USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois. Volume I > Part 12
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William Thomas, president of the Thomas Electric Light and Power Company, Ottawa, Illinois, was born February 20, 1821, at Bristol, Ontario county, New York, a son of Silas and Bethia (Crooker) Thomas. His father, who was of Welsh descent, was born in Maine and served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812-14. His mother was a daughter of Noah Crooker, who did gallant service in the Revolutionary war in defence of American liberty. Mr. Thomas died in 1852, aged seventy-two years, and Mrs. Thomas died in 1881. They were zealous and helpful members of the Christian church. Of their ten children nine grew to manhood and womanhood: Deb- orah, Silas P., Frederick F., Mary Ann, Noah C., William, Minerva, Maria and Bethia. William Thomas received a common-school education, and at the age of fifteen removed with his parents to Grass Lake, Michigan, and, after aiding them to clear up a farm, returned to New York, where he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and worked at it until 1854, when he came to Will county, but again returned to New York. In 1857 he came west once more, and located at Lockport, where he was employed on the Illinois and Michigan canal as a bridge builder, but the same year he was made over- seer of the repair shop at Lockport. In 1862 he was advanced to the position of assistant superintendent of the canal, with headquarters at Ottawa, since which time he has been largely identified with that city. He was also in charge of the construction of the canal in Camden, Illinois, in 1871, and of several other important engineering works. December 1, 1871, he was pro-
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moted to the position of general superintendent of the canal, with his office at Lockport, and retained the position until July, 1885. At that date he re- signed in order to devote his time to the interests of the Thomas Electric Light and Power Company, of which he was the founder. Since that time he has devoted his active energies to assisting in the work of the company. This is an incorporated concern, with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars, which operates the dynamos that furnish light to the city.
February 22, 1844, Mr. Thomas was married, at Bristol, Ontario county, New York, to Miss Phoebe D. Wilder, a daughter of John Wilder. Mrs. Thomas died in Ottawa in 1889. leaving a daughter, who is the wife of Col- onel Douglas Hapeman, the secretary and treasurer of the Thomas Electric Light & Power Company. The only other child of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas died in infancy. Mrs. Thomas was a woman of fine abilities and great benev- olence, and was an active and zealous worker in the Congregational church; and in its Sunday-school for many years she taught an ever-changing class of young boys, to many of the members of which she was a spiritual mother. Dr. Lempke, now one of the prominent physicians of Chicago, was one of the many upon whom she exerted powerful influence for good. Her sunny disposition and her many acts of kindness made her a favorite with all. Mr. Thomas has been a member of the Congregational church for more than thirty years, helpfully devoted to all its interests. Politically he is a Repub- lican. He became known early in life as an abolitionist, and cast his first presidential vote in 1844, for James G. Birney. In 1856 he voted for John C. Fremont and in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln, and since then he has been actively identified with progressive Republican work. Mr. Thomas is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar. He is also a member of the Society of Sons of the Revolution.
The life of William Thomas has been a busy one from boyhood. He was scarcely sixteen when he began his business career, and now, at the age of seventy-eight, he is still able and active, and is honored as one who has done well for himself and the community in which he has lived and upon whom the reward of business success has most deservedly fallen.
LARS HAYER.
As a biography of the representative men of LaSalle county, Illinois, this book would be decidedly incomplete without more than a passing notice of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He has been one of the prominent men of Miller township for years, and is known throughout the entire county for the efficiency with which he has performed
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his duties as a public officer. He was born in the township in which he now resides, near Danway, on March 15, 1846, and is a son of Oliver and Julia (Elefson) Hayer.
Oliver Hayer was born in Tillimarken, Norway, March 22, 1820, and there grew to manhood, learning the trade of shoemaker in that country. He sailed for the United States when he was twenty-two years of age and first located in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he lived two years, coming from there to this county in 1844. He purchased a farm in section 16, and re- mained upon it for eight years, finally disposing of it to advantage and buy- ing two hundred acres on an adjoining section. He was a good farmer and derived a neat income from the product of his farm. He was a man of deeply religious nature and a member of the church of the Latter Day Saints. He was married in the township of Rutland, this county, on April 18, 1845, to Miss Julia Elefson, who was born in Norway April 1, 1821, and is now resid- ing on the homestead. She is a bright, cheerful lady, whose declining years are spent in scattering sunshine by kind deeds and words to those about her.
