative 
of  the  intelligent  and  hardy  pioneers 
who  opened  up  Ogle  county  for  settlement 
and  have  since  taken  a  conspicuous  part  in 
its  development,  we  are  pleased  to  place  in 
this  volume  a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  the 
gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head 
of  this  notice.  He  arrived  here  in  1841 
and  for  many  years  was  actively  identified 
with  its  agricultural  interest,  but  is  now 
living  retired  in  the  village  of  Byron,  sur- 
rounded by  many  comforts  and  lu.xuries,  all 
of  which  have  been  acquired  through  his 
own  industry,  perseverance  and  good  man- 
agement. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  born  in  Blendon  town- 
ship, Franklin  county,  Ohio,  twelve  miles 
northeast  of  Columbus,  February  16,  1S23. 
His  father,  Ambrose  Taylor,  was  a  native 
of  New  York,  where  he  married  Abigail 
Meade,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  who  lived 
at  Meade's  Bason,  sixteen  miles  from  New 
York  city.  From  the  Empire  state  they 
removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and  later  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Franklin  county,  where 
the  father  developed  a  farm.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  resident  of  Indiana,  then  spent 
several  years  in  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and 
finally  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life. 

Our  subject  accompanied  his  father  on 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  Indiana  and  lo- 
cated near  Lafayette,  on  the  Wabash  river. 
In  1 841  he  came  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  first  worked  by  the  month  during 
the  summer  season  for  fourteen  dollars,  and 


also  cradled  wheat  for  fifty  cents  an  acre. 
In  this  way  he  secured  a  start  in  life  and  la- 
ter purchased  a  team  and  engageil  in  teaming 
on  his  own  account.  In  early  life  he  was 
quite  a  hunter,  and  as  deer  and  other  wild 
game  still  abounded  in  this  region,  he  had 
ample  opportunity  to  indulge  in  that  sport. 
Although  he  worked  for  others  he  continued 
to  make  his  home  with  his  father  until  he 
attained  his  majority  and  together  they  en- 
tered eighty  acres  of  land  in  this  county, 
but  later  our  subject  purchased  his  father's 
interest.  He  continued  to  engage  in  team- 
ing for  some  time,  hauling  lead  from  b'rank- 
lin  to  Galena,  and  in  the  winter  of  1848, 
made  nine  trips  with  a  sleigh  to  Chicago.  In 
connection  with  freighting  he  also  followed 
farming  to  some  extent,  broke  his  eighty- 
acre  tract  and  erected  thereon  a  hewed-log 
house,  for  which  he  purchased  the  shingles 
at  St.  Charles,  Illinois.  Later  he  built  a 
good  frame  residence  and  otherwise  im- 
proved his  land,  adding  to  it  from  time  to 
time  until  he  had  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  in  the  home  farm  in  Marion  township, 
all  valuable  and  well  improved  land.  Be- 
sides this  place  he  owns  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  in  B\ron  township, 
through  which  both  railroads  pass,  and 
which  is  pleasantly  situated  a  mile  north- 
west of  the  village  of  Byron,  and  also  has  a 
good  residence  in  Rockford,  valued  at 
twenty-seven  hundred  dollars.  Renting  his 
farm  in  1890  he  removed  to  Iiyron,  where 
he  purchased  a  nice  home  and  has  since  de- 
voted his  time  to  looking  after  his  in- 
vestment. 

In  Ogle  county  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Taylor  and  Miss  Martha  Con- 
way, on  December  21,  1852.  She  is  a  na- 
tive of  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
of  Jesse  and  Nancy  Conway,  who  removed 


432 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  Lawrence  county,  Illinois,  in  1837,  and 
nine  years  later  became  residents  of  Ogle 
county,  where  they  spent  their  remaining 
years.  They  now  sleep  side  by  side  in  By- 
ron cemetery.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor 
have  been  born  five  children,  of  whom 
four  are  now  living,  namely:  Ambrose,  a 
resident  of  California;  Vinton,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  ten  years;  Eveline,  wife  of  Al- 
fred Rood,  of  Rockford,  Illinois;  Sherman, 
who  is  operating  the  old  home  farm;  and 
Martha,  wife  of  John  Shearer,  a  farmer  of 
Byron  township. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party,  Mr.  Taylor  has  been  one  of  its  stanch 
supporters,  voting  for  Fremont  in  1856  and 
Lincoln  in  i860,  but  he  has  never  cared  for 
official  honors.  For  the  success  that  he  has 
achieved  in  life  he  deserves  great  credit,  for 
he  came  to  the  county  empty-handed,  and 
has  not  only  gained  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence, but  has  also  won  the  respect  of  those 
he  has  come  in  contact  with  by  his  hon- 
orable, upright   life. 


GEORGE  W.  DICUS  is  not  only  one  of 
the  best  known  and  most  popular  citi- 
zens of  Rochelle,  but  is  also  one  of  the  he- 
roes of  our  late  war  with  Spain,  having 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  capture  of  Porto 
Rico.  For  eight  years  he  has  been  editor 
of  the  Rochelle  Register,  and  is  now  most 
creditably  and  satisfactorily  serving  as  post- 
master of  that  place. 

Mr.  Dicus  was  born  in  Marshall  county, 
Illinois,  December  18,  i860,  and  is  a  son 
of  George  W.  and  Hannah  (Lynch)  Dicus, 
natives  of  Ohio,  the  former  born  in  1814, 
the  latter  in  i8ig.  The  maternal  grand- 
father,   Thompson,  served  through- 
out the  Revolutionary  war  as  captain  of  a 


company  from  Virginia,  and  he  died  in  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  in  1842.  The  progenitor  of  the 
Thompson  family  in  America  came  from 
England  and  settled  with  the  first  colony  at 
Jamestown  in  1620.  The  Dicus  family, 
however,  is  of  German  origin  and  was  not 
founded  in  this  country  until  iSio,  when 
the  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject 
crossed  the  Atlantic  and  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Ohio,  being  among  the  pioneers  of 
that  state.  Both  died  during  the  cholera 
epidemic  of  18 18,  leaving  their  son,  George 
W.,an  orphan  at  the  age  of  four  years.  He 
was  adopted  by  George  Goodrich,  who  in 
1826  removed  from  Ohio  to  Lacon,  Mar- 
shall county,  Illinois,  settling  there  before 
that  village  was  established.  Our  subject's 
father  was  thus  reared  to  manhood  amid 
pioneer  scenes  in  this  state  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Marshall  county. 
During  his  youth  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
in  a  small  town  near  Columbus  he  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade.  Having  thoroughly 
mastered  the  business,  he  again  came  to 
Marshall  county,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  and  established  the  first  black- 
smith shop  there.  In  his  early  life  he  was 
very  successful,  but  after  his  service  in  the 
Civil  war  he  met  with  reverses  in  business. 
In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry and  served  for  about  two  years  as 
regimental  blacksmith  with  the  rank  of 
sergeant.  He  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Missionary  Ridge,  Chickamauga 
and  other  notable  engagements,  and  was 
captured  by  John  Morgan,  being  imprisoned 
at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  for  about  three 
months,  after  which  he  was  sent  to  Nash- 
ville to  be  exchanged.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  suffered  a  severe  attack  of  brain  fever. 
During  his  imprisonment  all   trace   of  him 


GEO.  W.  DICUS. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


435 


was  lost,  and  his  wife,  leaving  her  seven 
children  at  home,  went  in  search  of  him,  and 
for  about  a  year  served  as  nurse  at  Nash- 
ville. She  was  twice  married,  her  first  hus- 
band being  John  Riley  Russell,  a  contractor 
and  builder,  who  died  of  yellow  fever  at 
Port  Lavaca,  Texas,  in  1853.  By  that 
union  she  had  six  children,  one  of  whom, 
John  H.  Russell,  was  also  among  the  boys  in 
blue  during  the  Rebellion,  in  which  he  served 
for  four  years  and  two  months.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  only 
fifteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  he  took  part 
in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  Mrs.  Dicus 
is  a  sister-in-law  of  Albert  Ringe,  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  was  for  years  the  president  of 
the  Philadelphia  Plate  Glass  Insurance 
Company,  and  was  one  of  the  capitalists 
who  furnished  the  means  to  Dr.  Catling  to 
prosecute  the  manufacture  of  his  guns.  He 
was  at  the  front  for  some  time,  being  with 
Butler  while  testing  the  guns.  After  the 
war,  the  father  of  our  subject  resumed 
blacksmithing  at  Wenona,  where  he  con- 
tinued in  business  for  some  years,  but  spent 
the  last  eight  years  of  his  life  in  retirement 
at  Streator.  He  died  while  on  a  visit  to 
Ottawa,  Illinois,  August  20,  1891.  His 
widow  is  still  a  resident  of  Streator.  Our 
subject  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  the 
family  of  six  children  born  of  their  union 
and  all  are  still  living  with  the  exception  of 
one  son  who  died  in  childhood. 

George  W.  Dicus,  of  this  review,  com- 
pleted his  education  in  the  high  school  of 
Wenona,  Illinois,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  commenced  learning  the  printer's 
trade  under  Cadet  Taylor  in  the  office  of 
Wenona  Index,  though  he  was  still  attend- 
ing school.  On  leaving  there  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  he  went  to  Streator,  and  has  since 


worked  on  most  of  the  prominent  dailies 
throughout  the  United  States.  In  1S88  he 
purchased  the  Milledgeville  Free  Press,  and 
in  1 89 1  bought  the  Rochelle  Register,  which 
he  has  since  successfully  publislied,  being 
one  of  the  ablest  representatives  of  the  jour- 
nalistic profession  in  this  section  of  the 
state. 

Mr.  Dicus  has  been  for  years  active  in 
editorial  association  work,  being  first  vice- 
president  of  the  Illinois  Press  Association 
for  three  years  past,  a  member  of  the  State 
Republican  Editorial  Association,  and  has 
been  a  delegate  five  times  to  the  National 
Editorial  Association;  in  1892,  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, California;  1894,  Asbury  Park,  New 
York;  1S95,  St.  Augustine,  Florida;  1S97, 
Galveston,  Texas;  and  1899,  Portland,  Ore- 
gon. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1877,  Mr.  Dicus  en- 
listed in  Company  C,  Tenth  Battalion  Illi- 
nois National  Guards,  under  command  of 
Colonel  Parsons  and  was  later  transferred  to 
Company  C,  Fourth  Illinois.  After  coming 
to  Rochelle,  he  enlisted  in  1892,  as  second 
sergeant  in  Company  M, Third  Illinois  Nation- 
al Guards,  subsequently  was  promoted  to  first 
sergeant  and  November  30,  1895,  waselected 
first  lieutenant.  He  assisted  in  quelling  the 
riots  at  Lainont  and  Chicago,  and  in  iSSo 
the  company  of  which  he  was  then  a  mem- 
ber carried  off  the  honors  at  Mobile,  Ala- 
bama. When  the  war  between  Spain  and 
the  United  States  broke  out,  Mr.  Dicus  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at 
Springfield,  May  7,  1S98,  as  first  lieuten. 
ant  of  his  company,  and  on  the  14th  of  May 
proceeded  to  Chickamauga  Park,  where  he 
remained  until  July  22,  when  the  Third  Illi- 
nois was  picked  out  of  the  sixty-five  regi- 
ments to  accompany'  General  Brooke  to 
Porto  Rico.     They  were  transported  on  the 


436 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


auxiliary  cruiser  St.  Louis  and  arrived  at 
Ponce  July  29,  1898,  and  after  one  day 
spent  at  that  place  proceeded  to  Arroyo,  a 
distance  of  forty  miles,  where  they  landed 
on  the  1st  of  August  under  the  fire  of  the 
guns  of  the  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati  and  Glou- 
cester bombarding  the  town  and  woods. 
Capturing  the  place  they  occupied  it  for 
three  days,  during  which  time  they  took 
part  in  a  number  of  skirmishes  with  the 
Spaniards.  On  the  5th  of  August  they  ad- 
vanced on  Guayama,  captured  the  town  and 
killed  a  number  of  Spaniards  without  loss 
to  themselves.  On  the  Sth  of  August  they 
supported  the  Fourth  Ohio  regiment  in  the 
Cayey  mountains,  driving  the  Spaniards  out. 
They  were  already  to  engage  in  battle  on 
the  13th  when  the  news  of  peace  reached 
them,  but  they  remained  at  Porto  Rico  on 
outpost  duty  for  some  time.  At  the  order 
of  General  Haines,  Lieutenant  Dicus  planted 
the  flag  of  truce  opposite  the  Spanish  works. 
On  the  iith  of  May,  he  was  appointed  by 
President  McKinley  as  ordnance  officer, 
having  full  charge  of  the  equipments,  am- 
munition, etc.  With  his  regiment  he  sailed 
November  3  on  the  transport  Roumania  for 
New  York,  where  they  arrived  on  the  9th, 
and  over  the  Erie  railroad  proceeded  at 
once  to  Chicago.  They  were  mustered  out 
January  17,  1S99.  Lieutenant  Dicus  was 
a  gallant  officer  and  brave  soldier,  who  was 
held  in  high  esteem  by  his  fellow  officers  and 
had  the  confidence  and  respect  of  those  un- 
der him. 

While  in  Springfield,  preparing  to  go  to 
the  front,  Mr.  Dicus  was  notified  of  his  ap- 
pointment as  postmaster  of  Rochelle,  and 
was  sworn  in  at  Chickamauga  Park  by 
Colonel  Fred  Bennitt.  His  wife  then 
served  as  acting  postmaster  until  February 
I,  1899,    when   he  assumed    the    duties   of 


the  office,  which  he  has  since  so  efficiently 
discharged.  He  was  married  on  the  22d 
of  June,  1884,  to  Miss  Mary  Louise  John- 
ston, who  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Her  father,  George  W. 
Johnston,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
has  borne  his  part  in  the  wars  of  this  coun- 
try, having  served  in  the  navy  during  the 
Seminole  war  and  the  war  with  Mexico, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Seventy-seventh  Pennsylvania  Volunteer 
Infantry  during  the  Civil  war.  He  was  a 
cousin  of  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  the  great 
Confederate  general. 

Politically,  Mr.  Dicus  is  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party  and  its  prin- 
ciples. He  is  prominent  in  Masonic  circles, 
being  a  member  of  Horicon  Lodge,  No. 
244,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Rochelle  Chapter,  No. 
1 58,  R.  A.  M.  ;  Sycamore  Commandery, 
K.  T. ;  Medinah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. ; 
and  the  Eastern  Star.  He  is  deservedly 
popular  as  he  is  affable  and  courteous  in 
manner,  and  possesses  that  essential  quali- 
fication to  success  in  public  life,  that  of 
making  friends  readily  and  of  strengthen- 
ing the  ties  of  all  friendships  as  time  ad- 
vances. 


AL\IN  JOINER.— There  are  no  rules 
for  building  characters;  there  is  no  rule 
for  achieving  success.  The  man  who  can 
rise  from  the  ranks  to  a  position  of  emi- 
nence is  he  who  can  see  and  utilize  the  op- 
portunities that  surround  his  path.  The  es- 
sential conditions  of  human  life  are  ever 
the  same,  the  surroundings  of  individuals 
differ  but  slightly;  and,  when  one  man 
passes  another  on  the  highway  to  reach  the 
goal  of  prosperity  before  others  who  per- 
haps started  out  before  him,  it  is  because 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


437 


he  has  the  power  to  use  advantages  which 
probably  encompass  the  whole  human  race. 
To-day  among  the  most  prominent  business 
men  in  Ogle  county  stands  Mr.  Joiner,  of 
Polo. 

The  Joiner  family  was  founded  in  Amer- 
ica by  three  brothers,  one  of  whom    settled 
in    New    England,    another    in    the    Middle 
states,  and  the   third   in    the   South,  and    it 
is  from    the   first   that    our    subject    is    de- 
scended.     His    grandfather,    Alvin    Joiner, 
was  a  native  of  Royalton,  Windsor  county, 
Vermont,  and  one  of  the   pioneers   of  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  having   taken    up    his    resi- 
dence here  in  1S36.      He  was    a    farmer  by 
occupation  and  in  Oak  Ridge    township    he 
bought   a    farm   of  one    hundred    and   sixty 
acres.      He  married  Hannah  Van  Wagoner, 
of   New  York,  a  cousin   of   Roscoe  Conklin. 
Charles  W.    Joiner,    father  of  our   sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Windsor  county,  Vermont, 
December  S,   1S16,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools    of  that  state  and   in  Mid- 
dlebury  College.      He  came    west    with    his 
parents  in  1836,  and  much  of   his  early  life 
was    devoted   to    farming   in    Ogle    county. 
Later  he  became  interested   in  lumbering  in 
Michigan  and  spent    twenty-seven   jears   in 
the  pineries  of  that  state,  but   is  now  living 
retired  with  our  subject   in  Polo.      Though 
well  past  his  four-=core  years  he  is  still  active 
in  body  and  mind,  and  is  numbered   among 
the  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  commu- 
nity.     He  married    Harriet    M.  Waterbury, 
who  was  born  in  Andes,  Delaware   county. 
New  York,  November  26,   181  5,  a   daughter 
of  John    Waterbury,    a    native    of  Ballston 
Spa,  New  York,  who  was    born    March    26, 
1 79 1,    and    moved    to    Delaware    county    in 
1 80S.      His  parents  were   Daniel   and    Mary 
(Stephenson)  Waterbury,  the  latter  of  whom 
was    born    May    20,     1765,    a    daughter    of 


David  Stephenson.  Daniel  Waterbury  was 
a  son  of  Captain  Daniel  and  Anna  (Bouton) 
Waterbury,  antl  was  a  member  of  his  fa- 
ther's company  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
in  which  both  served  with  distinction.  John 
Waterbury,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  married,  in  1813,  to  Miss  Phcebe  B. 
Bradvvell,  a  daughter  of  Ezra  and  Sarah 
(Beach)  Bradwell.  She  was  born  in  Charl- 
ton, Saratoga  county.  New  York,  May  G, 
1790,  and  died  October  24,  18G0.  To  the 
the  parents  of  our  subject  were  born  two 
children,  he  being  the  younger.  Mary  W. 
is  the  wife  of  John  S.  Thompson,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  steamboat  and  salt  business 
in  Michigan. 

Alvin  Joiner,  of  this  review,  was  born 
near  Polo,  November  13,  1848,  and  as  soon 
as  old  enough  began  attending  the  district 
school  near  the  home  farm.  In  1857  the 
family  removed  to  Port  Sanilac,  Michigan, 
where  he  continued  his  studies  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  was  later  a  student  in  the 
Royalton  Academy,  Vermont,  and  took  a 
special  course  in  a  business  college  at  Hills- 
dale, Michigan,  fitting  himself  to  assist  in 
his  father's  business.  He  completed  his  ed- 
ucation about  1 866,  and  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one was  admitted  to  partnership  in  the 
business.  They  purchased  large  tracts  of 
pine  lands,  established  sawmills,  and  ship- 
ped large  quantities  of  lumber  to  the  New 
England  states,  Richmond,  Virginia,  and 
also  sold  much  in  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Michi- 
fran  Shinoles  were  manufactured  on  an 
extensive  scale  and  our  subject  himself  has 
bundled  enough  to  make  thirty  miles  of 
bundles  placed  end  to  end.  During  their 
business  they  were  burned  out  six  different 
times.  He  retired  from  the  lumber  business 
in  the  fall  of  1883,  and  the  following  spring 
returned  to  Polo,  where  he  has  since  made 


438 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  home,  he  with  his  father  having  invest- 
ed some  of  their  capital  in  farming  lands  in 
this  region.  They  also  own  tracts  in  Flor- 
ida and  Dakota  and  are  engaged  in  loaning 
money. 

In  Wood  county,  Ohio,  Mr.  Joiner  was 
married,  January  14,  1S74,  to  Miss  Ida 
Wood,  a  native  of  that  county  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Major  H.  L.  and  Jane  (Kunkel) 
Wood,  the  former  born  in  Albany  county. 
New  York,  June  2,  1809,  but  was  reared  in 
the  western  part  of  that  state  by  an 
aunt.  When  a  young  man  the  Major  se- 
cured the  contract  to  build  the  Buffalo  & 
Niagara  Falls  railroad,  having  learned 
something  of  railroad  construction  while 
engaged  in  building  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
road  in  Maryland.  He  went  to  Toledo, 
Ohio,  to  construct  a  part  of  the  Wabash  & 
Erie  canal,  and  while  there  bought  a  farm 
in  Wood  county,  Ohio,  where  he  made  his 
home  from  1844  until  1876.  In  1847  he 
was  commissioned  major  of  the  first  brigade 
of  Ohio  militia,  and  in  iS —  was  made 
brigadier-general  of  the  third  brigade.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  Si.xty- 
seventh  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry;  served  as 
quartermaster  for  two  years,  and  with  his 
regiment  was  present  at  the  battles  of  Win- 
chester and  Fort  Wagner.  From  1866 
until  1870  he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
state  legislature,  and  was  superintendent  of 
the  Western  Reserve  &  Maumee  road  from 
1871  until  1875.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Monroe,  Michigan,  where  his 
death  occurred  April  23,  1886.  His  father, 
Abraham  Wood,  was  born  in  Rensselaer 
county.  New  York,  January  28,  1774,  and 
died  April  28,  1S49.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  and  wedded  Mary  Stuart,  a  de- 
scendant of  the  royal  family  of  Stuarts. 
The  Woods  were  of  English  origin.      Major 


Wood  was  married  in  Fremont,  Ohio, 
March  27,  1845,  to  Miss  Jane  Kunkle,  who 
was  born  in  the  Wyoming  Valley,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  20,  1820,  and  died  August  23, 
1883.  Her  father,  Conrad  Kunkle,  a  miller 
and  mill  owner  in  the  Wyoming  Valley,  mar- 
ried Hannah  Luce,  who  was  an  own  cousin 
of  Louisa  Chandler  Moulton.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  Germany.  To  our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  been  born  five  children,  name- 
ly: Jennie  H.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Conservatory  of  Music,  Oberlin  College, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  teaching  in  Danbury, 
Connecticut;  Alice,  who  is  preparing  for 
Cornell  University  at  the  Hillside  Home 
School,  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  where  she 
will  graduate  in  1S99;  Charles  Henry,  Alvin, 
Jr.,  and  Flora  Isabel,  who  are  attending 
the  Polo  schools. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Joiner  is  a 
Republican,  and  in  his  social  relations  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe,  the 
Mystic  Workers  of  the  World,  and  the  Lib- 
eral Congress  of  Religions.  He  has  served 
as  mayor  of  Polo  for  two  terms,  and  was 
the  first  postmaster  of  Chase,  Lake  county, 
Michigan,  which  office  was  established  for 
the  benefit  of  the  lumber  camps  in  that  re- 
gion. He  and  his  father  laid  out  the  town 
at  that  place,  and  were  prominently  identi- 
fied with  its  growth  and  development.  In 
business  affairs  he  is  energetic,  prompt  and 
notably  reliable,  and  as  a  citizen  merits 
and  receives  the  confidence  and  high  regard 
of  all  who  know  him. 


ELIJAH  H.  MILLER,  who  is  living  a  re- 
tired life  on  his  farm  on  section  15,  De- 
ment township,  has  been  a  resident  of  Ogle 
county  since  18C4.  He  was  born  near  Au- 
burn, Cayuga  county.  New  York,  September 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


439 


27,  1837.  His  father, John  Miller,  was  also  a 
native  of  the  same  county  and  state,  while  his 
grandfather,  John  Miller,  Sr. ,  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey.  The  latter,  who  was  a 
wheelright  by  trade,  and  also  a  miller,  built 
the  first  mill  in  Oswego,  New  York,  and  for 
years  engaged  in  the  milling  business  in 
connection  with  farming.  He  moved  to 
the  county  when  it  was  little  better  than  a 
vast  wilderness,  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land,  cleared  it  of  its  timber,  and  made  a 
fine  farm.  While  he  ran  the  mill  his  sons 
and  hired  help  ran  the  farm. 

John  Miller,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
grew  to  manhood  in  Cayaga  county,  and 
there  married  Christiana  Dills,  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  reared  in  Cayuga  county, 
and  daughter  of  Abram  Dills,  who  was  an 
early  settler  of  that  county.  By  this  union 
there  were  ten  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in  childhood.  Purchasing  a  farm  near  that 
of  his  father,  John  Miller  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  there  reared  his  fam- 
ily. He  died  there  about  1862,  his  wife 
surviving  him  until  about  1879,  when  she, 
too,  passed  away. 

