USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 11
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James W. Parrish dates his birth in Mineral county, West Virginia, September 30, 1853. and was sixteen years old at the time of their removal to Illinois. Here at the age of twenty he started to make his own way in
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the world, engaging as a farm hand for Arthur Long at a salary of twenty dollars per month. Afterward he worked for several of the large farmers of the township and finally settled down with C. R. Brown, probably the most wealthy and influential farmer of the township, and during his experi- ence as a wage earner laid by each month a little sum. When he began farming independently he was in a measure prepared for it. He remained with Mr. Brown and undertook the management of his large estate. With the exception of a period spent on his own farm, a half section of land in Nebraska, he has been a resident of the neighborhood where he married and made his first start.
Mr. Parrish married Miss Clara Brown, only child of C. R. Brown. The children of this marriage are Arthur, Rollin and Gertie.
JOHN E. MILLER.
John E. Miller, one of the honored pioneers of Illinois, was born in Windham, Wilmington township, Vermont, and is the only survivor of a family which once numbered eleven members, six of the children being sons and three daughters. The parents, who were highly respected citizens, were Isaac and Lucy (Conant) Miller, natives of Massachusetts. They removed to the Green Mountain state, where they were interested in the management of a farm for many years. The father died on his homestead there when about three-score and ten years of age. He was born January 28. 1782. and died May 29. 1850, aged sixty-eight years; and his wife. born February 15, 1787, preceded him to the silent land August 30, 1848, sixty- one years of age. They were Universalists in religious faith, and were noted for all of the qualities of the true Christian.
The birth of Jolin E. Miller took place December 7, 1826, and in his boyhood he attended the district schools of Wilmington township. He early mastered the details of agriculture and laid the foundations for a successful business career. He worked for neighbors for several years after attaining his majority, and at last concluded that he would try his fortunes in the west, about whose vast resources so much was then being said. Accordingly, in September. 1851, he came to Illinois, and while looking around for a permanent location engaged in working for the pioneers. He was thus occupied for about a year, in the meantime buying one hun- dred and eighty acres of land in Clarion township, Bureau county. He then returned to Vermont on a visit, and remained there for a little over a year. In the spring of 1853 he again came west and began cultivating and improving his homestead, continuing to dwell there until 1865. That
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year he sold the farm and came to this county, where he invested his means in a quarter section of land in Mendota township. In 1874 he erected a handsome house here, at a cost of six thousand dollars, and in 1895 it was destroyed by fire. The same year, however, he built another residence,- a large, modern brick house, one of the most attractive homes in the county. Substantial barns, granaries and other farm buildings provide abundance of accommodations for stock and the products of the farm, and everything about the place is kept up neatly and in a manner denoting thrift. About 1893 Mr. Miller bought an eighty-acre farm adjoining his homestead, and now owns and cultivates two hundred and forty acres.
The marriage of Mr. Miller and Miss Elmina D. Ballou was solemnized February 28, 1856, and after more than two-score years of happiness to- gether the devoted wife and mother was summoned to the better land. She died August 1, 1897, at the age of sixty-three years and ten months. Her loss is deeply felt in this community, and her noble example, and loving, womanly sympathy and helpfulness is remembered by her friends, who were innumerable. She, as well as Mr. Miller, has long been identified with the Universalist faith, her parents, Asahel and Diantha (Fox) Ballou, have been deceased many years.
To the union of our subject and wife four sons and a daughter were born: Martha E., whose birth occurred October 1, 1857, died July 28, 1861 ; Loren C., born March 30, 1860, died March 13, 1863: Frank H., born March 21, 1862, married Alma R. Clark, by whom three children were born,-Lee, Grace and Frank; the father died in August, 1889; Dana E., born June 26, 1864, first wedded Sarah Taylor, and after her death Anna Taylor became his wife; they have one little daughter, Helen; and Eddie A., born in Mendota, March 27, 1866, resides upon the eighty-acre farm adjoining his father's homestead. His wife was Miss May Lambert prior to their marriage.
Politically J. E. Miller is a stalwart advocate of the Republican party platform and principles. He has served in the capacity of school director two terms. During a long period he was the treasurer and a director in the Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company, and other local concerns received his aid and influence.
