USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois. Volume I > Part 31
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While he has never been a politician in any sense of the word, Mr. Gibson has always in local affairs given his support to the men best suited for office, while in national affairs he has voted the Democratic ticket.
DAVID M. VOSBURGH, M. D.
David Martin Vosburgh, M. D., is among the oldest and widely known citizens of Earlville, LaSalle county, and occupies a conspicuous place in the county, having been a practicing physician here for nearly half a century. He is a native of Evansburg, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and was born July 28, 1826, his parents being Dr. David J. and Mary (Richards) Vosburgh. David Martin Vosburgh, the grandfather, was a descendant of the Hol- lander emigrants who settled in New York, of which state he was a native. The name .was of Holland-Dutch origin. David Martin and two of his brothers were soldiers of the Revolution and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, where both brothers gave their lives in the cause of American independence.
Dr. David J. Vosburgh was born in Washington county, New York, August 4, 1792, and was one of seven sons, of whom five became practicing physicians. He fought in the war of 1812, where he served as an assistant surgeon under Chief Surgeon Payne, who was afterward given a place on the staff of professors in the Albany (New York) Medical College, and General Pitcher, the noted fighter. Later he was sent out with Colonel (afterward General) Taylor to quell the Indians on the frontier. This expedi- tion went by way of Fort Dearborn (Chicago) to Lake George, Wis- consin. With this company was Captain Jefferson Davis, who afterward was secretary of war and figured so prominently as the president of the southern Confederacy. Previous to enlisting in this war he had graduated at the University of New York city, and after returning he continued his studies, soon afterward locating in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where he began the regular practice of medicine. Here it was that he became acquainted with Miss Mary Richards, and the friendship soon ripened into a love which culminated in their betrothal and marriage. They were the happy parents of three sons: John Jay, a farmer of Iconium, Iowa; Hiram Alonzo, a resident of Chicago; and David Martin, our subject. The mother died about 1827, and the father was again bound in matrimony, his second wife being Doris Wright, who bore him several children, five of whom reached adult years, namely: Sabrena S., wife of Joseph P. Howe; Horatio L .; Doris, wife of George Howe; and Edward and Eliza, twins, the latter becoming the wife of Amos Gilliland. Early in the '30s Dr. David J. Vos-
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burgh moved from Evansburg to Penn Line, Pennsylvania, where he was a most skillful and successful practitioner until ill health compelled him to retire from practice, when he was about fifty-five years of age. His wife was called to her long rest in 1865, when in her sixty-eighth year, and soon after, in 1868, he went west and made his home with his son, John Jay, in Iowa. Here he quietly passed into his long, dreamless sleep on May 2, 1875, after a long life of usefulness and kindness. He was a Democrat in his politics and while a resident of Penn Line was given the unanimous vote of the convention as a nominee for congress. This was equivalent to an election, but the honor was declined by the Doctor, who felt that his poor health would not permit him to serve his constituents in the manner he thought incumbent upon a congressman. He was honest and sincere in all his actions and was respected and loved by all who knew him.
Dr. David M. Vosburgh lived the greater part of his early life in Penn Line, Pennsylvania, and received his education in Kingsville Academy, Ashtabula county, Ohio. His youthful ambition was to become a physician and follow in the footsteps of his father, and his first step in this direction was to enter his father's office to obtain the rudiments of the knowledge necessary to a successful practice of that science. Later he entered the office of Dr. C. E. Cleveland of Kingsville, Ohio, who had been a former pupil of the elder Vosburgh. Here he studied three years, obtaining valu- able experience during the third year in the hospital of Ashtabula county. He then entered the University of Pennsylvania, at which he graduated in 1850. For two years he practiced at Custordville, Pennsylvania, and Febru- ary 12, 1853, he came to Earlville, Illinois, where he has practiced continu- ously since. When he located here but two other doctors, Wylie and Badgly, were practicing here, and he is the only one of the trio remaining. He has worked up a large and lucrative practice, having brought many of his patrons into the world and attended them and their families in all their sickness. He has attended over five thousand births, and three of these were triplets. He is one of the most eminent and skillful physicians in the county, and has the confidence and affection of a large circle, who appreciate his sterling worth.