Elijah  H.  Miller  was  third  in  order  of 
birth  of  the  ten  children.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  old  farm  of  his  father,  and  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  re- 
ceived a  fair  education.  He  is,  however, 
mostly  self-educated.  He  was  married  in 
his  native  county  April  19,  1S57,  to  Miss 
Emma  McArthur,  a  native  of  Wayne  coun- 
ty, New  York,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Eliza  (Waldron)  McArthur,  both  natives 
of  Onondaga  county.  New  York.  For 
four  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Miller  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Cayuga  county,  and  in 
1 86 1  moved  to  Wayne  county,  in  the  same 
state,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres 
near  the  village  of  Red  Creek,  on  which  he 


lived  for  three  years.  He  then  came  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  located  in  De- 
ment township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  acres,  sixty  acres  of  which 
had  been  broken,  but  on  which  no  further 
improvements  had  been  made.  He  bought 
a  small  and  cheap  house  which  he  moved  to 
his  place,  and  in  which  the  family  lived  for 
several  years.  Later  he  built  an  addition  to 
the  house,  making  of  it  a  neat  and  com- 
fortable residence.  He  also  built  two  large 
barns  and  erected  other  outbuildings,  set 
out  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  and  other- 
wise improved  the  place.  After  a  few  years 
he  purchased  forty  acres  adjoining,  and  in 
1876  bought  the  eighty  acres  on  which  his 
present  residence  is  located,  and  to  which 
he  removed  in  1S96.  Since  moving  to  his 
present  home  he  has  lived  a  retired  life, 
leaving  the  management  of  both  farms  to 
his  sons. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are  the  parents  of 
six  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Henry  E.  is  a  farmer  in  Dement  township. 
Edward  D.  resides  in  Wisconsin.  Bertha 
C.  is  living  at  home  with  her  parents.  Cal- 
vin F.  is  living  on  the  old  homestead. 
George  A.  is  carrying  on  the  present  home 
farm.  One  daughter,  Eliza  May,  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years.  Henry  E.  married 
Josephine  Kendall  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren— Winifred  V.,  William  Elijah,  Emert 
J.,  Guy  and  Elizabeth  E.  Edward  D.  mar- 
ried Nellie  Miles  and  they  have  two  sons, 
Roy  Harold  and  Ralph  Edward.  Calvin 
F.  married  Rose  Gibson  and  they  have  two 
children,  Alice  E.  and  Floyd  Arthur. 

Politically  Mr.  Miller  is  a  life-long  Re- 
publican, his  first  presidential  vote  being 
cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860.  He 
has  never  swerved  from  allegiance  to  his 
party,  and  has  voted  for  every  candidate  of 


440 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


his  party  for  the  presidency  from  that  time 
to  the  present.  He  has  served  several 
years  as  township  trustee,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  as  member  of  the  school  board, 
at  times  being  president  of  the  board.  Re- 
ligiously he  is  a  Congregationalist,  holding 
membership  with  the  Congregationalist 
church  at  Creston,  of  which  body  his  wife 
is  also  a  member.  For  thirty-five  years 
they  have  been  respected  citizens  of  Ogle 
county,  and  in  that  time  have  made  many 
friends  and  few  enemies.  While  their 
financial  ability  was  very  limited  on  coming 
to  the  county,  they  have  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  they  have  been  prospered, 
and  have  enough  to  enable  them  to  live  at 
ease,  should  they  so  desire,  the  remainder 
of  their  lives. 


HORACE  STOCKING,  one  of  Ogle  coun- 
ty's leading  agriculturists  and  a  prom- 
inent grain  dealer  of  Lindenwood,  has  spent 
his  entire  life  in  the  county,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  White  Rock  township,  October 
13,  1S48,  and  is  the  son  of  William  Stock- 
ing, whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  He  received  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  and  later  at- 
tended the  Rockford  high  school.  Through- 
out his  active  business  life  he  has  followed 
the  honorable  occupation  of  farming,  and 
has  made  a  specialty  of  the  breeding  of 
shorthorn  cattle.  In  1S98,  he  purchased  a 
half  interest  in  the  grain  elevator  at  Linden- 
wood,  which  is  now  conducted  under  the  firm 
name  of  Horace  Stocking  &  Son,  and  they 
are  also  doing  a  large  and  profitable  business 
at  that  place  as  dealers  in  lumber,  coal,  all 
kinds  of  agricultural  implements,  carriages, 
wagons,    etc. 

On    the    22d    of     October,     1873,      Mr. 


Stocking  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Alma  C.  Weeks,  a  daughter  of  David  H. 
and  Eliza  (Shaw)  Weeks,  of  White  Rock 
township,  and  four  sons  have  been  born  of 
this  union,  namely:  Dexter  W.,  Elmer  D., 
Howard  L.  and  George  E.  Mrs.  Stocking's 
father  was  born  in  Starkville,  Herkimer 
county.  New  York,  March  29,  18 19,  was 
well  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  day  and 
early  acquired  an  excellent  knowledge  of 
farm  work  in  its  various  departments.  He 
was  married,  June  15,  1851,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Shaw,  of  his  native  land,  and  to  them 
were  born  seven  children:  John,  who  mar- 
ried Emma  Murphy;  Ida  L.,  wife  of  William 
Ritchie;  Alma  C,  wife  of  our  subject;  Day- 
ton N.,  who  married  Carrie  Danforth  and 
has  four  children,  Ethel,  Charles,  Hazel  and 
Ida;  Albert,  who  resides  in  Minneapolis; 
Henry,  a  commercial  traveler;  and  George, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weeks  are  still  living  and  now 
make  their  home  in  St.  Lawrence,  Dakota. 
Politically  Mr.  Stocking  has  always  affil- 
iated with  the  Republican  party,  and  for 
twelve  years  he  has  most  capably  and  satis- 
factorily served  as  highway  commissioner. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Linden  Lodge, 
No.  829,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Lindenwood.  As 
a  business  man  he  is  energetic,  prompt  and 
notably  reliable,  and  as  a  citizen  he  meets 
every  requirement,  manifesting  a  commend- 
able interest  in  everything  that  is  calculated 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  his  community  in 
any  line. 

JOSEPH  O'KANE,  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war  and  one  of  the  most 
philanthropic  and  generous  citizens  of  Ogle 
county,  has  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
his  active  business  life  engaged  in  agricult- 
ural  pursuits    near   the   city   of   Polo.      He 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


44' 


was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  De- 
cember 23,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
O'Kane,  a  native  of  County  Tyrone,  Ire- 
land, who  was  born  in  181  i,  and  died  in 
April,  1892.  When  a  lad  of  eleven  years 
the  father  came  with  his  parents  to  the 
United  States,  landing;  at  New  York,  when 
they  proceeded  to  Franklin  county,  Indiana. 
In  1839  he  came  to  Ogle  county  and  bought 
a  tract  of  land  which  he  operated  during  the 
summer  season,  while  during  the  winter 
months  he  worked  at  the  cooper's  trade. 
Knowing  something  of  medicine,  he  w^as 
frequently  called  upon  to  prescribe  for  his 
neighbors  in  early  days.  In  connection  with 
farming  operations  he  also  engaged  in  the 
grain  business  to  some  e.xtent  in  later  years. 
His  parents  both  lived  to  be  ninety  years 
old.  He  married  Miss  Lucinda  Johnson, 
who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1813,  and  died 
in  August,  1 868.  To  them  were  born 
fifteen  children,  of  whom  only  seven  are 
now  living.  Three  make  their  home  in 
Polo,  namely:  Joseph,  our  subject;  Mary 
S.,  wife  of  George  Kingery;  and  Aaron  A., 
a  barber  and  insurance  agent.  James,  the 
oldest,  lives  in  ICerney,  Nebraska;  John  W. 
lives  in  Wahoo,  Nebraska;  S.  Byron  lives 
in  Lincoln,  Nebraska;  Caroline  married 
Charles  Hadsel  and  lives  near  Wahoo,  Ne- 
braska. 

The  subject  of  this  review  came  with  his 
parents  to  Ogle  county  in  the  spring  of 
1839,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home 
farm  at  Elkhorn  Grove,  attending  the 
district  schools  only  through  the  winter 
months,  and  working  hard  during  the  sum- 
mer on  the  farm  as  he  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth  in  the  family  of  fifteen.  In 
1859  he  went  to  California  by  way  of  New 
York  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  it  being 
thirty  days  frorn  the  time  he  left  home  be- 


fore he  arrived  in  San  Francisco.  He  first 
worked  on  a  ranch  in  Siskiyou  county  for 
fifty  dollars  per  month,  and  during  most  of 
his  stay  on  the  Pacific  coast  was  thus  em- 
ployed. In  the  spring  of  iSGi  he  returned 
to  Ogle  county  by  the  same  route. 

Feeling  that  his  country  needed  his 
services,  Mr.  O'Kane  enlisted  September  5, 
1861,  in  Company  1),  Seventh  Illinois  Cav- 
alry, the  first  cavalry  regiment  in  that  state, 
and  was  mustered  in  at  Springfield  on  the 
I  5th  of  that  month.  They  were  first  sent 
to  Bird's  Point,  Missouri,  and  for  some  time 
were  engaged  in  scouting  in  that  state, 
reaching  Shiloh  two  days  after  the  battle  at 
that  place.  Their  first  engagement  was  at 
Corinth,  followed  by  Grierson's  raid  from 
Memphis  to  Port  Hudson,  during  which 
time  they  were  sixteen  days  in  the  saddle 
without  rest.  Mr.  O'Kane  was  captured  at 
Coldwater,  Mississipi^i,  November  3,  1S63, 
and  for  four  months  each  was  confined  at 
Cahaba,  Alabama,  Charleston  and  Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  and  Columbus,  North  Caro- 
lina, being  finally  c.xchatiged  at  Annapolis, 
Maryland,  March  i,  1865.  He  suffered  un- 
told agonies  during  his  si.xteen  months  im- 
prisonment and  it  was  only  those  of  strong 
will  who  survived.  P^ive  da3s'  rations  con- 
sisted of  a  quart  of  meal  and  a  pint  of 
sorghum,  so  that  many  starsed  to  death. 
At  one  time  our  subject  and  fifteen  others 
dug  a  tunnel  eighty  feet  in  length,  and 
twelve  officers  and  four  privates  made  their 
escape  from  Cahaba  prison,  and  succeeded 
in  traveling  eighty  miles  by  night,  and  were 
within  one  night's  journey  of  the  Union 
lines  when  recaptured.  When  a  man  gave 
out  the  rest  would  not  leave  him  and  all 
were  caught,  being  tracked  by  blood  hounds. 
After  his  exchange  Mr.  O'Kane  was  must- 
ered   out    on    release    as    his  regiment  had 


442 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


veteranized  during  his  imprisonment  and  he 
was  supposed  to  be  dead.  He  reached 
home  March  i8,  1865,  a  wreck  of  his 
former  self,  and  spent  the  following  summer 
in  recuperating.  During  his  service  he  had 
sent  to  his  home  his  wages,  and  this  his 
father  had  invested  for  him  in  eighty  acres 
of  land,  which  was  nearly  all  paid  for.  The 
fall  after  his  return  he  was  married  and  be- 
gan life  in  earnest  upon  his  farm,  which  he 
has  since  successfully  operated.  With  wheat 
at  two  dollars  a  bushel,  he  finished  paying 
for  the  place  and  has  since  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  acres  near  Polo,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  five  acres  of  pasture  land  on 
Buffalo  creek. 

At  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
Polo,  September  17,  1865,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  O'Kane  and  Miss  Jenette 
Rowand,  who  was  born  in  "Old  Town," 
Buffalo  Grove,  Ogle  county.  Her  father, 
Andrew  Rowand  was  born  in  Paisley,  Scot- 
land, in  1S13,  and  on  crossing  the  Atlantic 
in  1S31,  first  located  in  Canada,  but  seven 
years  later  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Ogle  county.  At  that  time  he  could  have 
purchased  any  amount  of  land  in  the  pres- 
ent heart  of  Chicago  for  almost  nothing, 
but  would  not  have  taken  it  as  a  gift.  He 
was  a  stonemason  and  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  three  miles  from  Old  Town,  where 
he  departed  this  life  December  27,  1887. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  father 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Scotland  on  the  same 
farm,  where  the  family  have  resided  for  two 
centuries  as  leaseholders,  as  few  can  own 
land  in  that  country.  Andrew  Rowand 
married  Elizabeth  Lawson,  who  was  also 
born  in  Paisley,  Scotland,  in  181 1,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Jenette  (Downey)  Lawson. 
She  caine  to  the  new  world  in  the  same  ves- 


sel as  her  future  husband  and  they  were 
married  in  Canada.  To  them  were  born 
six  children,  of  whom  four  are  still  living: 
Jenette,  wife  of  our  subject;  Maria,  wife  of 
Marion  Shoemaker,  of  Elkhorn  Grove;  An- 
drew J.,  who  lives  on  the  old  home  farm; 
and  Agnes,  widow  of  William  O'Kane,  a 
brother  of   our  subject. 

Fraternally  Mr.  O'Kane  is  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  in 
politics  is  an  ardent  Republican.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  active  and  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
are  noted  for  their  generosity  and  kindly 
spirit.  Having  no  children  of  their  own, 
they  have  at  various  times  taken  into  their 
home  nine  orphans,  several  of  whom  were 
legally  adopted.  These  are  as  follows: 
Mabel  is  now  the  wife  of  William  Lyons, 
who  is  successfully  conducting  a  laundry  at 
Pecatonica,  Illinois.  James  Edward  O'Kane 
lived  with  them  for  many  years,  but  finally 
went  to  Chicago,  where  he  assumed  the 
name  of  Foster.  He  married  Alice  Vancil, 
and  now  resides  in  Chicago.  Among  the 
number  who  have  lived  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
O'Kane  at  times  are  Katie  Smith,  Thomas 
Fassett,  George  Garrett,  and  Philla  Sweet, 
who  married  Gerald  Snyder.  Their  latest 
charge  is  Jerome  Kilmarton,  who  now  makes 
his  home  with  our  subject.  Some  one 
from  Polo  found  him  at  the  stock  yards  in 
Chicago,  and  knowing  the  philanthropic 
character  of  Mr.  O'Kane  and  his  wife,  and 
being  sure  that  he  would  find  a  good  home 
with  them,  he  brought  him  here.  Such  a 
couple  certainly  deserve  honorable  mention 
in  a  work  of  this  character  and  we  take 
pleasure  in  presenting  this  brief  sketch  of 
their  lives  to  our  readers,  knowing  that  it 
will  be  perused  with  interest  by  their  many 
friends  iuid   acquaintances  in  Ogle  county. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


443 


JOHN  HARTWIG,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 27,  Eagle  Point  township,  and 
who  owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres,  has  been  a  resident 
of  Ogle  county  since  August,  1857.  He 
was  born  in  the  kingdom  of  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, April  3,  1S29,  and  there  received  a 
good  education  in  his  native  language,  his 
knowledge  of  English  having  been  acquired 
since  coming  to  the  United  States.  In 
September,  1S53,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherine  Schmidt,  also  a  native 
of  Germany.  Friends  in  the  United  States 
had  duly  informed  them  of  the  opportunities 
afforded  a  poor  man  to  acquire  a  good  liv- 
ing, and  even  wealth,  and  they  determined 
to  here  try  their  fortunes.  Accordingly 
they  left  Bremen  in  a  sailing  vessel,  and 
after  spending  some  seven  weeks  and  two 
days  on  the  broad  Atlantic,  during  which 
time  they  encountered  several  severe  storms, 
they  landed  at  Baltimore,  from  which  place 
they  came  direct  to  Polo,  Ogle  county, 
where  some  of  their   German    friends  were 


then 


From     Polo    they    went    to 


Eagle  Grove,  and  for  the  ne.\t  two  years 
Mr.  Hartwig  worked  for  others,  in  the 
meantime  accustoming  himself  to  the 
changed  conditions  of  a  new  country,  and 
acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  English  lan- 
guage. In  that  two  years  he  had  succeeded 
in  saving  a  small  sum  of  money,  with  which 
he  purchased  twenty  acres  of  brush  land 
and  built  a  small  log  house.  From  the 
land  he  cut  the  timber  for  the  erection  of 
his  house. 

A  turn  had  now  come  in  the  affairs  of 
Mr.  Hartwig.  He  was  now  the  owner  of 
a  home  of  his  own,  and  even  if  it  was  un- 
pretentious, it  was  a  home,  and  the  begin- 
ning of  what  he  hoped  would  be  better 
times  to  him.     And   it  was  the   beginning, 


for  fortune  has  since  smiled  on  them.  He 
came  here  when  the  country  was  expe- 
riencing the  effects  of  hard  times,  from 
which  it  required  several  years  to  recover. 
But  he  was  industrious,  and  he  had  a  help- 
ful wife,  and  by  their  united  efforts  they 
have  placed  themselves  above  want.  To 
his  original  twenty  he  later  added  forty 
acres,  and  from  time  to  time  made  other 
purchases,  until  he  has  now  a  well-improved 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres.  He 
has  now  a  large,  neat  frame  residence,  large 
barn,  good  outbuildings,  with  the  place  well 
supplied  with  fruit  and  ornamental  trees. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartwig  have  three  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Casper  married 
Rachael  Schreiver,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Aggie  and  Edith.  He  is  the  owner  of 
a  good  farm  in  Ogle  county.  Valentine  yet 
remains  at  home  and  assists  his  father 
in  carrying  on  the  home  place.  Seibert 
married  Miss  Ella  Post,  and  has  one  son, 
Robert.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  a  valuable 
farm  in  Ogle  county.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife 
of  Edward  Schreyver,  of  Sterling,  Illinois, 
and  they  have  one  child  living,  Nellie,  who 
is  married  and  has  one  child.  Kate  is  the 
wife  of  Fred  SchoU.  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren: Frank,  John,  ArLhiir,  Mabel  and 
Emma.  They  reside  in  Ogle  county. 
Emma  married  George  Webster,  and  they 
have  two  sons,  John  and  Howard.  They 
reside  in  Carr(3ll  county-,  Illinois. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hartwig  and  his  sons 
are  stanch  Republicans.  Religiously,  he  and 
his  wife  were  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith, 
and  yet  adhere  to  the  doctrines  of  that 
church,  but  there  being  no  church  of  their 
choice  in  the  neighborhood,  they  attend  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  give  their 
means  to  its  support.  They  are  well-known 
and  highly  respected  people,  and  have  many 


444 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


friends  in  the  county.  They  came  here 
with  but  little  means,  and  when  the  coun- 
try was  but  comparatively  new,  but  have 
lived  to  see  the  country  thickly  settled  with 
an  industrious  and  thrifty  people,  and  their 
children  are  all  well  settled  in  life.  They 
have  no  cause  to  complain  that  they  chose 
to  make  for  themselves  a  home  in  this 
favored  land. 


THOMAS  CRILL,  who  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  on  his  farm  on  section  25, 
Monroe  township,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Ogle  county  for  almost  half  a  century, 
and  is  therefore  numbered  amon>;  the  early 
settlers.  He  is  well  known  in  the  county 
and  has  always  been  held  in  hij^h  esteem. 
A  native  of  New  York,  he  was  born  in 
Steuben,  Oneida  county,  Au,t;ust  16,  18 19, 
and  is  tlie  son  of  Henry  and  Betsy  (Brooks) 
Crill,  both  natives  of  the  same  state. 
Thomas  Crill,  the  paternal  grandfather, 
first  enlisted  in  the  British  army  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  was  later  taken  prisoner 
by  the  Colonial  army,  under  Washington, 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance,  joined  the 
American  army,  and  was  with  Washington 
until  the  close  of  the  struggle,  when  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  country  was  acknowledged. 
For  his  services,  in  later  3'ears  he  received 
a  pension  from  the  general  government. 
By  trade  he  was  a  miller  and  for  some 
years  operated  a  mill  on  Van  Horn  creek. 
Subsequently  remo\ing  to  Herkimer  county 
he  purchased  a  farm  and  engaged  in  tilling 
the  soil  during  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years. 

Henry  Crill,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Stark,  Herkimer  coun- 
ty, New  York,  and  there  grew  to  manhood 
and    married     Betsy    Brooks.       He    was    a 


farmer  by  occupation  and  in  his  native  state 
owned  and  operated  a  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres.  \\'ith  a  view  of  bettering  his 
condition,  or  rather  to  give  his  fann'ly  bet- 
ter opportunities,  he  sold  his  place  and  in 
September,  1S44,  came  to  Ogle  count}'  and 
bought  a  squatter's  claim  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Monroe  township,  but 
later  removed  to  the  village  of  Monroe 
Center,  where  he  purchased  a  cottage  and 
lived  a  retired  life.  His  death  occurred  in 
that  village  at  a  ripe  old  age,  and  his  mem- 
ory is  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by 
those  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  know 
him. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to 
manhood  in  his  native  state,  where  he 
received  but  a  very  limited  education  in 
the  primitive  schools,  the  knowledge  since 
acipiired  being  received  in  the  school  of 
experience,  and  by  reading  and  observa- 
tion. On  the  25th  of  March,  1S45,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Caro- 
line Smith,  a  native  of  York  state,  and  a 
daughter  of  W'olcott  and  Ijctsy  Smith.  By 
this  union  five  children  were  born,  two  of 
whom  died  in  childhood.  Those  arriving  at 
mature  years  were:  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried a  good,  substantial  farmer  of  Fayette 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  now  reside;  Will- 
ard,  who  married  Pauline  Heller,  and  who 
is  now  working  four  hundred  acres  of  his 
father's  farm;  and  Etta  May,  who  married 
James  Mead,  but  who  died  at  Kirkland, 
Illinois,  leaving  four  children. 

In  September,  1852,  Mr.  Crill  came  to 
Ogle  county  and  located  on  sections  25  and 
26,  Monroe  township,  and  for  some  years 
lived  in  a  house  not  over  twenty  feet  froni 
where  his  present  residence  now  stands. 
When  he  located  in  the  township  there  was 
comparatively  little  improvement  made  antl 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


445 


settlements  were  as  yet  few  and  far  between. 
His  own  place  was  entirely  unimproved  and 
he  broke  the  first  sod  on  the  farm.  The 
changes  that  have  since  been  made  are  won- 
derful, indeed.  His  journey  to  Ogle  county 
was  made  by  water  and  rail  to  Chicago,  and 
from  thence  by  teams  to  his  stopping  place. 
There  was  then  no  railroad  in  Ogle  county. 
From  the  time  of  his  settlement  here  he  has 
pursued  an  active  life,  and  he  has  been  hon- 
ored by  his  fellow  citizens  with  a  number  of 
local  offices,  serving  three  years  as  assessor, 
three  years  as  collector,  and  the  same  length 
of  time  as  commissioner  of  highways.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and 
a  stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
party.  But  he  has  always  given  more  time 
to  his  business  interests  than  to  politics,  and 
he  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
best  farmers  in  his  section  of  the  county. 
His  place  is  well  improved  and  kept  in  ex- 
cellent repairs.  In  addition  to  general  farm- 
ing he  has  given  more  or  less  attention  to 
stock  raising,  especially  Holstein  cattle. 
He  usually  ships  his  own  stock  to  the  Chi- 
cago markets,  thus  saving  the  dealer's  profit. 
His  long  residence  in  the  county  has  brought 
him  in  contact  with  many  people,  and  he 
has  the  happy  faculty  of  making  and  kcep- 
ini'  friends. 


PROF.  C.  F.  PHILBROOK,  superin- 
tendent of  schools,  Ivochelle,  Illinois, 
is  a  well  known  educator  of  more  than  a 
state  reputation.  He  was  born  in  Shelby 
county,  Illinois,  December  9,  1S5Q,  and  is 
the  son  of  Flavins  J.  and  Sarah  E.  (Carter) 
Philbrook,  the  former  a  native  of  Licking 
count}-,  Ohio,  born  January  8,  1836,  and 
the  latter  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  August  31, 
183S.     They  were  married  September   12, 


1S58,  at  St.  Elmo,  Illinois.  The  Phil- 
brooks  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  Thomas 
Philbrick,  or  Philbrook  (the  name  being 
written  both  ways),  who  was  born  in  Lin- 
colnshire, England,  and  who  came  from 
England  in  1G30,  locating  in  the  southern 
part  of  Maine.  A  part  of  the  family  later 
went  across  the  line  to  Exeter,  New  Hamp- 
shire, but  that  part  which  were  sea-faring 
men  remained  in  Maine.  Thomas  Phil- 
brook was  a  mariner  in  early  life,  and  was 
master  of  a  vessel.  He  settled  in  Water- 
town,  Massachusetts,  his  home  being  on 
the  corner  of  Belmont  and  Lexington 
streets. 