CLAUDE DISIER.
The man who by industry and perseverance provides liberally for his family and in addition lays by a sufficient store upon which to subsist when the frost of age shall have whitened his brow, is considered to be a person entitled to our admiration, and the public hasten to do him honor. This is
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perfectly right, as it is refreshing to see a man who is not discouraged by every ill wind, who stands bravely to the front in the many battles with fortune, and is ever ready with his cry of "Onward" when others falter and fall back. Such a man is Claude Disier, whom we are proud to call a citizen of our commonwealth.
Like his ancestors for generations, he is a farmer and has made of the vocation something more than the mere drudgery that characterizes so many of the so-called farmers who appear to have no ambition beyond a mere hand-to-mouth existence. Mr. Disier was born in the agricultural districts of sunny France in November, 1827, was there educated and trained to farm work, his father and grandfather both being farmers in that country. He was a son of Francis and Catherine (Euteria) Disier. In 1856 he took passage at Havre on a sailing vessel bound for New York. Six weeks was consumed by the voyage across, the ship being the Amer- ican vessel, Happin. He spent a year in the city of New York and the following summer farmed at Cape Vincent. In November, 1857, he came to Ottawa, where he worked in the machine shops for a time and then purchased eighty acres of land in Waltham township. It was his endeavor to make this farm first-class in every respect, and so to cultivate it that it would yield him the greatest possible returns. Having started without means, he understood the value of good management and well directed energy and applied both to the work before him. He now owns two good farms, containing two hundred and eighty acres, within two miles of Ottawa. These farms are well improved and furnished with good houses, barns, and other necessary buildings, while the fertility of the soil has been so carefully looked after that they are among the most productive in the state.
Mr. Disier has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Georgiana, daughter of George Sulzerberger. Four children were born to them,- Fanny, Emma, Sophia and George Ganiere. His second marriage was contracted February 27, 1865, and by this there was one son, Edouard, who died in 1895, leaving one child, Claude Disier. Mr. Disier has been an upright, honorable citizen, and is highly esteemed by his neighbors.
WALLACE B. CORNISH.
Wallace Bruce Cornish, night foreman in the rolling mills of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, LaSalle, is a native of the Empire state, born in Westkill, Greene county, January 22, 1843, a son of James Monroe Cornish and Henrietta (Bennett) Cornish, both natives of New York. Both his grandfathers were Englishmen and were among the early
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settlers of Greene county. Grandfather Cornish was Democratic in his polit- ical views, but his son James M. was a Republican, as also is Wallace B. By trade James M. was a watchmaker. He lived and died in Greene county. New York, and some time after his death his widow moved to Chicago. where she is still living.
Wallace B. Cornish was reared in Westkill and received a comnion- school education there. At the age of fifteen years he was thrown upon his own resources. He began the battle of life as a farm hand, working by the month, and this form of employment he followed for five or six years. In New York he married Asenath Schermehorne, and shortly after his marriage came west, locating in LaSalle, Illinois, in 1865, and at that time accepting a position as a clerk in a dry-goods store. He clerked for about six years, after which he entered the employ of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, as a bookkeeper. After filling the position of bookkeeper for about a year and a half, he was made night foreman of the rolling mills, and has continued in this position ever since. His long continuance in the employ of the zinc company is ample evidence that his service has been appreciated. All that he is and has accomplished in life has been achieved by diligent and persistent effort on his own part.
Mr. Cornish holds a membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen of America.
PAUL WASZKOWIAK.
Paul Waszkowiak, a merchant of LaSalle, Illinois, is of Polish birtli and early education. He was born in Poland, Germany, January 15, 1858, and is a son of John and Anna (Candeika) Waszkowiak. His father died in Poland in 1866, at the age of fifty-two years, and his mother is still living. a resident of this country. To them were born the following children: John, Frank, Joe, Paul, Mary and Anton. Their son John came to this country and to LaSalle in 1870, the following year Frank came, and in 1873 their widowed mother, with three of her children,-Paul, Mary and Anton,-also came to LaSalle. The mother, now seventy-four years of age, is still living in LaSalle. At the time of her coming to America her son Joe was in the German army. He joined the other members of the family here in 1875, and at this writing all of them, except Frank, reside in LaSalle.