He was married June 21, 1853, to Mary M. Hubbell, who died No- vember 2, 1854. He then chose as his helpmeet Miss Phoebe B. Breese, to whom he was joined in wedlock October 14. 1855, and who died October 18. 1898, after suffering four years from paralysis, during which time she was speechless and helpless. Her children were Mary E., wife of George H. Haight, attorney; Clara A., wife of G. A. Cope, of Earlville, now a widow; Martin B., who died June 30, 1861, at the age of fifteen months, the result of a scald; and Charles B., who resides in Chicago and is in the railroad
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business. Dr. Vosburgh has been connected with the drug business for a period of forty-two years and has been a prominent worker for the advance- ment of Earlville. He was a prime mover for the establishment of the graded-school system in this village and as a member of the board of educa- tion did all in his power to advance the cause of education. He was the president of the village board four or five years and three terms was mayor,- 1881-2 and 1893-7. It was during his administration that the water-works was established here. He belongs to the county, state, and National Med- ical Associations, is a Knight Templar, and has filled all the offices in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he was a department grand master. He was brought up in the Presbyterian church, to which his wife was devoted and to which he is a liberal contributor, although not a mem- ber. Any religions object is sure of his support and his generosity is never appealed to in vain for a worthy cause.
MOSES W. GUNN.
Moses W. Gunn is probably one of the best known and most highly respected residents of LaSalle county, where he has passed his entire life and been prominent in religious work, and is a farmer of intelligence and great executive ability. He was born in LaSalle, Illinois, March 31, 1839, and is a son of Aaron and Nancy (Winters) Gunn, who were closely identi- fied with the growth and prosperity of this community and who will be remembered for their many kindly deeds long after they have passed to their reward.
M. W. Gunn grew to manhood in LaSalle, attended select schools until seventeen years of age, then entered the public schools and supple- mented this education with a year at Franklin College, at Franklin, Indiana. His education has been broadened by extensive travel in different parts of the United States. Mr. Gunn had a natural and inherited taste for farming and was a valuable help to his father in running his farm. He served ten months as a private in the Eleventh Illinois, Company K, enlisting in the in- fantry during the year 1864 and being mustered out July 14 of the following year, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He took part in the battle at Fort Blakely, April 9, 1865, and was in the engagements that took place around Mobile. As a farmer he has won an enviable reputation by reason of his advanced views and modern methods employed by him in conducting his work. He has lately patented a combined fence-wire stretcher, mender, splicer and staple puller, which he is now having manufactured and will
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meet a ready sale as it will supply a need long felt by the builders of wire fence. He is at present trustee of his father's estate.
Mr. Gunn was united in matrimony May 14, 1889, to Miss Emma J. Richards, of Bureau county, this state. She is a daughter of David and Mary (Althouse) Richards, the former a native of Wales, whence he came to America when a lad of fourteen, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania and a descendant of Holland ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn are the parents of four children: Wilmer, who died in March, 1893, at the age of three years; Frances Ivy; Carrol; and Emory Loyd. In politics Mr. Gunn is a Prohi- bitionist, and in religion a Baptist, having united with that church at an early age and been reared in a home whose atmosphere was one of true religion. He began preaching in the fall of 1872 as a lay preacher, and has continued the work since, doing a great deal of missionary work among the churches and accomplishing a vast amount of good. He is a speaker of power and influence and is well and favorably known for his untiring devotion to the cause. Personally he is genial and pleasant, an interesting converser, devoted in his friendships, and liberal in his charities.
CHARLES P. TAYLOR.
One of the able, enterprising young business men and financiers of LaSalle county is Charles P. Taylor, who is a director of the National City Bank of Ottawa, and is the cashier of the State Bank of Seneca. He pos- sesses qualities which have rapidly brought him to the front and gained for him a reputation as a successful man of affairs, and his numerous friends predict for him a brilliant future in the world of finance.
Born December 3, 1866, in Rock Island, Illinois, Mr. Taylor is a son of Alfred H. and Sarah (Case )Taylor, who were natives of Vermont and Rock Island, respectively. The mother is a daughter of Charles H. Case, one of the sterling pioneers of the city mentioned, he having settled there in 1827. Among his early friends in that locality was the famous Indian chief, Black Hawk. The parents of Alfred H. Taylor were Rev. Philander and Faithful (Manning) Taylor, the former a native of the Green Moun- tain state, and both of English descent, and highly respected. After a busy, useful life, spent chiefly in Rock Island and Ottawa, A. H. Taylor is now retired, after eighteen years' service as the clerk of the supreme court, his home being in the last mentioned place.
