USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois. Volume I > Part 8
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the floors and partition-walls are made of the hollow fire-proof tile. The immense volume of business transacted by the company of which we are writing may be inferred when it is stated that two-thirds of the numerous great office buildings of Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Omaha, and all the cities of the Mississippi valley region and the northwest have been built of fire-proof tiling furnished by them. The plant in which this important product is manufactured is a fine, large, well equipped establishment, and within the various departments of the business employment is given to upwards of two hundred and fifty hands. One of the main buildings, desig- nated as A, is a square, U-shaped structure, one hundred and seventy-five feet wide and two hundred feet deep; the left wing seventy-five and the right wing fifty feet wide. Building B, with three drying floors and a base- ment, is two hundred feet long and forty feet deep. The principal motor is water, and it requires the steam of six boilers of three hundred and fifty horse-power to run two steam presses, to heat the buildings and furnish steam for the dry floors. In the yards there are twenty-six kilns, seven of which are twenty feet in diameter, eighteen are twenty-two feet, and one is thirty feet, inside measurement. To fill the last mentioned it requires six men working for two days. About fifty or sixty thousand fire brick can be turned out by the two steam presses a day. From the above statements, some idea of the difficulty of properly managing such an extensive establish- ment may be gathered. Certain it is that during the eleven or twelve years of Mr. Holland's connection with the company he has always had great responsibility upon his shoulders and has faithfully met every requirement of his office.
We now proceed to give a brief personal sketch of our subject, his ancestry, etc. John Holland was born in England in 1777, and came to America, locating in Brooks county, Virginia, in 1806, where John W., the father of our subject, was born, October 23, 1810. In 1816 they moved to Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, where they remained until 1829, then removing to Lawrenceburg, same state, and in 1830 to Indianapolis, where John W. Holland was united in marriage, in 1846, to Eliza J. Roll, a daughter of Solomon Roll, a native of Ohio. In 1847 John W. Holland established the first wholesale grocery in Indianapolis, remaining in that business continu- ously until 1877, when he retired from business. He died in May, 1884, and his wife passed away June 30, 1894. They were the parents of three children : Pamelia H., Benjamin B. and William G., all of whom are living.
Benjamin B. was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 29, 1852, and received a good education, being a student at the Indianapolis high school. When the state-house was being erected, he was made the superintendent of the Spencer quarry, which furnished building stone for the building, and
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later was made the superintendent of construction, having charge of the erection of the building for the contractors, and at the same time was asso- ciated with Mr. Rush S. Denig in supplying ties to the Nickel Plate Railroad at the time of its construction. In this capacity he remained until 1887, in which year he came to Ottawa. Few men have been more enterprising and energetic, and few citizens of Ottawa are more highly esteemed than he. As a Republican, he has taken great interest in the prosperity of his party.
July 12, 1871, Mr. Holland was married, in his native city, to Miss Laura F. Jordon, a daughter of John Jordon, a prominent merchant of Indianapolis. Edith, the eldest child of our subject and wife, married C. W. McGuire, the auditor of the Evansville & Louisville Railroad at Evansville. Lillie E. is the wife of E. C. Walters, the cashier of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad at Ottawa. Mary D. is living with her parents at home. The family are members of the Baptist church and are identified with various enterprises calculated to benefit humanity. Mr. Holland is genial, frank and warm-hearted by nature, and possesses the friendship of a host of acquaintances.
WILLIAM D. ISERMANN.
William D. Isermann, supervisor of Otter Creek township, LaSalle county, Illinois, is a well known citizen of the county. Born January 16, 1861, in the township in which he now lives, he is a son of German parents and possesses many of the characteristics which have contributed to the success of the German people wherever they have settled in this country. His parents, William and Frederica (Stoplar) Isermann, were born, reared and married in Germany, and shortly after their marriage they emigrated to this country and settled in LaSalle county, Illinois. Here they made for themselves a comfortable home, and here sons and daughters to the number of seven were born to them. Of this number six are still living, namely : Charles S., of Otter Creek township, LaSalle county, Illinois; Carrie, wife of J. C. Hitter, of this same township; Emma, wife of John Albrecht, of Pottawattamie county, Iowa; William D., whose name introduces this sketch; Fred, of Streator, Illinois; and Charlotte, wife of L. Schoenleber. One daughter, Dorothea, died at the age of eighteen years.