Seth  Philbrook,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  of  the  seventh  genera- 
tion from  Thomas,  was  born  in  \'inalhaven, 
IMaine,  January  5,  1795,  and  in  18  13  moved 
to  Ohio.  He  married  Margaret  Ward, 
April  2,  18 18,  and  in  1S43  moved  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  near  Vandalia,  becoming  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  that  locality.  He  was  a 
farmer,  and  the  farm  purchased  by  him  on 
locating  there  is  still  in  possession  of  the 
famil}'.  His  death  occurred  November  10, 
1 86 1,  his  wife  surviving  him  but  one  month. 
They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children, 
of  whom  eleven  grew  to  maturity,  the 
father  of  our  subject  being  tenth  in  order  of 
birth. 

Flavins  J.  Philbrook  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  Ohio,  being  about  eighteen 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Vandalia,  Illinois.  On  coming  to  this 
state  he  engaged  in  farmiug  in  summer  and 
teaching  in  winter  until  the  second  year  of 
the  Civil  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifteenth  regiment  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantr}',  and  with  his  regiment 
marched  to  the  front.  He  was  not  destined, 
however,  to  see  much   service   in    the  field, 


446 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


as  on  the  day  before  the  battle  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  he  was  captured  by  the  enemy, 
and  for  five  hundred  long  and  weary  days 
was  held  a  prisoner,  being  confined  in 
various  prisons,  including  Belle  Isle,  Flor- 
ence, Macon,  Jonesboro,  Atlanta,  and  last, 
but  far  from  being  least,  in  the  notorious 
Andersonville  prison.  His  experience  was 
not  one  likely  to  be  forgotten.  There  must, 
however,  be  an  end  to  all  things,  and  he 
was  finally  exchanged,  and  on  the  ist  of 
July,  1865,  was  discharged  from  the  ser- 
vice, having  had  but  little  opportunity  to 
distinguish  himself  in  any  way,  being  in  no 
regular  engagement. 

After  his  return  from  the  army,  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Shelby  county,  in  which 
he  continued  until  1870.  About  1858  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Carter,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children,  our 
subject  being  first  in  order  of  birth.  Ger- 
trude married  James  Otto,  of  Independ- 
ence, Kansas,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  and  loan  business.  Mary  Belle 
married  John  R.  Hogg,  a  banker  of  Dray- 
ton, North  Dakota.  Cora  is  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  Normal,  Illinois. 
Lowell  M.  is  a  student  in  the  State  Normal 
school,  at  Normal,  Illinois.  Warren  R. , 
who  is  married  and  living  in  Bloomington, 
is  in  the  employ  of  the  McLean  County 
Telephone  Company.  Margaret  died  in 
childhood,  and  one  died  in  infanc}'.  With 
the  desire  to  give  his  children  better  educa- 
tional advantages  than  the  home  schools 
afforded,  Mr.  Philbrook  moved  to  Normal, 
after  leaving  the  farm  in  1S70.  He  made 
that  city  his  home  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  his  death  occurring  in  I'^ebruary, 
189S.      His  wife  died  in  October,   189C. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  commenced 
his  school   life   in    the   public  schools  of  his 


native  county,  and  was  eleven  years  old 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Nor- 
mal. Entering  the  public  school  at  that 
place,  he  was  graduated  from  the  high 
school  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  After  his 
graduation  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
trade  of  plasterer,  in  which  he  continued 
for  three  years.  It  was  always  his  inten- 
tion, however,  to  obtain  a  better  education 
than  that  afforded  by  the  high  school,  and 
accordingly  he  entered  the  State  Normal 
School  when  twenty  years  old,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1888.  Being  unable 
to  pursue  continuously  the  regular  course, 
during  the  intervening  nine  years  from  the 
time  he  entered  until  his  graduation,  he 
taught  school  in  the  country  surrounding 
and  later  in  the  schools  at  Normal.  For 
a  time  he  was  principal  of  the  schools  of 
Golconda,  Illinois.  While  teaching  in  Nor- 
mal, he  served  as  town  clerk  one  year,  and 
one  year  was  alderman. 

After  his  graduation.  Professor  Phil- 
brook  took  charge  of  the  public  schools  of 
Lena,  Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  and  for 
four  years  was  superintendent  of  its  schools, 
giving  good  satisfaction  to  the  patrons  of 
the  school.  He  could  have  continued  there 
indefinitely,  having  been  elected  by  the 
board  for  the  fifth  year,  but  having  received 
an  offer  from  the  Rochelle  board  of  educa- 
tion to  become  the  superintendent  of  its 
schools,  he  accepted  the  offer,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1892  moved  to  that  city,  where  he 
has  since  continued  to  remain. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1892,  Professor 
Philbrook  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Maud  E.  Simmons,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and 
daughter  of  Rev.  O.  J.  Simmons,  a  Method- 
ist minister  of  the  Rock  River  conference, 
and  the  only  child  of  her  parents. 

Professor    Philbrook   is    by   nature    and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


44; 


training  an  educator.  He  has  a  love  for 
the  profession  of  a  teacher,  and  f;ives  al- 
most his  undivided  attention  to  his  profes- 
sional work.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  National  Teachers'  Association  and  of 
the  Northern  Illinois  Teachers'  Association, 
and  in  the  latter  body  has  been  railroad 
secretary  for  ten  years.  Religiously  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Sons  of  Veterans,  Horicon  Lodge,  No.  512, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Rochelle  Chapter,  No. 
126,  R.  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star,  of  Rochelle.  Of  the  latter 
body  his  wife  is  also  a  member.  He  is  like- 
wise a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe. 
In  each  of  these  societies  he  has  taken  an 
active  interest. 

In  politics  Professor  Philbrook  is  a  Re- 
publican on  state  and  national  issues.  In 
local  elections  he  votes  independently  of 
party.  During  the  campaign  of  1896  he 
was  secretary  of  the  McKinley  club  of  Ro- 
chelle, and  in  each  of  the  county  conven- 
tions of  his  party  in  the  past  seven  years  he 
has  served  as  secretary.  In  the  stale  con- 
vention of  his  party  he  has  served  as  a  dele- 
gate, representing  his  county.  Thoroughly 
posted  on  the  various  issues  of  the  day,  he 
makes  a  representative  citizen  in  every 
sense  of  the  term.  He  is  held  in  great  es- 
teem, not  only  because  of  his  educational 
ability,  bat  because  of   his  worth  as  a  man. 


GUILFORD  McDAID.— The  world  in- 
stinctively pays  deference  to  the  man 
who  has  risen  above  his  early  surroundings, 
overcome  the  obstacles  in  his  path,  and 
reached  a  high  position  in  the  business 
world.  This  is  a  progressive  age,  and  he 
who  does  not   advance  is  soon   left   far  bc- 

48 


hind.  Mr.  McDaid,  by  the  improvement 
of  the  opportunities  by  which  we  are  all 
surrounded,  has  steadily  worked  his  way 
upward,  and  attained  a  fair  degree  of  pros- 
perity. He  is  now  numbered  among  the 
leading  professional  men  of  Oregon,  where 
he  is  an  attorney  and  also  police  magis- 
trate. 

Mr.  McDaid  was  born  in  Lawrence 
county.  New  York,  April  17,  1853,  and  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  schools  of 
that  county,  and  later  in  the  schools  of 
Oregon  and  Ogle  county  after  his  parents 
came  west  in  1865.  He  was  appointed  to 
the  naval  school  at  Annapolis  by  H.  C. 
Burchard,  member  of  congress,  where  he 
remained  one  year  and  then  resigned  and 
returned  home  to  read  law.  During  the 
year  1884  and  '5  he  attended  a  law  school 
at  Bloomington  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  on  June  g,  1885.  At  the  same  time  he 
was  appointed  police  magistrate,  and  the  es- 
teem in  which  he  is  held  in  that  capacity  is 
illustrated  by  the  fact  that,  though  a  stanch 
Democrat,  he  has  been  repeatedly  re-elect- 
ed by  a  Republican  community.  One  who 
knows  him  well  says  that  he  gives  his  judg- 
ment without  fear  or  favor,  and  allows  no 
friendship  or  sympathy  to  warp  his  mind  in 
passing  on  a  case.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  where  he  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem. 

Mr.  McDaid  is  the  son  of  James  Mc- 
Daid, who  was  born  in  Londonderry,  Ire- 
land, in  1 8 16,  and  came  to  America  in 
1832,  settling  on  a  (arm  in  St.  Lawrence 
county,  New  York.  He  followed  farming 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  He  participated  in  the  siege 
of  Fort  Sumter,  and  was  with  the  army   of 


448 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


the  Potomac  in  the  various  battles  of  the 
Virginia  campaign.  His  father,  Daniel  Mc- 
Daid,  was  a  farmer  in  Ireland,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty  years  before  James  came  to 
America.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Cere- 
na  (Drake)  McDaid,  who  was  born  Febru- 
ary lo,  1 8 14,  in  Prescott,  Canada,  is  a 
daughter  of  Lyman  Drake,  a  farmer  in  New 
York  state,  who  died  in  1840  in  his  sixtieth 
year,  and  his  wife,  Polly  (Woodcock)  Drake, 
a  native  of  Canada.  The  Drakes  are  an 
old  Connecticut  family  who  moved  to  Can- 
ada about  the  time  of  the  war  of  18 12. 

Guilford  McDaid  is  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren, four  of  which  are  living.  Frances, 
the  eldest,  makes  her  home  with  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  George  resides  in  Clin- 
ton, Iowa.  The  third  child  is  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  heads  this  review. 
James,  the  fourth  child,  resides  in  Chicago. 
Hiram  O.  and  Lyman,  both  deceased,  were 
in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war. 
Jennie,  also  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
Alfred  Woodcock,  of  Oregon,  who  served 
as  consul  to  Italy,  also  as  internal  revenue 
collector  for  northern  Illinois.  He  is  now 
a  traveling  land  agent  for  the  Union  Pacific 
railroad. 


ORLANDO  F.  CRILL,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 15,  Monroe  township,  is  an  active 
and  enterprising  farmer,  a  life-long  resident 
of  the  township  and  one  who  stands  high  in 
the  estimation  of  his  fellow  citizens.  His 
farm,  which  consists  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  acres  of  well-improved  land,  is 
always  kept  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  was  born  in  Monroe  township. 
May  30,  1850,  and  is  the  son  of  John  J. 
and  Margaret  (Keith)  Crill,  the  former  a 
native  of  Herkimer  county,  New  York,  born 


May  12,  1825,  and  the  latter  of  Morgan 
county,  Ohio,  born  in  1830.  Henry  Crill, 
the  paternal  grandfather,  a  native  of  New 
York,  married  Betsy  Wilkins,  and  both 
lived  and  died  in  York  state.  The  great- 
grandfather, Thomas  Crill,  was  a  native  of 
Hesse,  Darmstadt,  Germany,  and  at  an  early 
day  emigrated  to  America,  where  he  passed 
his  latter  days.  John  J.  Crill,  the  father, 
was  among  the  honored  pioneers  of  the 
county,  and  came  to  Monroe  township  in 
I  844. 

On  the  home  farm  our  subject  grew  to 
manhood,  assisting  in  its  cultivation  and 
attending  the  district  schools  as  the  oppor- 
tunity was  afforded  him.  He  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  life  for  him- 
self. He  was  united  in  marriage  December 
17,  1873,  with  Miss  Julia  Matthews,  daugh- 
ter of  John  T.  and  Alvira  P.  (Garvin) 
Matthews.  She  was  born  June  i,  1852,  in 
Franklin  county.  New  York,  and  when  a 
child  of  six  years  came  with  her  parents  to 
New  Milford,  Winnebago  county,  Illinois, 
and  there  grew  to  womanhood.  By  this 
union  three  children  have  been  born.  Perry 
J.,  born  March  27,  1877,  after  receiving  his 
education  in  the  public  schools,  took  a 
course  in  a  commercial  college  of  Rockford, 
thus  preparing  himself  for  an  active  business 
career.  Edna,  born  May  10,  1883,  and 
Margaret,  born  October  24,  1885,  are  jet 
attending  the  home  school. 

When  Mr.  Crill  removed  to  his  present 
farm  the  sod  only  had  been  broken,  but 
with  the  characteristic  energy  of  the  family 
he  went  to  work  to  further  improve  the 
place,  and  has  now  one  of  the  best  improved 
farms  in  the  township,  with  a  good  orchard 
and  an  abundance  of  shade  and  ornamental 
trees,  substantial  dwelling,  good  barns  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


449 


other  outbuildings,  and  the  land  is  kept 
under  the  highest  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  no  especial  hobby  in  the  management 
and  cultivation  of  his  farm,  but  gives  his 
attention  to  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  He  has  met  with  a  fair  degree  of 
success,  and  feels  that  he  has  no  just  grounds 
of  complaint.  The  short-horned  cattle  and 
Poland-China  hogs  which  he  annually  raises 
upon  the  place  he  ships  to  Chicago,  thus 
realizing  the  entire  proceeds  of  their  sale. 
Politically,  Mr.  Crill  is  a  Republican, 
and  with  the  Republican  party  he  has  con- 
tinued to  act  since  attaining  his  majority. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
\\'oodmen  of  America,  holding  membership 
with  the  camp  at  Monroe  Center.  A  friend 
of  education,  he  has  always  lent  his  aid  to 
the  public  schools.  In  fact,  to  every  enter- 
prise calculated  for  the  public  good  he  is 
ready  to  extend  a  helping  hand. 


GEORGE  HISCOCK  is  a  well-to-do 
farmer  residing  on  section  14,  Dement 
township,  one-half  mile  north  of  the  village 
of  Creston,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  which 
has  been  his  home  since  about  1856.  He 
was  born  in  England,  November  23,  1S30, 
and  was  but  two  years  old  when  brought  by 
his  parents,  John  and  Frances  (Dare)  His- 
cock,  to  the  United  States.  They  were 
both  natives  of  England,  and  came  to  this 
country  that  they  might  better  their  condi- 
tion in  life.  John  Hiscock  was  a  shoemaker 
by  trade,  an  occupation  which  he  followed 
for  many  years.  He  located  in  Danbury, 
Fairfield  county,  Connecticut,  where  he 
reared  his  family,  and  where  his  death  oc- 
curred when  nearly  eighty-three  years  old. 


His  wife  survived  him  a  year  or  two.    They 
were  good  and  highly  respected  people. 

George  Hiscock  grew  to  manhood  in 
Fairfield  county,  Connecticut,  being  reared 
on  a  farm,  and  receiving  his  education  in 
the  common  scliools  and  in  a  private  acad- 
emy. A  young  man  of  twenty-two  years 
he  came  west,  in  1852,  and  worked  on  a 
farm  in  LaSalle  county  during  the  summer. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  returned  to 
his   old    home,    and    during    the    winter    of 


18 


52-3  was  engaged  in  running  a  stationary 


engine.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he  again 
came  to  this  state,  and  for  several  seasons 
was  engaged  in  breaking  prairie,  having 
seven  yoke  of  oxen  which  he  used  for  that 
purpose.  When  in  Illinois  for  the  first 
time  he  purchased  the  land  on  which  he 
now  resides,  and  in  1856  came  to  the  coun- 
ty, and  in  the  spring  of  1857  commenced 
its  improvement.  Year  b}'  year  some  im- 
provements were  made,  his  present  sub- 
stantial dwelling  being  erected  in  1S73. 

In  1869  Mr.  Hiscock  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Emily  A.  Potter,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Onondaga 
county.  New  York,  and  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Jane  (Carpenter)  Potter,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Lon- 
don, England.  Previous  to  her  marriage 
Mrs.  Hiscock  was  for  a  time  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools.  By  this  union  four 
children  were  born.  Blanche  is  now  the 
wife  of  Charles  Schofield,  editor  of  the 
Marengo  News,  of  Marengo,  Illinois.  Mabel 
is  the  wife  of  Rev.  A.  F.  Brewster,  a  min- 
ister of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of 
Arlington  Heights,  Illinois.  Previous  to 
her  marriage  she  was  a  successful  teacher 
in  the  public  schools.  Alice  was  also  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools.  She  is  now 
the  wife  of  Charles  A.  Darnell,  a  lawyer  of 


45° 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Piano,  Illinois.     Georgia,  a  graduate  of  the 
Creston  schools,  is  yet  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Hiscock  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  been  a  life-long  advocate  of  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party.  His 
wife  is  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Both  are  well  known, 
especially  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county, 
and  have  many  friends.  A  residence  of 
forty-three  years  has  enabled  Mr.  Hiscock 
to  have  been  an  eye  witness  of  the  great 
progress  in  the  way  of  improvement,  not 
only  of  Ogle  county,  but  of  the  northern 
part  of  the  state  as  well,  and  in  the  work  of 
its  transformation  he  has  borne  his  part. 


HON.  MILES  J.  BRAIDEN.  — Promi- 
nent among  the  energetic,  far-seeing 
and  successful  business  men  of  Rochelle  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His  life  history 
most  happily  illustrates  what  may  be  at- 
tained by  faithful  and  continued  effort  in 
carrying  out  an  honest  purpose.  Integrity, 
activity  and  energy  have  been  the  crowning 
points  of  his  success,  and  his  connection 
with  various  business  enterprises  and  indus- 
tries have  been  of  decided  advantage  to 
Ogle  county,  promoting  its  material  welfare 
in  no  uncertain  manner. 

Mr.  Braiden  was  born  in  Castile,  Wy- 
oming county.  New  York,  on  the  west  bank 
of  Silver  lake,  October  lo,  1835,  ^nd  on 
the  paternal  side  is  of  Scotch  descent,  his 
grandparents,  Joseph  and  Nancy  ("Gillespie) 
Braiden,  being  natives  of  the  north  of  Ire- 
land. In  their  famil}'  were  but  two  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  daughter,  Roger  and  Jane. 
The  grandfather  was  born  about  1767  and 
died  in  1792. 

Roger  Braiden,  the  father,  was  born  in 
1788,  and  arrived  in  New  York  City  with  his 


parents  the  same  year.  They  first  located  in 
New  York  city,  and  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  Empire  state  he  was  educated,  while 
later  he  became  a  farmer  near  Silver  Lake, 
New  York.  In  that  beautiful  locality  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sophia 
Fletcher,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Ruth 
(Pierce)  Fletcher,  both  natives  of  Westfield, 
Massachusetts,  where  for  many  generations 
the  family  has  resided.  Her  father  was 
born  October  26,  1763,  and  as  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Continental  army,  he  took  an 
active  part  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He 
died  in  1837  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  and 
his  wife  in  1S39,  near  Joliet,  Illinois.  In 
their  family  were  ten  children:  Gardner, 
Joseph,  Benjamin,  Polly,  Charlotte,  Sophia, 
Nancy,  Eliza  and  Sarah.  Five  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  were  born  to 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  namely:  George 
E. ,  Cinderella,  Marian,  Isaac  G.  and  Miles 
J.  The  father  died  on  the  20th  of  May, 
1845,  and  five  years  later  the  mother,  with 
her  children,  came  to  Illinois,  locating  first 
near  Waukegan,  but  she  spent  her  last  days 
in  Rochelle,  Illinois,  where  she  passed  away 
October  i,  1S72.  The  Fletcher  family  can 
trace  its  record  in  England  back  to  the 
thirteenth  century,  and  still  farther  back  in 
France  and  Switzerland,  the  name  origin- 
ally being  spelled  Flechiere. 

The  early  education  of  Miles  J.  Braiden 
was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive state,  and  it  was  completed  in  the 
Waukegan  Academy,  after  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  this  state.  He  began  life  for 
himself  as  a  farmer,  and  carried  on  opera- 
tions along  that  line  in  Lake  county,  Illi- 
nois, until  185G,  when  he  and  his  mother 
came  to  Rochelle,  Ogle  county,  where  he 
embarked  in  the  grocery  and  grain  business 
in    company    with    his    brother-in-law,    H. 


M.  J.   BRAIDEN. 


MRS,   CLARA    V.   BRAIDEN. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


455 


Burlingim,  under  the  firm  name  of  H. 
Burlingim  &  Company.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  caused  by  the  dust  from  the  grain, 
he  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  business  in 
i860,  after  which  he  purchased  a  farm  in 
Reynolds  township,  eight  miles  southwest 
of  Rochelle,  becoming  the  owner  of  si.\ 
hundred  and  forty  acres  on  sections  8  and 
17.  He  continued  to  devote  his  time  and 
attention  to  the  occupation  of  farming  un- 
til 1872,  when  he  returned  to  Rochelle  and 
purchased  the  Flagg  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  forty-si.\  acres,  upon  which  he  has 
platted  two  additions  to  the  city.  He  also 
purchased  si.xty-five  acres  of  Mills  Stewart 
in  1 868,  on  which  he  platted  two  additions 
of  one  hundred  lots.  On  his  return  to  Ro- 
chelle he  began  dealing  in  lumber,  coal,  ice 
and  building  stone  from  quarries  on  his  own 
land,  and  in  these  combined  interests  he 
has  been  eminently  successful. 

Mr.  Braiden  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Julia  P.,  a  daughter  of  Wil- 
lard  P.  Flagg.  Four  children  were  born  of 
this  union:  May  E.,  Nettie  C,  Lucy  S. 
and  Wilber  F. ,  but  all  died  of  diphtheria 
with  the  exception  of  Nettie  C. ,  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  A.  A.  McClanahan,  a  prominent 
attorney  of  Chicago,  and  has  five  living 
children,  Nettie  M.,  Miles,  Alice,  Bayard 
and  A.  Braiden.  For  his  second  wife  our 
subject  married  Miss  Clara  E.  Vaile,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  three  children,  two 
sons  and  one  daughter:  Roscoe  V.,  liiryant 
F.  and  Marian  G.  Mrs.  Braiden  was  for 
eleven  3  ears  a  most  successful  teacher  in 
the  primary  department  of  the  public 
schools  of  Rochelle,  and  her  grade  took 
first  prize  at  the  state  fair  in  1881.  Her 
father,  Edward  G.  Vaile,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  March  2, 
1827,  and   was   married    May    23,  1S48,  to 


Miss  Caroline  Cooper,  a  native  of  the  same 
place.  In  1854  they  came  to  Rochelle, 
where  he  died  March  30,  1897,  but  at  the 
present  writing,  in  i  S99,  the  mother  is  still 
living.  To  them  were  born  si.\  children, 
one  son  and  five  daughters,  as  follows: 
Mary  E.,  Clara  E.,  Maria  S.,  Anna  E. , 
Emma  C.  and  Edward  L. 

Socially,  Mr.  Braiden  is  a  prominent 
Mason,  belonging  to  Horicon  Lodge,  No. 
244,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Rochelle;  Rochelle 
Chapter,  No.  58,  R.  A.  M. ;  and  Dixon  Com- 
mandery.  No.  21,  K.  T.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Rochelle  Agricultural  and 
Mechanical  Association,  of  which  he  was 
president  for  three  years.  In  political  sen- 
timent he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  he 
has  ever  taken  prominent  and  influential 
part  in  public  affairs.  Immediately  after 
locating  in  Reynolds  township,  he  was  ap- 
pointed township  treasurer  of  school  funds 
and  held  that  position  until  his  return  to 
Rochelle  in  1872.  He  was  alsO  elected 
supervisor  of  the  township  and  most  credit- 
ably and  satisfactorily  filled  the  office  for  six 
years  in  the  township  of  Reynolds  and  for 
the  three  last  terms  received  every  vote  cast 
for  supervisor.  He  also  served  six  years  as 
supervisor  of  Flagg  township.  Ogle  county. 
In  1870  he  was  elected  to  the  twenty-sev- 
enth general  assembly  of  Illiuois,  from  Lee 
county,  and  most  ably  represented  his  dis- 
trict in  that   body  for  one    term.      In    1893 

he  was  president  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Associa- 
tion. He  has  served  as  alderman  of  Ro- 
chelle for  two  terms,  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  for  six  years.  He 
has  discharged  his  various  official  duties 
with  a  promptness  and  fidelity  worthy 
of  all  commendation,  and  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  public  welfare  receives  his 
hearty  support.      He  is  emphatically  a  man 


456 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


of  enterprise,  positive  character,  indomi- 
table energy  and  liberal  views,  and  is  thor- 
oughly identified  in  feeling  with  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  his  adopted  county  and 
state. 


