USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois. Volume I > Part 35
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winter, his parents having moved to Illinois during his boyhood, and at the time the civil war broke out he was engaged in farm work in this state. In 1862 he enlisted under Captain James J. McKernan, in Company F, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and with his command was on active duty in the south. He participated in the engagements of Harts- ville, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, ever acting the part of a brave and patriotic soldier. During his army life he had the smallpox. In 1865 he was honorably discharged at Camp Douglas, and from Chicago returned to his home in LaSalle county. He remained on the home farm until 1870, when he married. For years he has been ranked with the prosperous farm- ers of Otter Creek township, his location being near Kernan.
November 10, 1870, Mr. Cooper married Miss Sarah Kirkpatrick, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of James and Margaret Kirkpatrick. Mr. Kirkpatrick died in Philadelphia, at the age of thirty-five years, leaving a widow and one child, the former having died in 1893, at the age of seventy-two years, and the latter is Mrs. Cooper. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have had six children, viz .: John Edward, at home; Ida Florence, wife of Arthur Harber, of Otter Creek township; R. Frank, of Ottawa, Illi- nois; Elmer, at home; and Myrtle and Clara, deceased, the former having died at the age of seven years, and the latter at three.
Mr. Cooper is a Republican and a member of Post 68, G. A. R., at Streator.
NATHAN TEAL ..
Miller township, LaSalle county, Illinois, includes among its prosperous farmers Nathan Teal, who has been identified with this county since his early boyhood. He dates his nativity in Dutchess county, New York, Jan- uary 25, 1848. His father, Edward Teal, a native of Columbia county, New York, was born September 10, 1820; his mother, Susan, who was a daughter of Jacob and Ellen Piester, was born in New York in 1819, and was reared and educated in that state. Edward Teal was a Republican and a man of local prominence. For a period of twenty years he served as justice of the peace, and he also filled several other township offices. He died in LaSalle county, Illinois, January 22, 1896, at the advanced age of seventy- six years. Of the five children born to him and his wife, record is made as follows: Harriet, wife of Thomas Hougas, of Miller township, LaSalle county; Mary J., wife of John Hougas, of Iowa; Anne, wife of Elias Hayer, of this township: Nathan, whose name initiates this sketch; and Morgan A., who resides on section 14. Miller township.
Nathan Teal was a small boy when he was brought by his parents to
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Illinois, and in LaSalle county he was reared and educated, his educational advantages being limited to the public schools. Farming has been his life occupation. He is located on a farm of eighty acres near the village of Norway, this farm being a representative one as regards good buildings, well cultivated fields, etc.
In April, 1885, Mr. Teal married Miss Sabina A. Godwin, who was born and reared in Miller township, daughter of John Godwin. John God- win was a native of Essex county, Ontario, born July 1I, 1822, of English descent. He was married in 1844, at Detroit, Michigan, to Anna M. Long, a native of England, who survives him and is now seventy-eight years of age. Mr. Godwin died February 15, 1896, at the age of seventy-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Godwin came to Illinois and settled in Miller township, LaSalle county, in 1851, and here reared their family of ten children, all of whom are still living, namely: Alwilda J .. Josephine A .. Josiah J., Alvin G., Hattie E., Ammi M., Dan. W., Sabina, Frank and Jessie A. Mr. and Mrs. Teal have one daughter, Myrtle May, born September 29, 1886.
Politically, Mr. Teal is known as an ardent Republican. He has served as justice of the peace for five years, as member of the school board nine years, and as clerk of school elections several times. He and his wife are members of the church of the Latter Day Saints.
DWIGHT LAWRENCE.
The ancestors of Dwight Lawrence, a well known citizen of Ottawa, on both the paternal and maternal lines, were men of sturdy patriotism and worthy of respect in every particular. His father's grandfather, Colonel Bigelow Lawrence, was a hero of the Revolutionary war, and the maternal great-grandfather of our subject, Amasa Farnham, was likewise a soldier in that struggle with our mother country.
The parents of Dwight Lawrence were Jairus and Alice (Farnham) Lawrence. The father was a native of Onondaga county, New York, and held numerous local offices of honor and trust. In political creed he was a Democrat. To himself and estimable wife six children were born, namely: Dwight, Rachel, Lucretia. Jairus, Alice and Fred. The devoted husband and father was summoned to the silent land in 1881, at the ripe age of seventy-one years.