Five sons and three daughters were born to this union, all of whom are living, namely: Lars, who is the eldest and the subject of this sketch; Christian, a resident of Eagle Grove, Wright county, Iowa; Ann Hanson, of this town- ship; Oliver, a resident of Lamoni, Decatur county, Iowa, as is Eli, the brother next in age; Matilda, wife of C. Wickwire, of Kentland, Newton county, Indiana; Mrs. Caroline Lysinger, of Wright county, Iowa; and Charles, a resident of Seneca, this state. Their father reached the age of sixty-seven years when the angel of death called him to his reward, October 31, 1886.
Lars Hayer is a product of LaSalle county who reflects credit upon it by his honorable life and upright dealings. His education was obtained in the public schools and his early years spent upon his father's farm, where he assisted in the work. He has one of the most attractive homes in the county, with pleasant, commodious buildings, beautiful and refreshing shade-trees, and well cultivated fields. This land was purchased by him in 1873, and has well repaid the care and labor expended in its improvement.
On March 22, 1878, Mr. Hayer and Miss Fena Johnson were made man and wife. Mrs. Hayer is a native of Norwegian land, where she was educated and received the teaching that has made her peculiarly adapted to become the helpmeet of an energetic, frugal farmer like Mr. Hayer. She arrived in this country in July, 1872, first living in Minnesota, and in January, 1876, came to LaSalle county. Her father, Thomas Johnson, died October 10, 1887; her mother is a resident of the United States, making her home with her children in this vicinity. Six children have blessed the union of this worthy couple, to whom they are an inspiration and aid. They are Dollie J.,
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born November 30, 1878; Orin T., April 6, 1882; Lottie, September 20, 1885; Cora, August 8, 1888; Maggie, October 18, 1890; and Francis, July 28, 1893.
Probably no man in the township has taken a greater interest and more prominent part in the work of the Republican party than has our subject. He has served in many offices, was assessor for three years, township collector for a time, and in 1894 was elected township supervisor, an office in which he is still retained. His public life has been above reproach and has given the most perfect satisfaction to his constituents, while his jovial, kindly dis- position makes him a favorite with all who meet him and his life well worthy of emulation.
CAPTAIN ANGUS ROSS MERCER.
Ottawa is rapidly working up to a place in the front ranks of the leading industrial centers of the state of Illinois. Many new plants and manufac- turing concerns have been located here during the past decade, as excellent shipping facilities are afforded and numerous advantages present themselves to the attention of the commercial world. Among the new enterprises destined to bring the town into yet greater prominence than ever before was the establishment of the United States Silica Company's plant in the southern part of Ottawa. Four years have passed and the business has grown remark- ably, among the customers of the concern being many of the best flint houses and glass-makers of this country. The buildings, machinery and lands of the company are valued at upward of sixty thousand dollars, and the capacity of the works is placed at twenty-five to thirty car-loads per day. The fifty acres of land owned by the company is underlaid with St. Peter's sandstone, a vast mass of silicious material, the strata varying in thickness from one hundred and seventy to four hundred feet. No finer material for the manufacture of glass exists, the product possessing the necessary qualities of clearness and strength.
Captain Angus Ross Mercer, the superintendent of the United States Silica Company's works in south Ottawa, is a gentleman of exceptional busi- ness ability, and to his genius and energy can be traced much of the success of the enterprise'with which he is connected. He was born in Ontario, Can- ada, April II, 1858, of Scotch ancestry; and many of the family were sea- faring men. His father, Captain Alexander Mercer, was for half a century a captain of vessels which sailed on the great lakes, and the latter's father, Robert Mercer, was for a like period on the "high seas." Our subject fol- lowed the example of his seniors, and when a mere lad commenced sailing on the great lakes, rising from one position to another until he was made the
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first officer and captain, and finally he reached the goal of his youthful de- sires and was the owner of a ship. In 1895 he assumed the superintendency of the silica company's plant, in response to the urgent wishes of its officials, and has proved the "right man in the right place."