By the death of his father, William D. Isermann was left an orphan when ten years old, and he was reared by Adam Diller, who early trained him to farm work and gave him the advantage of a good public-school education.
Mr. Isermann was married at the age of twenty-two years, to Miss Mary Lindemann, a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of
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Rev. Charles and Mauda (Joquet) Lindemann. Mr. and Mrs. Isermann have had five children born to them-Carl H., Carrie F., Harry W., Fritz L. and Florence M. Mrs. Isermann is a member of the Evangelical church.
Mr. Isermann has at different times served in several local offices. For six years he was commissioner of highways, and, as already stated, is now township supervisor. He is a Republican in political adherency, and frater- nally is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 4, of Streator.
DANIEL R. BURKE.
A prominent member of the bar of Ottawa, who has spent the early years of his life in fitting himself for the profession which he adorns, is Daniel R. Burke. He was born in Ottawa, June 7, 1867, a son of Patrick and Margaret (Cummings) Burke, both natives of Ireland. His father came . from Longford and the mother from Tipperary, were married in Canada and soon after came to the United States, settling in Ottawa. Here the father opened a general merchandise store and later admitted a partner, namely, Daniel Heenan. The firm of Burke & Heenan was one of the largest and most successful mercantile houses here for many years. In 1872, Patrick Burke retired from the business and died one year later. He was a promi- nent Democrat and a liberal, public-spirited citizen. He was at one time mayor of the city and was a man who was liked by every one. The wife and five children survive him. The children are Thomas A .; Charles, of Chicago; James P., also of Chicago; William J .; and Daniel.
Except the years spent in college, Daniel R. Burke has always resided in Ottawa. As a lad he attended the public school, preparing for college in the high school of his city. He then entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, graduating in the law department of that institution in 1888, when twenty-one years of age. Returning home he at once began practicing his profession, and soon formed a partnership with Hon. Maurice T. Maloney. The firm of Maloney & Burke was dissolved in 1892, when Mr. Maloney was elected to the office of attorney general of Illinois, holding the office four years. Mr. Burke was then a partner with D. F.Trainer, the noted criminal lawyer, for one year, since which time he has conducted a general law office by himself.
In 1892 Mr. Burke was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Fennell, of Ottawa, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Ryan) Fennell, prominent residents of the county. They have one child, Margaret M. Burke. Mr. Burke belongs to the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, and is president of the North
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American Insurance Society. He is a strong Democrat, and takes an active part in local politics. He is a member of the central and congressional com- mittees, and ably represented the city as attorney at one time. He is affable and pleasant, gaining the friendship and good will of all classes.
JAMES W. STEVENSON.
The venerable postmaster of Sunrise, LaSalle county, Illinois, is one of the most popular and widely known residents of the county, having taken an active part in all public affairs of local import that have engaged the attention of the citizens of this community since his residence here,-a period embracing half a century.
James W. Stevenson, who was born in Warren county, New Jersey, April 30, 1827, is a son of John and Hannah (Wilson) Stevenson, and a . grandson of Joseph Stevenson. John Stevenson also was born in the state of New Jersey, where he grew to manhood and engaged in tilling the soil. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and was a man of most exem- plary character. Hannah Wilson, the lady to whom he was united in mar- riage, was born in Warren county, New Jersey, and was a daughter of Gabriel and Grace (Brotherton) Wilson, both of whom were of English descent. Eight children resulted from this marriage, namely: Joseph, a resident of Pasadena, California; James W., whose history is here briefly portrayed; Samuel, deceased, late of Pennsylvania; Almira Deats, of New Jersey; William, who died in Sayre, Pennsylvania; Edwin, who was drowned when he was about twenty-one years old; Daniel, a resident of Streator, Illinois; and Walter, who resides in Pasadena, California. The father died at the age of fifty-four years and was survived many years by his wife, who made her home in this township until her eighty-seventh year, when she also passed to her reward, the date of her death being March 20, 1889.
