History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 1

Author: Kiner, Henry L., 1851-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1138

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M. LJ.

GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00877 9792

HISTORY

HENRY COUNTY,

ILLINOIS

By HENRY L. KINER

Also Biographical Sketches of Many Representative Citizens of the County

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME II

CHICAGO: THE PIONEER PUBLISHING COMPANY

1910

1211158

Lo & Waite

BIOGRAPHICAL €

JUDGE GEORGE ELLIOT WAITE.

If one were asked to find the characterization of Judge Waite amid the lines that poets have penned, the following might be fittingly chosen :

"He leaves a patriot's name to after times Linked with a thousand virtues-and no crimes."

Such was the life of Judge Waite, who in the long years of his connection with Henry county stood as one of its most honored citizens, seeking ever the good of the state before personal aggrandizement and at all times standing fearlessly in defense of what he believed to be for the best interests of the public at large. He was born in 1827 in Stratton, Windham county, Vermont, and comes of a family in the paternal line of English origin. The name was originally spelled Wayte, while later the orthography was changed by different branches of the family to Waite and Wait. The American ancestor was Thomas Wayte, who emigrated to Massachusetts upon the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. He was a member of the long parliament and was identified with Hampden, Pym, Sir Harry Vane, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Cromwell, Ireton and others with the struggle for freedom of conscience and constitutional government. He did not waver in his opposition to the king and no doubt saw Cromwell at the head of the famous Ironsides regiment and may have been present at Marston Moore and Naseby. He sat on the trial of Charles I and witnessed the matchless prose- cution by John Bradshaw, and signed the death warrant of the king. Through successive generations his descendants have been prominent in public affairs and loyal in citizenship, standing courageously in defense of their honest convictions and at all times advocating progress and improvement.

John Wayte, the grandfather of Judge Waite, was a soldier of the revolu- tionary war and fought in the battles of Concord, Lexington and Bunker Hill. After the cessation of hostilities he removed to Stratton, Vermont, where he resided until his death. He had five sons, Amasa, Luther, Daniel, Tyler and Alpheus.

Judge Waite is a son of Tyler and Lucia (Taylor) Waite. His mother was a daughter of Ebenezer Taylor of Woodbury, Vermont, and a representative of a

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

family of Scotch origin. Tyler Waite was a prosperous farmer and a man of education and influence. He and his wife reared and educated a family of seven children, Laura, George E., Lucia, Henry A., Chastina, Ruth and Dexter, but only Henry and Dexter are still living. Dexter has two sons, George and Frank Waite, who are prominent business men of the state of Washington.

Judge Waite attended the public schools of Vermont and after preparing for college took a four years' classical course in the Wesleyan University at Middle- town, Connecticut. In his college days he was especially noted for his ability as a writer and speaker and was graduated with high honors. In the year 1856 he arrived in Geneseo, Illinois, and following his admission to the bar in 1858 he at once became a successful lawyer. Advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, yet no dreary halt awaited him. Almost immediately he was accorded a large clientage and the character of his legal business constantly became more important as he demonstrated his ability to successfully cope with the intricate problems of the law. He was almost without exception correct in his application of legal principles and his knowledge of the law was comprehensive and ex- haustive so that he was always able to cite a precedent or legal principle that was applicable to his cause. He participated in the organization of the republi- can party and ever afterward honorably supported its men and measures. He was known throughout the state as a safe, able and courageous political leader and took part in every campaign. He was regarded as the right man for an emer- gency, seeming to know exactly when and how to express himself to produce the best possible results that could be secured under any given condition. His splendid physical manhood was such as would attract attention in any gathering and he possessed, moreover, an appeal in voice, word and action that made him a strong and forceful speaker before any audience. He never really sought office, but was the choice of the people for important judicial, legislative, and other posi- tions, the duties of which he discharged with great satisfaction to the general pub- lic. He was a member of the convention which formed the present constitution of Illinois and was chairman of the committee on retrenchments and reforms. His report to the convention contained, among other things, a recommendation for an article prohibiting special legislation. He proposed the only method to put an end to this abuse and his recommendation was adopted and incorporated into the constitution of the state and is still one of its wisest and best provisions. As one of the framers of the organic law of Illinois he looked beyond the exigencies of the moment to the possibilities of the future and with notable sagacity pre- pared for conditions that might arise. He was a careful student of history, an intelligent observer of all passing events and was well settled in his opinions upon great public questions. He gave support to the cause of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war and in all matters of citizenship stood for state and national honor and for continuous progress where the best interests of the coun- try might be conserved.