Captain Alexander Mercer married Miss Ellen Springstein, a native of Canada, and to that worthy couple but two children, sons, were born, namely : Angus R. and W. F. The latter is now a resident of Michigan.
In his political standing Captain Angus R. Mercer is a Republican, and fraternally he is a Mason. His marriage was celebrated June 26, 1881, the lady of his choice being Miss Pauline Felz. Mrs. Mercer is a daughter of Valentine Felz, of Grand Haven, Michigan. To the union of the Captain and wife three children have been born, namely: May R .. Valentine Alexander and Hugh.
JAMES T. WALSH.
In the spring of 1898 James T. Walsh was elected to the office of alder- man, representing the fifth ward in the city council of Ottawa, county-seat of LaSalle county. In the ranks of the Democratic party in this section he is regarded as an influential man, one of the foremost in local campaigns.
Like many of the well known citizens of Ottawa, James T. Walsh is a native of the Emerald Isle, whose beauties are renowned in song and story. He reached the half-century mark on the 8th of March, 1899. He is one of the nine children of Thomas and Catherine Walsh, the others being as fol- lows: William, Jerry, Cornelius, John, Thomas, Patrick, Hanora and Mary. The four sons first mentioned are residents of Chicago, Illinois. Thomas is the collector of Wallace township, LaSalle county. Patrick, Hannah and Mary are still living in Ireland. Though the parents were not wealthy nor influential, they taught their children the lessons of industry and good citi- zenship, and were themselves respected in the community in which they dwelt.
When twenty years of age, in 1869, James Walsh crossed the Atlantic ocean, with the intention of making a permanent home in the New World. After spending some time in New York he came to LaSalle county, and at present he is the owner of a well stocked grocery, finely located and com- manding an extensive trade. By strict attention to the needs of his customers and by uniformly treating them with courtesy and fairness he has built up a profitable business, and stands well in the estimation of all who have had dealings with him. A few years ago it was his esteemed privilege to make a visit to the land of his birth, where he renewed the friendships of "auld lang syne," and spent some time in journeying to places with which he was famil-
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iar. Fraternally Mr. Walsh is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
In Syracuse, New York, the marriage of our subject and Miss Catherine Walsh, an old schoolmate, was solemnized in 1873. Four children have been born to this worthy couple, three sons and a daughter, namely: Thomas P., William, Michael and Catherine.
LEWIS LONG.
Since 1825, the year of his birth, the subject of this sketch has been a resident of LaSalle county, and since 1860 has maintained his home on his present farm, on section 28, Miller township. His long identification with the county and the prominent position he occupies as one of its leading farmers make his history of more than passing interest in the present work.
The Long family from which Lewis Long springs is of German origin. His grandfather, Christopher Long, Sr., was born in Germany and came to this country when a child, settling in New York. His son Christopher, the father of Lewis, was born in Fulton county, New York, and in 1818 came from the Empire state to Illinois, that being the year Illinois attained the dignity of statehood. In Pike county, this state, he was married, March 18, 1824, to Miss Sallie Booth, a native of Connecticut and a daughter of A. Booth. The year following their marriage they moved to LaSalle county, first settling at South Ottawa and in 1831 moving to a place near Marseilles. During the Black Hawk war he helped to build the fort in which the settlers sought refuge from the Indians. Mrs. Long died in 1832, leaving three children : Catherine, now the wife of Elias Trumbow, of Rutland township, LaSalle county, Illinois; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Jonathan Stadden; and Lewis, the subject of this sketch. For his second wife Christopher Long married Mrs. Alvard, and she bore him four children, only one of whom is now living-William H. Long, a resident of Plano, Illinois. In 1849 the father died, on his farm, at the age of fifty years. His political affiliations were with the Whig party. He took an intelligent interest in public affairs, and was one of the highly respected citizens of his community.
During Lewis Long's boyhood educational advantages in LaSalle county were limited. He attended the rural schools, such as they were, during the winter months, often having to walk several miles to and from school. Reared on his father's farm, he early became familiar with all kinds of farm work, and learned that industry and careful management were essential to success; after years have shown that his early training was not
Lewis Leurs Long
Emily E. Long
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in vain. He settled on his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Miller township, in 1860. Besides this he owns six hundred and forty acres of land in Miller township, one hundred and six acres in Brookfield township, one hundred and sixty acres in Rutland township, and his father's old farm of one hundred and sixty acres-comprising a total of one thousand one hundred acres, all in LaSalle county.