Paul, the subject of this sketch, was fifteen years old when he landed on American soil. He had gained a fair education in his native language, but after coming to this country never went to school. However, he has learned to read and write as well as speak the English language. Immedi- ately after he came to LaSalle he obtained employment as a horse driver in
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the yards of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, at a salary of one dollar and ten cents per day. Afterward he was given work in the furnace de- partment of the zinc works, at better wages, and for several years held a posi- tion with the company. He saved his earnings and was thereby enabled to go into business for himself. This he did in the year 1894. He engaged in the grocery and saloon business, in which he has continued, achieving suc- cess, building up a good trade. and gaining for himself a splendid reputation as a business man.
In 1879 Mr. Waszkowiak was united in marriage to Miss Bozalija Siekieska, and to them have been born five sons and one daughter. He and his family are members of the Polish Catholic church, and he belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters.
SILAS W. WILLIAMS.
The gentleman here named is a retired paper manufacturer and a prom- inent citizen of Streator. He was born in Albany, Vermont, on March 22, 1841. a direct descendant of Roger Williams, of colonial fame. to wit: Roger Williams, Joseph, John, Nathaniel. James. James R., Cyril. Silas W. The grandfather. James R., served in the Revolutionary war, and Darius, an uncle, was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Cyril Williams was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1801. and was taken by his father, in change of residence, to Vermont in 1807. At the same time his grandfather emigrated to that state with them. Cyril Williams married Catherine Wetherbee, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, a daughter of Caleb Wetherbee and a granddaughter of Nathan Wetherbee and Elizabeth Dunton, also of the Bay state. Nathan Wetherbee was a minute man of the Revolution. Mrs. Williams attained the remarkable age of ninety-three years.
Silas W. Williams was educated in the public schools of Caledonia county, Vermont, and the Orleans Liberal Institute, of that state. In 1869 he came to Ottawa, Illinois, and engaged in the manufacture of straw- . board and straw wrapping paper. He afterward owned paper mills at Day- ton, Marseilles and Streator, all in this county. In 1893 he sold out his paper-mill interests to the Columbia Straw Paper Company and retired from the manufacturing business, engaging in banking and real estate. He was a director of the City National bank, and was the president for some years of the Young Men's Christian Association. He has also filled the position of president of the board of education since 1896. He is an active member of the Streator Social Service Club, and also of the Streator Social Club, and
NOW Villiam
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in his religious relations a member of the Park Presbyterian church, in which he was for a number of years the president of the board of trustees. In politics he is a Democrat, with no ambitions for political office. He has the broadness of character to vote for a Republican if he thinks that the public welfare will be best promoted thereby.
In 1873 he married Catherine E. Worthingham, a daughter of Morri- son and Sarah Angeline (Barker) Worthingham. Her father was a lieu- tenant in the One Hundredth Illinois Regiment in the civil war, and was killed at the battle of Stone River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was but nine years old when brought to Canada by his father in his emigration from England, his native land. Shortly after their arrival in America his father returned to England on business, and died there. Later the son came into the United States. Mrs. Williams' grandfather, Benjamin Barker, was in the war of 1812, and her great-grandfather, Zenas Barker, served in the war of the Revolution. Her brother, Charles, served in our late war with Spain. Her grandmother was Catherine Goodrich, of Roxbury, Connecti- cut. The American Goodriches settled in Wethersfield. Connecticut, about 1643. The family in England can be traced to an ancestor who fought and fell in Harold's army at Hastings in 1066.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams have two children,-Alice Amelia and Blanche Catherine.
WILLIAM H. NORTON.
William H. Norton, the superintendent and engineer of the Earlville water-works, was born in New Portland, Somerset county. Maine. October 17, 1831. a son of William G. and Elmira (Parker) Norton, both natives of the Pine Tree state.
The Norton family is of English origin and was represented in New England at an early period in the history of this country. The Parkers are of Scotch-Irish extraction. £ Both families were represented in the early wars of this country. Grandfather Norton serving in the war of 1812 and Grandfather Parker in the Revolutionary war.