R 


I  C  H  A  R  D  M.  KING.  —Prominent 
among  the  energetic,  enterprising  and 
successful  citizens  of  White  Rock  township 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  whose  home  is 
on  section  21.  He  is  public-spirited  and 
thoroughly  interested  in  whatever  tends  to 
promote  the  moral,  intellectual  and  mate- 
rial welfare  of  Ogle  county. 

Mr.  King  was  born  in  Pelham,  Hamp- 
shire county,  Massachusetts,  January  28, 
1S43,  a  son  of  John  M.  and  Lucy  (Boying- 
ton)  King.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
England  and  on  coming  to  this  country  lo- 
cated first  in  the  east.  Having  previously 
learned  the  art  of  manufacturing  cloth,  he 
was  employed  as  overseer  of  woolen  mills 
at  various  places,  among  them  being  Lowell, 
Massachusetts.  He  established  and  for 
some  time  operated  a  mill  in  Georgia,  but 
in  1846  took  up  his  residence  permanently 
in  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  turned  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits  and  shoe- 
making,  which  trade  he  learned  after  re- 
tiring from  the  manufacturing  business.  In 
this  county  he  met  with  success  in  his  un- 
dertakings and  acquired  about  two  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  land.  In  his  political 
views  he  was  a  strong  Abolitionist  and' was 
one  of  the  first  to  cast  his  ballot  for  the 
Free  Soil  party,  later  becoming  a  Repub- 
lican. He  was  born  in  November,  1802, 
and  died  in  the  village  of  Kings  in  1886. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  passed  away  in 
March,  1852.  Of  the  eight  children  born 
to    them,  seven    reached  years    of   maturity 


and  six  are  still  living.  They  are  George 
W.,  a  resident  of  Flagg,  Ogle  county; 
James  H.,  who  is  living  retired  in  Rockford; 
William  H.,  of  Ivings;  Charles  T.,  of 
White  Rock  township;  Isabelle  J.,  who 
married  Kingsbury  Morehead  and  died  in 
Jackson  county,  Iowa;  John,  who  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Hand  county.  South  Dakota,  and  has 
represented  his  district  in  the  state  senate; 
Richard  M.,  our  subject;  and  Lucy,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Richard  M.  King  was  only  four  years 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ogle 
county,  but  he  well  remembers  many  inci- 
dents of  the  journey  made  overland.  His 
boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  upon  the 
home  farm,  and  he  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  Mt.  Morris  Academy. 
In  the  fall  of  1S63,  with  his  brother,  John 
M.,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Ninety- 
second  Illinois  Vohmteers,  which,  a  year 
later,  was  made  a  mounted  infantry  regi- 
ment, and  was  first  under  Colonel  Atkins, 
brigadier  commander,  and  Colonel  Sheets, 
regiment  commander.  Our  subject  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  the 
campaign  resulting  in  the  capture  of  At- 
lanta, Sherman's  march  to  the  sea,  and  the 
Carolina  campaigns.  After  almost  three 
years  of  arduous  service  he  was  mustered 
out  at  Concord,  North  Carolina,  June  21, 
1865,  and  was  honorably  discharged  on  the 
7th  of  July,  at  Chicago.  After  his  return 
home  he  attended  school  at  Mt.  Morris  for 
one  term,  and  then  engaged  in  teaching  in 
district  No.  i.  White  Ivuck  township,  now 
the  village  of  King's. 

On  the  1 8th  of  October,  1866,  Mr.  King 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lettie 
Dalrymple,  a  native  of  Morrow  county, 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Eleanor 
(Logan)  Dalrymple,  who  were  also  born  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


457 


that  state,  where  the  mother  died  in  1S49. 
In  1862  the  father  came  to  Ogle  county  and 
spent  his  last  days  in  White  Rock  town- 
ship, where  he  passed  away  September  13, 
1 891.  His  children  were  Lettie,  wife  of 
our  subject;  John  A.,  still  a  resident  of  Mor- 
row county,  Ohio;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  \V. 
D.  Sechlcr,  of  Rochelle;  and  Martha  A., 
wife  of  Charles  Sechler,  of  King's.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  King  have  a  family  of  si.x  children: 
Carrie,  who  is  one  of  the  prominent  instruct- 
ors of  the  state  and  is  now  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  city  schools  of  Chicago; 
Frank  J.,  cashier  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  at 
Iving's;  Lula,  also  a  teacher;  Harry  L. , 
who  assists  his  father  in  carrying  on  the 
home  farm;  Jeanie,  who  is  attending  school 
in  Rochelle;  and  M.  Eleanor,  now  at  home. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  King  rented  land 
and  engaged  in  farming,  and  the  following 
winter  again  taught  school  in  White  Rock 
township.  The  next  year  he  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  now  in  the  village  of 
King's  and  owned  by  W.  H.  King.  This  he 
operated  in  connection  with  rentcil  land 
and  the  following  year  was  able  to  purchase 
an  adjoining  forty  acres.  Since  then  as  his 
financial  resources  have  increased,  he  has 
bought  more  land  until  he  now  owns  three 
hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  as  fine 
land  as  can  be  found  in  the  county.  In 
1875  he  located  upon  his  present  place. 
which  was  then  owned  by  his  father-in-law, 
and  to  its  further  improvement  and  culti- 
vation he  has  since  devoted  his  energies. 
After  occupying  the  small  house  standing 
thereon  for  one  year,  he  built  his  present 
residence  which  he  has  since  enlarged  and 
improved.  He  has  ever  given  his  attention 
principally  to  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  but  at  different  times  has  also  been 
interested  in    other   enterprises.      In     1S75, 


after  the  completion  of  the  railroad  through 
King's,  he  established  the  lumber  and  coal 
business  there  which  is  now  conducted  by 
Mr.  Klein,  but  he  carried  on  the  same  for 
three  years.  He  was  the  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  organizing  the  White  Rock 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  in  1S73, 
and  served  as  one  of  its  directors  for  ten 
years.  In  1891  he  became  a  fourth  owner 
in  the  Farmers  Bank  of  Kings,  and  a  year 
later  his  son  Frank  bought  a  fourth  interest 
and  has  since  acted  as  cashier.  Frater- 
nally Mr.  King  is  an  honored  member  of 
Rochelle  Post,  No.  546,  G.  A.  R. ,  and 
politically  is  a  Republican,  but  at  local 
elections  supports  the  man  and  principles, 
rather  than  the  party.  He  has  provided 
his  children  with  liberal  educations  and  the 
home  circle  is  one  of  culture  and  refinement. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
educational  matters  and  for  nine  years  has 
most  creditably  served  as  school  trustee. 
He  is  a  well-informed,  pleasant  and  genial 
gentleman,  and  is  very  popular,  having  a 
most  extensive  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances who  esteem  him  highly  for  his  genuine 
worth. 


THOMAS  G.  SOUTHWORTH,  a  well- 
known  farmer  and  capitalist,  residing 
in  the  city  of  Rochelle,  although  not  num- 
bered among  the  pioneers  of  Ogle  county, 
has  been  a  resident  of  it  for  twenty-five 
years.  He  was  born  in  Dryden,  Tompkins 
county.  New  York,  November  16,  1829, 
and  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Faber 
Southworth,  who  was  born  September  i, 
1 7 10,  and  who  married  Mary  Seabury. 
Their  son  John,  born  January  4,  1743.  "lur- 
ried Elizabeth  Wightman,  by  whom  was 
born  Thomas,  who  married  Sally  Eldridge, 


458 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  who 
died  April  ii,  1814.  Thomas  Southworth 
died  in  Dryden,  New  York,  July  27,  1863, 
at  the  age  of  ninety-one  years.  Their  son, 
John  Southworth,  was  born  September  25, 
1796,  in  Salisbury,  Herkimer  county,  New 
York,  and  at  the  age  of  ten  years  went  to 
Dryden,  New  York,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  very 
prosperous  and  became  a  millionaire.  He 
was  married  September  9,  1S19,  to  Nancy 
Ellis,  a  native  of  Tompkins  county,  New 
York,  and  daughter  of  John  and  Rhoda 
(Rathburn)  Ellis.  Her  father,  who  was  a 
very  prominent  man,  was  known  in  all  the 
regions  roundabout  as  the  "  King  of  Dry- 
den." He  was  county  judge  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  served  his  district  as  state 
senator,  and  also  held  various  other  local 
offices.  John  and  Rhoda  Ellis  were  the  par- 
ents of  five  sons  and  five  daughters.  He 
died  a  very  wealthy  man. 

To  John  and  Nancy  Southworth  five 
children  were  born--Rhoda  Charlotte,  John 
Ellis,  Sarah  Ann,  Nancy  Amelia  and 
Thomas  George.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  March  16,  1830,  and  John 
Southworth  later  married  Betsy  Jagger,  and 
to  them  were  born  five  children.  John 
Southworth  never  came  west  to  reside, 
although  he  invested  largely  in  real  estate 
in  Illinois,  which  was  managed  for  him  by 
his  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
died  at  his  old  home  in  Dryden,  New  York, 
December  2,   1877. 

Thomas  G.  Southworth  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Dryden,  New  York,  and  in  the 
schools  of  that  place  received  his  education. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  quit  school  and 
commenced  work  on  the  farm.  He  was 
married  April  19,  1855,  to  Miss  Malvina  A. 
Freeland,  who  was  born  August   G,   1834,  in 


Caroline,  Tompkins  county,  New  York,  and 
daughter  of  John  and  Ruth  (Lake)  Freeland, 
who  were  the  parents  of  five  children--D. 
Wellington,  Adelaide  M.,  Malvina  A.,  Isaac 
Newton  and  Rhoda  Jane.  John  Freeland 
was  a  son  of  Robert  Freeland,  who  was 
born  in  Armagh,  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
and  was  mixed  up  in  the  Irish  rebellion,  and 
who  came  to  this  country  in  1798.  In  early 
life  John  Freeland  engaged  in  teaching,  but 
later  followed  farming  in  connection  with 
■  the  trade  of  carpenter.  He  died  in  1854, 
but  his  wife  is  yet  living  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
five  years.  To  our  subject  and  his  wife  one 
son  was  born,  John  Willis,  of  whom  more 
is  said  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Southworth  moved 
into  the  city  of  Dryden,  and  with  his 
brother-in-law,  H.  W.  Sears,  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  trade  for  two  years,  and 
then  returned  to  the  farm.  He  continued 
to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  na- 
tive county  until  1867,  when  he  concluded 
to  come  west.  On  coming  to  Illinois,  he 
located  in  Reynolds  township,  Lee  county, 
and  there  engaged  in  farming  for  seven 
years.  He  then  moved  to  Ogle  county  and 
settled  on  his  farm  adjoining  the  city  of 
Rochelle,  where  he  lived  thirteen  years, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  living  in  his 
present  place  of  residence. 

Mr.  Southworth  is  a  thorough  business 
man,  and  has  made  a  success  in  life.  He 
has  one  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Lee  county,  Illinois,  and  has  sev- 
eral farms  in  Ogle  county,  aggregating  in 
all  between  thirteen  and  fourteen  hundred 
acres  of  excellent  farming  land.  He  has 
been  connected  with  the  Rochelle  National 
Bank  as  a  stockholder  for  about  fifteen 
years,  and  for  ten  years  has  been  one  of  its 
efficient    directors.      In    politics    he    is    a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


459 


thorough  Republican,  but  he  has  never  been 
a  politician  in  the  common  acceptation  of 
the  term.  Believing  firmly  in  the  principles 
of  the  party,  he  gives  support  to  the  na- 
tional and  state  candidates,  but  asks  no 
office  for  himself. 

For  thirty-two  years  Mr.  Southworth 
has  been  identified  with  the  farming  and 
commercial  interests  of  this  section  of  the 
state,  and  through  his  own  exertions  he 
has  attained  an  honorable  position  and 
marked  prestige  among  the  representative 
men  of  Ogle  county,  and  with  signal  con- 
sistency it  may  be  said,  that  he  is  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortunes,  and  one  whose 
success  amply  justifies  the  application  of 
the  somewhat  hackneyed,  but  most  ex- 
pressive title,  "  a  self-made  man."  He  is 
respected  by  all  who  know  him,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  county. 


DANIEL  ETNYRE.— Ogle  county  has 
been  the  home  and  scene  of  labor  of 
many  men  who  have  not  only  led  lives  that 
should  serve  as  an  example  to  those  who 
come  after  them  but  have  also  been  of  im- 
portant service  to  their  county  through  vari- 
ous avenues  of  usefulness.  Among  them 
must  be  named  Daniel  Etnyre,  who  passed 
away  in  Oregon,  October  21,  1893,  after  a 
life  of  industry,  and  rich  in  those  rare  pos- 
sessions which  only  a  high  character  can 
give. 

Mr.  Etnyre  was  born  near  Smithsburg, 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  March  29, 
1817,  a  son  of  John  and  Catharine  (Chris- 
tian) Etnyre,  who  were  also  natives  of  Mary- 
land and  died  in  Ogle  county.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native  state  and 
continued    to    follow     agricultural    pursuits 

there  until  the  emigration   of   the  family  to 
49 


Illinois.  On  reaching  the  Ohio  river,  they 
floated  down  that  stream  and  then  proceed- 
ed up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  and  from 
there  came  by  wagon  to  Ogle  county,  reach- 
ing their  destination  on  the  i6th  of  June, 
1839.  The  father  bought  a  farm,  but  be- 
fore much  had  been  accomplished  in  the 
way  of  improvements  he  died,  in  October 
of  the  same  year. 

Our  subject  purchased  land  on  section 
4,  Oregon  township,  and  for  forty-six  years 
made  that  place  ,his  home  while  devoting 
the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  attention  to 
farming.  On  leaving  the  farm  in  Decem- 
ber, 1884,  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Ore- 
gon, where  he  had  previously  built  a  com- 
modious and  pleasant  residence.  He  was 
unusually  successful  in  his  business  career, 
and  besides  his  home  farm,  of  nearly  five 
hundred  acres,  lying  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
from  Oregon,  he  had  over  three  hundred 
acres  elsewhere  in  the  county.  He  was  also 
interested  in  several  important  business  en- 
terprises in  the  city.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  and  a  large  stockholder  of  the 
First  National  I5ank,  of  Oregon,  served  as 
its  president  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was 
also  president  of  the  Rock  River  Furniture 
Company. 

On  the  1 2th  of  January,  1S43,  in  Ore- 
gon, Mr.  Etnyre  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Rice,  who  was  born  in 
Boonesboro,  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
September  5,  1825,  and  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  this  state  in  July,  1837.  They  drove 
from  their  old  home  in  Maryland  to  Carlyle, 
Ohio,  in  three  weeks,  and  after  spending  a 
short  time  at  that  place  proceeded  to  Ogle 
county,  the  remainder  of  the  journey  also 
occupying  three  weeks.  Her  parents  were 
Jacob  and  Mary  (Rowland)  Rice,  both  na- 
tives of  Washington  county,  Maryland,  and 


46o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


she  was  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth  in  their 
family  of  twelve  children.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Rice  married  Catherine 
Fink,  who  is  now  living  in  Mt.  Morris,  at 
the  extreme  old  age  of  one  hundred  and 
two  years,  and  is  in  full  possession  of  her 
mental  faculties. 

Twelve  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Etnyre:  Lauretta,  born  March  25,  1844, 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Coffman,  of  Pine  Creek 
township;  Mary  A.,  born  January  14,  1846, 
died  December  25,  1846;  Sarah  E.,  born  De- 
cember 29,  1848,  who  was  the  wife  of  John 
B,  Mix,  a  farmer  of  Oregon  township,  died 
June  29,  1S88;  Augusta,  born  January  23, 
1850,  died  May  5,  1864;  William  A.,  born 
March  20,  1852,  married  Annie  M.  Lantz, 
and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Oregon  town- 
ship; John  J.,  born  September  12,  1854, 
died  March  26,  1884;  Lydia  C. ,  born  Jan- 
uary 23,  1858,  resides  with  her  mother  in 
Oregon;  D.  Edward,  born  July  9,  1859, 
is  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old  homestead; 
A.  Elizabeth,  born  January  3,  1861,  is  the 
wife  of  Samuel  B.  Wadsworth;  Mary  Em- 
ma born  January  21,  1S63,  and  Samuel  L., 
born  May  18,  18O5,  are  both  at  home;  and 
George  L. ,  born  June  26,  1868,  was  killed 
by  a  kick  from  ahorse  September  27,  1881. 
Mrs.  Etnyre,  who  is  a  most  estimable  lady 
and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  still 
resides  in  Oregon. 

On  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party,  in  1856,  Mr.  Etnyre  joined  its  ranks, 
and  continued  one  of  its  stalwart  supports. 
He  served  for  one  term  as  county  treasurer, 
but  never  cared  for  political  preferment. 
Endowed  by  nature  with  a  sound  judgment 
and  an  accurate,  discriminating  mind,  he 
feared  not  that  laborious  attention  to  the 
details  of  business  so  necessary  to  achieve 
success,  and  this  essential  quality  was  ever 


guided  by  a  sense  of  moral  right  which 
would  tolerate  the  employment  only  of 
those  means  that  would  bear  the  most  rigid 
examination  by  a  fairness  of  intention  that 
neither  sought  nor  required  disguise.  It  is 
but  just  and  merited  praise  to  say  of  Mr. 
Etnyre,  that  as  a  business  man  he  ranked 
among  the  ablest;  as  a  citizen  he  was  hon- 
orable, prompt  and  true  to  every  engage- 
ment; and  as  a  man  he  held  the  honor  and 
esteem  of  all  classes. 


JACOB  HEWITT,  who  resides  on  sec- 
kJ  tion  9,  Scott  township,  is  a  well- 
known  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  the 
township,  and  a  resident  of  Ogle  county 
since  1855.  He  is  a  native  of  Huntingdon 
county,  England,  and  was  born  September 
17,  1S25.  His  parents,  James  and  Mary 
(Green)  Hewitt,  were  also  natives  of  the 
same  shire.  They  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  as  follows:  Jane,  Jacob,  Hannah, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  William,  James,  Daniel 
and  Samuel. 

After  spending  his  boyhood  and  youth  in 
his  native  land,  where  he  received  a  very 
limited  education,  when  twenty-five  years 
old,  our  subject  determined  on  emigrating 
to  America  where  the  opportunities  for  ad- 
vancement were  supposed  to  be  much  great- 
er, and  where  the  poor  man  had  equal  rights 
with  the  rich.  Leaving  home,  he  sailed  for 
"  the  land  of  the  free,"  and  after  a  voyage 
of  a  number  of  days  he  landed  at  New  York. 
After  two  years  sojourn  in  various  places, 
in  1855  he  came  to  Ogle  count)',  which  has 
since  continued  to  be  his  home.  For  two 
years  he  worked  by  the  day  at  odd  jobs, 
and  having  accumulated  a  little  money  he 
purchased  sixty  acres  of  unimproved  land  on 
section  9,  and  at  once  set  about  its  improve- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


461 


iiient.  In  due  time  he  had  a  well  cultivated 
farm  which  he  has  since  kept  under  a  hii;h 
state  of  cultivation,  and  which  has  been  to 
himself  and  wife  a  restful  place  of  abode. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1S55,  Mr. 
Hewitt  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  Brand,  also  a  native  of  England,  who 
came  to  the  United  States  with  her  father, 
William  Brand,  who  was  born,  reared  and 
married  in  Huntingdon  county,  England. 
To  her  husband  Mrs.  Hewitt  has  been  a 
helpmeet  indeed,  and  their  married  life  has 
been  a  happy  one.  \\'hile  no  children  came 
to  bless  their  union,  they  have  always  been 
happy  in  each  other's  love.  Both  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church,  in  the  teachings 
of  which  they  have  unbounded  faith,  and  in 
the  work  of  which  they  are  greatly  inter- 
ested.     In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 


MJ.  CRILL,  who  resides  on  section  14, 
Monroe  township,  is  a  well-known 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  one  who  is  known 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
county.  He  is  a  native  of  the  township, 
born  August  11,  1S48,  and  is  the  son  of 
John  J.  and  Margaret  Crill,  who  were  mar- 
ried November  7,  1847,  and  who  were  num- 
bered among  the  early  settlers  of  the  coun- 
ty, and  who  were  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren— M.  J.,  Orlando  and  Augusta.  The 
latter  married  Henry  Hardy,  and  they  are 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  Rockfcrd,  Illi- 
nois. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  he  was  twenty-si.\ 
years  old,  and  in  the  common  schools  of 
the  neighborhood  received  his  education. 
The  greater  part  of  his  education,  however, 
was   obtained  in  the  school  of  experience, 


the  lessons  of  which  are  usually  well  im- 
pressed upon  the  mind,  and  seldom  forgot- 
ten. From  the  time  old  enough  to  reach 
the  handles  of  the  plow,  he  was  expected 
to  do  his  full  share  of  the  farm  work,  and 
whatever  he  did  was  well  done.  The  habits 
of  industry  ac(]uired  in  youth  have  remained 
with  him  during  life,  and  his  farm  is  always 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
kept  in  every  respect. 

Mr.  Crill  was  married  January  3,  1S71, 
at  Cherry  Valley,  Illinois,  to  Amelia  Houd- 
shell,  a  native  of  Winnebago  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Nancy 
(Obedear)  Hondeshell,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  who  were 
numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  Winne- 
bago county.  By  this  union  four  children 
were  born:  Nellie  A.  married  Robert 
Dresser,  a  substantial  farmer  residing  at 
Lindenwood,  Illinois,  where  he  operates  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres;  Maude 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and  Ruth  Ella 
when  ten  months  old;  and  one  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

When  Mr.  Crill  was  first  married  he  com- 
menced farming  a  tract  of  five  hundred  and 
ten  acres  of  land  and  made  a  specialty  of 
raising  Percheron  and  Morgan  horses  and 
Shetland  ponies,  short  horn  Durham  cattle, 
and  white  Chester  hogs,  a  liranch  of  his 
business  in  which  he  was  quite  successful. 
He  has  continued  to  engage  in  general  farm- 
ing, and  his  ability  as  a  farmer  is  acknowl- 
edged by  all.  For  three  years  he  served  as 
road  commissioner,  was  twelve  years  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  and  for  five 
years  has  been  one  of  the  constables  of  his 
township,  an  office  which  he  now  holds.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  Mason,  a  memlier  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 


462 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


GEORGE  MURRAY.— Canada  has  fur- 
nished to  the  United  States  many 
bright,  enterprising  young  men  who  have 
left  the  Dominion  to  enter  the  business  cir- 
cles of  this  country  with  its  more  progress- 
ive methods,  livelier  competition,  and  ad- 
vancement more  quickly  secured.  Among 
this  number  is  Mr.  Murray,  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  progressive  farmers  and 
stock  breeders  of  Ogle  county,  his  home 
being  on  section  17,  Buffalo  township. 

Mr.  Murray  was  born  near  Toronto,  On- 
tario, Canada,  November  15,  1850,  and  is 
a  son  of  Thomas  Murray,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, born  in  the  city  of  Edinburg,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1818.  When  a  young  man  the 
father  came  to  the  new  world,  locating  in 
Ontario,  Canada,  in  1836,  and  there  he  fol- 
lowed the  blacksmith's  trade  throughout  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  January  17, 
1S66.  He  was  married  in  Canada,  in  March, 
1848,  to  Miss  Louisa  Graham,  also  a  native 
of  Scotland,  her  birth  occurring  in  Dum- 
frieshire,  June  28,  1826.  She  crossed  the 
Atlantic  with  a  brother  and  also  took  up 
her  residence  in  Ontario.  She  survived  her 
husband  for  thirty  years,  spending  her  last 
days  with  her  son  in  Illinois,  where  she 
passed  away  January  27,  i8g6.  She  was 
the  mother  of  eight  children,  five  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  four  sons  and  two 
daughters  are  still  living,  namely:  Mary, 
who  acts  as  housekeeper  for  our  subject; 
George,  of  this  review;  Thomas,  a  farmer 
of  Holcomb,  Ogle  county;  John,  who  is 
married  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Lee 
county,  Illinois;  Robert;  and  Mrs.  Margaret 
Copenhaver,  who  also  resides  with  our  sub- 
ject and  has  two  sons,  George  and   Robert. 

