USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois. Volume I > Part 15
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In Ottawa, Illinois, Mr. Gordon was married to Miss Johanna How- ard, and to them have been born five children, namely: John, who is married and resides in Shaler, Iowa; James, who married Miss Ida Pelon, and is located on the old homestead, in Brookville township; Hannah and Frank, both at home; and Jane, wife of James Kennedy, of Brook- field township.
Mr. Gordon votes with the Republican party and is deeply interested
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in political matters, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has never sought public office, however, preferring to devote his energies to his business interests, which have been so capably controlled that he has won signal success.
HIRAM D. OLMSTEAD.
Hiram D. Olmstead, more familiarly known among a wide circle of friends as Deacon Olmstead, is a retired farmer of Ottawa, LaSalle county, Illinois. He was born in the town of Catherine, Tioga county, New York, December 9, 1822, and is a son of David and Esther (Clinton) Olmstead. The father was born in the year 1800, in the state of Connecticut, and the mother two years later, in the state of Massachusetts. She was a relative of the celebrated Governor DeWitt Clinton, of New York. In October, 1832, David Olmstead and his family started on their long journey from New York to this county. The trip was made by wagon and was neces- sarily slow and tedious. Arriving here they took up a claim some four miles northeast of Marseilles. This land was afterward offered for sale by the government, the squatter having the first right to purchase. Mr. Olm- stead bought the one hundred and sixty acres upon which he had settled and set about its improvement. Here he lived during the remainder of his life, adding to the original purchase until he had acquired three hundred and twenty acres of land. He was a man of courage and great force of char- acter, making him a fearless defender of right. He was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and died on his farm in 1855, deeply mourned by all who knew him. His wife had crossed the river of Death three years previously to the removal of the family to this state. His father was one of the first settlers in LaSalle county. He was a good friend of Sibbony, the noted Indian chief.
Hiram D. Olmstead was but ten years old when he came to this county. He attended school during the winter months until he was nine- teen years of age. The school-house was a rude affair of logs, with benches taking the place of the comfortable desk and seat of our modern civilization, and it was surprising what swift progress they made. When nineteen years of age he began to operate for himself, working on a farm by the month for three years. In 1844 he was married to Mrs. Elnor A. Harding, the widowed daughter of James Howland, of New York state. She owned a farm and upon it they moved after their marriage and lived for upward of thirty years, and here the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Olmstead were born and grew up. They are as follows: Charles H., a farmer in Dayton town-
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ship; Smith H., deceased, whose widow resides on the homestead; Judson H., now of Kansas; and Almira, wife of A. H. Fuller, of Ottawa.
Mr. Olmstead added to his occupation as farmer that of raising fine hogs, his pigs growing into popular favor and being shipped to all parts of the state for breeding purposes and invariably commanding good prices. In 1876 the family moved to Ottawa and rented the farm to the son, Smith H. They have made their home in the city since; and here, on March 23, 1896, Mrs. Olmstead passed to her reward after rounding out eighty-one years of usefulness. She was a woman of strong sympathies, a devoted wife and mother and an untiring worker in the vineyard of the Master. She had for years been an earnest laborer in the Baptist church, in which organization her husband has been a deacon for forty years. Mr. Olmstead is a stalwart Republican and was trustee of Freedom township for a number of years. He is now in his seventy-seventh year and is a fine example of well-preserved manhood, being hale and hearty, a fact which is no doubt largely attributable to his total abstinence from tobacco and liquors of all kinds.
JOHN M. COSTELLO.
John M. Costello is the well known blacksmith of Ottawa, whose fame as a horse-shoer of more than average ability has gained for him more than a local reputation. He is a native of this county, having entered this mundane sphere at the village of Marseilles on August 15, 1846. He is a son of Michael and Mary (Hogan) Costello, both parents having come from Ireland to this country in 1840. Michael Costello was a contractor on the Illinois and Michigan canal, but sold this contract later to Michael Killelea and moved upon a farm about three miles from Marseilles. He lived there until his death, in 1850, and became a successful farmer and stock-raiser. Five children were born to him, viz .: Ellen, wife of William Killelea; Mary Ann, wife of John W. Gaffaney, of Chicago; Margaret S., of Chicago; Bridget, widow of Mr. Lynch; and John W., our subject. The widow and five children survive his death.
