USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois. Volume I > Part 36
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G. L. Hayer was educated in the public schools and helped his father with such chores as a lad could do. As he grew older he took a more active part in the work and became a good farmer and one who adopted the more progressive method of work, and is now one of the substantial agriculturists of LaSalle county. When twenty-one years of age he was married to Miss Malina Hagland, who was born in Norway, a daughter of Thosten and Bertha Hagland. Her parents came to the United States, settling in Fill- more county, Minnesota, where she was educated and grew to young womanhood. Six children blessed their union, two of whom have been taken to blossom in the garden of the blessed Redeemer,-little Minnie Theresa, who lived but four short years, and an infant that died unnamed; Albert Elias resides with his parents; Bertha is the wife of Oscar Johnson, of this neighborhood; Zenas Milton and Walter T. Mr. and Mrs. Hayer are members of the church of the Latter Day Saints and are worthy Chris- tian people. He has always supported the Republican party, but devotes little time to politics, as his time is fully occupied with looking after his personal interests.
EDWIN T. READ.
for more than forty years Edwin T. Read has resided upon his present farm in Grand Rapids township, LaSalle county, and is numbered among the pioneer settlers of 1854. Great changes have occurred since his arrival and the county has made wonderful progress and advancement along edu- cational, commercial and agricultural lines. In the latter department Mr.
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Read has been especially active and is a recognized factor in public affairs in his locality.
A native of the Empire state, Mr. Read was born in Chautauqua county, New York, near Jamestown, December 25, 1832. His father, Thomas Read, was born in Washington county, New York, in 1801, and was a son of Rev. M. Read, a Methodist minister. He was reared and educated in New York, and there married Miss Eliza Ferguson, a native of western New York. Their union was blessed with eleven children, nine sons and two daughters: Edwin T .; Frank, who was a member of Company A, Fifty-third Illinois Infantry and lost an arm and leg while fighting for his country at Jackson, Mississippi, and died of the wounds; Henry, who was a member of the Nintlı New York Cavalry in the war of the Rebellion, died at Alexandria, Virginia; Harriet, died in Ford county, Illinois; Helen, who resides also in Ford county; Thomas, John B., William T., Charles M., and Arba D. are all residents of that county; and Emmett died in LaSalle county, at the age of eighteen years. The father died in western New York, in July, 1862, leaving the mother with her eleven children to support. He had at one time been a man of considerable means, but through the failure of a railroad enterprise he lost greatly and his widow paid three thousand dollars' security debts. By careful management and earnest toil, however, Mrs. Read man- aged to keep her children together and provide a comfortable home for them, ever fulfilling every obligation of a faithful mother. She taught them to live upright, honorable lives, and early instilled into their minds habits of industry and economy, thus preparing them for the practical duties of their later years. She died October 19, 1878, at the home of our subject, when sixty-six years of age, and was laid to rest in the Grand Ridge cemetery. She held membership in the Methodist church, and hers was an earnest Christian life.
Edwin T. Read was reared on the old family homestead in New York. His educational privileges were somewhat limited, for he was the eldest son and his services were needed on the farm. In the fall of 1854 he came to the west and purchased eighty acres of land in Grand Rapids township, the purchase price being ten dollars per acre. Two years later he broke the raw prairie and taking up his abode upon the place continued its develop- ment and cultivation. Soon abundant harvests rewarded his labors and in course of time he became the owner of one of the most desirable farms of the locality. As a companion and helpmeet on life's journey he chose Miss Helen E. Ebersol, the marriage being celebrated March 15, 1860. The lady was born in Grand Rapids township, LaSalle county, and is a daughter of Joseph Ebersol, a pioneer settler who came to the county from Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, in 1834. He died February 13, 1873, at the age of
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eighty-two years, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Shuey, departed this life February 26, 1871, at the age of seventy-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Ebersol were the parents of six children, three of whom are now living: Mrs. George Rugg, of Ottawa, Illinois; A. H., who was a soldier in the civil war and is now residing in Englewood, Illinois; and Mrs. Read. Those deceased are D. F., A. M. and Mrs. Catharine Budd.