William G. Norton and wife were the parents of the following named children: William H., the immediate subject of this review: John P., (leceased: Ruth P., , was the first wife of W. R. Haight, of Earl- ville. Illinois: Octava E .. a widow residing in Jacksonville, Illinois; and Sybel. wife of F. H. Hall, the superintendent of the Blind Asylum at Jacksonville, Illinois. William G. Norton left Maine in the fall of 1849 and brought his family to Illinois, locating in Boone county, where they resided until the spring of 1851, when they removed to Freedom. LaSalle county.
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In 1852 they came to Earlville, and here the parents spent the closing years of their lives and died.
In his youth William H. Norton obtained a fair academical education, and when a young man engaged in teaching. He taught his first school in the winter of 1851-2, and for four or five years thereafter spent his time in the school-room as teacher. After his marriage, in 1854, Mr. Norton set- tled in Earlville, where he has since continuously resided. with the exception of four years, 1873 to 1877, when he lived in Aurora, Illinois. The first five years after his marriage he was engaged in farming, and from that turned his attention to the grain business, in which he was occupied at the time the civil war came on. He enlisted April 22. 1861, in Company D, Twenty-third Illinois Infantry, as a private. This regiment was captured in September, 1861, at Lexington, Missouri, was paroled three days later and was discharged by the United States government. When it was after- ward reorganized Mr. Norton did not enter it. He re-enlisted in August, 1862, as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois In- fantry, and served until November. 1864, when he was discharged on account of ill health. Prominent among the engagements in which he participated were the battles of Hartsville, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge and the Atlanta campaign; and, like most veterans of the Union army, he now maintains a membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, being identified with McCulloch Post, No. 475.
For two years after his return from the army Mr. Norton was in such poor health that he was not in any business. When he recovered he was for several years engaged in the manufacture of shoes, and for several years following that was in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, being engaged in railroading while in Aurora. In 1877 we find him dealing in agricultural implements, which he continued for seven years. In 1889 he was appointed the postmaster of Earlville, under President Harrison's administration, and served as such four years and seven months, until a change of administration caused his successor to be appointed. In early life he learned the business of stationary engineering. and has followed that, at intervals, when not otherwise occupied. Since May. 1896, he has held the position of superintendent and engineer of the Earlville water-works. Mr. Norton is an ardent Republican, and besides the office above referred to he has been honored with other official posi- tions. He has served as alderman, town clerk, town assessor, township trustee of schools and justice of the peace. He was elected to the last named office in 1898.
Mr. Norton was first married. in 1854, to Miss Harriet A. Smith. She died in 1874, leaving four children,-Lawrence J., Finette, Harriet and
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Maud. In 1878 he wedded Elizabeth Cook, his present companion. Their union has been blessed in the birth of two children,-Vere and Blanch. The latter was drowned at the age of six years!
JOHN B. PARK.
John B. Park, a farmer and stock-raiser of Earl township, LaSalle county, was born in Greencamp, Marion county, Ohio, October 26, 1834, and is a son of Ira and Matilda (McNeal) Park. His father was a son of John Park and was born in the state of Massachusetts, but at the age of four or five years death robbed him of both parents and he was sent to Ohio, where he grew to man's estate and was married to Matilda McNeal. She was born in Ireland and was brought over to this country with her parents when she was a child of four and one-half years and was also reared in Ohio. Their marriage resulted in the birth of six children, namely, · Elizabeth, John B., Sarah, Caroline, Levi W. and George F ..- all of whom are now dead but John B. and George F. They left Ohio during the year 1837 and stopped one year in Holderman's Grove, Illinois, thence went to Paw Paw, this state, and two years later to Shabbona, DeKalb county. Here they took up their residence on the wild prairie lands of Illinois and made their home for many years, moving to Leland, Adams township, this county, in 1862. Here he kept a hotel for four years, and then bought a farm and began farming, residing in Leland two more years. He then removed to Shabbona and remained there about two years. Securing land in Earl township, LaSalle county, he was next engaged for six years in farm- ing in this township. A few years later he retired from the farm, and removed to Earlville, where he now resides. His wife died in 1893.
