USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 22
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George Pope, the father of our subject, was born in Lorain county, Ohio, December 21, 1814, and in 1843 came from the Buckeye state to
Milton Pope,
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LaSalle county, locating near the town of Manlius in what is now Miller township. There he engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred March 2, 1860. He was industrious and successful and his enterprise and capable management brought to him a merited competence. He took a great interest in the newly organized Republican party and joined its ranks, stanchly supporting its principles. He married Miss Louisa R. Redington, a daughter of Harry and Lydia (Allen) Redington. Her father was a native of London, England, where he was born April 3, 1786, and his wife was born in Pennsylvania, December 14, 1793, and was of Welsh descent. He died November 18, 1848, and her death occurred on the 25th of April, 1836. Mrs. Pope was born in Girard, Erie county, Penn- sylvania, October 6, 1820, and with her parents removed to Lorain county, Ohio, in 1821. In December, 1840, she became the wife of George Pope and in 1843 they went to Cedar county, Iowa, but in August of the same year became residents of LaSalle county. Mr. Pope died in 1860, and on Christmas day of 1861 his widow became the wife of John Brundage, a wealthy and respected citizen of Manlius township. He was born in Seneca county, New York, April 27, 1808, and came to LaSalle county about 1843. residing here until his death, which occurred September 7, 1891. Mrs. Brundage departed this life April 5, 1896, when in her seventy-sixth year. By her first marriage she had three children who lived to maturity and three who died in infancy. Alanson became a member of Company C, Eighty- eighth Illinois Infantry in the civil war, and while at Camp Douglas on his way to the front was drowned in Lake Michigan. Milton is the next younger. Eva, the only daughter, is the wife of Charles G. Werner, of Ot- tawa.
Milton Pope, of this review, was born in the township of Miller, LaSalle county, June 5, 1852, and spent the years of his boyhood in a manner com- mon to country lads, a portion of his time being devoted to the acquisition of knowledge in the district schools of the period. Subsequently it was his privilege to attend school in Oberlin, Ohio, for about two years. Returning to his old home in LaSalle county he continued to follow the occupation to which he had been reared until 1891, when he retired from active agricul- tural labors. He carried on farming along very progressive lines and man- aged his business affairs so capably that he won thereby very creditable and desirable success. At present he is the owner of about five hundred acres of fine farming land in LaSalle county and three hundred and twenty acres in Kansas. He is a director in the First National Bank of Ottawa, negotiates loans and attends to his other business interests.
On the 24th of November, 1897, Mr. Pope married Miss Cora J. Pickens, of Ottawa, a daughter of James H. and Clementine L. Pickens, old
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and respected citizens of that city. Her father is a grandson of Henry Pickens, who was born in Middleton, Massachusetts, June 18, 1785, and came to Otter Creek, LaSalle county, in 1839, accompanied by his wife, Mercy Pierce Pickens. He died in 1844, leaving a son, James, who married Eliza Chase. James Pickens and his wife came from Massachusetts to Illinois in 1838, traveling the entire distance in a wagon and accompanied by their aged grandmothers, Mrs. Abia Hathaway, who died a few years later, at the age of eighty-nine years. In 1848 James Pickens removed with his family from Otter Creek to Ottawa, where he died October 11, 1889. when almost eighty-one years of age, his birth having occurred December 15. 1808. His son, James Henry Pickens, was born in New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, August 16, 1834, and in December, 1856, married Clementine Lavelia Ashley, of Lakeville, Massachusetts. In the same winter he brought his young wife to Illinois, locating in Ottawa, where their children-Cora Justene and John Ashley-were born. Mrs. Clementine L. Pickens is a granddaughter of Noah and Ruth (Pickens) Ashley. The former was born June 18, 1787, and the latter May 20, 1791. Their son, Silas P. Ashley, was born April 4, 1813, married Phebe Davis and died in April, 1897, leaving a daughter, Clementine L., who was born August 28, 1839, and is the mother of Mrs. Milton Pope. Cora Pickens, the esteemed wife of our subject, was born July 13, 1860. in Ottawa, acquired a liberal education and is well quali- fied to grace any station in life to which she may be called. Mr. Pope is a member of Marseilles Lodge, No. 417. A. F. & A. M., Shabbona Chapter. No. 37. R. A. M., and Ottawa Commandery, No. 10, K. T. He and his wife enjoy the high regard of many warm friends, and all who pass beneath the portals of their pleasant home enjoy there a most gracious hospitality
OLIVER G. OAKLAND.