On the 8th of May, 1859, in Geneseo, Illinois, Judge Waite was married to Miss Harriet Newell, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary B. (Ford) Wells. Her father, who was born in Connecticut, in March, 1804, died in 1864. He was the youngest son of Thomas Wells, a son of the family to which also be- longed Governor Wells of Connecticut, while the Hon. William H. Wells, au-

Hattie N. Waite

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

thor of Wells' Grammar, was a cousin of Mrs. Waite. Benjamin Wells arrived in Geneseo in 1856 and was, therefore, one of its early settlers. His wife was a daughter of Dyer and Esther (Burnett) Ford. She was born in September, 1803, and died in Geneseo, Illinois, in 1886. After the death of her first husband she became the wife of Jonah Hale, a native of Vermont, and following his demise Mrs. Hale went to live with her daughter Mrs. Waite, with whom she continued to live until her demise, her burial being made in the new cemetery of Geneseo. The Ford family, of which Mrs. Waite is a representative, are de- scendants of Mrs. Martha Ford, who went to Plymouth, Massachusetts, on the ship Fortune in 1621 with her children. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wells were seven children: Thomas Seymour, who died in Connecticut at the age of three years; Mary Lovisa, who died in Connecticut at the age of fourteen ; Jeremiah S., who died in Georgia, where he was drafted in the Civil war but went instead as a nurse to the front; Harriet Newell, now Mrs. Waite; John Newton ; George Clinton, who died at the age of eight years ; and William Averill, also deceased.

Mrs. Waite was born in old Woodstock, Connecticut, and accompanied her parents to Geneseo, in 1856. She was educated in Connecticut and Illinois, pre- paring herself to enter the senior class at Galesburg but illness in the family prevented her attending Knox College. She taught school in the summers and attended school in the winter months and became one of the best teachers in the graded school of Geneseo. Previous to this time she had been a teacher in select schools. She continued teaching in Geneseo with great success for a number of years prior to her marriage and is a most intelligent lady, whose influence has been a potent factor for the upholding of high, intellectual and social standards. She is a member of the Congregational church and has always been associated with church and Sunday-school work, having been superintendent of the primary Sunday school a decade or more. She has also been associated with various missionary and ladies' aid societies, is now president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Henry county and for a number of years was district president of the Young Women's Christian Temperance Union. She has been a great worker and crusader in the cause of temperance and is now press superintendent for the Columbia Club, a literary organization. Her efforts and activities have been crowned with success, but perhaps most of all her efforts have been rewarded in her temperance work, for which she deserves great credit. Her life has constituted a beneficient influence for good and her labors have been a potent force for the betterment of the community at large. She continues her work along progressive lines, attends many conventions, has delivered speeches on various occasions and many young men owe their reform to her. Gentle, kind and gracious in manner, as well as broad and liberal in thought and purpose, she is loved by all who know her.

Unto Judge and Mrs. Waite were born three daughters: Laura N., born in Geneseo, May 15, 1861, attended the schools of this city and is a well read and widely informed woman. She is a Chautauqua graduate and also a one hundredth degree Ralstonite. She travels a great deal, gaining thereby the broad culture and experience which only travel can bring. She belongs to the Congregational church and makes her home with her mother, being in sympathy with the latter's

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

work in church and temperance lines. Hattie Mary, born August 8, 1863, in Geneseo, was graduated from the high school of this city and for some years taught in the same public school in which her mother was previously a teacher. She was married in 1886 to Thomas Everett and unto them were born two children, George Waite and Thomas Waite, who died at the age of three years. Mr. Everett died in 1890 and was buried in Louisburg, Kansas. In 1891 Mrs. Everett became the wife of William K. Barnes and lives in Alexandria, Minnesota. Ruth M., born in Geneseo, was graduated from the high school and the Collegiate In- stitute here and was a successful teacher for several years. In 1895 she became the wife of Henry Dedrick, of this city, and their only child, Henry Waite De- drick, died in December, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Dedrick now reside in Janesville, Wisconsin.