James W. Stevenson was reared in New Jersey, attending the public schools and the West Town Friends' Boarding School. He was employed for some years as an instructor in the schools of that state, and in 1849 came to Illinois, locating in Rutland township, LaSalle county. About 1851 he returned to New Jersey and remained there two years, when he came back to this county and took up his permanent residence here, on the farm now owned and cultivated by him. This contains two hundred and eighty acres of land, one hundred and sixty of which is under cultivation. Good, sub- stantial buildings lend an added charm, while a large orchard furnishes an abundance of finely flavored fruit, such as is grown no place else except on the broad prairie land of Illinois.
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In 1851 Mr. Stevenson was married to Miss Comfort A. Millikin, daugh- ter of Samuel and Rebecca (Williams) Millikin, and a native of Licking county, Ohio, where she was educated. Her parents were early settlers of LaSalle county, and both died in Rutland township. Eight children were born to them, of whom six daughters and one son are living, namely: Com- fort A., wife of our subject; Sarah Russell, a resident of Iowa; Minerva Smith, also of Iowa; Amanda L. Wightman, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Jerusha Kelley, of Grant City, Missouri; Samuel; and Lucy Parr.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson were born six children, namely: Emma, who lives at home; John, who married Miss Florence Garver, by whom he has two children, Grace Eva and Roy; Edward, a bridge-builder of Toledo, Ohio; Ernest, a talented musician, who married Miss Mamie Vail and has two children, James Vail and Elmira C .; William, who married Miss Mabel Spencer; and Byron, who died at the age of thirty years.
Mr. Stevenson is a stanch Republican and has taken a prominent interest in township, county and state politics, rendering much aid to the party or- ganization. He has served for twelve years on the board of supervisors, representing Otter Creek township, and for thirty-one years has acted as postmaster of Sunrise, Illinois, discharging his duties in a thorough and con- scientious manner, which qualities have been among the chief characteristics of the man. He is now in his seventy-second year, but is hale and hearty, with a good word for every one. His upright, Christian life has made him generally loved and respected, and no man stands higher in the esteem of the general public than he.
MILLARD F. BOVARD.
Millard F. Bovard, the editor and proprietor of the Marseilles Register, is one of the representative citizens of LaSalle county. He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, in 1856, a son of Oliver K. and Mahala (Herin) Bovard. When he was but six years of age our subject's father died, and ten years later the devoted mother was summoned to her reward.
Thus left an orphan at an early age, Millard F. Bovard was thrown upon his own resources, and nobly and manfully he met the new responsibilities of his position. Realizing that the basis of success in after life was a liberal education, he applied himself to his studies with assiduity. Locating in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1871, subsequently to the death of his mother, he attended school there for a period, and during the next year commenced an apprenticeship at the printer's trade in the office of the Bloomington Pantagraph. He devoted his whole attention to journalistic work for the next eight years, after which he taught school for a period, and served as
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superintendent of city schools in McLean and Livingston counties for about fifteen years. He then conducted a newspaper at Forest, Illinois, for a year or two, and upon disposing of it came to Marseilles, in August, 1895. Here he bought the Register, a six-column quarto, which he has published ever since. The paper, which is issued daily and weekly, enjoys a large local cir- culation. Republican in politics, it is not offensively partisan, but aims to be conservative and liberal in judgment, and to present to its readers a brief, yet comprehensive digest of the great affairs engrossing the world's atten- tion, and at the same time to chronicle local events of interest.
Mr. Bovard is thoroughly interested in the public schools, and has acted as a member of the Marseilles board of education. For years he has been a member of the Congregational church, and is now chorister, his ability in this direction being quite pronounced.
In April, 1879, Mr. Bovard married Miss Jennie Plank, a daughter of Horace and Louisa Plank, natives of Massachusetts, and now residents of Marseilles. Two sons and two daughters bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bovard, namely: Edna L., who is a successful teacher in the town schools; Horace R .; Mahala Blanche; and Millard F., Jr. It is needless to say that the children are receiving excellent educational advantages, and are thus being fitted in the wisest manner for the future battle of life.