John M. Costello was about four years old at the time of his father's death and made his home with the family of Michael Killelea until he was fourteen years old, attending school at the Grove school-house. He was then bound to Patrick McDermott, of Ottawa, to learn the trade of black- smith. After serving his time he went to work for Thomas McDermott for a time, but later went to Morris, where he worked at his trade. Return- ing to Ottawa he was employed four years by Hahn & Shehan, buggy and wagon manufacturers. He then entered into a partnership with John
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Leonard for eighteen months, running a shop in this city. In 1876 he opened a shop at No. 108 East Main street, in an old frame building, for- merly a part of the old Mansion house, kept by one Mr. Wade, but his busi- ness increased to such an extent that this building would not meet the requirements of his trade and he erected a two-story brick building. He now has three forges and has three men working for him the greater part of the time, and has all the work he can attend to, being especially in de- mand among the farmers.
November 26, 1874. he was married to Miss Eliza Fennerty, a native of Ottawa and the eldest daughter of James and Bridget (O'Brien) Fen- nerty, who were born in Ireland and emigrated to America in 1831, coming to Ottawa in 1834. Mr. Costello has erected a fine residence on Post street for his home, and owns besides other city property. He began life in a small way with but scant means, and by industry and frugality has laid by a competency which will allow him to pass his last days in comfort and ease if he be so disposed. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
C. W. WOODWARD.
Grand Rapids township. LaSalle county, Illinois, includes among its leading citizens the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. On his present farm, which comprises two hundred and five acres, Mr. Wood- ward has resided since 1871, when he purchased it of George Mills, and he is thoroughly identified with the best interests of this locality. Some personal mention of him is appropriate in this work, and we take pleasure in presenting to our readers the following review:
C. W. Woodward was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, February 23, 1847, the son of Caleb Woodward, also a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Joseph Woodward, the grandfather of our subject, was likewise born in the Keystone state. He was of Scotch and English descent and was a man of honest industry, by occupation a farmer. Caleb Wood- ward grew up on his father's farm in Fayette county, and there married Miss Rebecca Lynn, a native of that county and a daughter of Samuel Lynn and wife, nee McCormick, both of whom died in Pennsylvania. Caleb Wood- ward died in Pennsylvania, in 1847, when our subject was six months old, and his widow later became the wife of Elias Jeffries. She died in Dela- ware county, Iowa, in 1859.
After his father's death the subject of our sketch found a home with his paternal grandfather, with whom he lived for nine years. From his ninth year until he reached maturity he was a member of the household of his
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uncle, Taylor Woodward. His youth was passed in farm work, and a por- tion of each year he attended the public schools. On reaching manhood he engaged in farming on his own account, remaining in Fayette county until 1871, in which year he came west to Illinois and purchased the farm he now occupies, as stated in the beginning of this sketch. This place is nicely improved with first-class buildings, etc., the residence being located on a natural building site, and everything conveniently arranged and well kept.
Mr. Woodward was married October 24, 1867, to Miss Martha J. Leckey, a native of the same county in which he was born, and a daughter of William and Mary A. (Moore) Leckey, also natives of Fayette county. Mrs. Leckey died in middle life, leaving two children-Mrs. Woodward and Mrs. Louisa Rice, of Fayette county. Mr. Leckey lived to the age of sixty years, and he likewise died in Pennsylvania. By a second marriage he had other children. By trade he was a millwright, in politics was a Republican, and in religion a Lutheran. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodward have been born eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, namely: Anna Alice, wife of Charles Palmer of Grand Ridge, Illinois; Charles Lynn, a bookkeeper of Ottawa, Illinois; William A., of Webster county, Iowa; I. Lewis, a bridge-builder of LaSalle county; Etta M., at home; Arthur E., of Webster county, Iowa; Chester R., at home; Clayton, a student of Lake Forest, Illinois; and Samuel C., Kent L. and Floyd Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Wood- ward are members of the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Repub- lican.
THOMAS ROWE.