Mr. and Mrs. Read began their domestic life in a small frame house, which is now used by tenants. In 1885 their first home was replaced by a commodious modern residence, in the rear of which stand large barns and other necessary outbuildings, which provide good shelter for grain and stock. Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, giving evidence of the careful supervision of the owner, and the house indicates the watchful care of Mrs. Read. This worthy couple have an adopted son, Frank E., who married Bertha Katz, of Ransom, Illinois, by whom he has a son, Edwin T., named in honor of our subject.
Mr. Read is a stanch advocate of Republican principles and is a recog- nized leader in the party ranks, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. For some years he has served as supervisor, and has discharged his duties in a most commendable manner. Socially he is a Mason, belonging to Marseilles Lodge, No. 417, A. F. & A. M., at Marseilles; Shabbona Chapter, No. 37, R. A. M., and Ottawa Commandery, No. 10, K. T. From his boyhood he has been accustomed to earnest toil and to his own labors may be attributed his success. Energy and persever- ance are the salient points in his career and have brought to him a com- fortable competence.
GEORGE HAYWARD.
George Hayward was born in Ottawa, LaSalle county, Illinois, April 19, 1843, and by close application and industry has accumulated a competency which will enable him to pass the remainder of his life in comfort and afflu- ence. He is a son of Charles and Julia Ann (Mason) Hayward, who came to this county from the east early in this century. The family tree of the Haywards was deep-rooted in Scotland, whence one Caleb Hayward emi- grated to America, settling at Braintree, Massachusetts, and moving later to Lebanon, Connecticut, where he passed the remainder of his life. The paternal grandfather, John Henry Hayward, was born in Lebanon, Connecti- cut, and on February 3, 1790, was married to Eunice Hutchison. They reared a family of seven sons and four daughters, and September 11, 1826, the grandfather entered his long sleep. One of the sons was Charles Hay- ward, who was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, April 8, 1808, and there
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grew to manhood. October 8, 1838, he was joined in marriage with Miss Julia Ann Mason, who was born in Cortland county, New York, July 22, 1819. Her parents were Oliver and Sarah (Thayer) Mason, both natives of Vermont, who came to Illinois in 1837 and settled in Kane county. Oliver Mason fought in the war of 1812. After their marriage Charles Hayward and wife moved to Ottawa, Illinois, where he built the Fox River House, which he kept for a few years, being also interested in merchandising. He sold his interests and moved to his farm in 1847. There his death occurred, on the 20th of July, 1849. He carried on farming operations during this entire period. Three children survived him: Estelle J .; George, our sub- ject; and Emma, who married David Grove, a retired farmer residing in Ottawa. After the death of her husband Mrs. Hayward was again married, being united to Captain Henry J. Reed, a soldier in the Mexican war and captain of Company I during the civil war. They took up their residence in Ottawa, where they resided during the remainder of their lives. One son was born to them, Charles H., who died in 1876 at the age of twenty- two years. Mrs. Reed died April 3, 1890, and Mr. Reed passed away May 25. 1894.
George Hayward spent his boyhood upon his father's farm and attended the district school in the town of Ottawa. He remained with his parents until the death of his father, when the management of the farm fell to him. He continued to farm, adding gradually to his land, until his present posses- sions amount to seven hundred acres in Dayton township, in addition to which he owns some valuable city property. In 1870 he retired to Ottawa and has since busied himself in looking after his various business interests and supervising the management of his farm.
He was married June 17, 1875, to Miss Nettie Stickland, a daughter of Rial Stickland of this city. They have three children, Edith E., Mabel S., a student in the high school, and Charles De Alton. Mr. Hayward is a Republican and has served as township director. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet, and is a man of strong personality and warm attachments.
GEORGE W. ROBERTS.