CAPTAIN THOMAS C. FULLERTON.
Many an old army comrade who had fought by his side and shared the hardships and privations of army life during the great civil war, many a member of the legal profession and those associated with him in fraternal and political relations mourned the sudden death of Captain Thomas C. Fullerton, of Ottawa, and treasure his memory. Helpful in example, wise in counsel, eloquent in speech, kindly and generous in disposition and con- spicuous in action, his life challenges our admiration and bids us emulate his worthy career.
A native of Marion township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, Cap- tain Fullerton was born August 21, 1839, and accompanied his parents to Illinois in the fall of 1855, locating upon a farm near Freedom. Upon the 25th of September, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A, Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry (known as "Yates' Sharpshooters"), and was appointed orderly sergeant at the end of one month. On June 28, 1863, he was pro- moted to the first lieutenancy and became adjutant of the regiment, and April 2, 1864, he was commissioned and mustered in as captain of Company C, at the same time being appointed acting assistant inspector general on the
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staff of General Sprague, commanding the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. Twenty days later he was assigned to the same position on the staff of General G. M. Dodge, commanding the left wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps. When that general was wounded, in August, and was succeeded by T. E. G. Ransom, next in command, Captain Fullerton continued to act in the same position as formerly, remaining until October, 1864, when he was assigned to duty as aide-de-camp on the staff of General Ransom. The Captain took part in some of the most momentous campaigns of the war, always distinguishing himself by his bravery and faithful perform- ance of duty. He fought under Pope at New Madrid, Island Number 10, and Fort Pillow; took part in the siege of Corinth, Iuka and the famous Atlanta campaign, which was an almost continuous battle from Resaca to Jonesboro.
Returning to the north in the fall of 1864, Captain Fullerton studied law in the office of Glover, Cook & Campbell, of Ottawa, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1866. Then, going to Alabama,-for the south had many attractions for him, in spite of the sad and dreadful memories which were ever associated with it in his mind,-he opened an office at Huntsville. On the 24th of August, 1866, he was appointed assistant district attorney of the United States for the northern district of Alabama. Unsolicited, and indeed against his wishes, he was elected the state's attorney of Madison county, Alabama, in the autumn election of 1868, and refused to qualify for that office. In the previous June he had been appointed register in bank- ruptcy, and served until January, 1871, when he resigned. Removing to Washington, District of Columbia, he practiced before the various courts and commissions there until November, 1881, when he returned to Ottawa. From that time until his death he was actively engaged in the practice of law here, and from 1888 filled the position of master in chancery with ability and distinction. For six years, from 1884 to 1890, he was chairman of the Republican county central committee, and conducted five campaigns in five successive years. Elevated to higher honors, he acted as one of the state cen- tral committee of his party from 1890, meeting the expectations of his most sanguine friends in every respect, and well meriting the title of a party leader. His name was presented and he was nominated at Streator, Illinois, for con- gress, and it was while absent from home, aggressive in the work of the cam- paign, that the summons came to him to cease from his labors. He died suddenly, of heart failure, and the funeral services were conducted under the auspices of the Grand Army of the Republic-that "grand army" of heroes whose ranks are diminishing year by year.
The Captain was connected with the Grand Army organization from 1866, and was one of the charter members of Seth C. Earl Post, No. 156,
ยท
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which was founded in the fall of 1882. He was the commander of the post for some time, and served in various capacities, such as senior vice com- mander, assistant inspector general, on the council of administration, and as a member of the Soldiers' Home committee. He made a point of attend- ing the state and national encampments, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting those who had "worn the blue" and fought for the Union. He belonged to the Ottawa Club, the Ottawa Boat Club, and was a Mason of the Knight Templar degree, being connected with Ottawa Commandery, No. 10. He was loved and looked up to by an extremely large circle of acquaintances, and his life was in harmony with the noblest and best principles which ani- mate mankind.
DR. DAVID F. COTTERMAN.