George  Murray  was  reared  in  Ontario, 
Canada,  and  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  which  well  fitted  him    for   life's 


responsible  duties.  As  a  young  man  he 
came  to  Illinois,  in  1872,  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Taylor  township,  Ogle  county, 
where  for  one  year  he  worked  by  the  month 
as  a  farm  hand.  He  then  rented  a  farm,  which 
he  operated  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
Since  then  he  has  given  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  and  attention  to  the  breeding  of  fine 
stock,  in  partnership  with  his  brother  im- 
porting and  dealing  in  pure-blooded  Per- 
cheron,  Clydesdale  and  French  coach  horses. 
The  firm  of  Murray  Brothers  became  well 
known  among  breeders  and  dealers  in  differ- 
ent states  and  they  sold  their  horses  quite 
extensively  throughout  the  west,  doing  a 
large  and  profitable  business.  The  partner- 
ship was  dissolved  in  18S6,  but  our  subject 
continued  to  engage  in  the  business  until 
1893.  His  first  purchase  of  land  consisted 
of  seventy-five  acres  in  what  is  now  Woo- 
sung  township,  but  after  residing  there  for 
three  years,  he  sold  the  place  and  in  1881 
located  upon  his  present  farm,  consisting  at 
that  time  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-two 
acres.  Upon  the  place  he  has  made  exten- 
sive improvements,  which  add  greatly  to  its 
value  and  attractive  appearance,  making  it 
one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  of  the  lo- 
cality. He  has  enlarged  its  boundaries  so 
that  they  now  contain  two  hundred  acres  of 
valuable  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  improved  with  a  large,  neat  resi- 
dence, corn  cribs,  granaries,  barns,  etc.  He 
has  also  given  considerable  attention  to  the 
raising  of  Galloway  cattle,  and  still  feeds  an- 
nually from  one  to  four  car  loads  of  cattle  and 
a  car  load  of  hogs  for  the  market.  He  start- 
ed out  in  life  for  himself  with  nothing  but 
his  own  indomitable  energy  and  through  his 
own  efforts  has  acquired  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, being  to-day  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  the  county. 


GEORGE    MURRAY. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


465 


Mr.  Murray  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Grover  Cleveland  and  continued  to 
affiliate  with  the  Democracy  until  iSgG, 
when  he  supported  William  McKinley,  the 
Republican  candidate.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  and  has  been  president  of  the 
district.  He  is  also  connected  with  the 
library  association  and  has  served  as  one  of 
its  trustees  and  directors.  He  and  his  sis- 
ters hold  membership  in  the  Independent 
Presbyterian  church  of  Polo,  and  he  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe. 
He  is  held  in  hij;h  regard  by  all  who  know 
him,  and  he  has  a  host  of  warm  friends 
throughout  the  county. 


THOMAS  P.  RUTLEDGE,  deceased, 
was  for  years  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Ogle  county,  one  who  to  know  was  to  love 
and  esteem.  He  was  born  P^ebruary  i,  18 10, 
in  New  York  city,  and  was  a  son  of  Robert 
and  Mary  (Purvey)  Rutledge,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ireland,  born  April  27,  1782,  and 
the  latter  in  New  York  state,  April  14,  17S3. 
In  his  )outh  Robert  Rutledge  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  where  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Mary  Lur\ey,  and  in  New 
York  city  the}'  were  united  in  marriage. 
P^rom  that  city  they  emigrated  to  Canada, 
where  he  purchased  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
There  their  family  of  ten  children  were 
born,  and  in  that  country  the  parents  re- 
mained until  1 841,  when  they  came  to  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  locating  in  Oregon  town- 
ship, Mr.  Rutledge  entering  and  purchasing 
si.x  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  wild  land  and 
again  engaging  in  farming.  Robert  Rut- 
ledge was  a  benevolent,  kind  and  free- 
hearted   man,   and    his    house   was    always 


open  to  the  weary  traveler.  No  one  was 
turned  from  his  door,  and  he  was  always 
willing  to  assist  those  in  distress.  The  new 
comer  from  the  far  cast  was  made  to  feel 
that  he  was  welcome,  and  he  would  render 
any  assistance  in  his  power  to  help  him  ob- 
tain land  and  gain  for  himself  a  home.  He 
was  an  earnest  and  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  was  an 
active  worker  in  that  body.  His  wife  was 
also  a  member  of  that  body,  and  both  de- 
lighted in  the  service  of  the  Lord's  house. 
He  was  a  great  bible  student,  that  book  be- 
ing his  constant  companion.  His  death  oc- 
curred December  9,  1862,  and  that  of  his 
wife  June  13,  1864,  both  passing  to  their 
reward  while  residing  in  Oregon  township. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  eld- 
est in  the  family.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
Canada,  and  received  such  an  education  as 
the  common  schools  of  that  day  afforded. 
He  was  reared  to  farm  life  and  made  farm- 
ing his  life  work.  He  was  married  in  To- 
ronto, Canada,  p-ebruary  14,  1832,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Foster,  a  native  of  Ireland,  born 
July  26,  I  8 14,  and  daughter  of  Christopher 
and  Catherine  P"oster,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  same  country.  By  this  union 
thirteen  children  were  born,  seven  of  whom 
are  now  living.  All  were  born  in  Canada. 
Mary  died  at  the  age  of  one  ytar.  Robert 
married  Melissa  Smith,  and  died  August  18, 
1894,  at  Storm  Lake,  Iowa.  Foster  mar- 
ried Caroline  Hart,  and  they  reside  in  Storm 
Lake,  Iowa.  Frances  married  J.  F.  Haw- 
thorn, and  they  reside  in  Oregon  township, 
where  they  are  engaged  in  farming.  John 
enlisted  in  the  Seventy-fourth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  and  served  under  General 
Thomas  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
married  Mrs.  Lucy  Goodhue,  but  both  are 
now    deceased.       William     married    Clara 


466 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Blood,  and  after  her  decease  he  married 
Maggie  Fitch.  He  died  at  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa,  August  3,  1 89 1.  Catherine  married 
Edward  Crewell,  and  they  now  reside  in 
Orange,  California,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
fruit  growing.  Charlotte  married  Captain 
Spencer  Smith,  and  they  live  near  Van 
Horn,  Benton  county,  Iowa,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  farming.  Thomas  S.  died  in 
Rockvale  township.  Ogle  county,  at  the  age 
of  si.xtecn  years.  Elizabeth  married  Sam- 
uel G.  Walker,  and  they  reside  in  Butler, 
Missouri.  Hester  A.  finished  her  education 
at  Mt.  Morris  College,  and  for  some  years 
was  a  successful  teacher  in  Ogle  county, 
and  later  in  Buena  Vista  county,  Iowa.  She 
died  July  i,  1893,  at  Battle  Creek,  Mich- 
igan. Emily  is  engaged  in  teaching  in  Ogle 
county.  She  is  the  owner  of  a  good  farm 
in  Buena  Vista  county,  Iowa.  Edward 
married  Fanny  Riesdorf,  and  they  reside  in 
Browns  Valley,  Minnesota.  He  is  a  land 
owner  and  county  surveyor. 

Selling  his  farm  in  Canada  in  the  fall  of 
1855.  Mr.  Rutledge  came  to  Ogle  count}', 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  settled  in  Rock- 
vale  township,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of 
three  hundred  acres  and  again  engaged  in 
farming.  It  did  not  take  but  a  little  while 
for  him  to  gather  around  himself  a  host  of 
warm-hearted  friends,  because  he  was  a 
man  of  generous  impulse,  ever  ready  to  do 
a  favor.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  was  ever  afterwards  one  of  the  faithful 
workers  in  that  body.  A  friend  of  educa- 
tion, he  was  one  of  the  first  to  establish  a 
school  in  his  Canadian  home,  and  after  his 
removal  to  Ogle  county  he  assisted  in  estab- 
lishing one  of  the  lirst  schools  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. He  was  a  great  reader  and  kept 
himself    well    informed   on    current    events. 


and  was  never  at  a  loss  to  express  himself. 
A  strong  temperance  man,  he  advocated  the 
principles  of  total  abstinence,  and  lived  up 
to  his  professions.  For  about  ten  j  ears 
prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred  April  7, 
1879,  in  the  city  of  Oregon,  he  was  in  ill 
health.  His  wife,  who  was  also  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  died  in  Oregon  August  29,  1875, 
and  both  were  laid  to  rest  in  Rock  River 
View  cemetery  at  that  place. 


VIRGIL  E.  REED,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 1 3,  Nassau  township,  is  a  well 
known  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Ogle 
county.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county, 
born  in  Daysville,  September  i,  1841,  and 
is  the  son  of  Lyman  and  Mehitable  (Clark) 
Reed,  the  former  a  native  of  Westfield, 
Vermont,  born  December  25,  1809,  and 
the  latter  a  native  of  Gilson,  New 
Hampshire,  born  April  24,  1814.  In  1835 
the  parents  came  west,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1836,  settled  in  Daysville,  where  he  en- 
gaged at  his  trade  of  carpentering,  at  which 
he  worked  for  about  twenty  years.  In  the 
early  'fifties  he  built  a  store  room  and  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  January  8,  1866. 
His  wife  survived  him  many  years,  dying 
April  28,   1886. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  with  his 
parents  until  the  age  of  twenty  years,  in  the 
meantime  attending  the  common  schools  of 
the  neighborhood  as  the  opportunity  was 
given  him.  When  the  war  for  the  union 
commenced  his  patriotism  was  aroused, 
and  he  offered  his  services  as  one  of  its  de- 
fenders. He  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Thirty- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served 
nearly  four  years.      He   first  enlisted  for  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


467 


term  of  three  years,  but  at  the  end  of  two 
years  the  regiment  veteranized,  and  with 
the  command  he  enhsted  "for  three  years 
or  during  the  war.  "  He  was  in  all  the 
battles  and  campaigns  in  which  his  regiment 
participated  until  December  31,  1S62,  when 
he  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  and  for  six  months  was  confined  in 
Libby  prison  and  at  Castle  Thunder.  He 
was  then  exchanged  and  returned  to  his 
regiment,  which  was  encamped  on  the  same 
battlefield  where  he  was  taken  prisoner. 
The  Thirty-fourth  regiment  was  in  active 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  engaging 
in  many  battles  and  skirmishes,  and  was 
with  Sherman  in  the  march  to  the  sea.  It 
was  also  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington. 
From  the  time  he  rejoined  it  Mr.  Reed  con- 
tinued with  it  until  the  final  muster  out  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  His  record  as  a  soldier 
was  a  commendable  one,  and  he  has  a  right 
to  look  back  with  a  just  pride  to  the  days  in 
which  as  a  soldier  he  endured  trials  and 
sufferings  that  cannot  be  realized  by  those 
who  had  not  the  same  experience. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Reed 
returning  to  his  home  in  Daysville,  but 
feeling  the  need  of  a  better  education  he 
attended  Mt.  Morris  Seminary  for  one  year, 
and  was  then,  April  3,  1 866,  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Harriet  D.  Carpenter, 
daughter  of  John  and  Louise  Carpenter. 
She  was  also  born  in  Nassau  township,  the 
date  of  her  birth  being  April  8,  1844.  Her 
parents  were  among  the  pioneers  of  the 
township,  and  were  excellent  people,  well 
esteemed  in  the  community.  By  this  union 
there  were  four  children.  Leon  yet  makes 
his  home  with  his  parents,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent assessor  of  Nassau  township.  Elmer 
V.  married  Emma  Carrick,  daughter  of  John 
and  Jane  Carrick.      She  is  a  native  of  Ogle 


county,  born  in  Nassau  township.  They 
now  reside  in  Chicago,  where  he  is  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  New  York  Metropoli- 
tan Life  Insurance  Company.  Ernest  C. 
is  the  superintendent  of  the  Metropolitan 
Life  Insurance  Company,  and  now  resides 
in  Chicago.  Oscar  O.  is  now  engaged  in 
teaching  the  district  school  in  his  home 
neighborhood.  The  oldest  and  youngest 
sons  are  also  engaged  in  buying  and  ship- 
ping stock,  and  assisting  in  carrj'ing  on  the 
home  farm. 

Mr.  Reed  has  a  valual)le  and  well-im- 
proved farm  of  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  acres,  on  which  he  has  made  some 
valuable  improvements  since  the  close  of 
the  Civil  war.  As  a  farmer  he  has  been 
progressive,  ready  to  adopt  any  improve- 
ment that  appealed  to  his  judgment.  As  a 
citizen  he  has  always  been  held  in  high 
esteem.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  of  the 
Masonic  order.  Always  an  advocate  of 
temperance,  he  has  done  much  to  advance 
its  cause. 


WILLIAM  J.  MINNIS,  a  representa- 
tive and  highly  respected  farmer  of 
Ogle  county,  residing  on  section  26,  White 
Rock  township,  started  out  in  life  with 
nothing  but  his  own  indomitable  energy, 
and  his  accumulation  of  this  world's  goods 
is  attributable  to  his  industry,  perseverance 
and  good  management.  He  has  won  a  fore- 
most place  among  the  leading  citizens  of  his 
community,  and  has  become  the  owner  of 
four  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  in  White 
Rock  township;  two  hundred  ant!  lorty  on 
section  26  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  on 
section  25. 

Mr.  Minnis  was  born  in  I'^ebruary,  1831, 


468 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


near  Belfast,  County  Down,  Ireland,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Patterson) 
Minnis,  also  natives  of  that  county.  Tfie 
fatfier  was  a  farmer  and  land  owner.  In 
thie  family  were  five  children.  (i)  Isabella 
was  married  in  County  Down  to  Carrin  Duff 
and  later  they  emigrated  to  Canada,  where 
both  died,  leaving  four  children,  one  son, 
William,  and  three  daughters.  One  of 
these,  Mrs.  Deborah  Way,  with  her  two 
daughters,  Eva  and  Flora,  now  makes  her 
home  with  our  subject  and  acts  as  his  house- 
keeper. (2)  Mary  wedded  Samuel  Gilbraitli 
and  still  resides  in  Ireland.  (3)  Lydia 
married  Robert  Wright  and  they  came  to 
America  at  the  same  time  as  our  subject, 
locating  first  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania. 
Later  they  came  to  Ogle  county  and  owned 
a  farm  in  Lynnville  township,  where  he 
died.  The  sister  now  makes  her  home  in 
Rochelle.  (4)  William  J.  is  the  next  of  the 
family.  (5)  James  came  to  America  two 
years  after  our  subject,  served  all  through 
the  Civil  war  and  is  now  living  retired  with 
his  sister  in  Rochelle. 

William  J.  Minnis  received  a  common 
school  education  and  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  seventeen  years  of  age. 
At  that  time  his  sister  Lydia  and  her  hus- 
band made  arrangements  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica, and  he  accompanied  them  on  horseback 
to  Belfast,  a  distance  of  six  miles,  to  see 
them  on  board  the  vessel  which  they  took 
for  Liverpool,  England.  His  sister  per- 
suaded him  to  go  with  them  to  Liverpool, 
so  he  sent  his  horse  back  home  by  a  neigh- 
bor. On  reaching  that  place  he  was  again 
persuaded  by  her  to  come  to  America,  which 
he  did  without  having  made  any  prepara- 
tions, his  only  possessions  being  the  clothes 
he  wore  and  one  pound  sterling.  Turning 
his  back  on  home,  friends  and  native   land, 


he  took  passage  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright 
on  a  sailing  vessel,  which,  after  a  long  and 
tedious  voyage,  landed  them  safely  in  Phila- 
delphia. As  Mr.  Wright  had  a  brother  in 
Pittsburg,  they  proceeded  at  once  to  that 
city.  Our  subject's  first  work  in  the  new 
world  was  at  threshing  rye  with  a  flail,  for 
which  he  received  ten  bushels  of  the  grain 
and  sold  the  same  for  thirty-five  cents  per 
bushel.  Later  he  entered  the  employ  of  a 
farmer  in  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  for 
whom  he  worked  five  months  for  eight  dol- 
lars per  month,  but  did  not  receive  his  pay 
for  two  years.  He  next  worked  in  a  foundry 
in  Pittsburg  for  four  dollars  per  week,  and 
out  of  that  amount  paid  two  dollars  for 
board.  Later  he  was  employed  in  glass 
works  at  five  dollars  per  week,  and  after 
five  years  spent  at  various  occupations,  he 
came  west,  locating  first  in  Chicago.  As 
he  failed  to  find  employment  in  that  city, 
he  accepted  a  position  with  James  Garrett, 
an  old  companion  and  associate  in  Ireland, 
who  was  building  wire  fences  for  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Ouincy  railroad  in 
Bureau  county.  On  the  completion  of  that 
task,  he  accompanied  Mr.  Garrett  to  his 
home  in  Ogle  county. 

After  working  here  two  seasons  for 
wages,  Mr.  Minnis  and  his  brother-in-law, 
Mr.  Wright,  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Lynnville  township,  which  his  sister  now 
owns.  For  some  time  he  made  his  home 
with  them,  but  finally  sold  his  interest  to 
Mr.  Wright.  Having  heard  that  his  father 
was  ill  and  not  expected  to  live,  he  returned 
to  Ireland  in  the  spring  of  1867,  but  arrived 
there  too  late  to  see  him.  He  remained  in 
his  native  land  one  year,  settling  up  the 
estate,  and  then  returned  with  his  mother 
to  Ogle  county,  Illinois.  The  same  fall  he 
bought  one   hundred  and  sixty  acres  where 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


469 


he  now  resides,  and  where  he  has  continued 
to  hve  with  the  exception  of  six  years  spent 
in  Rochelle,  during  which  time  he  rented 
the  place.  On  purchasing  his  farm  he  went 
in  debt  for  most  of  the  amount,  but  so  suc- 
cessful has  he  been  that  he  has  since  been 
able  to  purchase  two  adjoining  tracts,  one 
of  eighty  and  the  other  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  He  now  rents  a  portion  of  his 
land,  but  personally  superintends  the  rest, 
and  has  always  followed  a  most  approved 
system  of  mixed  farming  and  stock  raising, 
putting  considerable  stock  on  the  market 
each  year. 

While  on  his  visit  to  Ireland,  Mr.  Minnis 
was  married  in  February,  186S,  to  Miss 
Agnes  Martin,  a  distant  relative  and  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Grace  (Minnis) 
Martin.  Soon  after  the  birth  of  their  only 
child  she  died,  February  23,  1871,  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-eight  years,  seven 
months  and  twenty-one  days.  Mr.  Minnis 
has  always  been  true  to  her  memory  and 
has  never  married  again.  The  daughter 
was  named  Agnes  for  her  mother,  and  on 
the  8th  of  October,  1895,  she  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Henry  Carpenter,  of  Dement 
township. 

Politically  Mr.  Minnis  is  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
never  sought  nor  accepted  any  office  with 
the  exception  of  school  positions.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  of  Rochelle,  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  its  work  and  been  a 
member  of  the  official  board.  For  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  he  has  belonged  to  Hickory 
Grove  'Lodge,  No.  230,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of 
Rochelle,  and  has  filled  all  the  chairs,  being 
past  grand.  He  has  met  with  excellent 
success  in  life,  having  not  only  won  a  com- 
fortable competence  but  also  has  the  esteem 

50 


and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
come  in  contact,  either  in  business  or  social 
life. 


JOHN  SMITH,  now  living  a  retired  life 
on  his  fine  farm  on  section  4,  Dement 
township,  and  which  lies  about  six  miles 
northeast  of  the  city  of  Rochelle,  has  been 
a  valued  resident  of  Ogle  county  since  the 
spring  of  1859.  He  was  born  in  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  May  22,  1825,  and  there 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth,  being  reared 
to  farm  life.  His  educational  advantages 
were  very  limited,  but  he  has  made  the  best 
use  of  the  knowledge  gained  in  youth  and 
is  now  a  well  informed  man.  He  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  he  nearly  at- 
tained his  majority,  and  then  worked  for 
others,  his  wages  going  to  the  support  of 
the  family.  He  later  began  work  for  him- 
self, having  in  view  his  future  relations  ii) 
life.  He  was  married  in  Lincolnshire,  Eng- 
land, April  10,  1848,  to  Miss  Ann  Tidswell, 
a  native  of  that  shire,  where  they  made 
their  home  for  two  years  after  marriage. 
Like  all  young  married  couples,  they  built 
for  themselves  many  air  castles  and  laid 
many  plans  for  their  future  lives.  They 
soon  concluded  that  if  their  air  castles  were 
ever  to  turn  into  something  more  substan- 
tial, they  must  emigrate  to  the  United 
States,  where  land  was  cheap  and  the  op- 
portunity was  offered  to  every  one  to  acquire 
both  wealth  and  reputation.  Accordingly,  • 
in  1S50,  Mr.  Smith  set  sail  for  New  York, 
where  he  landed  in  due  time,  and  made  set- 
tlement in  Ontario  county,  and  there  be- 
gan working  by  the  month.  Mrs.  Smith 
joined  him  the  following  year.  They  re- 
mained in  Ontario  county  for  two  years  and 
then  removed  to  Yates  county,  in  the  same 


4/0 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


state,  where  they  remained  until  1856,  and 
then  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  "Winne- 
bago county,  where  Mr.  Smith  found  em- 
ployment by  the  month  with  Terry  Hol- 
brook,  who  was  residing  near  Rockford. 
For  Mr.  Holbrook  and  Mr.  Allenton  he 
worked  for  three  years,  and  then  moved  to 
his  present  place  of  residence.  In  1S57, 
he  made  his  first  purchase  here,  consisting 
of  eighty  acres  of  raw  land,  on  which  there 
had  no  improvement  been  made.  In  185S 
he  built  on  the  place  a  small  house,  into 
which  he  moved  with  his  family  in  1859. 
They  lived  in  that  house  while  he  was  open- 
ing up  his  farm,  and  until  his  means  war- 
ranted his  building  a  still  better  one.  The 
second  one,  however,  was  not  a  very  pre- 
tentious affair,  but  it  served  as  a  home  until 
he  was  able  to  build  the  present  large  and 
substantial  residence,  in  which  the  family 
has  now  lived  for  some  years.  As  his 
means  increased,  he  added  to  his  landed 
possessions  until  he  has  now  about  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  as  fine  land  as  one  would  care 
to  see,  all  of  which  is  under  cultivation. 
Large  barns  have  been  erected,  while  vari- 
ous outbuildings  dot  the  place,  fruit  and 
ornamental  trees  have  been  set  out,  and 
everything  in  and  around  shows  that  a  mas- 
ter mind  has  directed  and  controlled  it  all. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children.  Lucy  is  the  wife  of  George 
Sanders,  a  farmer  of  Flagg  township. 
Sarah  is  living  with  her  parents.  George 
B.  is  married,  and  owns  and  operates  a  farm 
adjoining  the  old  homestead.  Jennie  is  the 
wife  of  D.  F.  Flowers,  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
but  who  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Cort- 
land, Nebraska.  William  T.  is  married  and 
resides  at  Woodland,  California.  Albert  E. 
yet  remains  at  home.  Lizzie  M.  is  the  wife 
of  Robert  Roe,  of  DeKalb,  Illinois. 


On  the  loth  of  April,  1898,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding, on  which  occasion  a  number  of  their 
friends  and  neighbors,  their  children  and 
grandchildren  gathered  to  pay  their  respects 
and  to  make  glad  the  hearts  of  the  old 
couple,  whom  they  all  delighted  to  honor. 
A  silver  tea  set,  and  a  number  of  other 
valuable  presents  were  made  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith  as  a  reminder  of  the  pleasant 
occasion. 