The subject of this review, who is now retired from active business pursuits, is one of the substantial and influential men of LaSalle county, Illinois, and for many years has been an honored and esteemed resident of Ottawa. He was born January 27, 1829, in Luzerne (now Wyoming) county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Moris and Susan (Newman) Roberts. Moris Roberts was born in the state of New York, but moved with his
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parents to Pennsylvania, and there grew to manhood and engaged in agri- culture. He was married to Miss Susan Newman, a native of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Caleb and Emily (Reynolds) New- man, whose forefathers were early settlers of the state of Rhode Island. Eleven children were born of this marriage, ten of whom reached adult years, and it is a remarkable fact that five of them served in the war of the Rebellion. Those who attained maturity were as follows: Clarentine, deceased; L. B., deceased; George W., our subject; Adaline, deceased; Benjamin F., a member of the Eighteenth Illinois Infantry, was commis- sioned lieutenant and died in Kansas, in 1895; Daniel, now of Ottawa, was a member of the Twentieth Ohio; John L. was a member of the Eighteenth Illinois, moved to Kansas, where he died, near Great Bend; Edward H., the Ottawa baker, was also a member of the Twentieth Ohio: Giles H., a partner in the bakery, was a member of Captain Kimball's company in the Ninety-sixth Ohio; and Moris B., also a resident of Ottawa. The grand- father, Samuel Roberts, was born in New York and married Sarah More- house, but the origin of the Roberts family was in Wales, whence three brothers emigrated to America, and from them have sprung the various branches of the family in this country.
George W. Roberts went with his parents to Delaware county, Ohio, when about ten years of age, living near Sunbury, where he attended district schools, and later he entered Central College, in Franklin county, that state, pursuing his studies there for some time. He then taught country schools during the winter, farming in the summers, and in this way his time was spent in an industrious and profitable manner until 1855, when he came to LaSalle county and accepted a position as clerk in the store of G. L. Thomp- son, the leading druggist of Ottawa. After remaining there for some months he formed a partnership with Louis Hess, under the firm name of Roberts & Hess, and conducted a bakery and confectionery store for six years. He then sold out to Mr. Hess and remained out of business eight years. On March 1, 1877, he and his brother Daniel opened a bakery and confectionery, and soon built up a profitable business. In connection with this they estab- lished a lunch room, which was well patronized and proved a paying invest- ment. This partnership was continued until 1898, when George sold his interest in the firm to his brother Giles H., and it was continued under the old name of Roberts Brothers, our subject retiring permanently from active business life.
In 1858 Mr. Roberts led to the altar Martha E. McIntosh, of this county, whose parents, Daniel and Henrietta (Crouch) McIntosh, at that time resided near Crawfordsville, Indiana. She is a most excellent woman and has been a constant inspiration and strength to her husband. Four
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children have been born to them, namely: Elma, who married H. A. Stanard and died in February, 1888, leaving three children; Eliza E., who resides at home; Alice; and Susan B., who has been employed for several years as teacher in the Ottawa schools. The family are members of the Congregational church and are held in high esteem. Fraternally Mr. Rob- erts is a member of the Legion of Honor and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
JOHN M. THOMPSON.
John M. Thompson, of Rutland township, LaSalle county, Illinois, is one of the prosperous, substantial farmers of the county and a lifelong resident here. His parents are Thomas M. and Sarah C. (Mason) Thomp- son. His father was a native of Bergen, Norway, having been born there some sixty-nine years ago and there spent the earlier years of his life. At the age of thirteen he came to America with his parents, who settled in Mission township, this county, where they resided many years. On January 24, 1855, he was united in matrimony with Miss Sarah C. Mason. She was a daughter of Jacob and Charlotte (Dart) Mason, the former of whom reached his eightieth year, dying in 1889, the latter in 1898, in LaSalle county. Twelve children were born to Thomas Thompson and wife,-six sons and six daughters,-ten of whom are now living, viz .: John M., our subject: Mary Maria (Mrs. J. Tilden): Huldah Jane (Mrs. A. Richardson); Edgar and Edward, twins: Charlotte (Mrs. John Benson): Tork W .: Etta (Mrs. George DeBolt); Josie (Mrs. S. Solvin); and Ella, who resides at home. Mr. Thompson now has some sixty-four living descendants and the name is an honored one wherever known. He was an adherent of the De- mocracy and a man of strict integrity. He departed this life May 29. 1895.
John M. Thompson was educated and reared to manhood in Mission township. He had a natural aptitude for agricultural pursuits even in boy- hood and has since made that calling his own, meeting with such success as is attained only by the few. He has a beautiful home, the residence a fine modern structure, built for convenience and symmetry, barns large and commodious, spacious granaries, while an orchard of various kinds of fruit furnishes an abundant yield of toothsome dainties that would tempt an epi- cure. He has four hundred acres of land which is under high cultivation, the broad fragrant meadows and well tended fields making a pleasing picture to the eyes of the casual observer. He has reduced farming to a science and has introduced many modern methods in his work that have proved of great value to the farming element.