The birth of Dwight Lawrence occurred in Orleans county, New York, February 6, 1833. He grew to maturity and received his education in his. native state, learning meanwhile every detail of agriculture. In 1849 he came to Illinois and went into the stock business, devoting much of his time
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to the breeding and training of high-grade blooded horses. He owns a fine homestead, known as the Lawrence Stock Farm, in Ophir township, LaSalle county, thirteen and one-half miles from Ottawa. Everything about this place calls forth the admiration and favorable comment of visitors. The barns and feed stables are modern, substantial and well equipped, there are splendid pastures and productive grain and hay fields, an abundance of clear, pure water, and a beautiful hedge over two miles long surrounds the premises. Without question the place is one of the finest and most valuable in the county, and from all parts of the state dealers and buyers come, as to a new Mecca. In connection with this farm the owner runs a livery, sale and feed stable at No. 811 Columbus street, Ottawa, under the firm name of Dwight Lawrence & Son. In the score or more of years that our subject has resided in this vicinity he has made an enviable record for business hon- esty. and enterprise. He is a Democrat and is public-spirited, and actively interested in the general welfare.
The marriage of Mr. Lawrence took place in 1859, his bride being Miss Harriet, daughter of Theron and Margaret, nee Belknap, of Orange county, New York. She died in Ottawa, October 17, 1886, and left one son, Wilbur H., who was born March 1, 1865, and is now engaged in business with his father. He and wife reside on the farm in Ophir township, where he was born. He was married March 15, 1894, to Sadie Stockley, a daughter of Charles Stockley, of Freedom township, LaSalle county, Illinois. Mr. Stockley was a soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, was captured and suffered the horrors of Andersonville prison.
GEORGE W. BOWERS.
George W. Bowers was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 9. 1853, and is of German descent, although several generations of the family have been residents of this country. Christian Bowers, the father of George W., was born in Merland, Virginia. He married Miss May Smetzer, a native of Pennsylvania, and sons and daughters to the number of thirteen were born to them. Of this family eleven are still living, namely: Catherine, Elizabeth, George W., David, Charles, Emma, Edward. Lotta, John, Alice and Dextor. The father was by trade a cooper, at which he worked previous to the civil war, and since then he has lived on a farm. He is now nearing his eightieth milepost marking the years of life, and his good wife is past seventy. Both are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which they have long been identified.
George W. Bowers was reared in Fairfield county, Ohio, and received
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his education in the public schools. Industry and careful economy in youth and early manhood, continued to the present, have brought him comfort and plenty. In 1884 he purchased his present farm, eighty acres of land, near Norway, in Miller township, LaSalle county, which is well improved and under excellent cultivation.
In March, 1883, Mr. Bowers married Miss Lorinda Knickerbocker, the daughter of James B. Knickerbocker, a well known citizen of this county, and his wife, Catherine (Lattimer) Knickerbocker. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have six children,-five sons and a daughter, namely: Lester C., Benjamin H., Duncan G., Bessie Belle, Harald Dewey and James N.
Mr. Bowers is a man well informed on all questions of the day, har- monizes with the Republican party, and at this writing is a member of the school board, on which he has served for some time.
RICHARD F. KNOTT.
At the head of one of the infant enterprises of Marseilles, Mr. R. F. Knott has plainly demonstrated his executive and financial ability and his right to be classed with the progressive business men of LaSalle county.
Born about thirty-six years ago, in the city of Mobile, Alabama, Mr. Knott represents two old and highly honored southern families. His father, Richard F. Knott, who was a very successful cotton merchant, was stricken with the dread yellow-fever scourge in 1873, and died when still in his prime. He not only bore an enviable reputation as a business man but also ranked high in the Masonic fraternity, having taken the thirty-third degree, and having occupied the exalted office of first grand commander of the state of Alabama. For his wife he chose Miss Charity Prince, a lady of superior edit- cation and social attainments, and five children blessed their marriage.