Judge Waite died June 5, 1901, in Geneseo and on the 9th of that month was laid to rest in the Geneseo cemetery. He was a man of Christian principles and purpose, although not a member of any church. He possessed an original, dis- tinctive personality, characterized by physical courage, will power and character peculiar to himself. In him there was no self-conceit, no pretensions in manner but he impressed one of being possessed of determination and honesty, combined with the lion spirit when aroused. His abilities were best shown in great emer- gencies. On such occasions he was irresistless and powerful. He arose to the action, becoming an eloquent, forceful speaker, who swayed his hearers and in- fluenced them to the support of the cause which he was advocating. No man could say aught against him. He was strictly honest and his position was never an equivocal one. He was a man of fine personal appearance, six feet in height, of excellent proportions and weighed one hundred and eighty pounds. He carried himself erectly, his head resting firmly on his shoulders, his brown hair tinged with gray; his voice was rich, mellow and charming. His was one of the largest but also one of the saddest funerals held in Geneseo. Judges, lawyers and states- men from all parts of Illinois came to pay their last tribute of respect and honor to him. His death was the occasion of the deepest and most widespread regret ; his memory remains as a cherished possession to those who knew him and his example is a stimulus toward all that is best and noblest in manhood. His last public address was in favor of no-license in his home town of Geneseo. It was an eloquent and stirring appeal, which was conceded to have carried the day, for the town went dry that year. His widow and daughter, Laura, still reside at the old home on First street and the north part of the city. They are socially prominent, while their worth as factors for good in the community is widely acknowledged.

·HON. ADAM LIEBERKNECHT.

The life work of Adam Lieberknecht has had such direct bearing upon the growth and progress of Geneseo and Henry county as to render it imperative that mention be made of him in this volume. Not to know him in this part of the state is to argue oneself unknown, for through half a century he has here

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

resided and during much of the period has been editor and proprietor of the Geneseo Republic. He was born in the province of Hesse-Darmstadt, near Wein- heim, May 9, 1835. His parents were John and Christina Lieberknecht, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father died in that country in 1843, at the age of thirty-seven years, and his widow, long surviving him, came to America in 1852 with her two daughters, her two sons having preceded her in 1851. They settled in New York city, where they remained for three years, and the sons began working at the printer's trade, Adam Lieberknecht making that business his life work. George Lieberknecht, the eldest son, made his way westward to Chicago in 1854 and the same year walked from that city to Rock Island before the railroad was built. He took up his abode there and for many years made that place his home but is now deceased. The daughters of the family were Catharine, who became the wife of F. Sengenwald and is now deceased; and Mary, who resides in Geneseo, Illinois.

Adam Lieberknecht spent the first sixteen years of his life in the fatherland and during that period acquired his education in the public schools. He then ac- companied his brother on the emigration to the new world and in 1856 took up his abode in Rock Island, Illinois. In the spring of 1857, however, he made per- manent location in Geneseo, and his expert knowledge of the printing trade enabled him to secure a position in the office of the Geneseo Republic, then owned by I. S. Hyatt. Subsequently Mr. Lieberknecht formed a partnership with George A. Hobbs and purchased the Republic. This relation was maintained for sixteen years, at the end of which time Mr. Lieberknecht became sole proprietor and has continued as the owner of the paper to the present time. It is published in the interests of the republican party and is well known as the champion of progressive movements resulting in substantial benefit to the city. The paper presents a neat and attractive appearance and in connection with its publication Mr. Lieberknecht owns and conducts a fine job printing plant and does a general job printing business. He has made this a profitable enterprise and in his life work has kept in touch with the spirit of continuous advancement that has been characteristic of modern journalism.