Mr.  Smith  is  not  a  politician  in  the  cur- 
rent acceptance  of  the  term,  but  he  advo- 
cates the  principles  of  the  Republican  party 
and  votes  the  party  ticket.  With  his  good 
wife  he  came  to  the  county  in  time  to  ex- 
perience many  of  the  trials  and  hardships 
of  pioneer  life,  but  he  has  been  signally 
blessed  in  worldly  goods,  and  can  now  look 
back  to  the  days  that  are  passed  and  smile 
at  the  hardships  then  endured,  having  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  "all  is  well 
that  ends  well."  He  is  now  comfortably 
situated,  with  means  to  secure  not  only  the 
necessities  of  life,  but  any  of  the  lu.xuries 
that  his  heart  might  wish.  In  leaving  the 
old  country  for  the  new  a  wise  move  was 
made. 


JOHN  THOMPSON,  a  well-known  and 
honored  citizen  of  Lynnville  township, 
is  the  possessor  of  a  comfortable  property 
which  now  enables  him  to  lay  aside  all  busi- 
ness cares  and  enjoy  a  well-earned  rest. 
His  early  life  was  one  of  toil  and  due  suc- 
cess was  not  denied  him  in  his  chosen  occu- 
pation. As  a  young  man  of  twenty-one 
years  he  came  to  America,  and  with  no 
capital  started  out  in  a  strange  land  to  over- 
come the  difficulties  and  obstacles  in  the 
path  to   prosperity.      His  youthful  dreams 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


471 


have  been  more  than  realized,  ami  in  their 
happy  fulfillment  he  sees  the  fitting  reward 
of  his  earnest  toil. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  a  native  of  the  north 
of  Ireland,  born  si.\  miles  from  Belfast,  April 
19,  1823,  of  Scotch  ancestry.  His  father, 
John  Thompson,  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Ireland,  in  1797,  and  in  early  life 
married  Miss  Margaret  Patterson,  who  was 
born  May  i,  1799.  Theirs  was  a  long  and 
happy  married  life  of  si.xty-five  years  and 
they  were  not  long  separated  by  the  hand 
of  death,  as  the  mother  died  April  4,  1885, 
and  the  father  on  the  2nd  of  the  following 
July.  In  their  family  were  nine  children, 
namely:  John,  Margaret,  Robert,  Sarah, 
William,  James,  Rabinah,  Jane  Ellen  and 
Samuel. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  land  and  there  remained  until 
he  attained  his  majority.  On  his  emigration 
to  the  United  States,  in  1844,  he  located  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  married,  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1 8 50,  to  Miss  Hannah  Blair,  who 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  January  13,  1826. 
In  1S53  they  came  to  Illinois  and  took  up 
their  residence  in  Ogle  county,  at  which 
time  the  present  thriving  city  of  Rochelle 
contained  but  two  log  cabins.  In  partner- 
ship with  a  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Thomps(jn 
purchased  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
land  in  Dement  township,  but  later  he  bought 
a  farm  on  section  31,  Lynnville  township, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  is  a  stone  mason 
by  trade  and  followed  it  for  many  years,  in 
connection  with  farming,  being  employed 
by  the  day  and  also  doing  some  contract 
work,  but  for  the  past  ten  years  he  has  lived 
retired. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  were  born 
nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters, 
namely:  Mary  and  William  both  died  in  in- 


fancy. Rabinah  J.  married  Henry  Blair, 
formerly  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  the  si.\ 
children  born  to  them,  four  are  now  living: 
P'rank,  who  married  Nettie  Sechler,  of  Iowa, 
and  has  two  children,  Elroy  and  an  infant; 
and  Clarence;  Addie;  and  Elmer.  Margaret, 
daughter  of  our  subject,  married  Isaac  C 
Teslor,  of  P'lagg  township.  Ogle  county,  and 
they  have  six  children:  C.  Edna,  Fred  G., 
Howard,  Benjamin,  Forest  and  Vance. 
Samuel  wedded  Mary  E.  Spaulding,  of 
Lynnville  tosvnship,  and  they  have  two 
children:  Lawrence  |.  and  Lizzie  A.  Lydia 
married  William  Burgess,  of  Lynnville 
township,  and  died  February  i,  1895.  Rob- 
ert W.  wedded  Mary  Lowey,  of  West  Lib- 
erty, Iowa,  and  has  two  children:  Robert 
and  Ruby.  Mary  E.  is  living  at  home  with 
her  father.  J.  William  married  Hattie 
Collins,  and  was  killed  on  the  railroad,  Jan- 
uary 3,  1897.  The  wife  and  mother  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  August  31,  1895.  She 
was  a  faithful  meniber  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  to  which  Mr.  Thompson 
also  belongs,  and  of  which  he  has  been  one 
of  the  trustees.  In  political  sentiment  he 
is  an  independent  Republican. 


CHARLES  H.  CANODi:,  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Mount  Morris  News, 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Penns)  K'ania, 
October  24,  1872,  and  is  the  son  of  .\rnold 
E.  and  Amelia  Jane  (Worley)  Canode,  the 
former  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
Maryland,  and  the  latter  of  l-"ranklin  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  as  follows:  James  B., 
who  married  Flora  L.  Stoner,  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  but  now  reside  in  Mount 
Morris;  Benjamin  F. ;  George  B.,  a  druggist 
of  Bushnell,  Illinois;  Victor  E-.  who  mar- 


AT- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


ried  Miss  Mae  McCoy,  of  Mount  Morris,  but 
now  make  their  home  in  Toledo,  Ohio; 
Frederick  B.,  who  married  Miss  Anna  Cole- 
man, of  Chicatijo,  where  they  make  their 
home;  Martin  Luther,  living  in  DeKalb, 
Illinois;  Jennie  M.,  who  married  Theodore 
F.  Haller,  editor  Forreston  Herald;  and 
Mary  E.,  at  home.  The  f^ood  mother  died 
December  13,  1S89,  but  the  father  is  still 
living  in  Mount  Morris,  which  has  been  his 
home  since  March  18,  1880,  when  he  moved 
with  his  family  from  their  Pennsylvania 
home.  By  trade  he  is  a  contractor  and 
builder,  but  is  now  living  retired.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which 
faith  his  wife  died.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
Mason  and  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  in  politics  a 
Democrat.  During  Governor  Altgeld's  ad- 
ministration he  served  as  an  officer  in  the 
state  penitentiary  at  Joliet. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  eight 
years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Mount  Morris.  In  the  public  schools  of  the 
place  he  received  his  primary  education,  at- 
tending the  same  until  he  was  fourteen 
years  old,  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Brethren 
Publishing  Company,  of  Mount  Morris.  He 
later  spent  six  years  in  various  newspaper 
and  job  offices  in  Chicago,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  operators  on  the  Thorne  type-set- 
ting machine,  in  which  he  became  an  expert. 
Returning  to  Mount  Morris  he  established 
the  Mount  Morris  News,  the  first  issue  ap- 
pearing under  date  May  19,  1896,  and  he 
has  since  been  sole  editor  and  proprietor. 
Under  his  management  the  paper  has  had  a 
successful  career,  and  has  been  doing  a  very 
satisfactory  business. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  1896,  Mr. 
Canode  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eva  M.  Lutz,  who  was  born  in  Melbourne, 


Iowa,  June  25,  1875,  and  daughter  of  John 
M.  and  Sarah  (Garber)  Lutz,  the  former  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of 
Illinois.  They  moved  from  State  Center, 
Iowa,  to  Mount  Morris  in  the  spring  of 
1894.  Religiously  they  are  members  of  the 
Brethren  church.  They  are  the  parents  of 
five  living  children,  the  others  being  Samuel 
G.,  assistant  general  freight  agent  of  the 
Iowa  Central  railroad,  who  married  Cora 
B.  Foreman,  Marshalltown,  Iowa;  Dr.  Ira 
D.,  a  dentist  of  Boone,  Iowa,  who  married 
Myrtle  G.  Praigg;  Amanda  G.,  and  Viola 
A.,  at   home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Canode  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  fraternally  he  is 
a  member  of  Samuel  H.  Davis  Lodge,  No. 
96,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Mount  Morris,  and  is  a 
charter  member  of  Mount  Morris  Camp, 
No.  4596,  M.  W.  A.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat. 


JOSEPH  F.  HARLEMAN.— To  a  stu- 
dent of  biography  there  is  nothing  more 
interesting  than  to  e.xamine  the  life  history 
of  a  self-made  man  and  to  detect  the  ele- 
ments of  character  which  have  enabled  him 
to  pass  on  the  highway  of  life  many  of  the 
companions  of  his  youth  who  at  the  outset 
of  their  careers  were  more  advantageously 
equipped  or  endowed.  The  subject  of  this 
review  has  through  his  own  exertions  at- 
tained an  honorable  position  and  marked 
prestige  among  the  representative  farmers 
of  Ogle  county,  and  is  to-day  the  owner  of 
a  large  amount  of  valuable  land  in  White 
Rock  township,  his  home  being  on  sec- 
tion 10. 

Mr.  Harleman  was  born  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  October  n, 
1839,   a  son  of  Joshua    D.    and    Elizabeth 


JOSEPH    F.   HARLEMAN. 


^^^s^ 


w 

^4 

v^X--"^- 

,«% 

V 

MRS.   ELIZABETH    HARLEMAN. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    KECORU. 


477 


(Fogelman)  Harleman,  also  natives  of  that 
state.  The  father  was  in  early  life  a  shoe- 
maker, but  for  several  years  followed  farm- 
ing in  Pennsylvania.  In  the  fall  of  1852, 
with  his  family  he  came  to  Illinois  by  team, 
onr  subject's  thirteenth  birthday  occurring 
while  en  route.  Locating  in  Marion  town- 
ship. Ogle  county,  the  father  purchased 
land  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
there  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years 
passed  in  the  town  of  Oregon,  where  his 
wife  died  in  June,  1878.  He  then  returned 
to  the  farm  and  there  passed  away  June  28, 
1898,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six 
years  and  seven  months.  He  was  a  quiet, 
unassuming  man,  giving  his  attention  almost 
wholly  to  the  operation  of  his  farm,  and  as 
he  met  with  excellent  success  in  life,  he  left 
a  good  estate.  In  early  life  he  was  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  but  later 
became  an  ardent  Republican.  In  his  fam- 
ily were  four  children,  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject is  the  eldest.  Mary  C.  is  now  the 
widow- of  Robert  Sheadle,  a  resident  of 
Rochelle.  Lucy  E.  was  the  wife  of  Charles 
Hart,  of  Page  county,  I(3wa,  where  she 
died.  David  S.  now  owns  the  old  home- 
stead  in  Marion  township. 

Mr.  Harleman,  of  this  review,  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm  and  received  a 
common  school  education.  On  starting 
out  in  life  for  himself  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing upon  rented  land  in  White  Rock  town- 
ship. He  was  married  December  29,  1864, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Doebler,  a  native  of  Ly- 
coming county,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Sarah  Doebler,  who  were 
also  born  in  that  state,  and  in  1857  re- 
moved with  their  family  to  Ogle  county,  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  White  Rock  township, 
where  the  father  has  since  made  his  home. 
For  the  past  three  years  he  has  resided  with 


our  subject.  The  mother  is  deceased;  her 
death  occurred  April  ir,  1888.  Mrs.  Harle- 
man is  the  second  in  ortler  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  seven  children,  the  others  being 
as  follows:  Jacob  wedded  Mary  lienner 
and  resided  in  White  Rock  township,  where 
he  died,  leaving  five  children,  Harry  A. ,  John 
B.,  Ella  M.  Myrtle  B.  and  Ina  E.  Mary 
S.  is  the  wife  of  Marvin  A.  Hayner,  (jf 
|anesville,  Wisconsin.  Ellen  C.  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Rice,  Paines  Point,  Ogle 
county.  Peter  B.  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  White  Rock  township.  |ohn  A.  is 
a  resident  of  Harlan  county,  Nebraska. 
Martin  L.  makes  his  home  m  Ida  county, 
Iowa.  As  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harleman  have 
no  children  of  their  own,  they  have  adopted 
Ina  P2.,  who  is  the  youngest  child  of  Jacob 
Doebler  and  was  only  a  year  old  at  the  time 
her  father's  death.  She  has  been  carefully 
reared  as  their  own  daughter  and  has  found 
a  pleasant  home  with  them. 

In  March,  following  their  marriage, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harleman  commenced  house- 
keeping upon  a  rented  farm  on  section  11, 
White  Rock  township,  comprising  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  which  he  later 
purchased.  After  living  there  for  ten  j'ears 
he  bought  an  adjoining  one  hundred  and 
sixt\'  acres  on  section  i  i,  and  made  that  his 
home  for  about  the  same  length  of  time. 
He  then  removed  to  his  present  farm  (ju 
section  10.  P"rom  time  to  time  as  his  linan- 
cial  resources  have  permitted,  he  has  bought 
more  land  and  now  owns  nine  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  sections  3,  9.10,  11  and  15, 
White  Rock  township,  ha\ing  all  of  the 
land  for  two  miles  and  a  half  south  of  the 
village  of  Holcomb.  He  has  always  given 
considerable  attention  to  the  feeding  of 
stock  and  usually  ships  from  three  to  five 
car  loads  of  cattle  annually.      He  now  rents 


478 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


all  of  his  land,  with  the  exception  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  himself 
operates.  Like  many  men  who  have  at- 
tained success,  he  started  out  with  nothing, 
buying  his  first  farm  without  a  dollar  of  his 
own  to  pay  for  it,  and  borrowing  five  hun- 
dred dollars  from  his  father  to  make  the 
first  payment.  His  success  is  all  attributa- 
ble to  his  industryand  the  good  judgment  he 
has  exercised  in  business  transactions.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Harleman  is  independent,  not 
being  bound  by  party  ties,  but  voting  for 
principle  rather  than  party. 


CHESTER  KEYS  WILLIAMS,  de- 
ceased, who  was  for  many  years  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  agricultural  and 
business  interests  of  Ogle  county,  was  born  in 
Brimfield,  Hampden  county,  Massachusetts, 
January  13,  1818,  and  was  descended  from 
good  old  colonial  stock.  The  first  of  the 
family  to  come  to  the  new  world  was 
Robert  Williams,  whose  early  home  was  in 
Norwich,  England.  He  settled  in  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts,  in  1638,  and  died  there  in 
1693,  at  an  advanced  age.  From  him  down 
to  our  subject  we  trace  the  ancestry  through 
the  following:  Samuel,  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, 1632-1698;  Samuel,  1655-1735;  Eb- 
enezer,  1690-175 5;  Rev.  Chester,  1702- 
1755;  Rev.  Nehemiah,  1749- 1800;  and 
Ebene;;er,  1777  -1856.  The  last  named, 
who  was  the  father  of  our  subject,  married 
Eli/a  Whitwell,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Whit- 
well,  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Chester  K.  Williams  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  town  and  also  the 
Monson  Academy,  and  when  his  education 
was  completed  clerked  in  his  father's  store 
until  twenty  years  of  age.  In  October, 
1838,  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law, 


Horatio  Wales,  he  came  to  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  and  in  Buffalo  township  they  pur- 
chased three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  bordering  on  Buffalo  Grove.  Until 
1 85  I  our  subject  gave  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of 
his  land  and  then  rented  the  farm  and  en- 
gaged in  clerking  in  Buffalo  Grove,  where 
he  also  served  as  postmaster  from  185  i  un- 
til 1853.  In  1855,  in  partnership  with  Drs. 
W.  W.  Burns  and  J.  H.  More,  heemliarked 
in  the  drug  business,  which  they  carried  on 
together  for  two  years,  but  from  1857  until 
1866,  our  subject  again  followed  farming. 
In  the  latter  year  he  sold  his  place  and 
removed  to  Polo,  where  he  continued  to 
make  his  home  until  called  from  this  life, 
December  8,   1891. 

Mr.  Williams  was  twice  married,  first  to 
Maria  P.  Anthony,  of  Avoca,  New  York,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children:  Lulu,  Kate, 
Anna  and  Lucy,  all  now  deceased.  Lucy 
married  Homer  B.  Hitt  and  to  them  was 
born  a  son,  Harold  Williams.  On  the  15th 
of  December,  1886,  Mr.  Williams  married 
Mrs.  Mary  McQuaid,  a  daughter  of  Charles 
Wheeler  Samis,  who  was  born  in  New 
York,  January  21,  1801.  Her  grandfather, 
Ebenezer  Samis,  was  a  sea-faring  man  who 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninet3'-three 
years.  He  was  married  in  1800,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  or  three  years,  to  Ruth 
Wheeler,  who  died  in  December,  1801,  and 
was  buried  in  Trinity  church  yard,  New 
York  city.  The  Wheelers  were  an  old 
f  nnily  on  Long  Island,  and  the  house  in 
which  they  lived  was  built  of  bricks  brought 
from  Holland.  Charles  W.  Samis,  the 
only  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Ruth  (Wheelerj 
Samis,  was  married  November  28,  1824, 
to  Polly  Bently,  of  Jamestown,  New  York, 
who  was  born  October  10,  1803,  and  died 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


479 


at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  She  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Her 
father,  Uriah  Bently,  was  a  pioneer  settler 
of  western  New  York,  where  he  became  an 
extensive  farmer  and  large  land  owner. 
Lakewood  and  Chantanqua  lake  are  on 
grounds  formerly  owned  by  him.  Much  of 
his  property  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the 
family.  He  was  born  in  Rensselaer  coun- 
ty. New  York,  and  was  married  December 
28,  1800,  to  Nancy  Sweet,  who  died  April 
21,  1844,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 
Mrs.  Williams  was  first  married  January  i, 
1S49,  to  William  McOuaid,  by  whom  she 
had  three  children,  as  follows:  Charles 
Samis,  a  practicing  physician,  married 
Emma  Kerr,  and  to  them  was  born  a  son, 
Charles  William.  The  Doctor  died  in 
Kansas.  Amelia  is  the  wife  of  George  W. 
McCollom.  William,  a  resident  of  Knob 
Knoster,  Missouri,  married  Delina  Andrews 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mary,  now 
the  wife  of  James  W.  Silke,  who  is  con- 
nected with  the  German  National  Bank,  of 
St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

An  upright  and  honorable  man  Mr.  Will- 
iams had  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all 
who  knew  him,  and  was  frequently  honored 
by  his  fellow  townsmen  with  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility.  Besides  serving 
as  postmaster  of  Buffalo  Grove,  he  was  su- 
pervisor in  1856  and  1857,  and  again  in 
1S63;  was  mayor  of  Polo  from  1881  until 
1 886,  and  president  of  the  Polo  Cemetery 
Association  in  1858.  He  was  president  of 
the  first  old  settlers'  meeting,  was  also  their 
first  treasurer,  and  after  the  reorganization 
of  the  society  in  1873,  served  as  its  presi- 
dent for  two  terms.  He  was  also  cor- 
responding secretary  of  the  Buffalo  Old  Set- 
tlers' Association,  and  in  1889  was  elected 
president  of  the  Ogle  County  Old   Settlers' 


Association.  Throughout  his  career  of  con- 
tinued and  far-reaching  usefulness  his  duties 
were  performed  with  the  greatest  care,  and 
during  a  long  life  his  personal  honor  and  in- 
tegrity were  without  blemish.  He  was  a 
man  of  deep  convictions,  was  generous  and 
was  never  afraid  to  stand  up  for  those 
princijiles  which  he  believed  to  be  rii;ht. 
In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  was  always 
found  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him, 
and  as  a  citizen  was  honored  and  respected 
by  the  entire  community. 


BARBI'IR  BROTHERS  &  CO.,  Bank- 
ers, Polo,  Illinois.  This  business  was 
founded  in  1843  by  Chanceford  R.  Barber 
and  Lemuel  N.  Barber,  brothers,  under  the 
firm  name  of  C.  &  L.  N.  ISarber.  They 
came  from  near  Brattleboro,  Vermont,  and 
established  a  store  at  Buffalo  Grove,  an 
early  settlement  in  Ogle  county  on  the  old 
stage  route,  in  which  was  carried  on  a 
general  business  in  merchandise  and  prod- 
uce of  all  kinds,  and  at  the  same  time 
meeting  the  requirements  of  the  locality  in 
the  banking  line  until  the  first  exclusive 
banking  institution  of  Ogle  county  was 
established  at  Polo  in  1855  by  Chanceford 
R.  Barber  and  others  under  the  firm  name 
of  Barber,  Frisbee  &  Co. 

In  1874  he  formed  a  co-partnership  for 
banking  with  Isaac  H.  Trumbauer,  under 
the  style  of  Barber  &  Trumbauer.  Mr. 
Barber  retained  his  interest  in  business,  and 
was  actively  identified  in  its  management 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
August  21,  1 8 79.  In  1 88 1  Mr.  Barber's 
widow.  Mrs.  Lucie  H.  Barber,  and  his  two 
sons,  Bryant  H.  and  Henry  D. ,  purchased 
Mr.  Trumbauer's  interest  and  became  sole 
proprietors   of   the   bank,    which    has   since 


480 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


been  conducted  under  the  name  of  Barber 
Brothers  &  Co. 

The  banking  house  of  Barber  Brothers 
&  Co.  conducts  exclusively  a  general  bank- 
ing business,  and  the  wealth  and  widely 
known  responsibility  of  its  proprietors  give 
it  standing  among  the  substantial  financial 
institutions  of  the  state. 

Henry  D.  Barber  was  born  in  Buffalo 
Grove,  Illinois,  March  3,  1855,  a  son  of 
Chanceford  R.  and  Lucie  H.  Barber,  and  died 
October  26,  1896.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Polo  and  at  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, receiving  his  business  training  in  his 
father's  bank  where  lie  began  as  a  clerk  when 
he  was  nineteen  years  old.  From  the  forma- 
tion of  the  present  firm  of  Barber  Broth- 
ers &  Co.  until  his  death  he  was  actively 
engaged  in  the  management  of  the  firm's 
business.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  education,  and  while 
his  exacting  duties  prevented  his  acceptance 
of  any  public  office  he  was  always  associated 
in  any  movement  calculated  to  develop  the 
highest  standard  of   citizenship. 

Mr.  Barber  was  a  man  of  singularly 
keen  judgment,  unimpeachable  integrity 
and  unusual  attainments.  His  opinion  was 
held  in  high  esteem  in  prominent  financial 
circles,  and  he  was  interested  in  many  suc- 
cessful enterprises  of  importance.  He  was 
a  deep  student  of  finance,  and  his  informa- 
tion along  these  lines  was  of  remarkable 
range — a  fact  which,  combined  with  the 
soundness  of  his  judgment,  caused  him 
to  be  consulted  as  an  authority  by  those 
with  whom  he  was  brought  into  contact  in 
the  conduct  of  affairs  that  took  him  into 
the  principal  business  centers  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Barber  was  married  February  21, 
1S84,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Mix,  daughter  of 
Henry  A.  Mix,  a  pioneer  and   business  man 


of  Oregon.  Mrs.  Barber  and  two  children, 
Lucie  R.  and  Mary  C,  survive  him.  A  son, 
Henry  M.,  was  born  at  Polo,  November  i, 
1885,  died  February  12,  1891. 

Bryant  H.  Barber,  of  Barber  Brothers 
&  Co.,  Bankers,  Polo,  Illinois,  is  the  son 
of  Chanceford  R.  and  Lucie  H.  Barber. 
He  has  lived  at  Polo  since  1856,  having 
been  educated  at  the  public  schools  of  that 
city.  His  practical  business  education  was 
received  from  his  father  with  whom  he  was 
associated  in  the  banking  and  other  busi- 
ness. On  the  death  of  his  father,  he,  with 
his  mother  and  brother,  Henry  D.  Bar- 
ber, became  the  successors  to  the  business 
founded  in  1843  by  Chanceford  R.  Barber, 
his  father,  and  he  is  now  actively  engaged 
in  the  conduct  of  this  business. 