Oliver G. Oakland enjoys the distinction of being the first settler and first merchant of the thriving little town of Baker. LaSalle county, Illinois, where he opened his general store in the fall of 1890. He was born in Adams township, this county, January 28, 1856, on his father's farm. His parents were Gunder A. and Seneva (Serhus) Oakland, both of whom were natives of Stavanger, Norway. The father was one of the first settlers in Adams township, where he bought government land and followed farming until 1864, when he disposed of this property and moved to the vicinity of Pontiac, where he died. in his eighty-fourth year. in 1887. In his early life in his native country he worked at the trade of a carpenter; and he was
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married in that country, but had lost his wife before coming to America. He was again married while residing in Mission township, this county, to Miss Seneva Serhus, by whom he had children. She now resides at Rowe, Illinois.
Oliver G. Oakland was reared on a farm, having been eight years of age when his parents moved to Livingston county, where he grew up to an industrious manhood. At the age of seventeen he began to work for himself, hiring out to do farm work until he was twenty, when he rented a piece of ground, which he cultivated. He continued to follow the pursuit of agricultural life until 1890, when he came to Baker and opened a general store in the depot, serving also as agent for the railway company, a position he still holds. His trade increased to such proportions that he was justified in erecting his present commodious store room, and it is still increasing. He began life as a poor man and by his own efforts has built up a neat competency, dealing honestly and uprightly with all men and winning their respect and admiration for his strict business methods. He was the manager of the elevator for five years and has been a busy, energetic man.
Mr. Oakland was married in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1878, to Miss Mary Chew, who was born at Chillicothe, Illinois. They have three children-Jesse M., Ella S., and Imus M. He is a Republican and held the postoffice from 1891 to 1897, giving general satisfaction to the patrons of the office. He is a zealous member of the Norwegian Evangelical Luth- eran church.
CHARLES B. WATTS.
Charles Brown Watts, supervisor of Earl township and a wealthy and substantial farmer of LaSalle county, Illinois, was born October 12, 1848, on a farm some four miles south of Ottawa, this state, and is a son of Phillip C. and Margaret Ann (Brown) Watts, who are among the oldest and most respected residents of this county.
Phillip C. Watts was born in Devonshire. England, January 22, 1822. and came to America with an uncle at the age of sixteen, locating in Genesee county, New York, where he remained one year, and then came to this state and acted as a guard in the penitentiary at Alton for a few years. In 1844 he came to this county, settling at Ottawa, and in November, 1847, married Miss Margaret Ann Brown, by whom he had nine children, all of whom are living. They have prospered in their business and own the farm four miles south of Ottawa, and are well-to-do people. His wife was a daughter of Charles Brown, who came here in 1830, and she remembers
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the Black Hawk war and being driven into the fort at Ottawa. She tells of burning hickory wood to obtain saleratus and obtaining their meal by grinding corn. Her father entertained the Indian chief, Shabbona, but could never get that famous character to sleep in the house. The Brown family came here from New York, the journey being made by ox team and fifteen miles being considered a good day's travel.
Charles Brown Watts was the eldest of nine children-seven sisters and two brothers-and was reared on a farm. He attended the country schools and then entered the high school of Ottawa and later attended the Normal School at Normal, Illinois. Returning from school he took up the occupation of farming and has been remarkably successful. Some twenty years ago he purchased farm lands in Nebraska, which he afterward disposed of at a profit, enabling him to purchase a tract of fine land in Earl township. containing three hundred and sixty acres. Mrs. Watts also owns a quarter section in Kansas and a house and four lots in the town of Earl. He has made a neat income from stock raising and is a farmer who uses both brawn and brain in his work.
Mr. Watts was married in 1874 to Miss Anna Gillett, who was born on the farm upon which they now reside on June 13. 1850. They at once located on a farm in Livingston county, owned by Mr. Watts' father. and cultivated it for three years, moving, at the expiration of that time, in 1878, to the farm where they now live. The children born of this marriage were Clarence M., Harry W., Alice I .. William W .. Daisy, Archie T., and two- Grace and Margaret-that are dead. Mr. Watts is a Republican and has filled several minor offices, having been a school director nine or ten years and in 1898 was elected to the office of supervisor. He is a Master Mason, a Modern Woodman of America, and a Knight of the Globe, and is a man who makes many friends.
The father of Mrs. Watts was Thomas Gillett, who came to this state from New York in 1844. He was born in Kent. England, March 16, 1811, and in 1842 came to the United States and located in Syracuse for two years, whence he came to this county and lived in Ottawa for about four years, when he rented a farm in Earl township, and the following year, 1849. married Miss Sarah Hoadley, who was born in England in 1809. They had grown up in the same neighborhood and in 1842 she came to America with her uncle. Henry Hoadley. Thomas Hoadley, a pioneer of Earl town- ship, was her brother. Thomas Gillett purchased a soldier's claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land in Earl township, on which he settled and which is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Watts and her family. He had but two children: Anna (Mrs. Watts), and Thomas H., who died in Kansas. in 1879. In 1884 Mr. Gillett retired from the active duties of agricultural
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life and took up his residence in Earlville, where his wife died in 1889 and he in 1891, both having attained to the advanced age of eighty years and having the love and respect of all with whom they came in contact.