With his brothers and sisters, R. F. Knott was reared in the sunny south- land and received a liberal education. He suffered an irreparable loss when he was about ten years old in the death of his father, but the memory of his judicious counsels and worthy example served as a guiding star through his youth. In 1889 he married Miss Sallie Oliver, daughter of Thomas Oliver, of Birmingham, Alabama, and they have one bright little son, Richard F., Junior, now four years of age.
Coming to Marseilles, Mr. Knott assisted in the organization of the Crescent Paper Company in May, 1896, and has since acted as president of the concern, while J. H. Collough is the secretary and treasurer, and D. Samuels is the superintendent. This company has succeeded in establishing a large and lucrative trade within the past three years, and now affords em-
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ployment to a force of more than one hundred people. They manufacture paper box-board, egg cases and crates of various kinds, paper boxes, and other receptacles for shippers' and merchants' supplies. The growing im- portance of this industry to this town and vicinity is duly acknowledged by its citizens, and it promises to be a still greater factor in the development of commercial enterprises here.
In his political convictions, Mr. Knott is a loyal gold Democrat, and takes great interest in the leading issues of the day. Fraternally he has followed in the footsteps of his father, being identified with the Masonic order, as a Knight Templar of the Ottawa Commandery, No. 10. Both he and his estimable wife are members and regular attendants of the Episcopal church.
WILLIAM H. GOCHANOUR.
An esteemed and honored resident of Otter Creek township, LaSalle county, Illinois, is William H. Gochanour, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 20, 1840, the son of Jonathan C. and Lucy (Ritter) Gochanour. The father is a native of Virginia, but has been a resident of LaSalle county since 1844 and is now one of the oldest residents of Otter Creek township. He married Miss Lucy Ritter, the daughter of a southern · planter, and they became the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are living, namely: William H., the immediate subject of this review; Mathias, to whom individual reference is made elsewhere in this work; Amanda Larry, a resident of Iowa; Angus, of Cass county, Iowa; James, of Otter Creek township, this county; John, also of this township; Jane Marsh, of Iowa; Ann Johnson, of Otter Creek township, and Edward, also of this township. The mother of these children passed away in 1895, in her sixty- third year.
William H. Gochanour received his educational discipline in the public schools, after leaving which he turned his attention to the farming industry. He is a shrewd business man and has been very successful, having about twenty thousand dollars well invested in this county. He has an extensive apiary, and has found the culture of bees to be not only profitable, but also a pleasure as well. This work has received close attention from him and he has studied to secure the best plans for handling the industrious little work- ers, thus insuring the largest yield of honey; his methods have resulted in a very successful enterprise in this line.
On the 19th of January, 1862, Mr. Gochanour was united in marriage to Miss Orilla J. Brock, a daughter of Solomon Brock, of this township, and five children have blessed their union, four of whom are living, namely:
W.sb.Jochanous
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Willis Elliott, of this township; Ella Dell, wife of Henry Gebo, of Montana; Orlando Rees, who is married and resides on the home farm; and Elmer Lee, who lives at home. In his political adherency Mr. Gochanour is a Democrat, and he has served for three terms as assessor of his township. This office he accepted at the urgent solicitation of his friends; he has always been averse to accepting any preferment in an official way. He is of genial, social disposition, and is popular with his fellow citizens.
The father of Mrs. Gochanour was among the earliest settlers of Otter Creek township, coming here in 1831 and locating in the midst of the great prairies of Illinois, his house at that time being nine miles distant from any other human habitation. The farm upon which he lived contained six hun- dred and forty acres, and he was one of the first farmers in this part of the state to do a profitable business in the raising of cattle. In politics he gave his support to the Republican party and its principles. The maiden name of his wife was Jane Moon, and she was a sister of A. B. Moon, an early settler here. The children of Solomon and Jane (Moon) Brock were as fol- lows: Eleanor; Evan, deceased; Rees, who was killed in the battle of Harts- ville, in the war of the Rebellion; Philander; Sylvester; Calvin L., for four years a soldier in the civil war; Mary M. Hopple, of Nebraska; Orilla J., wife of the subject of this review; Angeline; and Lily D. Mr. Brock passed away December 25, 1858, aged sixty-two years; and his wife died May 7, 1854, aged forty-four years.
LORENZO LELAND.