STANLEY  R.  PIERCE,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 12,  Dement  township,  is  one  of  the 
young  and  enterprising  farmers,  stock  rais- 
ers and  breeders  of  Ogle  county,  who,  in  a 
few  brief  years,  has  made  a  reputation  of 
which  many  whose  years  are  far  more  may 
well  be  proud.  He  is  a  native  of  the  coun- 
ty, and  was  born  in  the  village  of  Creston, 
December  4,  1870.  His  father,  Blanford 
R.  Pierce,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Grotten, 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  March  11,  1833, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  a 
good  education.  For  some  years,  in  his 
young  manhood,  he  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, both  in  New  York  and  in  Illinois.  He 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  October  29,  1853,  with  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Potter,  a  native  of  that  county  and 
state.  By  this  union  were  four  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Of  the  sons.  Dr.  C.  A.  is 
a  veterinary  surgeon  residing  in  Elgin, 
where  he   is  engaged    in    the  practice  of  his 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


481 


profession.  Dr.  B.  A.  is  also  a  veterinary 
surgeon,  practicing  his  profession  in  the 
stock  yards  of  Chicago.  A.  J.  is  a  business 
man  of  Oketo,  Kansas.  Stanley  R.  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Of  the  daughters, 
Florence  L.  is  a  lady  of  superior  education, 
and  has  been  a  professional  teacher  for 
some  years.  She  is  now  connected  with 
the  college  at  Albert  Lee,  Minnesota.  Maud 
is  residing  with  her  parents  in  Chicago. 
Winifred  is  acting  as  housekeeper  for  her 
brother,  on  the  old  homestead.  Carrie  is 
also  at  home  with  her  parents,  and  is  now 
a  student  in  the  Chicago  University.  She 
was  also  a  teacher  for  two  years. 

In  1S56  Blanford  R.  Pierce  came  to 
Ogle  county  and  located  in  the  village  of 
Creston,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching, 
and  later  in  the  grain  and  stock  business. 
He  was  a  successful  dealer  in  grain  and 
stock,  and  continued  in  that  line  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  During  this  time  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  near  Creston,  and  in 
1877  moved  to  the  place  and  commenced 
the  life  of  a  farmer.  In  addition  to  general 
farming  he  engaged  in  feeding,  buying  and 
shipping  stock,  and  was  credited  with  being 
one  of  the  best  and  most  successful  busi- 
ness men  of  the  county.  As  his  means  in- 
creased, he  purchased  more  land,  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  four  farms  in  Ogle  county, 
all  of  which  are  well  improved. 

In  1884  Blanford  R.  Pierce  purchased 
four  head  of  pure  blood  polled  angus  cattle 
and  began  breeding  the  same.  He  kept  in- 
creasing the  herd  from  year  to  year,  and 
built  up  a  very  extensive  business  and  a 
reputation  for  the  purity  of  his  stock  second 
to  no  breeder  in  the  United  States.  In 
1894  he  turned  over  to  his  son  Stanley  a 
half  interest  in  the  business,  including  the 
management  of  his   farm    near  Creston   and 

51 


nio\ed  to  Chicago,  where  he  purchased  res- 
idence property,  and  is  now  living  a  retired 
life. 

Since  the  retirement  of  the  father,  our 
subject  has  continued  to  breed  and  deal  in 
pure  blood  polled  angus  cattle,  and  has  now 
the  largest  herd  of  such  cattle  in  the  state, 
if  not  in  the  entire  country,  having  fully  one 
hundred  head  of  the  purest  blood.  He  an- 
nually makes  an  exhibit  of  some  of  his  cat- 
tle in  the  stock  shows  and  fairs,  and  invari- 
ably carries  off  the  best  premiums.  In 
1893  he  made  an  exhibit  at  the  World's 
Fair,  Chicago,  and  in  the  great  Omaha 
Fair,  in  both  of  which  places  he  received 
the  highest  awards.  In  1S95  and  in  1896 
he  exhibited  his  cattle  at  the  cattle  show 
in  Madison  Square,  New  York,  competing 
with  the  best  herds  in  the  whole  country, 
and  there  received  the  highest  awards,  and 
more  premiums  and  money  than  any  other 
exhibitor. 

Mr.  Pierce  has  made  the  breeding  of 
polled  angus  cattle  a  study  from  his  youth 
up,  and  is  probably  as  well  posted  on  the 
breed  as  any  man  in  the  country.  His  suc- 
cess has  been  marvelous,  his  cattle  bringing 
the  highest  market  price  at  all  times.  In 
1898  he  sold  one  animal  for  the  munificent 
sum  of  one  thousand  dollars.  During  the 
years  that  have  passed,  including  those  in 
which  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness, some  three  hundred  and  fifty  fine,  pure 
blood  male  animals  have  been  sold  from  the 
herd,  and  probably  twice  as  many  heifers 
and  cows.  Together  with  the  fine  stock 
business,  Mr.  Pierce  makes  a  business  of 
feeding  about  one  hundred  head  of  steers 
of  common  stock  annually  for  the  market. 

Politically,  B.  R.  Pierce  and  his  sons 
are  all  stanch  Republicans,  and  give  their 
support   to   the   men    and  measures  of  that 


48: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


party.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  not  a 
pohtician,  and  gives  his  entire  time  to  the 
management  of  his  extensive  business  inter- 
ests, having  shown  superior  business  abihty 
which  has  given  him  a  reputation  which  is 
not  confined  alone  to  his  native  county  and 
state.  He  is  well  known  as  a  man  of  up- 
right character  and  worth,  and  has  doubt- 
less a  bright  future  before  him. 


HENRY  GUYER,  a  resident  of  Polo,  Illi- 
nois, whose  life  has  been  one  of  ac- 
tivity and  usefulness,  is  now  living  a  quiet 
and  retired  life,  apart  from  the  turmoil  and 
bustle  of  a  busy  world.  He  was  born  in 
Dauphin  count}',  Pennsylvania,  in  May, 
1830.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Magda- 
line  (Tohlman)  Guyer.  The  former  was 
born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  where  he 
learned  the  miller's  trade,  and  came  to 
America  in  1S2S,  settling  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  plied  his  trade,  until  coming  west. 
His  death  occurred  in  October,  1854,  at 
the  age  of  si.'ity-five  years,  and  that  of  his 
wife  in  18O8.  Of  their  ten  children,  six 
are  still  living,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  be- 
ing seventh  in  order  of  birth.  Two  of  the 
family  are  residents  of  Stephenson  county, 
Illinois,  one  of  Carroll  county,  in  the  same 
state,  one  of  Iowa,  and  another  of  Kansas. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
a  miller,  and  with  a  fellow-workman,  watched 
a  portion  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo  from  the 
roof  of  a  mill,  until  a  cannon  ball  pierced 
the  structure,  causing  them  to  retire. 

When  Henry  Guyer  was  a  boy  of  fifteen 
years,  he  came  west  with  his  parents,  on 
the  steamer  "Bell  of  the  West,"  which 
they  boarded  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania. 
When  about  seventy-five  miles  below  Cin- 
cinnati,   Ohio,    the    steamer   took    fire    and 


was  entirely  destroyed.  One  hundred  and 
twenty  lives  were  lost,  also  the  boat's 
freight,  including  household  goods  belong- 
ing to  passengers.  Our  subject  jumped 
into  a  small  boat,  followed  by  his  parents 
and  the  rest  of  the  family,  some  of  whom 
fell  into  the  water,  but  were  quickly  drawn 
up  into  the  boat.  With  nothing  but  a 
board  for  a  paddle,  our  subject  succeeded 
in  landing  the  family,  and  immediately  re- 
turned to  the  scene  of  the  disaster  and 
rescued  four  girls.  Blessing  by  name,  who 
afterwards  became  warm  friends  of  the  fam- 
ily, frequently  interchanging  visits.  A 
larger  boat  carried  the  passengers  to  St. 
Louis  without  remuneration,  and  from  there 
they  were  carried  to  Savanna,  Illinois,  their 
transportation  being  furnished  by  a  number 
of  kind-hearted  citizens  of  St.  Louis. 

On  reaching  Savanna,  the  Guyer  family 
went  directly  to  Haldane,  Ogle  county, 
where,  for  a  time,  they  suffered  severely, 
owing  to  their  losses.  His  father  struggled 
along  and  finally  obtained  work,  which, 
after  a  time,  enabled  him  to  purchase  a 
farm  of  forty  acres,  on  which  he  lived  until 
his  death,  in  1854.  While  in  Haldane  our 
subject  learned  blacksmithing,  and  shortly 
afterwards  opened  a  shop  in  Iirookville. 
Eight  years  later  he  moved  to  Pine  Creek 
township  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  two 
and  a  half  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1S60 
moved  to  Polo,  Illinois,  continuing  in  the 
same  line  of  business  until  1874,  when  he 
retired,  and  has  since  lived  quietly  on  a 
very  comfortable  income,  the  results  of  his 
frugality  and  good  management. 

On  the  nth  of  January,  1S55,  Mr.  Guy- 
er was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Barbara 
Lehmen,  a  native  of  Blair  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  youngest  of  eight  children  of 
John  and  Mary  (Secrist)  Lehmen,  who  came 


THE    BIOGKAPIIICAL    RECORD. 


4«3 


west  on  the  ist  of  October,  1S52,  the  father 
purchasing  two  farms  in  Pine  Creek  town- 
ship. His  death  occurred  in  1875,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guyer  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  The 
eldest,  John  C. ,  is  a  commercial  traveler 
and  makes  his  home  in  Freeport,  Illinois. 
He  married  Dollie  Witters,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Ruby  and  Ray.  The  second 
child,  Sevilla,  married  M.  T.  Myers,  of 
Denver,  Colorado,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, Clarence,  Guy  and  Odesia.  The  third 
child  of  our  subject,  Harry  L. ,  is  a  travel- 
ing salesman,  whose  wife  is  deceased,  and 
he  makes  his  home  with  his  parents.  Addie 
Ann  married  Charles  Carpenter,  an  attorney 
of  Rome,  Georgia,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Ralph.  Will  C.  is  in  the  grocery  business 
at  Fort  Dodge,    Iowa. 

In  politics  Mr.  Guyer  is  a  Republican, 
and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all  affairs  of 
state.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  and  his  genial  manner  and 
courtesy,  and  his  high  personal  worth,  have 
won  for  him  a  circle  of  friends  that  is  lini- 
iied  only  by  his  circle  of  acquaintances. 


AEFRED  MALONE,  who  resides  on 
section  17,  Leaf  River  township,  is  a 
well  known  citizen  of  the  county,  owning 
and  operating  a  tine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  a  part  of  which  lies  in 
section  18.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county, 
and  was  born  March  8,  1851.  His  father, 
James  Malone,  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  in  March,  18 17,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  In  1843  he  came 
to  Ogle  county  and  located  in  Pine  Creek 
township,  where  he  entered  government 
land  and  opened  up  a  farm.     As  his  means 


increased  he  added  to  his  landed  possessions 
in  that  township,  and  there  resided  for  thir- 
teen years.  He  was  married  in  this  county, 
to  Miss  Ellen  Patterson,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
where  seven  years  of  her  life  were  spent, 
and  then  emigrated  to  Maryland  with  her 
parents,  where  she  received  her  education. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  John  Patterson,  who 
came  from  Maryland  to  Ogle  county  in  1843. 

In  1856  James  Malone  bought  the  farm 
and  located  where  our  subject  now  resides, 
a  farm  which  was  opened  in  1836  by  Morti- 
mer Hunt,  who  purchased  the  land  ham  the 
government.  Four  years  later,  Mr.  Malone 
moved  to  a  farm  near  Leaf  River,  which 
was  pre-empted  by  his  wife's  father,  and 
there  he  spent  the  last  jears  of  his  life,  dy- 
ing December  25,  1S88.  His  wife  survived 
him  about  ten  years,  dying  December  3, 
1898.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, the  others,  besides  our  subject,  being 
Kate,  wife  of  James  Wilson,  of  Leaf  River 
township,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Marcus  Hess, 
of  the  same  township.  James  Malone  was 
a  man  of  some  prominence,  serving  in  sev- 
eral offices  of  trust  and  lionor,  inchiding 
assessor  and  justice  of  the  peace,  serving  in 
the  latter  office  a  number  of  years. 

Alfred  Malone  grew  to  manhood  in  Leaf 
River  township,  and  when  not  in  school, 
was  assisting  his  father  in  farm  work.  His 
primary  education  was  received  in  the  Lights- 
ville  school,  and  at  Rock  River  Seminary, 
Mt.  Morris,  he  completed  his  school  life. 
After  discontinuing  his  studies  in  school,  he 
engaged  in  teaching  in  connection  with 
farming,  teaching  in  all  about  seven  winter 
terms,  his  summers  being  taken  up  with 
work  on  the  farm. 

On  the  1 2th  of  September,  1878,  Mr. 
Malone  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Mt.  Mor- 
ris township,  with  Miss  Belle  Cornell,  a  na- 


484 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


tive  of  Ogle  county,  and  daughter  of  David 
and  Elizabeth  (Hopwood)  Cornell,  of  Mary- 
land, who  came  to  Illinois  in  1843,  being 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Ogle  county 
from  the  state  of  New  York.  By  this  union 
six  children  have  been  born — Kate,  James, 
Roy,  Nora,  Florence  and  Mamie,  all  of 
whom  are  yet  living  save  Roy,  who  died 
January  26,   1899. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Malone  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  the  farm  where  they  reside, 
the  farm  being  rented  for  several  years. 
He  first  purchased  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres  of  the  home  place,  and  later  added 
eighty  acres,  giving  him  a  valuable  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  which  he  has 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Com- 
mencing life  as  he  did  with  but  little  means 
and  on  a  rented  farm,  he  has  certainly  met 
with  well-merited  success,  which  is  due  to 
his  own  industry,  assisted  by  his  estimable 
wife.  His  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  Leaf 
River  township,  and  he  is  classed  among 
the  most  substantial  farmers  of  the  county, 
one  who  keeps  fully  up  with  the  times. 

Politically  Mr.  Malone  is  a  Democrat  on 
national  issues,  believing  firmly  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  party,  but  on  local  issues  he 
votes  independently,  recognizing  the  man 
and  not  the  party  name  he  wears.  He  was 
elected  and  served  as  road  commissioner  si.x 
years,  for  five  years  was  township  collector, 
and  in  1889  was  elected  supervisor  from  his 
township,  and  being  re-elected,  served  eight 
consecutive  years,  during  which  time  he 
was  on  a  number  of  important  committees 
and  made  a  very  useful  member.  His  influ- 
ence has  ever  been  e.xerted  in  favor  of  good 
schools,  and  he  has  given  of  his  time  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  serving  both 
as  president  and  clerk  of  his  district.  A 
lifelong   resident   of  the   county,    he   has    a 


large  acquaintance  in  all  parts  of  it,  and 
wherever  known  he  is  held  in  the  highest 
esteem. 


GEORGE  W.  SWAN,  a  well  known 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Rockvale 
township,  was  born  in  Chemung  county. 
New  York,  in  1836,  and  came  to  Ogle  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  with  his  parents  two  years 
later.  He  is  the  son  of  Henry  \V.  and 
Rachel  (Westlake)  Swan,  the  former  born 
in  Chemung  county.  New  York,  in  1799, 
and  the  latter  in  Newburg,  Orange  county, 
New  York,  September  16,  1812.  While 
residing  in  the  east,  Henry  Swan  was  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business,  and  on 
coming  west  he  first  engaged  in  the  same 
line  of  business.  Later  he  ran  a  grist  mill 
and  distillery,  in  which  lines  he  was  quite 
successful.  He  built  the  first  log  house  in 
Byron  township,  and  was  well  known  as  an 
enterprising  citizen  of  the  county.  He  died 
while  yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  October  22, 
1854.  His  wife  survived  him  many  years, 
dying  May  9,  1879.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  (i)  Benjamin  died 
in  infancy.  (2)  George  W.  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  (3)  Annie  Floyd  married 
Henry  Harding  Patrick,  and  they  had  five 
children,  as  follows:  Maurice  Lee,  born  Sep- 
tember 26,  1863,  died  August  22,  1889. 
Carrie  L. ,  born  January  4,  1865,  married 
William  W.  Light,  June  16,  1887.  Susan 
R.,  born  December  11,  1870,  married  Will- 
iam VanArsdale,  August  4,  1892.  Henry 
Swan,  born  September  6,  1872,  died  April 
3,  1884.  Floyd  Harding,  born  January  15, 
1877.  (4)  Mary  died  when  three  years  of 
age  from  the  effects  of  a  scald.  (5)  Louise, 
born  December  14,  1845,  was  married  June 
16,   (864,  to  James  M.  Babcock,  then  a  first 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    KECOKD. 


485 


lieutenant  in  the  federal  army.  (6)  Morris 
A.,  a  farmer  of  Bridgewater,  Dakota,  was 
born  March  22,  1S4S.  He  married  Miss 
Fanny  Kepner,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, namely:  Charles  James,  born  January 
27,  1875;  Floyd  A. ,  February  22,  i879;and 
Mary  Rachel,  April  25,  1887.  (7)  Charles 
F.,  born  October  5,  1852,  is  a  wealthy  phy- 
sician and  banker  in  South  Chicaj^'o,  where 
he  married  Huldah  Austerman.  They  have 
one  child  living,  Nellie  K. ,  and  two  deceased, 
Louise  and  Charles  Henry. 

When  Henry  W.  Swan  first  came  west 
the  country  was  in  its  primitive  state.  On 
the  establishment  of  the  land  office  at  Dix- 
on, his  brother,  James  Swan,  was  appointed 
receiver,  and  he  acted  as  his  deputy.  A 
band  of  outlaws  known  as  the  "prairie 
bandits"  soon  infested  the  country,  giving 
honest  people  much  uneasiness.  Gold  was 
required  by  the  government  in  payment  for 
land,  and  from  time  to  time  it  was  sent  by 
stage  to  La  Salle,  and  from  thence  to  St. 
Louis  by  boat.  On  one  occasion  the  stage 
was  held  up  by  the  bandits  and  considerable 
money  was  taken.  There  were  very  few 
roads  laid  out,  and  our  subject  remembers 
well,  when  a  mere  boy,  in  going  to  Free- 
port  over  the  almost  trackless  prairie,  there 
being  no  roads  until  the  opening  of  the  Yel- 
low creek  brewery,  three  miles  from  the 
village  as  it  then  was.  The  country  th£»n 
abounded  in  game  of  all  kind. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the 
subscription  schools  of  Ogle  county  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  in  1857  took 
a  commercial  course  at  Rockford.  He  was 
united  in  marriage,  January  11,  1S60,  with 
Miss  Ida  Louise  Read,  born  October  23, 
i84i,and  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Rhoda 
(Dewey)  Read,  the  former  born  April  20, 
1806,  in  Cornish,  New  Hampshire,  and  the 


latter  September  30,  1803,  in  O.xford,  New 
Hampshire.  They  were  married  March 
26,  1837,  and  were  early  settlers  of  Ogle 
county.  Hiram  Read  was  the  son  of  David 
and  Hannah  (Gerrold)  Read,  natives  of 
Cornish,  New  Hampshire,  who  were  blessed 
with  three  children — |acob,  Philip  and 
Hiram.  Mrs.  Read  was  the  daughter  of 
Abel  and  Rhoda  (King)  Dewey,  and  was  one 
of  eleven  children,  namely;  Lucy,  Joanna, 
Timothy,  Rhoda,  Clara.  Mary,  Martha, 
Henry,  Almisee  and  two  wIkj  died  in  in- 
fancy. Her  father  died  June  29,  1S42,  and 
her  mother.  May  25,  1853.  The  great- 
grandfathers of  Mrs.  Swan  and  Admiral 
Dewey  were  brothers. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Swan,  with 
Hiram  Read,  purchased  land  in  Kockvale 
township,  and  opened  up  a  farm.  In  the 
years  that  have  passed,  he  has  sown  and 
reaped,  and  success  has  in  a  measure 
crowned  his  efforts.  Five  children  came  to 
bless  his  union  with  Miss  Kead.  Stanley 
H.,  born  July  12,  1862,  died  April  25, 
1865.  Ardelle  Louise,  born  August  12, 
1864,  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Canode,  and 
they  reside  in  Marion  township.  They  have 
one  child,  Eva  L.,  born  August  7,  1S95. 
Lua  Lillian  died  when  three  years  of  age. 
Annie  M.,  born  January  19,  1865,  married 
Thomas  Morton,  December  15,  1886,  and 
they  have  four  children,  as  follows:  George 
A.,  born  September  10,  1887;  Harry  T. , 
February  4,  1890;  Helen  I.,  August  15, 
1892;  and  Nellie  M.,  March  20,  1895.  Mis. 
Morton  died  February  3,  1898.  Henry  W., 
born  January  22,  1869,  is  residing  at  home 
and  has  charge  of  the  home  farm.  Mary 
R.,  born  November  22,  1875,  married  Ezra 
T.  Stoner,  March  15,  1899. 

Recognizing  the  advantages  of  a  good 
education,  Mr.  Swan  has,  in  addition  to  the 


486 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


common-school  course,  given  all  his  chil- 
dren the  benefit  of  a  high-school  education 
in  Oregon.  Mary  attended  the  Wells  Train- 
ing School,  and  a  preparatory  school  for 
teachers  at  Oregon,  and  also  took  her 
teacher's  examination  at  that  place.  Until 
her  marriage,  she  was  a  successful  teacher 
in  the  county. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Swan  is  a  Republican, 
and  although  his  ambitions  do  not  run  along 
the  line  of  office  holding,  he  has  served  for 
several  years  as  school  director,  with  great 
benefit  to  the  community.  His  farm,  on 
section  25,  Rockvale  township,  is  in  an  ex- 
cellent state  of  cultivation,  the  natural  re- 
sult of  years  of  good  management  and  sound 
judgment.  He  and  his  wife  are  genial  and 
hospitable  people,  and  they  have  many 
friends  in  the  county. 


SAMUEL  GIBSON,  whose  home  is  on 
section  20,  White  Rock  township,  is  a 
representative  of  the  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing interests  of  Ogle  county  and  is  one  of 
the  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  his 
community.  He  was  born  in  Kirkcudbright- 
shire, Scotland,  January  4,  1828,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  and  Agnes  (Henry)  Gibson, 
who  were  of  pure  Scotch  ancestry  and  repre- 
sentatives of  families  who  had  for  genera- 
tions made  their  home  in  that  locality.  The 
father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
spent  his  entire  life  there.  His  children 
were  James,  William,  Thomas,  Robert,  Al- 
exander, John,  Elizabeth,  Mary  Ann,  Ag- 
nes and  Jane. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  our  subject 
grew  to  manhood  and  received  a  common 
school  education  at  Bintle  high  school.  On 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  he  engaged 
in  farming  and    contract  work  on    county 


contracts.  He  was  married  in  Scotland,  in 
September,  1848,  to  Miss  Margaret  Adam- 
son,  a  daughter  of  James  Adamson.  Our 
subject  had  a  brother,  John  Gibson,  who 
came  to  America  in  1845,  and  located  in 
Pine  Rock  township.  Ogle  county,  Illinois. 
Returning  to  Scotland  on  a  visit  in  18C0, 
he  persuaded  our  subject  to  accompany  him 
on  the  return  trip.  The  latter  had  already 
decided  to  emigrate  to  America,  and  hasten- 
ing his  preparations  for  departure,  they 
crossed  the  Atlantic  together  and  proceeded 
at  once  to  Ogle  county.  Here  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  20,  White  Rock  township,  and  also 
the  stock,  crops,  implements,  etc.,  paying 
for  the  same  fifty-five  hundred  dollars.  Al- 
though he  went  in  debt  at  that  time  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  amount,  he  has  been  so 
successful  that  he  is  now  owner  of  four 
hundred  and  ten  acres  of  highly  improved 
and  well  cultivated  land.  He  is  still  act- 
ively engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising, 
feeding  a  number  of  cattle  each  season,  and 
has  made  horse  breeding  an  important 
branch  of  his  business.  He  believes  in  the 
Clydesdale  breed,  from  the  fact  that  weight 
and  quality  combined  make  them  ready 
sellers,  they  are  more  intelligent,  more  dur- 
able, more  courageons  and  better  action  and 
color  than  the  other  heavy  draft  breeds. 
He  has  followed  a  wise  and  judicious  sys- 
tem of  mixed  farming,  dividing  the  risks  and 
profits  among  varied  interests  rather  than 
staking  all  in  one  enterprise. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gibson  were  born 
eleven  children,  six  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  six  are  now  living,  namely: 
Jane,  wife  of  Harvey  Haselton,  of  Carroll 
county,  Iowa;  Agnes,  wife  of  William 
Prile,  of  Carroll  county,  Iowa;  John,  who  is 
still    on  the    home   farm   and    operates  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


487 


same  in  connection  with  his  brother  Robert; 
James,  a  farmer  of  Winnebago  county, 
lUinois;  and  Samuel,  a  farmer  of  White 
Rock  township.  Those  deceased  are  Will- 
iam, who  married  and  removed  to  Colorado 
but  finally  returned  to  Ogle  county,  where 
he  died  in  1896,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven 
years;  Isabella,  who  died  in  early  woman- 
hood; Mary  Ann,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years,  and  Annie,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years.  One  baby  boy  who  died  in 
infancy.  The  wife  and  mother  was  called 
to  her  final  rest  October  8,   1881. 