SMITH H. OLMSTEAD.
Smith Howland Olmstead, deceased, was one of the prominent and ster- ling citizens of Freedom township, where his entire life was passed. He came from one of the pioneer families of LaSalle county, and his name is indissoluby connected with the history of this region. It stands for patriot- ism and public spirit, for industry and uprightness-in short, for all of the qualities which are embodied in the noblest citizens of this great common- wealth. His memory is tenderly kept in the hearts of scores of his old-time friends, and many of them will scan with deep interest the following outline of his career and tribute to his genuine worth.
Sixty years ago Hiram D. Olmstead, the father of the subject of this memoir, removed from his former home in New York state to the wilds of LaSalle county. He located in the township of Freedom, and in 1844 wedded Eleanor Harding, by whom three sons were born, namely: Charles H., Judson H., and Smith Howland. Hiram D. Olmstead, after a busy, useful life as an agriculturist, is now living retired, his home being in Ottawa, Illinois.
The birth of Smith Howland Olmstead occurred on the parental home- stead in this township, July 8, 1850. He obtained a common-school edu- cation, and, with characteristic energy, mastered the varied details of farm- ing when he was a mere youth. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, when he was twenty-five years of age, by which time he had laid the foundations of his future success. Aided by his thrifty, brave-hearted wife, he steadily prospered, and at the time of his death he left a large and valuable estate as the result of their united efforts. He not only was "not afraid of work" but he really enjoyed it; and he was so thoroughly in earnest in all of his plans that he imparted his enthusiasm and interest to all around him. It has been said that one of the secrets of success is "to be in love with your work;" and thus it proved in the case of Mr. Olmstead. How- ever great his interest in his personal undertakings, he never neglected his public duties, and his neighbors relied upon his thorough performance of whatever work was intrusted to him for the general welfare. He was a zeal- ous Republican, and held the offices of road commissioner and assessor and school director. His prominence in public and social affairs of his locality was due to his well recognized qualities of worth, and his genial, friendly
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disposition, which won every one with whom circumstances brought him into acquaintanceship. When death stilled his noble heart he was in the prime of life, and the blow was deeply felt throughout the entire community. He entered into the silent land on the 17th of August, 1886, but a few weeks subsequently to the thirty-sixth anniversary of his birth.
The widow of Mr. Olmstead was, like her husband, a native of Freedom township. Her parents were Seth F. and Elizabeth (Frye) Ford, the for- mer born in 1809 and the latter in 1815, and both natives of Massachusetts. They came to this county in 1850 and located on the farm which is now owned by Charles T. Mosey. Five of their six children are living at this writing, namely: Fidelia. widow of J. J. Hutchinson, of Washington county, Kansas: Caroline, widow of Hartson E. Billings. of Washington county, Kansas: Myra S., wife of F. A. Barker. of Parsons. Kansas; Hattie F .. Mrs. Olmstead; and Florence E .. Mrs. Isaac G. Parish, of this town- ship.
Mrs. Hattie F. Olmstead resided with her parents until her marriage. December 30, 1875. Of her five children two died in infancy and a daughter and two sons survive: Myra. the eldest, born in 1878. became the wife of William Gregg. November 20, 1897; Burton C., the elder son, was born in 1880, and wedded Olive, daughter of Lewis Warren, of Serena town- ship, November 30. 1898: and Frank D., the younger son, was born in 1885, and, with his elder brother, is of great assistance to his mother in the management of the home farm. She has manifested marked ability and excellent judgment in the cultivation and maintenance of the homestead, and enjoys the respect of her neighbors, who regard her as a model farmer and financier. She has maintained the same interest in public affairs as did her lamented husband. and has served her locality as a school director for six years, being the only woman here who has had this responsibility and honor. She also belongs to the County Grange and to the Woman's Relief Corps, and is kind and helpful to the poor and needy.
OLE J. KIRKHUS.
Ole J. Kirkhus was born in Norway. September 24. 1850, a son of John and Elizabeth (Olson) Kirkhus, and one of a family of ten children. Of this family six are still living. three having died in infancy and one at the age of eighteen years. Three of the sons and one daughter reside in this country. The father was a farmer, and on a farm in his native land Ole J. spent his youthful days.
May 18, 1869, before he reached his twentieth year. he bade good-by
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to home and friends and started for America, having borrowed the money with which to pay his passage to this country. His father could have helped hin at this time, but as the family was large and our subject was of an inde- pendent disposition, he preferred not to ask assistance at home. It is need- less to say that as soon as possible after he came to this country he repaid the debt. Landing at Quebec, he came thence by rail to Chicago and from there to Ottawa, where he secured work as a farm hand. For three years he was engaged in farm work, as a wage-earner, and then in 1873 he married and settled on a rented farm in Adams township, LaSalle county, the one which he now owns and occupies. After renting this farm three years he removed to Earl township, in the same county, where he rented land and lived the next three years, then returning to the first farm, which he bought in 1880 and where he has since lived. Here he owns one hundred and six acres, well improved and under an excellent state of cultivation. the result of his hard work and good management.