In 1859 Mr. Lieberknecht was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Kiefer of Geneseo and unto them was born a son, J. F., usually known as Frank. He married Anna Fehlman. Mrs. Caroline Lieberknecht died in the fall of 1864 and in the autumn of the succeeding year Mr. Lieberknecht wedded Miss Rosina Rieger, by whom he had three children : William, Charles and Emma. The three sons are all in the Republic office. Charles married Miss Helen Antes and they have two children: Catharine and Priscilla. Emma is the wife of Ansel Purple and they reside in Columbia, Pennsylvania, where they are rearing their family of four children: Ansel, Leonora, Margaret and William. The death of Mrs. Rosina Lieberknecht occurred in January, 1874, and for his third wife Mr. Lie- berknecht chose Miss Priscilla H. Fehlman, whom he wedded in November, 1875. The two children of that marriage are Amalia and Leonora. The former is the wife of Lou de Vausney, assistant cashier of the Seaport National Bank of New York city, and they reside at Newark, New Jersey. Leonora is the wife of Dr. Gustav T. Metz, also of Newark.

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. Lieberknecht are members of the Congregational church and are interested in all those measures and movements which tend to promote the moral, intellectual and esthetic progress as well as the material advancement of the community. In politics Mr. Lieberknecht has always been a stalwart re- publican and has occupied a number of positions of trust and responsibility. Through appointment of Governor Oglesby he served for four years as canal commissioner, was appointed United States consul to Tampico, Mexico, under President Harrison and was retired by President Cleveland. President Mckinley appointed him United States consul to Zurich, Switzerland, where he represented the home government for eleven years and then resigned. In October, 1908, he returned to Geneseo and is now occupying the attractive old residence which he built many years ago in which he reared his family. In years gone by he was a trustee of his township and also a member of the Geneseo board of educa- tion. In all matters relative to the public welfare he has taken an advanced stand and his labors have been far-reaching and effective forces in promoting the progress of the many interests bearing upon the county's growth. A life of intense and well directed activity has brought him to a position among the sub- stantial citizens of Geneseo, where he not only owns his well equipped printing office but also a beautiful home and other valuable real estate, which contribute materially to his comfort in the evening of life. While he has now passed the seventy-fourth milestone he is a splendidly preserved man who in spirit and in- terests seems yet in his prime.

GEORGE WOODBRIDGE BUCK.

The years of George Woodbridge Buck's residence in Henry county are seventy-one for he arrived in 1838, being then a little lad of four summers. It was a pioneer district into which the family came, for around the little home for miles stretched the unbroken prairie. Only here and there was a frontier home to be seen, showing that the work of civilization had been begun. Six years before, in a sanguinary conflict, the white race had disputed with the red men their dominion over this part of the country, and there were still many evi- dences of Indian occupancy to be seen. Deer were frequently found in the forests or upon the open prairie, and wild turkeys, prairie chickens and other feathered game were to be had in abundance. It was amid such surroundings that George W. Buck spent his youth.

A native of the state of New York, he was born in Chautauqua county, April 9, 1834, his parents being Roswell and Harriet (Meach) Buck, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of the Empire state. Roswell Buck was a lumberman of Vermont and continued in the same line of business after his removal to New York. He died in Cattaraugus county, that state, in February, 1862, at the age of sixty-five years, while his wife passed away in 1834, when her son George was but three weeks old. In the family were seven children. two sons and five daughters: Catharine, who married Isaac Schermerhorn ; Ma-

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

tilda; Mary, who married D. D. Groub; Elizabeth; Helen, who married Alfred Fuller ; Rufus; and George W.