Since  becoming  an  American  citizen, 
Mr.  Gibson  has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Republican  principles,  but  has  never 
sought  political  preferment,  desiring  rather 
to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to 
his  business  interests.  With  the  exception 
of  school  trustee,  he  has  declined  all  offices. 
In  early  life  he  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  he  is  still  a  consistent  and 
faithful  member.  He  is  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  respected  citizens  of  his  county, 
and  the  keynote  to  prosperity  is  industry, 
economy  and  perseverance,  for  he  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  empty-handed  and 
the  success  that  he  has  achieved  is  due  en- 
tirely to  his  own  well-directed  efforts. 


CHESTER  C.  HARRINGTON,  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Lee  county,  Illi- 
nois, but  who  for  years  was  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Ogle  county,  was  born  August  22, 
18 1 3,  at  Sandy  Hill,  on  the  Hudson,  New 
York,  and  is  the  son  of  Rev.  E.  Harrington, 
a  Baptist  minister,  who  for  a  number  of 
years  was  located  in  Cayuga  county.  New 
York,  but  who  came  west  in  1840,  and  soon 
after  located  in  Burlington,  Racine  county, 
Wisconsin.      His    death   occurred   in    1842, 


while  his  good  wife  preceded  him  to  her 
heavenly  home  about  two  years.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Chester  C.  Harrington  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Cayuga  county,  New  York, 
and  in  his  youth  studied  surveying,  and  for 
a  few  years  before  coming  west  followed  the 
profession  of  surveying  in  the  east.  He 
also  for  a  time  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  state.  He  came  to 
Chicago  in  1834,  and  in  1837  came  to  what 
was  then  Ogle  county,  but  is  now  a  part  of 
Lee  county,  just  across  the  river  from  Grand 
Detour.  On  first  coming  to  the  county  he 
followed  his  profession  as  a  surveyor  for  a 
time,  and  engaged  in  other  work.  It  was, 
however,  but  a  short  time  before  he  pur- 
chased a  half  section  of  land  on  which  was 
a  small  log  cabin,  but  on  which  no  other 
improvements  had  been  made.  The  lum- 
ber for  his  house  he  hauled  from  Chicago. 
On  that  place  he  has  since  continued  to  live 
with  the  exception  of  fourteen  years  spent 
in  Grand  Detour,  living  retired. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1844,  Mr. 
Harrington  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Zarina  Chamberlin,  a  native  of  Gene- 
see county.  New  York,  born  December  5, 
1820,  and  daughter  of  Cyrus  and  l^luma 
(Burton)  Chamberlin,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Vermont,  but  who  removed  to 
New  York  at  an  early  day.  Cyrus  Ciiam- 
berlin  followed  farming  in  the  east,  but  l)e- 
licving  the  prairies  of  the  west  afforded  bet- 
ter opportunities  for  the  enterprising  man, 
he  came  west,  landing  in  Grand  Detour, 
July  4,  1835.  He  at  once  took  up  nine 
hundred  acres  of  land  across  the  river  in 
Lee  county  and  then  returned  east.  In 
September,  1835,  he  was  again  back  in  this 
region.      Soon  after  his  return  to  this  local- 


48  S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


ity  he  established  a  saw  mill  which  he  oper- 
ated in  connection  with  his  farm  for  many 
years.  He  finally  moved  to  the  village  of 
Grand  Detour,  where  he  lived  retired  until 
his  death,  February  22,  18S1,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-one  years.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
intellectual  and  executive  ability,  and  en- 
joyed the  love  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle 
of  friends.  Two  brothers  of  his  wife,  Oliver 
and  Thomas  Burton,  served  in  the  war  of 
1S12,  both  attaining  the  rank  of  colonel. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrington  four  chil- 
dren were  born.  Ingalls  I.  and  Inez  I.  were 
twins.  The  former  died  in  infancy,  but  the 
latter  is  yet  living  and  makes  her  home  in 
Grand  Detour.  She  is  a  cultured  and  re- 
fined lady,  with  many  friends  wherever 
known.  Chester  Eugene  is  operating  the 
old  home  farm  in  Lee  county.  Cyrus  C. 
died  in  1S81,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years. 

Mr.  Harrington  now  makes  his  home 
with  his  son  Chester  on  the  old  homestead, 
and,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  is  in 
full  possession  of  all  his  mental  faculties. 
He  has  been  a  very  active  nvan  in  the 
past,  and  quite  prominent  in  the  communi- 
ties in  which  he  has  made  his  home.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He  was 
always  an  anti-slavery  man,  and  in  the  days 
of  slavery  was  one  of  the  conductors  on  the 
underground  railroad  and  assisted  in  the 
escape  of  more  than  one  slave.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  served  as  supervisor  of 
Nachusa  township,  Lee  county.  He  has 
also  been  assessor,  collector  and  school  di- 
rector, and  served  in  other  minor  official 
positions.  He  was  always  a  strong  tem- 
perance man,  and  was  a  charter  member  of 
the  first  temperance  society  formed  in  this 
section,  and  for  years  was  its  secretary. 
During   the  Civil  war  he  Vv'as   a   member  of 


the  Union  League.  In  religious  belief  he 
is  a  Baptist.  For  sixty-one  years  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  vicmity  where  he  now 
lives,  and  he  is  well  known  throughout  Lee 
and  Ogle  counties  as  a  man  of  strict  honor 
and  integrity,  and  his  friends  are  numerous 
in  both  counties. 


JOHN  C.  PHELPS,  deceased,  for  years 
occupied  an  enviable  position  among 
the  business  men  of  Rochelle.  He  was 
born  in  Lockport,  Niagara  county,  New 
York,  March  25,  1830,  and  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  that  place.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  his  native  state  and  acquired  a 
good  business  training.  In  1855  became 
to  Illinois,  located  in  Freeport,  Stephenson 
county,  and  there  engaged  in  business,  in 
which  he  continued  for  some  years.  From 
Freeport,  he  removed  to  Rochelle,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  general  merchandise  business, 
and  later  became  a  grain  dealer.  He  also 
started  the  First  National  Bank  of  Rochelle, 
and  conducted  it  for  one  year,  and  then 
sold  to  other  parties.  Subsequently  he  pur- 
chased and  sold  bankrupt  stock  of  goods, 
general  merchandise  of  every  description. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1855,  Mr. 
Phelps  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  I. 
Frances  Winchester,  of  Freeport,  Illinois, 
formerly  of  Jersey  Shore,  Pennsylvania,  who 
preceded  him  to  Freeport  one  month.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Nancy  (Fuller) 
Winchester,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  parents  of  thirteen 
children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity — 
Stephen,  Edmund,  Elijah,  William,  Sarah, 
Mary,  Alvira  and  I.  Frances.  The  father, 
who  was  born  in  1789,  died  in  1849,  and 
his  wife  soon  afterwards.  He  was  also  a 
general  merchant. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


489 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phelps  four  children 
were  born,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Josephine  I.  married  Charles  Hurd,  of  Ro- 
chelle,  by  whom  she  had  four  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters — Pauline  F.  G.  H., 
Helen  H.,  Charles  and  Arthur  H.  The 
eldest  son,  Arthur  Alcott,  married  Grace  M. 
Countryman,  youngest  daughter  of  Harvey 
Countryman,  of  Rochelle,  and  they  have 
two  sons — Harvey  John  and  Raymond  Ar- 
thur. He  is  doing  a  successful  business  in 
the  hardware  line,  and  also  has  an  interest 
in  the  Ogle  County  Telephone  Company,  of 
Rochelle,  of  which  he  is  general  manager. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Star  Lodge, 
No.  169,  K.  P.,  of  Rochelle,  and  of  Willow 
Camp,  No.  44,  M.  W.  A.  The  third  son, 
John  Clement,  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years. 

John  C.  Phelps  died  at  his  home  in 
Rochelle,  December  16,  1896,  and  his  re- 
mains were  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  of 
that  city.  He  left  not  only  a  loving  wife 
and  family  to  mourn  his  loss,  but  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  He 
was  a  good  man  and  tried  to  live  right  be- 
fore his  fellowmen. 


GEORGE  WATERBURY,  a  substantial 
farmer  residing  on  section  10,  Buffalo 
township,  has  been  acti\ely  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising  in  Ogle  county  a 
period  of  more  than  half  a  century,  having 
become  a  citizen  of  the  county  in  October, 
1847.  He  was  born  in  Beaver  Kill,  Sulli- 
van county.  New  York,  November  23,  1834. 
The  family  are  of  English  ancestry  and 
originally  settled  in  Connecticut,  from  which 
state  Daniel  Waterbury,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  emigrated  in  an  early  day  to 
New  York,  where  David  S.  Waterbury,  the 
father,  was  born.      The  latter  grew  to  man- 


hood  in  his  native  state  and  there  married 
MissEmcline  Huntley,  a  native  of  Delaware 
county.  New  York,  and  daughter  of  Squire 
Huntley,  of  that  county. 

Daniel  S.  Waterbury,  by  trade,  was  a 
tanner  and  currier,  which  occupation  he 
followed  in  early  life.  He  also  learned  the 
carpenter  trade,  and  was  later  a  contractor 
on  the  Erie  canal.  In  1.S47  he  came  to 
Ogle  county,  coming  by  way  of  the  Erie 
canal  and  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  and  from 
thence  by  teani  to  this  county.  He  came 
here  by  the  advice  of  some  friends  who  had 
located  here,  and  who  had  great  confidence 
in  the  future  of  the  county  and  state.  On 
his  arri\al  he  made  a  permanent  settlement 
in  Buffalo  township,  entering  a  tract  of 
land,  a  portion  of  which  is  comprised  in  the 
farm  of  our  subject.  The  whole  country 
was  then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness, 
settlers  being  few  and  far  between.  From 
the  adjacent  timber  he  secured  his  sleepers 
and  joists,  and  from  Chicago  hauled  the 
siding  for  his  house,  which  was  raised  No- 
vember 8,  1S47.  It  was  24  .\  34  feet,  and 
a  one-story  structure.  The  farm  he  at  once 
commenced  to  improve,  and  in  due  time 
had  a  valuable  and  well  improved  place. 
On  that  farm  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  soon  after  the  commencement  of 
the  Civil  war.  His  wife  survived  him  many 
years,  passing  away  in  May,   1895. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  this 
county  a  lad  of  thirteen  years,  and  assisted 
his  father  in  opening  up  the  farm.  His 
educational  advantages  were  not  of  the  best, 
and  his  school  life  was  limited.  Wxih  his 
parents  he  remained  until  grown  to  man- 
hood, when  he  commenced  life  for  himself, 
having  purchased  eighty  acres  of  his  present 
farm,  which  he  set  about  improving.  He 
also  became   interested   in  a  threshing  ma- 


490 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


chine  about  that  time,  and  in  the  years  that 
have  followed  has  been  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  threshing  grain.  He  now  owns  an 
interest  in  a  steam  thresher,  an<J  was  one  of 
the  first  to  use  one  in  this  section  of  the 
state. 

In  1859  Mr.  Waterbury  went  to  Michi- 
gan, and  in  Sanilac  county  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Anna  M.  Oldfield,  a  na- 
tive of  England,  and  daughter  of  Anthony 
Oldfield,  who  left  England  to  make  a  home 
for  himself  and  family  in  the  United  States. 
He  first  located  in  Cincinnati,  where  he 
was  later  joined  by  his  wife  and  family. 
He  subsequently  removed  to  Michigan, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness. While  residing  in  Cincinnati  Mrs. 
Waterbury  received  the  greater  part  of  her 
education.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waterbury 
three  children  were  born.  David  E.  is 
married  and  now  resides  in  Rockford,  Illi- 
nois. Hattie  E.  is  the  wife  of  Robert  C. 
Trollope,  who  is  operating  the  Waterbury 
homestead.  Henry  R.  is  married  and  lives 
in  Polo.  David  E.  has  two  children  — 
Ethel  A.  and  Kenneth.  Mrs.  Trollope  has 
three  children — Anna  E.,  Charles  R.  and 
Elwin  B.  Henry  R.  has  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, Marian. 

After    their     marriage     Mr.     and     Mrs. 


Waterbury  commenced  their  domestic  life 
on  the  farm  which  he  had  already  com- 
menced to  improve,  and  there  their  three 
children  were  born.  In  his  farming  opera- 
tions he  has  met  with  fair  success,  and  has 
now  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Buffalo  town- 
ship, a  township  noted  for  its  good  farms. 
For  some  time  Mrs.  Waterbury  was  an  in- 
valid, and  was  taken  by  her  husband  to  Bat- 
tle Creek,  Michigan,  for  medical  treatment. 
Not  receiving  the  help  expected  from  the 
noted  institution  at  that  place,  with  the 
hope  that  a  visit  among  her  old  friends  and 
relatives  in  Sanilac  county  might  do  her 
good,  she  was  taken  there,  but  it  was  with- 
out avail.  The  dread  disease  had  taken 
too  strong  a  hold,  and  she  succumbed  to 
the  inevitable,  dying  at  her  old  home  where 
her  marriage  occurred,  and  from  which  she 
left  a  happy  bride. 

Politically  Mr.  Waterbury  is  an  inde- 
pendent, though  usually  supporting  the  Re- 
publican ticket.  He  is  in  thorough  sympa- 
thy with  every  movement  for  the  better- 
ment of  humanity  and  in  the  development 
of  his  adopted  county  he  has  borne  his  part. 
His  residence  here  of  fifty-two  years  has 
brought  him  in  contact  with  many  of  the 
best  people  of  the  county,  and  wherever 
known  he  is  held  in  the  highest  respect. 


index:. 


AKIlh,  Timothy  \V o9 

Anderson,  Alexander 189 

Anderson,  James   D 19() 

Andrew,  Georjje  H 80 

Andrus,  Leonard    817 

Ayres,  Charles 78 

Bacon,  Francis 147 

Baer,  Elmer  E 170 

Barber  Brothers 479 

Barkman,  William  H 418 

Baxter,  Uelos  W 38.5 

Beck,  John 1,54 

Bellows,  Levi  M 285 

Betebenner,  Charles  H 180 

Binklev,  Alfred  R 325 

Bird,  William 14 

Bistline,  John BO 

Bowers,  Elias  G 74 

Bowerman,  Dr.  Solomon   B...  225 

Bowman,  Cornelius 98 

Braiden,  M.  J 450 

Brand,  George 812 

Brewster,  Mortimer  S 198 

Brown,  Albert  F .52 

Brown,  S.  E 342 

Bull,  Matthew  P 190 

Bunn,  William  C 24 

Burri<,'ht,  Milton 21 

Bush,' Charles 287 

Buterbaugh,  Edward  C 75 

Buttell,  Adam 108 

Canding,  William 59 

Cam|ibell,  James. ...    158 

Canode,  Charles  H 471 

Carr,  George  W 12H 

Carr,  James  Wesley 184 

Case,  Daniel 259 

Cass,Aron 280 

Cater,  Jesse  F 427 

Cheeseman,  Charles  F 104 

Clark,  A.  D 407 

Clark,  William  M 304 

Clayton,  James  M 174 

Clinton,  John  W 29 

Coffman,  .'Xddison 303 

Coffman,  Henry 73 

Countryman,  James  A 361 

Cooper,  Peter' 409 

Crawford,  Frank    J   429 

Crill, Orlando  F .  .'. 448 

Crill,  M.J 461 


Crill,  Thomas 444 

Cunningham,  W.   11 2(i0 

Davis,  John   H 149 

Davis,  .Solomon 159 

Deuth,  Fred   J 289 

Dicus,  George   W 482 

Dieffenbaugh,  William  C 9(1 

Dixon,  Thomas 80 

Dodds,  Capt.  William  T 112 

Domer,  Samuel 328 

Donaldson,  James 132 

Donaldson,  James  H      Ill 

Doughty,   Ik-njamin 239 

Drexler,  George 12 

Dutcher,  Edward  F   271 

Dysinger,  Rev.  Holmes 286 

Ellis,   William 267 

Etnyre,  Daniel 4.59 

Ettinger,  Martin  L 30 

Evans,  I-lzra  H 37 

Fisher,  Charles .306 

Frantz,  Thomas  P , .'181 

Frederickson,  Fred 412 

Frei,  Martin  A 324 

Fruit,  Charles 284 

Gammon,  J.  G 384 

(Gardner,  Clarence  E 403 

Carman,  Michael 219 

Garnhart,  Charles  W 270 

Garnhart,  Gecjrge  W 40 

Gibson,  Samuel 486 

Gould,  Dr.  William  W 397 

Govig,  Peter 425 

Graehling,  Henry    322 

Graham,  John 201 

Griffin,  Hugh  L 420 

Guest,  Thomas 388 

Guio,  .Solistine 301 

Guyer,  Henry 482 

Haller,  Charles  M 16 

Hammer,  George  W 848 

Hammond,  William  A 849 

Harleman,  J.  F 472 

Harrington,  Chester  C 487' 

Harrison,  Alfred 232 

Harner,  Emanuel  M 206 

Hartwig,  John 448 

Hastings,  John  S 221 


Hays,  Josiah   A '.12 

Hedrick,  lieniamin  T 81 

Helm,  John  H 246 

Hettiger,  George 229 

Hewitt,  Jacob. 460 

Hibarge'r,  David  F 428 

Hiestand,  Gecirge  B    811) 

Hiscock,  George 449 

Hitt,  Robert  R 1 

Howe,  F.  W.. 25 

Huggans,  Eilmond  D 295 

Johnson,  C.  W 257 

Johnson,  Roliert  X 402 

Johnston,  Timoleon  O 213 

Joiner,  Alvin 486 

Joiner,  Mrs.  Mary  1 251 

Jones,  Milo  A 212 

Jones,  George  W 296 

Judson,  Dr.  James  H 127 

Kappman,  Jacob 185 

Kanev,  August 863 

Kidder,  Nelson  B 208 

Kindell,  lohn  E li;8 

King,  R.  M 4.56 

Klein,  Charles -8^6 

Knapp,  Barzilla 419 

Knodle,  .Samuel 26.,s 

Knodle,  .Samuel 176 

Korf,  August   F   21il 

Rosier,  l(ilin  S IHI 

Krel)bs,'Dr.  |acob  1 8'.!.^ 

Kridler,  liu  ton  D 249 

Lamont,  David  H 868 

Landers,  Ziba  A 26 

Lawrence,  Johnson 99 

Lawshe,  Spencer 2''i2 

Lebo,  John  J 95 

Lewis,  P'rederick   H 82 

Lewis,  .Silas  W 275 

Light,  John 2.56 

Long,  Andrew  F 155 

McCann,  Rev.  John  J 336 

McCrea,  Alfred  B 892 

McCrea,  |ohn  A .876 

McDaid.'Guillord 447 

McGuftin,  .Samuel  S 27 

Magne,  [ames  H 186 

Malone,'Alfred 4^<3 

Marshall,  Reuben  S 108 


492 


INDEX. 


Mason,  Janu-s  I l.iS 

Matteson,  Clark  K 163 

May,  Cul.  D.  C 4' 0 

Mendenhall,  Dr.  A.  L 864 

Mettler,  Ira 380 

Mettler,  William  | 394 

Meyers,  Henry  R' 266 

Meyers,  Peter  R 64 

Meyers,  Peter  .S 114 

Miller,  Elijah  H 438 

Miller,  J.  H '244 

Miller,  Michael   11 

Miller,  William  H 231 

Minnis,  William  J 467 

Moore,  Amos  F 119 

More,  Rev.  James  H 333 

Mnring,  Lewis 150 

Morns",  Howard  A 343 

Mulnix,  Homer  W 15 

Mumma,  Samuel  P 344 

Murray,  George 462 

Myers,  Tames 139 

Myers,  Joseph  M 293 

Newcomer,  Andrew 194 

Newcomer,  Charles 287 

Newcomer,  Dr.  David 137 

Nettz,  John  R   339 

Nichols,  John  and  James 290 

Nicodemus,  Cyrus 171 

Nohle,  Charles  B 374 

Norton,  Orlo  W 183 

Nye,  John  H 181 

O'Kane,  Joseph 440 

Otto,  Louis  J 248 

Palmer,  William  L 160 

Pankhurst,  Dr.  James 66 

Parks,  Henry  A 222 

Peek,  Franklin  F 329 

Perkins,  George  W 389 

Petrie,  Lewis': 298 

Phel|is,  lohn  C 438 

Philbrook,  Pn.f.  C.  F 445 

Phillips,  John   H 169 

Pierce,  Stanley  R 480 

Preston,  Noah 227 


Poole,  Gefirge 191 

Powell,  Samuel  W 77 

Preston,  Gardner  S 346 

Price,  Edward  E 65 

Price,  Jacob  H 129 

Quest,  William 421 

Reed,  George  M 382 

Reed,  Virgil  E 466 

Revell,  Wallace 320 

Reynolds,   John 98 

Rhodes,  George  R 247 

Rice,  Isaac 350 

Rice,  Jacob   71 

Rice,  Joseph  L 353 

Rice,  William 405 

Roe,  Dr.  Malcolm  C 61 

Rolfe,  Squire 135 

Rosecrance,  E.  L 399 

Royer,  John  G 151 

Rutledge,  Thomas  P 465 

Schelling,  Henry 209 

■Schneider,  Charles 91 

.Schrader,  Henry  J 157 

Schrader,  Henry 2.33 

Schryver,  Erastus  W 224 

Seibert,  Benjamin  D 311 

Shafer,  George  W 46 

Sharer,  Henry 366 

Sharland,  George  H 373 

Shaver,  Nicholas  N 240 

Sheffield,  Amos  A 140 

Shelly,  John 276 

Shoemaker,  Harvey  M 166 

.Shuart,  Stephen   B 146 

Shuniway,  Romanzo  G 426 

Sims,  .Sr.,  Daniel 177 

Small,  John 31 

Smith,  Francis  A 208 

Smith,  George 261 

Smith,  John 469 

Smith,  John   L 118 

Smith,  Peter 326 

Snyder,  Di.  J.  F .54 

Snyder,  Dr.  Jerome   B 404 

Southworth,  John  W 424 


Southworth,  T.   G   4.57 

Spalding,  John  F 277 

Speaker,  Noah 26 

Spencer,  Isaac 187 

.S]iink,  Andrew  C 411 

Spoor,  Austin  W 314 

Stahley,  Rev.  Andrew 204 

Stahlhut,  William   81 

Stauffer,  Daniel  H 316 

Steffa,  Jacob 41 

Steffa,  William  H 331 

Stires,  J.  Chester 56 

Stocking,  Horace 440 

Stocking,  Lewis 391 

Stocking,  William 299 

Stroh,  Rev.  N.  J 216 

Sullivan,  Dennis 28 

.Swan,  George  W 484 

Swank,  Jacob  F 243 

Swingley,  Michael  N 70 

Taylor,  James 431 

Thomson,  David   47 

Thomas,  Henry  L 89 

Thomas,  Joshua 122 

Thompson,  John 470 

Tobias,  Daniel  H 42 

Treat,  Dr.  Gilbert  B 406 

Trumbull,  Asaph  M 44 

Trump,  Isaac 370 

Waite,  Judson  A 63 

Wales,  Horatio, 57 

Waterbury,  George 489 

Watts,  William 340 

Weaver,  Abraham  F 302 

West,  McFarlen,  J 252 

Williams,  Chester  K 478 

Wilson,  James  P 173 

Windle,  George 116 

Woodburn,  James  C 48 

Woodin,  Hiram 354 

Wolf,  Benjamin 279 

Woodcock,  John  B 241 

Wragg,  Peter  B 10 

Young,  Daniel  W 228 

Youngs,  Ogden  B 359 

Zick,  Frederick 84 


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F  A3619 

547  The  biographical 

.03  record  of  Ogle 

B52  County,  Illinois 


F 

547 
.03 
B52 


43619 
The  biographical 
record  of  Ogle_ 


County , 


Illinoxs 


SAUK  VALLEY  COLLEGE  LIBRARY 
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