Thomas Rowe is one of the well known early settlers of Grand Rapids township, LaSalle county, Illinois. He was born in New Haven county, Connecticut, December 12, 1831, and is descended from old New England families who were noted for their industry, honesty and patriotism. Mr. Rowe's father was Frederick Rowe, a native of Bennington, Vermont. Fred- erick Rowe's mother was, before marriage, a Miss Perry, and her people were among the patriots in Revolutionary times, six of her brothers serving in the Revolutionary army. Thomas Rowe's mother's maiden name was Hepsebee Johnson. She was born in New Haven, Connecticut, daughter of Jesse Johnson, whose ancestors came from England in the Mayflower.
In 1849 Frederick Rowe left his New England home and, accompanied by his family, came west to Illinois, making the journey across the country to Buffalo, thence via the lakes to Chicago, and by canal from Chicago to Ottawa. Arrived in LaSalle county, he settled in Grand Rapids township,
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and here he passed the rest of his life and died, his age at death being seventy-one years. The wife and mother likewise was seventy-one years of age when she died. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in his political views Mr. Rowe was Democratic. Their children in order of birth were as follows: Georgiana Rigler, who died in Chicago; Minerva James, of Connecticut; Frederick W., of Ottawa, Illinois; Ellen Lowry, deceased; Thomas, whose name initiates this sketch; Elizabeth Ford, of Grand Ridge, LaSalle county; and Mary Jeffries, of Dwight, Illi- nois.
Thomas Rowe was reared in Connecticut, where he received a fair education in the common schools, and where for one year he was employed in a tack and nail factory. Then came their emigration to Illinois. He was eighteen at that time, and on their settlement here he devoted his energies to assisting his father in work on the farm. He remained on the home farm until 1858, when he thought to try his fortune in Texas, and went to Hunts- ville, where he made the first brooms manufactured in that state. He was in the south at the time the civil war broke out, and circumstances impelled him to enter the Confederate army, in which he served for a period of three years, being with the forces that operated in Arkansas and Louisiana. At the close of the war, in 1865, he returned to his old home in Illinois and has since been a resident of LaSalle county. He is now the owner of one hun- dred and seventeen acres of choice farming land, well improved with good house and barn, and under an excellent state of cultivation.
Mr. Rowe was married, April 12, 1868, to Mary E. Read, a native of Saratoga county, New York, and a daughter of Butler and Emeline Read, natives of that county, both now deceased. The fruits of this union were four children-Alice, now the wife of Grant Baker, of Grand Ridge; Fred- erick, who died in infancy; Emma L., a successful teacher, employed in the Grand Ridge schools; and Jessie B., of South Omaha, Nebraska. The mother of this family died in 1886. She was a most amiable woman, loved by all who knew her, and was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In August, 1890, Mr. Rowe married Mrs. A. D. Hodgeman, widow of Ransom Hodgeman and daughter of Ephraim and Abigail (Lowe) Ray, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Medina county, Ohio, in which county Mrs. Rowe was likewise born. Her parents are still living, being residents of Victoria, Knox county, Illinois. The father is eighty- three years of age, and the mother eighty, and their married life has covered a period of sixty-two years. Both have long been devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. By her first husband, Mrs. Rowe has five children, namely: Isabelle, wife of C. Hammond, of Victoria, Illinois; Alvin, also of Victoria; Ira E., of Missouri; Carl N., who was a soldier in
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the late war with Spain; and Raymond B., at home. Mr. Hodgeman died April 17, 1889. He was a man of sterling integrity and was held in high esteem by the people among whom he lived. He was identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, the Masonic fraternity and the Republican party.
Mr. and Mrs. Rowe are Presbyterians in religious adherency, and po- litically Mr. Rowe is a Republican. He is a man whose genial hospitality is well known and who has the confidence and high regard of all who have ever in any way been associated with him.
JERRY W. WAKEY.
The prosperous and well-to-do farmer whose name initiates this re- view, Jerry W. Wakey, is a native of Otter Creek township, LaSalle county, Illinois, and dates his birth August 21, 1859. He is a son of William Wakey, deceased, one of the prominent early settlers and respected citizens of this country. He was born, reared and educated in Germany and came as a young man to the United States, locating shortly afterward in LaSalle county, Illinois, where he married and made permanent settlement. His widow, Elizabeth Wakey, who is still a resident of this county, was born and reared in Perry county, Pennsylvania.