Left motherless at the age of three weeks, George W. Buck, when three months old, was taken into the family of Isaac and Nancy Stanbro, who in 1837 left New York. Making their way westward to Illinois they arrived in Henry county in May, 1838, and here the subject of this review was reared to manhood and has since made his home. He and John W. Withrow attended the same little log school, where slabs were used for seats, while the writing desk was made of a board laid upon pins driven into the wall. In one end of the room was a large fireplace and the rod was ever a feature in discipline. That teacher, however, had a still more novel method of maintaining order, punishing the children by putting them through a hole and lowering them underneath the puncheon floor. The building was erected without the use of a single nail, being put together with pegs. On the inside of the door was a wooden latch pulled by a string which hung on the outside. The methods of instruction were quite primitive as compared with those of the present day, and the school was con- ducted on the subscription plan, the teacher having no fixed salary, his income depending upon the number of pupils which he had. Mr. Buck continued with the Stanbro family until sixteen years of age, when he started out for him- self, working by the month for a number of years. In this way he gained the capital that at length enabled him to rent land and begin farming for himself. He also bought some oxen and broke prairie, for even up to that time there was still much land in this part of the state that had not yet been placed under the plow. In 1859 he drove an ox team from Geneseo, Illinois, across the plains and through the mountain passes to Maryville, California. Thence he wandered northward into Oregon, where he followed gold mining and also engaged in various pursuits. In November, 1861, he returned to Henry county and the following year donned the blue uniform in defense of the nation, enlisting as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, with which he served until the close of the war, holding the rank of ser- geant. He acted as wagonmaster in the quartermaster's department and partici- pated in the Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns. After the troops reached Atlanta he was with that great division of the army which, under General Thomas turned to Tennessee and there he participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. His corps proceeded in a more roundabout way under General Schofield and landed at Fort Fisher, and the regiment took part in the capture of Fort Ander- son and the battle of Wilmington, afterward marching northward to Goldsboro, where they met the forces under General Sherman. Mr. Buck was always a brave and loyal soldier, never faltering in the performance of any military duty, whether called to the firing line or stationed along the lonely picket line.

After the close of the war Mr. Buck received an honorable discharge and re- turned home. He then purchased sixty-three acres of land in Western town- ship, Henry county, and for many years was actively engaged in farming, adding to his holdings from time to time until now he is the owner of four hundred and seventy-five acres of rich and valuable land. This constitutes one of the finest farms in Western township, upon which he has resided since the war.

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

It bears evidence of his careful cultivation and progressive methods and presents a very attractive appearance.

On the 8th of July, 1863, Mr. Buck was united in marriage to Miss Mary N. Glenn, a daughter of James and Nancy (Kincaid) Glenn. Mrs. Buck was born in Henry county. Her father built the first house in this county and also made the first plow manufactured within its borders, this agricultural implement hav- ing a wooden mold board hewed out with a broad ax. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buck were born four children: James Dana, the eldest, married Effie Withrow, and died in January, 1895, leaving a daughter, Hattie. George B. wedded Cora Bryan and they have six children : Zola, Lila, Glenn, Donald, Harold and Nona. Mary Eliza is the wife of George L. Miller and they have three children : Mary, Clara and Blanch. Charles G. wedded Ida Johnson and they have three chil- dren : George, Dorothy and Walter. Mrs. Mary A. Buck died in 1897 at the age of fifty-four years, and her death was the occasion of deep regret to many friends as well as to her immediate family, for she possessed excellent traits of character and a kindly spirit that endeared her to all with whom she came in contact. Mr. Buck belongs to Trego Post, No. 394, G. A. R., at Orion. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and was supervisor of his town for many years. He was also chairman of the committee that had charge of the letting of the contract for, and the erection of, the soldiers' monu- ment. On many other occasions he has cooperated in movements of a public nature and at all times has given his support on the side of progress, reform and improvement. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. He relates many interesting incidents of the early days, when most of the homes were log cabins or little frame houses of small dimensions. In June the prairies were covered with a million wild flowers and in December with one dazzling, unbroken sheet of snow. A traveler could ride for miles across the prairie without coming to a house or a fence to impede his progress, but one by one the settlers came, an intelligent and enterprising class of people who took advantage of the natural resources offered by the county and have since done an important part in the upbuilding of this commonwealth. Mr. Buck has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey, and seventy-one years of that period have been spent in Henry county. Few men have more intimate knowledge of its history, for the events which others have learned from reading or hearsay have been matters to him of personal knowl- edge or experience.

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History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 1

Author: Kiner, Henry L., 1851- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1138

Author: Kiner, Henry L., 1851-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1138