Mr. Long was married December 14, 1852, to Miss Emily E. Barber, who was born November 9, 1832, a native of New York, and the daughter of Zina and Sarah (Potter) Barber. Mrs. Barber died when Mrs. Long was four years old, leaving three children-Charles M., now deceased; Mrs. Long; and Sarah, wife of M. Morgan, of Crawford county, Iowa. Mr. Barber was subsequently married to Huldah Deans, and by her had eight children, among them being: Aiden, who died in Libby prison during the civil war; Cicero, who was killed in battle during the civil war; John, a veteran of the same war; Caroline Massy; and Ruth Edison. Mr. Barber died in Miller township, LaSalle county, Illinois, in 1857. By trade he was a millwright, politically was a Whig, and religiously a Methodist. Mr. and Mrs. Long have had eight children and their grand- children now number ten. Their first-born, Sarah H., died in infancy. Of the seven living, the following record is made. Eugene C. is a resident of Marseilles, Illinois; Emma F., wife of Gaylord J. States, of Miller town- ship, is the mother of two children, Maud and Lena; Charles W., who married Mae Clark and is now living in Rutland township, has two children, Harry and Esther; Ruth Inez, wife of George Finkle, residing on a farm near Marseilles, has three children, Alta, Blanche and Ray; Bertha A., wife of F. Spencer, of Rutland township, has one child, Grace; Lewis Walter. who married Miss Cora B. Brumback, has two children, Walter Floyd and Elsie L .; and Arthur F., who married Miss Sarah Etta Grove, lives on a part of the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Long also reared from childhood Mrs. William H. States of Greene county, Iowa.
While he has never aspired to official honors Mr. Long has always taken a commendable interest in public affairs and party matters, and casts his vote with the Republicans. He is a member of the Universalist church.
ELIAS HAYER.
Elias Hayer, the assessor of Miller township and for more than a quarter of a century a resident in the near vicinity of Stavanger, LaSalle county, Illi- nois, was born in Lee county, Iowa, in 1848, and is the son of Ole L. and Martha (Buland) Hayer. The father was a native of Norway, where he grew
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to man's estate, and soon after reaching his majority he came to America. His first stopping place was in Wisconsin, in 1842, and in 1844 he went to Iowa, where he met and married Miss Martha Buland. In 1851 he came to LaSalle county, Illinois, where the remainder of his life was passed. He was seventy-four years old at the time of his death, and his wife was in her sixty- eighth year. She was a member of the church of the Latter Day Saints. They had five children : Elias; Samuel, who resides on the old homestead; Sarah Ann and Andrew, deceased; and Isabella, the wife of John Midgorden, of this township.
Elias Hayer received a good common-school education, and early learned habits of industry, assisting in the labors incident to farm life. He was married at the age of twenty-three years, the lady of his youthful devo- tion being Miss Annie Teal, a native of this township and a daughter of the late Edward Teal, one of the earliest settlers of this county. Edward Teal married Miss Susan Piester, a native of Germany, and had a family of five children, namely: Harriet, wife of T. Hougas, of this township: Mary Jane, wife of J. Hougas, of Iowa; Nathan; Morgan; and Annie, wife of our sub- ject. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hayer has been blessed by the birth of eight children, of whom Millie, the eldest, is the wife of Thomas J. Thorson, of Grundy county, this state; Silas, the second child and eldest son, is now in his twenty-fifth year, and is living at home: Laura; Frederick, Bessie, Nellie and Allen E. are all residing at home; and next to the youngest, Olan, died at the tender age of six years. Mr. Hayer and family are zealous members of the church of the Latter Day Saints. He has resided on his present home- stead for over twenty-nine years, and has improved it until it is one of the ideal homes for which Illinois is noted. The farm comprises one hundred and twenty acres of the most fertile land, with large barns and a fine, modern residence, which was erected in 1896. He is a Republican, and as assessor of the township has won more than passing commendation for the fair and impartial manner in which he discharged his duties. Straightforward and honorable in his life, he has the respect of every one, and stands as one of the representative men of LaSalle county.