Jerry W. was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the public schools, and at home was early taught that honesty and industry form the foundation of all true success. He remained at home, assisting his father in the farm work until he attained his majority. Starting out in life for himself, he was well equipped by careful training, and it was but natural that he should succeed in his operations. He is now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, located on section 28, Grand Rapids township, and ranking as one of the best farms in the township, and his residence, which was built in 1896, at a cost of two thousand dollars, is of modern architectural design, and shows by both its interior and exterior surroundings that its owner is not only a prosperous man, but also that be and his family are people of culture and refinement. Among other improvements on his farm may be mentioned the commodious barn and other buildings, and the windmill, which furnishes the power for bringing water from a depth of two hundred feet and supplying it to convenient places for use, in the residence, milkhouse, etc.
Mr. Wakey was married February 3. 1887, to Miss Luemma Wood- ward, a native of LaSalle county and a daughter of George B. Woodward,
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who died in 1892, her mother having passed away in 1867. Mrs. Wakey was educated in Lincoln, Illinois, and is one of a family of two, her brother being J. W. Woodward, of Grand Ridge, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Wakey have one son, Earl Rodner, born June 22, 1892.
Both Mr. Wakey and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, being prominent and active in the same, and for years they have been interested in Sabbath-school work. Politically he is a Republican, and has filled some local offices, such as that of road commissioner, etc. Frank, genial and hospitable, Mr. Wakey has a large acquaintance and a corre- sponding number of friends.
A. D. SIMON.
The year that witnessed the close of the great civil war in the United States was the year in which the subject of this article saw fit to cast in his lot with our people, and from that time until the present day none of its citizens have been more loyal and patriotic, in word, thought and deed. Thirty-three years have rolled away since Mr. Simon identified himself with the business interests of Ottawa, and during this long period he has main- tained an unblemished record for integrity and square dealing.
F. A. Simon, the father of our subject, a native of Cassel, Germany, served in the standing army of the empire much of his active life, winning distinction, and for twenty-seven years held official rank and title. He was a fine musician, and his talent in that line was inherited by his son, A. D., of this sketch. The latter was born in the city of Cassel, Germany, and when of sufficient age entered the public schools. He obtained a liberal education, and paid particular attention to the study of music, in which he became proficient when quite young.
He emigrated to this country in 1860, and in 1865, in partnership with his brother Carl, opened a store in Ottawa where all kinds of pianos and musical instruments were kept for sale. In 1884 A. D. Simon started a store on his own account. Years ago this business had won a foremost place in this department of enterprise in LaSalle county, and this reputa- tion is sturdily maintained by the proprietor. The location is central, at No. 803 LaSalle street, and here may be found many of the leading makes of pianos and organs in a great variety of styles and cases, suited to the differing tastes and requirements of purchasers. High-grade musical instru- ments of all kinds are kept, and hard to please, indeed, must he be who can- not be suited here.
For over twenty years Mr. Simon has been the organist in the Metho-
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dist church of Ottawa, and his love for music increases rather than wanes as he grows older. He stands high in social and fraternal circles and, among others, is connected with the Knights Templars. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
SAMUEL D. COLE.
It is not alone to the lives of the great that we must look for the lessons of life. It will not make a man a great farmer or merchant to emulate the deeds of a great lawyer or general or naval commander. There are more farmers than statesmen, and there always will be, and if it were not so the statesman's occupation would be gone. The life of a successful farmer like Samuel D. Cole of Ottawa, Illinois, is, in detail, important to thousands who will necessarily have to follow in his footsteps more or less closely.
Samuel D. Cole was born on a farm in Tompkins county, New York, March 31, 1821, a son of Joseph and Depsey (Robinson) Cole. His father was a native of France and when young came to the United States, when, after learning and working at the shoemaker's trade, he took up farming in New York, and later in life removed to Indiana, where he died. His mother was a daughter of Andrew Robinson, a well-to-do farmer of Tompkins county, New York, where she was born.