When he was a lad of about nine years Charles P. Taylor removed to Ottawa with his parents, and there obtained his elementary education in the public schools. After being graduated at the high school of Ottawa he
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entered the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, and, after complet- ing the curriculum, was graduated, in 1889. He then went to California with a party of friends on a pleasure trip, thus having the satisfaction of seeing something of this wonderful country before settling down to business life. Upon his return to Ottawa he accepted a position in the employ of the firm of Fisk & Beem, as bookkeeper and cashier, and continued with that house, one of the leading merchant tailoring establishments of the place, for two or three years. When the State Bank at Seneca was or- ganized in 1892 Mr. Taylor was honored by being chosen as its cashier, the other officers being: Thomas D. Catlin, president, and A. F. Schoch, vice- president. A general banking business is transacted, and from the first the bank has possessed the confidence of the public, largely on account of the high standing and excellent business reputation of its officials, who are gentlemen of unimpeached integrity of character, and for many years have occupied distinguished places among the citizens of Ottawa.
Socially Mr. Taylor is exceedingly popular, and is connected with sev- eral fraternal organizations. While a college student he was a member of the Sigma Phi, a leading and influential Greek letter fraternity. He now belongs to Occidental Lodge, No. 40, F. and A. M .; Shabbona Chapter, No. 37, R. A. M .; and Ottawa Commandery, No. 10, K. T., in all of which he is highly esteemed.
In 1894 the marriage of C. P. Taylor and Miss Josephine Porter was solemnized in Ottawa, and they have a little son and daughter now to gladden their attractive home, the elder being named Sarah and the younger Alfred H., Jr., for his paternal grandfather. Mrs. Taylor is a daughter of J. E. Porter, the well-known manufacturer of agricultural implements at Ottawa. She possesses a superior education and many graces of character and manner, which endear her to everyone she chances to become acquainted with.
JOHN J. WITTE.
The German press of the United States is a power that must always be considered by those who watch the trend of public sentiment. The Ger- man press of Illinois has long been recognized as of first-class ability, and the Central Illinois Wochenblatt, published by J. J. Witte & Son, at Ottawa, long ago attained a standing as one of the strongest German papers in the state, which position it is likely to maintain for many years.
John J. Witte, editor and publisher of the Central Illinois Wochen- blatt, was born in Colmar, Prussia, August 20, 1845, and came to the United States in 1865. He worked at his trade, that of printer, for four years in
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New York, Milwaukee, Chicago and Springfield, until March 4, 1869, when he came to Ottawa and purchased an interest in the Wochenblatt. For ten years the paper was published by Denhard & Witte, until the death of Mr. Denhard in February, 1879, since which time it has been published by John J. Witte and the firm of J. J. Witte & Son. Mr. Witte is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and is widely known in German newspaper circles throughout the country.
Edward R. Witte, junior member of the firm of J. J. Witte & Son, was born at Ottawa, April 4, 1874, and attended the schools of that city. He learned his trade in the Wochenblatt office, and was admitted to partnership with his father a few years ago.
He enlisted in Company M, of the Sixth Infantry, Illinois National Guard (now Company C, Third Infantry), March 29, 1891, and he is now second sergeant of the company. On January 2 he was appointed corporal in said company, and on May 3, 1897, he was promoted sergeant. On April 27 Edward R. Witte enlisted with Company C as quartermaster sergeant in the volunteer army, U. S. A., serving in that capacity throughout the Span- ish war, doing duty on the island of Porto Rico, and was discharged with said company on January 19, 1899. Since then he has again enlisted in Company C, Illinois National Guard, and ranks as quartermaster sergeant.
The Wochenblatt has been ably edited for nearly thirty-two years by Mr. Witte, and is one of the most influential German papers in Illinois. For twenty-five years it has been the official German paper of LaSalle county, and is widely read throughout this part of Illinois.
CHARLES H. RATHBUN.
There is a class of representative American citizens who in the active affairs of life have won continued advancement and gratifying success. No land offers to its people such advantages as does this republic, and through- out the nation are found men who have continually worked their way upward to positions of prominence in military and civic circles and who in the business world have gained positions of distinction where substantial financial reward has awaited them. Such a one is C. H. Rathbun, of Streator, who is now superintendent of the mines of the Star Coal Company and is also the representative of various other important concerns.