Mr. Thompson chose as his partner through life, Miss Ida M. Bruner, to
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whom he was united September 10, 1885. Three children have blessed this union: Ora B., who was born August 14, 1886; Lillian, born August 30, 1888; and Libbie Hazel, born December 8, 1893. Their home is a social center and a cordial welcome is ever accorded the guest, while their popu- larity and the high esteem in which they are held is equaled only by their genial manner and sterling worth. The parents of Mrs. Thompson were Franklin and Elizabeth (Brumbach) Bruner, the former a native of Virginia. Elizabeth Brumbach was the first white child born in Rutland township, her birth occurring February 13, 1830. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Ellen Conard, who died leaving him four children: John Calvin: Nelson, of Buckley, Illinois; George Wesley; and Emma. He then place at the head of his household Miss Elizabeth Brumbach, who bore him but one child, who is the wife of Mr. Thompson. Mr. Bruner died in 1871, in his fiftieth year, and was survived by his wife until October, 1896, when she had attained her sixty-sixth year.
OSCAR H. JOHNSON.
Oscar H. Johnson, of Miller township, LaSalle county, Illinois, was born and reared in this county. He is a son of Henry and Ellen (Olsen) Johnson, the former of whom was born in Norway in 1835, and, with his brother Andrew, the father of Judge Johnson, of Ottawa, came to the United States. He was married in Miller township, this county, to Miss Ellen Olsen. Her parents were Austin and Caroline (Hayer) Oleson, and they resided for many years in this county with their family of five children. These children are: Lewis, a resident of Missouri; Mary Weld, of Lamoni. Iowa; Ole Oleson, of Lamoni; Ellen Johnson, and Anna Lewis, of DeKalb county, Missouri. Mr. Oleson died while yet a young man, and his widow married for her second husband A. B. Anderson, by whom she had four children: Austin: Martha, deceased: Erickson, of this township; and Ben- jamin, of Ottawa. The marriage of Henry Johnson and Ellen Oleson was honored in the birth of nine children, of whom six are deceased. Two died in infancy; Elias had reached his thirtieth year ere death claimed him, and three daughters,-Maggie, Bertha and Emma,-had known but twenty sum- mers when they were called to the better land. Three children have been spared them, viz .: Caroline, wife of Andrew Varland, of Rutland town- ship; Hattie, wife of Andrew Lewis, of DeKalb county, Missouri; and Oscar, our subject. The father died at the age of fifty-seven years. Politically he acted with the Republican party.
Oscar H. Johnson was educated in this county, where he grew to man-
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hood, and has since made his home. He was married December 16, 1897, to Miss Bertha Hayer, who was born in this township, and is a daughter of Goodman and Malina (Hagland) Hayer. Mr. Johnson has a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is well cultivated and improved with neat, substantial barns and a modern residence. He is a Republican in politics, and both himself and wife are members of the Church of Latter Day Saints.
ISAAC GAGE.
When a sturdy band of pioneers were opening up LaSalle county to the influences of civilization Isaac Gage came to the county and cast in his lot with the early settlers. He faithfully bore his part in the work of progress and development, aided in transforming the wild land into rich farms, assisted in organizing the township and establishing civil authority, and in many other ways left the impress of his individuality upon the growth and improve- ment of this section of the state. He was ever a respected citizen, and his record deserves a place on the pages of the history of his adopted county.
Mr. Gage was born in Orford, Grafton county, New Hampshire, No- vember 7, 1815, his parents being Isaac and Ruth (Stone) Gage. They were born, reared and married in Massachusetts, and soon after their marriage removed to Orford, where they spent their remaining days. Upon the home farm Isaac Gage spent the days of his boyhood and when old enough he began to assist his father, who was a stone-mason and took contracts for building bridges, walls and other stone structures. He became a resident of Illinois in 1837, in which year he accompanied his uncle, Aaron Gage, to Chicago. On the 10th of July of the same year he arrived in Ottawa and soon obtained a situation with Levi Jennings, Jr., with whom he lived for several years, when he established a home of his own.