Samuel D. Cole was brought up on a farm, and after he was old enough assisted his father with its work until he attained his majority. He then came west as far as Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed by a contractor, at teaming, carpentry and any other work there was to be done. He was always looking for a dollar, but he wanted no dollars but honest ones, and was willing to work hard for such. He got ahead a little financially and was married at Cleveland, Ohio, May 15, 1845, to Elizabeth Bell, who was born August 20, 1828, the daughter of Jacob and Sarah Bell, of that city. In that same year he came to Illinois with his young wife, and rented a farm in Vermilion township. In those times this would have been a proposition not without risks to one who, like Mr. Cole, might enter upon it on a cash capital of only twenty-five dollars. It was haz- ardous, even to that day of small things, but it was a transaction which must be emphasized here as indicating the man's strong, decisive char- acter and unconquerable perseverance. He kept this farm three years and made money on it, and was then able to venture upon the purchase of an eighty-acre farm in the township of Utica, where he began farming and raising stock. He gave much attention to hogs, as he could raise them and get them to market in a short time and turn his small capital over often. As he made money he improved the property and added to it until he
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had four hundred acres of choice land, provided with buildings of the best class and responsive to the most perfect cultivation. His stock was of all kinds and of the highest grade.
There came a time when it was no longer necessary for Mr. Cole to attend personally to his farming and stock-raising, and he moved to Ottawa, with the intention of living there retired and contented. But he had been too busy a man for too many years to take readily to a life of ease. He secured control of a boat on the canal, which he ran for five years. He then added one hundred and sixty acres to his farm, where he remained ten years, but finally, in 1875, retired from active agricultural life and moved into Ottawa, where he purchased a tract of eighty acres, where his son Charles carried on gardening until 1892, when he sold it to the Terracotta Manufacturing Company and moved to his present home. He owns eight or ten good houses and two store-houses, the rental and care of which demand much of his time; and he also loans money, but devotes much attention to the supervision of his farming interests.
There have been born to Samuel D. and Elizabeth (Bell) Cole six children: Louisa, who died in infancy; Lydia, widow of Alonzo Tate; Julia B., the wife of Bona Cole, a cousin, and living in Chicago; Albert, living on the Cole farm in Utica township; Charles, a gardener; and Sherman, a carpenter, living in Ottawa. Mr. Cole was formerly an old-line Whig, but has been a stanch Republican since the organization of the party. He is a member of Occidental Lodge, No. 40, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Ottawa Chapter, No. 37, Royal Arch Masons. He is widely known as a successful business man and his frugality and industry and their well de- served reward should be a shining lesson to the young men of his acquaint- ance.
ENOCH H. PEDERSEN.
Enoch H. Pedersen, of Sheridan, Mission township, owes his success to his own efforts, his energy, industry and laudable ambition being the elements whereby he has won a place among the substantial citizens of LaSalle county.
He was born in Leland, this county, June 14, 1861, a son of Peter H. and Lavina (Hanson) Pedersen, both of whom were natives of Norway. His grandfather was Halvar Pedersen, who with his family, consisting of a wife and four children, emigrated to this country in 1843. A settlement was made in Mission township, this county, and four years later they removed to Leland, where the grandfather spent his last days. He was
Ett Pedersen.
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a farmer by occupation but spent his last years in retirement. Peter H. Pedersen entered the ministry of the Norwegian Lutheran church in early manhood, but after some years devoted to that work he was obliged to discontinue preaching on account of failing health. Subsequently he engaged in merchandising in Leland for seven years. He was married in this county, to Lavina Hanson, who died in 1866, while his death occurred in 1873. They left three children, who are still living, namely: Enoch H .; George M., of Yorkville, Illinois; and Minnie, the wife of Benjamin John- son, of Cambridge, Iowa. A son, Noah, died in 1865. In 1839, when Mr. Pedersen's mother was three years of age, her parents settled in LaSalle county, near Brumback creek, a few miles north of Ottawa, and here they resided until the following year. when they moved to Adams township in the same county, where many of the family still reside. For a second wife Peter H. Pedersen married Bertha Vold, and by this marriage there was one child, which died in infancy.
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