Mr. Rathbun is a native of Steuben county, New York, born in 1846, and is a son of Hubbard S. and Lucretia (Calkins) Rathbun. In tracing the genealogy of the family we find that he is descended from a long line of
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sturdy, intelligent and honorable ancestors, and that in both the lineal and collateral branches representatives have been prominent in the affairs which form the history of the country. The first of the name in America, of whom we have record, was Richard Rathbun, who was born in 1574. He married Marion Whipple, sister of Captain John Whipple, and they had four chil- dred, all sons. So far as we have been able to discover none of them have left issue except John. He was born about the year 1610 and married about 1633. His son John Rathbun (2) was born about 1634 and married Margaret Dodge, a daughter of Tristram Dodge, and their children were Thomas, John, Sarah, William Joseph and Samuel. The father of this family was one of those who on the 17th of August, 1660, met at the house of John Alcock, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to confer concerning the purchase of Block island.
John Rathbun (3) was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, about 1658, and married Ann Dodge, whose father settled on Block island in 1662. Just before his marriage he received from his father a deed to sixty acres of land on Block island, the consideration being "one barrel of pork." From some old records we learn that Great James and his wife (Indians) bound their daughter Betsey to John Rathbun and his wife Ann as an indentured servant for the period of eighteen years, the consideration being "one gallon of rum, one blanket in hand, and for five years afterward one gallon of rum. If she remained five years the said Rathbun to pay four blankets and every third year thereafter." The children of John and Ann Rathbun were Mercy, Jonathan, John, Joshua, Benjamin, Anna, Nathaniel and Thomas.
Benjamin Rathbun, the fifth member of that family, was born on Block island, February II, 1701, and became a resident of Escoheag, Rhode Island, but afterward removed to West Greenwich. He was admitted a free- man there in 1737. He was married October 31, 1732, to Hannah Car- penter, and their children were Benjamin, Joshua, Anna, Mary, Elizabeth, Hannah and Martha.
Benjamin Rathbun (2) was born about 1720, was married November II, 1742, to Mary Cahoon, and their children were Daniel, Benjamin, Job and Simeon. Of this family Job Rathbun was born at Colchester, Connecti- cut, in 1748, and married Deborah Welch, who was born in Wales, England. He removed to Howard, Steuben county, New York, in 1808, and there his death occurred May 1, 1838, when he had reached the age of ninety years. His wife died at the advanced age of ninety-two. Their children were Washington, Eunice, Russell, Deborah, Lydia, Betsy, Ami Riley, Hubbard W., Alfred, Sarah Ann, Amariah, Dana and Clarissa.
Hubbard Welch Rathbun, the grandfather of him whose name heads this record, was born about 1790, in New York, was married in 1810 to Abbie
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Saxton, and died in 1859. Their children were Hubbard, Saxton and Abbie.
Hubbard Saxton Rathbun was born in the Empire state, May 11, 1811, and was married February 24, 1836, to Lucretia Ann Calkins, whose death occurred February 6, 1856. On the 15th of September, 1858, he married Julia Barton, and on the 20th of October, 1861, he was called to his final rest. The children of the first marriage were Helen M., Margelia R., Charles H. and Lucretia.
Charles H. Rathbun, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days in his native town, and there acquired his preliminary educa- tion, which was supplemented by study in Rochester Seminary and Genesee College, being graduated in the latter institution in the class of 1863. Three years rolled away, at the end of which time the young man determined to seek his fortune in the west. Accordingly he came to Illinois, where he found employment with the Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company, after which he was with the Chicago, Burlington & Northern Railroad Company for several years. He diligently applied himself to the task assigned him, and his marked business and executive ability won him promotion from time to time until he was made auditor, at St. Paul, Minnesota, where he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period he severed his connection with the railroad and came to Streator in 1888 to superintend the mines of the Star Coal Company of this place. In 1881 he had been made sec- retary of the company, and in both capacities he has rendered invaluable service to the corporation. They own and control six mines, some located in other states, and most of these are kept under constant operation. The output of the Streator mines is about two hundred thousand tons annually, a ready sale being found for the product in this locality and in the neighbor- ing metropolis. In addition to this business connection Mr. Rathbun is. secretary of the Streator Mercantile Company, and is a director in the Union National Bank of this place, besides having other investments.