On the Ist of January, 1845, Mr. Gage was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Little, a native of Grafton county, New Hampshire, and a daughter of James and Polly Little, who were early settlers of Eden township, LaSalle county. dating their residence here from the fall of 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Gage began their domestic life upon the farm which has since been their home, and four children came to bless their union: Louisa C., wife of S. T. Osgood, of Marseilles; Harriet E., widow of Dr. R. N. Baughman; Ida A., who became the wife of J. S. Batkin, and died December 23, 1884; and B. Frank.
Throughout his active business career Mr. Gage carried on agricultural pursuits, and was a most practical, progressive and enterprising farmer. His thrift and industry were attended with success, and his prosperity enabled
Irane Gage
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him to replace the little house in which he first lived by a spacious and pleasant residence, and to extend the boundaries of his farm until it com- prised four hundred and eighty acres of richly cultivated land. He also owned an additional quarter section elsewhere in Brookfield township, La- Salle county, and had some valuable real estate in Marseilles. His business affairs were prosecuted with great energy and characterized by the strictest honesty.
Mr. Gage cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840 and voted with the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican party and was one of its stalwart advo- cates until his death. He assisted in the organization of Brookfield town- ship, was its first assessor and held various other offices of trust and responsibility, discharging his duties with marked faithfulness. His was an honorable, upright and useful life, and in his death, which occurred February II, 1886, the community lost one of its valued citizens and esteemed pioneers.
WILLIAM P. REES.
Situated upon the southern bank of the Illinois river, at Ottawa, is the pleasant, modern home of William P. Rees, who is one of the esteemed citizens of LaSalle county, his residence here dating from 1852. His beau- tiful home commands a fine view of Ottawa and the surrounding country, and he takes great pride in keeping everything about the house and grounds in excellent condition.
The Rees family originated in Wales, our subject's great-grandfather being a native of that country. The grandfather, Jonathan Rees, was born in Ohio, whence he removed to Kentucky, and in that state Albert G., the father of William P. Rees, was born, in 1801. He grew to manhood there and a number of years after his marriage to Caroline Helm, a native of the same state, he removed to Illinois. At first he dwelt in Ottawa township, on a farm, later locating on a homestead, which he purchased, in Grand Rapids township. This tract, comprising three hundred and twenty acres, was wild prairie land at the time that he became its owner, and he was obliged to break the ground and expend much energy in placing it under cultivation. In the course of time he had a splendid farm, on which were substantial buildings, fences and other improvements. He took an active part in the affairs of his community, and enjoyed the love and respect of his neighbors and associates. He was summoned to the silent land in 1881, having survived his wife only two years. Three of their children are living, two sons and a daughter.
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William P. Rees, whose birth occurred upon a farm in Mason county, Kentucky, January 21, 1831, spent his youth in that state, and then gained a common-school education. In November. 1851, he came to Illinois, to inves- tigate some of the possibilities and prospects of the state, and being pleased with LaSalle county decided to make his future home here. His parents and the rest of the family came here in the following spring, and he continued to live with them until his marriage, March 26, 1856. After that event he settled on a homestead in Grand Rapids township, and carried on general farming and stock-raising. He remained on this farm for many years, and gradually increased its value by care and cultivation. The place, comprising two hundred acres, is still owned by him, and he now rents it to responsible tenants. In 1875 he retired from active life, and since that time has made his home in Ottawa.
Mr. Rees has been twice married, his first wife having been Miss Sarah Ann Robinson, a daughter of Ephraim and Christiann Robinson. This marriage took place in 1856, and six children were born to them, five of whom died in infancy. The one surviving is Minnie E., now the wife of William I. Mohr, of Ottawa, and she is the mother of three interesting children, Mrs. Rees passed to her reward November 6, 1893, and on the 17th of September, 1896, Mr. Rees married Miss Martha Ann Newburn, a daughter of William and Leah (Harley) Newburn. They had one child, Ruth M., born May 17, 1899.
For a number of years Mr. Rees has been a member of the First Presbyterian church of Ottawa, and at present he is serving in the capacity of an elder in the congregation. In his political views he is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in the welfare of the community, state and county in which his lot is cast.
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