J. M. FERRELL.
J. M. Ferrell, station agent at Marseilles, Illinois, was born in Bronson, Michigan, May 29, 1862, the son of Abel and Mary (Free) Ferrell. His youthful days were spent in obtaining a common-school education, and when a boy he removed with his parents from Michigan to Indiana. When he started out in life for himself, which was at an early age, it was in railroad
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business,-first with the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad in 1879. In the fall of the same year he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, going to Mansfield, Ohio, and later he was located at Walkerton, Indiana. From the latter place he was transferred to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pa- cific Railroad in 1882, at Cameron, Missouri, and in 1892 to Marseilles, his present location, where he has spent the past eight years, and where he is well known as the popular and efficient station agent of his road.
Mr. Ferrell was married at Unionville, Iowa, to Miss Belle Peterson, of that place.
Politically he is a Democrat; fraternally a Mason. He identified him- self with the Masonic order in 1887, served three years as worshipful master of his lodge, and is deeply interested in Masonry. He is a member of Mar- seilles Lodge, No. 417, F. & A. M .; Shabbona Chapter, No. 61, R. A. M .; and Ottawa Commandery, No. 10, K. T.
GEORGE W. HOLMES.
Success in any line of business comes only as the direct result of wisdom, experience and energy well applied, and thus it is seen in the case of George WV. Holmes, whose present prosperity is directly traceable to the years of indefatigable effort he has expended in the past in the science of hotel-keep- ing.
The family whence our subject springs is of German extraction, his ancestors being early settlers in Pennsylvania. His father, John Holmes, was born in that state in 1817, and the mother, whose maiden name was Rachel Weaver, was likewise a native of the Keystone state. She died several years ago, in Indiana, and the father is now a resident of Ottawa. Of their nine children who lived to maturity four sons, Perry, Henry, John and Jere- miah, were Union soldiers in the civil war.
George W. Holmes was born near the town of Wooster, Ohio, in 1837. His father being a hotel-keeper, it was not strange that the lad decided to follow in the same line of business, and from his early years he received in- struction which fitted him for the calling. Going to St. Joseph, Michigan, in 1854, he there engaged in carpenter work. Coming to Ottawa in 1876, he assumed the management of the Holmes Hotel, as it has since been known, and has won the favor and patronage of the traveling and local public to a gratifying extent. Making no pretensions to the great elegance and luxuries of the high-priced hotels of the metropolis, the Holmes Hotel takes its place upon its own merits, and is noted for its homelikeness, its comforts and excellent bill of fare, all furnished at moderate prices.
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Mr. Holmes, who is deservedly popular with his guests and with the citizens of Ottawa in general, is a man of splendid physique, as he is six feet and one inch in height, and weighs two hundred and fifteen pounds, thus dwarfing men of ordinary size by comparison. His time is too thoroughly occupied for outside interests, but he uses his franchise in favor of the Demo- cratic party and its nominees.
On October 4, 1859, the marriage of Mr. Holmes and Miss Elizabeth Bennage, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Jacob Bennage, was celebrated in St. Joseph county, Michigan. Three daughters were born to our subject and his estimable wife, but Harriet A. died at the age of six years; Emma E. married M. L. Sample, of Chicago; Georgia Anna is the wife of J. Zeller, of Ottawa, Illinois.
CHRISTIAN HAEBERLE.
Christian Haeberle is one of the well and favorably known citizens of Ottawa, LaSalle county, of which town he is a native, his birth having oc- curred here February 24, 1861. He is a son of Christian Haeberle, Sr., who was born in Wittenberg, Germany, and came to the United States at an early day. For many years he was numbered among the substantial business men of Ottawa, his sterling qualities winning the respect of all who were in any manner associated with him. He married Miss Paulina Heffemer, and to their union two sons and a daughter were born, namely: John, now a resident of Broken Bow, Nebraska; Christian, Jr .; and Carrie, who is the wife of J. Formhalls, of this place. The husband and father, who was an esteemed member of the Odd Fellows society, died at the age of forty-nine years, and was buried with the rites of that honored order.
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