Some years ago Mr. Rathbun and his family took up their residence in one of the beautiful modern homes of Streator, located on one of the leading avenues of the city. On the 2d of August, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Rathbun and Miss Mary M. Dawson, of Rochelle, Illi- nois, who died a few years later, leaving a daughter, Winnifred L., now the wife of William R. Hawkins. They have one son, Charles Rathbun Haw- kins, born February 20, 1898. On the 25th of February, 1881, Mr. Rathbun and Miss Sarah M. Landon were united in marriage, in Oregon, Illinois. Her ancestry can be traced back through many generations to Ezekiel Lan- don and his wife, of Connecticut. Their son Horace married Bethia Jennie, of Connecticut, and one of their children was Horace Landon, Jr., who was
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born at Collins, Erie county, New York, April 23, 1820, and married Amelia Agard, June 3, 1847. He died in the town of his nativity, June 6, 1855 and his wife died in Oregon, Illinois, July 20, 1899. Their children were New- ton and Sarah M. The ancestors of Amelia Agard were Joshua Agard, who was born in 1756, married Ruth Needham and lived in Wilmington, Con- necticut. He died January 24, 1830. His son, Joshua Agard, married Lucy Sibley, and lived in Concord, Erie county, New York. Amelia Agard, their daughter, was born in Erie county, New York, November 9, 1822. Joshua Agard, Sr., was a private in Captain Waterman Clift's company, of Plainfield, Connecticut, the Sixth Company of the Sixth Regiment, com- manded by Colonel Samuel Holden Parsons.
In his political affiliation Mr. Rathbun is a staunch Republican. Socially he is a prominent Mason, being an honored member of Horicon Lodge, No. 244, F. & A. M .; Rochelle Chapter, No. 167, R. A. M., and Ottawa Commandery, No. 10, K. T. That Mr. Rathbun has met success in his business life is indicated by the prominent position which he now occu- pies in commercial and financial circles. His career clearly illustrates the possibilities that are open in this country to earnest, persevering young men who have the courage of their convictions and are determined to be the architects of their own fortunes. When judged by what he has accomplished his right to a first place among the representative citizens of Streator cannot be questioned.
WILSON CONARD.
Occupying a leading position among the prominent and influential farmers of Rutland township, LaSalle county, Illinois, is the subject of this sketch, Wilson Conard, Ottawa, being his post-office address.
Wilson Conard is a native of the county in which he lives. He was born in Miller township, October 5, 1863, and is a son of the late David W. Conard. The following reference to his father we clip from a local newspaper:
"One more has been added to the list of pioneers who have passed away. Mr. David W. Conard, who during the last three years has been a resi- dent of Marseilles, died in Ottawa on Monday, April 24, 1899. David Wilson Conard was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, April 7, 1825. At the age of three he accompanied his parents to Licking county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. At the time this great Mississippi valley region was being rapidly settled, believing he would find here larger opportunities, he started across the country on horseback, and arrived in LaSalle county in
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May, 1844, and continued a resident of this county until his death. For several years after coming here he taught school in winter and worked at the carpenter trade in summer. In 1848 he bought one hundred acres of prairie land north of Marseilles and thus entered upon the work of farming, in which he was unusually successful. As he prospered he added to his original holding of land, until he became the owner of many hundred acres of real estate. He also became connected with banking interests in Mar- seilles and other cities, both east and west. A conservative estimate places his property interests at the time of his death at upward of two hundred thousand dollars. He constantly practiced a rigid economy in matters of personal expense. He was a man of untiring energy and possessed of an almost iron constitution. Until within a few years before his death he did not know what it was to have a day of sickness. His judgment in matters of business was excellent. His investments always turned out well. Although his chances for an education in early life were limited, he improved them so well that he was able, as already noted, to do the work of a teacher. Al- though so entirely occupied in the work of farming, he kept himself informed upon the questions of the day. His political convictions were strong and he was able to give to them very intelligent expression. His views were not those of the mere partisan, but rather those of the patriot. It may be said to his praise that he was honest in his business dealings. No part of his large property was won by treachery or fraud. He was considerate toward those who were under obligation to him, and he is kindly remembered and spoken of in this regard by many of them. Mr. Conard was twice married. On June 10, 1849, he married Barbara DeBolt, who died February 9, 1851, leav- ing one son, Virgil. who grew to manhood, but died in 1892. March 17, 1853. he married Elizabeth Grove, a cousin of his first wife, and she and three of her six children remain,-Wilson, a farmer of Rutland township; Grant, a lawyer of Ottawa; and Mrs. Samuel Montgomery of Marseilles, Illinois."
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