John B. Park spent his early life in DeKalb county, where he received his education in the public schools and assisted his father on the farm. He continued to be his father's right-hand man for many years and remained in that county until 1870, when he came to LaSalle county and settled in Earl township on the 14th of February of that year, on a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, in section 14. He was an industrious, hard-working man, and his success in agriculture has been the result of energy and a well disciplined mind. Thinking to find a better price for the product of his farm he began raising stock, to which he fed his grain and hay. putting them on the market when in prime condition and realizing from their sale a much larger profit than would have been received from the raw material. Since then he has dealt largely in stock, finding that instead of impoverished land and ordinary crops he has a farm that yields a bountiful harvest and a
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neat income from the sleek herds always ready for the butcher. He is among the best agriculturists in this county and his ideas have been largely adopted by many of his neighbors.
In 1858 he was joined in marriage to Miss Rosetta Marks, by whom he had the following children, viz .: Linton W .. who married Gertrude Labee. a daughter of Richard Labee, of this township; he is a farmer here: Ira died at the age of two years: George died when two and one-half summers had passed over his head; the fourth child died in infancy, as did Jennie E .; and the youngest was Eva M. Mrs. Park was born in 'Nauvoo and was a daughter of LaFayette and Martha E. (Frost) Marks, who were among the early settlers of DeKalb county, where they lived for many years. The father was born in the state of New York and the mother in Maine.
Mr. Park is a Democrat and for a time served as the deputy sheriff and tax collector of DeKalb county. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity, and is a man who has won the respect and esteem of all by his upright, honorable bearing. His children were educated in Earlville and occupy a prominent place in the social circles of their home.
SAMUEL E. JONES.
Samuel Edward Jones, agent at Earlville. Illinois, for the Chicago. Bur- lington and Quincy Railroad Company, has held this position since October 1, 1895. He has been in the employ of this company since September, 1887. when. at the age of twenty. he began his railroad career. His first service was as a bill clerk in the freight office at Aurora, Illinois, a position he held from September, 1887. to July. 1888. He was then transferred to North Aurora, as agent, and was there for a period of six months, after which he was made relief agent and as such was on the road for about a year and a half, relieving other agents at various stations. Next he was day operator at Western Avenue Station, Chicago. six months, following which he be- came station agent at Grand Ridge, Illinois, a position he filled for seven years, and from there being sent to his present place at Earlville. The fact that he has remained constantly for so long a period in the employ of the same railroad is ample evidence of his ability as station agent and operator.
Mr. Jones was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania, January 16. 1867, only son and one of a family of three children of William M. and Mary J. (Harn) Jones, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1884 Mr. Jones brought his family west, seeking a change of location on account of the ill health of our subject. the family home being established at Grand Ridge, Illinois. Being of a delicate constitution in his boyhood. Samuel E. was kept away
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from school much of the time, and thus his educational advantages were limited. He is practically a self-made man.
At Grand Ridge, in 1890. Mr. Jones married Miss Anna E. Lewis, who was born near that place. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Jones' parents still reside at Grand Ridge, Illinois. His father was a Union soldier in the civil war, serving as a private in Company C. One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry, and while engaged in battle at Missionary Ridge lost his left arm.
STEPHEN J. MADDEN.
A worthy representative of the honored pioneer families of LaSalle county. Mr. Madden was born in Mendota, April 3. 1864. He spent his boyhood days here, and having laid the foundation for a successful busi- ness career by acquiring a practical education he learned the machinist's trade in his father's machine shops and became a skilled workman. For a number of years he was in the employ of others, but in 1896 he opened a plumbing establishment of his own in Mendota and has since done a large business in this line, making a specialty of all kinds of steam and hot-water heating appliances and outfitting. He also takes contracts for plumbing. sewer and water works, and has succeeded in building up an excellent business. Soon after his father's death he succeeded to his father's interest in the firm of Donohue & Madden, proprietors of the foundry and machine shops of Mendota. The firm name was unchanged, and now to the two branches of the business Mr. Madden, of this review, devotes all the time and attention which he cares to give to business. Inherited ability doubt- less partially accounts for the success which he has won. and a better ex- ample than that afforded him by his honored father could not be found: but his own close application. his keen discernment and his untiring industry are unmistakable elements in his prosperity, without which inherited ability would have been of no avail.
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