Dr. Cotterman is the leading dentist in Marseilles, LaSalle county, Illi- nois, having established an office in this city in 1891. He was born December 15, 1859, in Miami county, Indiana, his parents being Noah and Catherine (Weaver) Cotterman, and his grandfather Andrew Cotterman. The great- grandfather was a native of Germany. The mother is a daughter of David and Harriet (Mason) Weaver, and is now in her eighty-sixth year. As nearly as can be ascertained the Weavers were also descended from German origini.
David F. Cotterman spent his earlier years on the farm, and attended the district schools in his native state during the winter terms. He then entered a select school, and after leaving that engaged in teaching for six years. He then accepted a position with the United States government as railway postal clerk, his run being between Toledo, Ohio, and St. Louis, Missouri. He remained in this service four years and then began studying dentistry under Dr. J. H. Hutton, of Hoopeston, this state. Entering the Chicago College of Dental Surgery he graduated in the class of 1891, of which he was president. He at once came to Marseilles, purchased the busi- ness and good will of Dr. R. N. Baughman, and is now established in a good, lucrative practice, while his offices are pleasantly furnished and equipped with the most approved appliances necessary to his craft. His work in all lines of modern dentistry has the reputation of giving the best satisfaction and being most durable in quality. He has a steadily increasing business, and his popularity is but the outgrowth of the conscientious performance of his work.
October 7, 1882, Dr. Cotterman was married to Miss Laura Rawlings, daughter of Mortimer Rawlings, of Indiana. She died in December, 1893, leaving four children : Jessie, born July 26, 1883; Homer, February 21, 1886; Laurance, March 31, 1891; and Frances, November 10, 1892.
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The Doctor's residence is one of the handsomest in Marseilles, situated on the bluffs, and commanding a picturesque view of the village and the Illinois river. The Doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was president of the board of education for two years and rendered the cause of education much valuable service. He has been treasurer of a private library fund for some time,-an institution he was largely instrumental in establish- ing. He is the able manager of the Columbian opera-house in Marseilles, and it has been his endeavor to furnish the theater-loving public with a course of entertainments that would elevate as well as amuse. The Doctor is genial and pleasant to all and has endeared himself to the entire community by his upright, manly bearing.
CLARENCE B. CHAPMAN.
Clarence B. Chapman, an honored member of the LaSalle county bar, and ex-county attorney of this county, was born in Princeton, Illinois, Jan- uary 1, 1857, and is consequently in the prime of life and mental vigor. His birthplace was in Princeton, Bureau county, Illinois, and his boyhood was passed quietly enough upon his father's farm there. His parents were O. E. and Sarah L. (Beeman) Chapman, natives of Medina county, Ohio. The Chapmans were of English extraction, and the paternal grandfather of our subject, Sceva Chapman, was born in Vermont, while the maternal grand- father, Milton Beeman, was a native of Connecticut.
In common with the other boys of his neighborhood, Clarence B. Chap- man obtained his elementary education in the district schools of Bureau county. He was an apt student and, being ambitious in the acquisition of knowledge, made rapid progress. In 1878 he was graduated in the high school of Princeton, and two years later he received a diploma from the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Illinois, being graduated in the law department. The same year, IS80, he came to Ottawa and entered into part- nership with M. N. Armstrong, under the firm name of Armstrong & Chap- man. At the close of three years this business connection was dissolved, and our subject practiced alone until 1887, when he became associated with Duncan McDougall, with whom he continues, the style of the firm being McDougall & Chapman. During nine months, commencing in July, 1886, Mr. Chapman was located in Beatrice, Nebraska. McDougall & Chapman command a large share of local legal work, and many of their clients live in more or less distant parts of the county. Mr. Chapman is an earnest advo- cate, thoroughly understands the law, and presents his cases to judge and jury in an impressive, clear and logical manner, which carries conviction to the minds of his hearers. He is a Republican in politics, and, having been
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elected to the responsible position of county attorney, he served in that capacity, acceptably to all concerned, from September, 1894, to the fall of 1896. For four years he was the secretary of the Republican county central committee, doing effective work for the party.
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