The first ancestor of the Leland family in America was Henry Leland, who was born in England, in 1625, married Margaret Badcock, and in 1652 came to America, his death occurring in Sherborn, Massachusetts, April 4, 1680. His fourth child and eldest son, Ebenezer Leland, was born at Sher- born, January 25, 1657, and died in 1742. James, the son of Ebenezer, was born in 1687, married Hannah Learned and died in 1768, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. His son Phineas was born in 1731 and died in 1773. Eleazer Leland, son of Phineas, was born in 1755, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, participating in the battles of Lexing- ton and Bunker Hill. He married Elizabeth Sherman, and his death occurred in Grafton, Massachusetts, in 1827.
Cyrus Leland, the next in direct line of descent, was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, in 1785, and married Betsy Kimball, whose grandfather, Aaron Kimball, was a soldier in the early French and Indian war. When hostilities commenced that resulted in the establishment of the republic,
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he was commissioned captain of a company in the Sixth Massachusetts In- fantry, his commission being dated April 5. 1776. His son, the father of Betsy Kimball, was captain of a company in the regiment commanded by Colonel Wheelock. Cyrus Leland died in Grafton, Massachusetts, in 1831.
Lorenzo Leland, second son of Cyrus, was born in Grafton, Massachu- setts, September 14, 1813, and married Martha Holbrook, who was also a native of Grafton. In 1834 he came west, locating in Peoria, Illinois, where he remained for one year. In 1835 he came to Ottawa, being the second lawyer to locate in this city. He was appointed clerk of the circuit court in 1842, by John D. Caton, which position he held until 1848, when he was elected clerk of the supreme court of the northern district of Illinois. He held that office until 1866, his service covering eighteen years, while for six additional years he was clerk of the circuit court. He gave his support to the Democracy and was an active factor in politics, carrying his district at times against great odds. He died in August, 1881, when almost sixty- eight years of age, respected and honored by all.
Lorenzo Leland, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Ottawa, Illinois, October 17, 1852. He attended the public schools of this city and was graduated from the high school. He was studious by nature, and determined to follow in the footsteps of his father in the choice of a pro- fession. He graduated at Phillips Academy, at Andover, Massachusetts, in 1870, and the same year entered Yale College, graduating there in 1874. Returning to his native city he commenced the study of law, and in 1876, upon examination before the supreme court of Illinois, was admitted to the bar. Immediately thereafter he went to El Dorado, Kansas, where, in com- pany with his brother, Cyrus A., he practiced his profession until 1880. He then returned to Ottawa and opened an office in this city, continuing in active practice until a few years ago, when other business matters demanded his entire attention. He has been intimately identified with the various financial institutions of the city and has given much study to the subject of finance. He is the attorney and treasurer of the Ottawa Building Home- stead & Savings Association, and that institution owes much of its pros- perity to his care and attention. He was elected a director of the First National Bank several years ago and in 1894 was chosen the president of that institution and continues to hold that position. He is the secretary of the Ottawa Hydraulic Company and a director of the Ottawa Railway Light & Power Company, besides being extensively interested in real estate in and around Ottawa.
On the 9th of October, 1878, Mr. Leland was united in marriage to Miss Fannie C. Hamilton, a daughter of H. M. and Kate (White) Hamilton. Her father was born in the north of Ireland and was of Scotch-Irish descent.
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In early life he came to America, locating in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was married. In 1854 he came to Ottawa. He was a contractor and builder, but later, in company with S. E. King, engaged in the hardware business in this city. In 1866, as a partner of William Gilman and S. E. King, he commenced manufacturing corn-shellers, and later extended their field of labor by manufacturing other implements and machinery until their factory became one of the most important manufactories of Ottawa. Mr. Hamilton served for a number of years as president of the First National Bank of Ottawa. He has a beautiful home in Pasadena, California, where he now resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Leland one child has been born, Hugh H., whose birth occurred September 22, 1880, and who is now a student in Lake Forest University.
Mr. Leland has always taken a lively interest in all athletic sports, and when at Yale was a member of the base-ball nine. He is ever ready to devote his time and means to promote the cause of education or any move- ment which has for its object the welfare of the city or county in which he lives.
JOEL W. ELLIS.
For almost thirty years Joel W. Ellis has been known as one of the most public-spirited citizens of Seneca, LaSalle county, and unquestionably ranks with the leading business men of this flourishing town. He is deservedly popular with all classes, rich and poor, farmer, mechanic or business man, and in the transaction of his affairs he maintains the utmost fairness and jus- tice toward everyone.
His father. Joel C. Ellis, was a native of Vermont, born in 1814, and at the time of his death he was in his prime, being but forty years of age. His wife, our subject's mother, a Miss Mary Hunt in her girlhood, was born in Connecticut, a daughter of J. Hunt. She is still living, now in her eighty-fifth year, and makes her home with her younger son, William H., of Rathbun, Iowa. Her only daughter, Ella, is married and is a resident of Kansas City, Kansas.
The birth of Joel W. Ellis occurred in Waterford, Pennsylvania, January 19. 1844, and he was but ten years of age at the time of his father's death, which event took place at Morris, Illinois, where the family had been living for several years. But six months old when he was brought to this state, Mr. Ellis has been thoroughly identified with its progress from his earliest recollections, and is proud of the rapid strides it has made toward everything which is desirable in a commonwealth, within the half-century just ending. After he had left school he took a position as a clerk in the post-office, his
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superior being George Fisher, and later he was employed in the post-office at Morris, under Postmaster Edward Hanna.
In August, 1861, when but seventeen and a half years old, J. W. Ellis enlisted as a private in Company G, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, his captain being I. W. Parkhurst, and his colonel N. Greusel. The regiment was at first encamped at Aurora, and our subject was detailed as a mail messenger. Soon ordered to the front, he participated in numerous engagements and battles with the Confederates, including Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus and Nashville. Serving faithfully at his post of duty until the close of the war, four years and two months from the date of his enlistment, he was mustered out and honorably discharged, in October, 1865.
After having given to his country some of the best years of his early manhood, Mr. Ellis took up the burden of life again on his own account. In 1869 he removed to Hennepin, Illinois. In 1872 he came to Seneca, and for sixteen years conducted a lumber business. Ten years after his arrival here he bought a stock of hardware and farm machinery and imple- ments, and his business in this line increased so rapidly and gratifyingly that he disposed of his lumber yard in 1888, and since that time has given his entire attention to the other trade. He keeps a large and finely selected stock of goods, and controls the greater portion of the business in his line in this locality.
In 1890 he was appointed as post-master of Seneca, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of D. H. Underhill, and served for eighteen months; and in November, 1897, President Mckinley appointed him to the post- mastership here. On New Year's day, 1898, he entered upon his new duties, and is still officiating with the promptness and fidelity and the unfailing courtesy which have made many friends for him. He is a Republican, "true blue," and fraternally belongs to Seneca Post, No. 324, G. A. R .; Manlius Lodge, No. 491, I. O. O. F., and to Logan Camp, No. 1212, Modern Woodmen of America.
In October, 1868, Mr. Ellis married Miss T. E. Strong, of Morris, Illi- nois, and their union is blessed with five children, namely: Estelle, Edna M., Elmer, Tracy W., and Hilda. Mrs. Ellis is a daughter of S. S. and Temperance Strong, in their day well known citizens of Morris, Illinois.
G. L. HAYER.
G. L. Hayer, one of the prominent farmers of LaSalle county, has long been a resident of Miller township, near Stavanger. He was born in the state of Iowa, November 12, 1848, and is a son of Austin and Elizabeth ·(Jacobs) Hayer and a grandson of Lars Hayer. His father was a native of
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Norway and was a member of the colony founded by the Norsemen in Rock county, Wisconsin. From that state he moved into Iowa and settled in Lee county. Here he met Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, who also was a native of the Norseland, but had been reared and educated on this side of the ocean. Their acquaintance ripened into love and culminated in their mar- riage, but their wedded life was to be of short duration. Two children were born to them,-G. L. and Lars A. The latter died in infancy and in 1850, when our subject was but two years of age the mother was called to the better land. The father took a second wife in the person of Miss Annie Danielson and by her had six children, only three of whom are now living, viz .: Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Oleson, of Grundy county, Illinois; Emma, wife of Charles Wiley, of Polk county, Missouri; and Electa, wife of H. Hoie, of Miller township. The father was an elder in the church of the Latter Day Saints and also took an active interest in the Republican party. His death occurred March 9, 1896, at the age of seventy years.
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