Mr. Kirkhus married a woman of his own nationality, Isabelle Gunder- son, who came with her parents to America when she was six months old. Her father, Thomas Gunderson, was one of the early settlers of LaSalle county, Illinois, having located at an early day on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Kirkhus. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkhus have six children.
Politically Mr. Kirkhus is a Republican, and has served his district as a school director. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
U. N. THORNTON.
U. N. Thornton, M. D., C. M., was born in Ontario, Durham county, Canada, July 1, 1865, and worked his way from the position of a farmer lad. through college, up to his present enviable position among the most skillful and firmly established physicians of Leland, Illinois He is a son of Thomas and Susan (Powers) Thornton, and a grandson of John Thorn- ton. Thomas Thornton was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England, in 1822, and came to Canada with his parents when he was seven years old. There he grew to manhood and became a tiller of the soil, following that as his prin- cipal occupation. He was married to Susan Powers, daughter of Nathaniel Powers, both of whom were born in Vermont, as were all their ancestors, whose nativity were in America. The family were started in this country by Thomas Powers (spelled Pouers), who left the parent trunk and settled in the New England States of America in 1643, having come from England. The father of Nathaniel Powers was a soldier of the Revolution. The mother of our subject died in 1880, at the age of fifty-four years.
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U. N. Thornton was the eleventh child in a family of twelve-six broth- ers and six sisters. His early years were spent on his father's farm and he then entered Albert College, at Belleville, Ontario, where he matriculated in the arts. He then began the study of medicine in the Trinity Medical School, of Toronto, from which he received a fellowship and graduated at the Uni- versity of Trinity College in 1887, with the degrees of M. D. and C. M. In the fall of that year he came to the states and opened an office at Rockford, Illinois, but remained only a short time, as a better location was offered at New Milford, this state, where he practiced four years. He was an assistant surgeon at the Rockford Sanitarium for three months, when he went to Chi- cago and practiced until December, 1892, and then located in Leland, where he has since been practicing, and has built up a large patronage among the better class, although his services are given alike to rich and poor. He is a general practitioner, preferring to keep up on all branches rather than to devote himself to one particular class of disease.
He was married November 20, 1890, to Miss Augusta Dale, of Thorold, Canada. They have two children: Charles D., five years old, and Dorothy, aged two. He is a Republican and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of the Globe and the Home Forum, and is a Royal Arch Mason. He also belongs to the LaSalle Medical Society and takes an active part in the deliberations of that organization.
WILLIAM S. STERRETT, M. D.
Dr. William S. Sterrett, a popular young physician of Marseilles, Illinois, comes of an honored. old southern family, his ancestors coming from Vir- ginia and Kentucky. His father, G. W. Sterrett, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, February 14, 1834. At the age of four, with his father, he removed to Monroe county, Missouri, where he has resided ever since. On March 4, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Corilla Price, of Monroe county, her parents coming from the "blue-grass region" of Kentucky. They be- came the parents of five children, namely: Eva. James G., William S., J. Claudius, who died in his ninth year, and George W., Jr. The devoted wife and mother departed this life February 15, 1899, when in her sixtieth year. The father is still living, making his home in Monroe county, Missouri. He has always given his allegiance to the Democratic party, and has en- deavored to do his duty as a citizen and patriot under all circumstances.
The birth of Dr. Sterrett occurred about thirty-three years ago, in Monroe county, Missouri, the date of the event being March 29, 1867. He passed his boyhood and youth in his native state, and received a liberal
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education in the public and high schools. Later he entered the University of Missouri, where he pursued a course of study, after which he engaged in teaching for some time. Ever ambitious and striving after greater knowl- edge and higher standing in the intellectual world, he next enrolled him- self as a student at the celebrated University of Virginia, where he spent two years in the study of medicine. Previous to entering the University of Virginia, he had given considerable attention to medicine, under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Chowning, of Hannibal, Missouri. In 1894 he graduated in medicine at Rush Medical College, of Chicago. He established an office in the Masonic Block, in Marseilles, Illinois, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the LaSalle County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and is identified with the Knights of Pythias as well.
JOHN O'DONNELL.
On the Ist of March. 1897, John O'Donnell was appointed to his present position as collector of the port of Ottawa, and entered upon the discharge of the responsible duties which devolve upon him in this capacity. He is popular and highly esteemed by all who know him, and he is faithful, prompt and courteous as an official.
For over half a century Jerry O'Donnell, the father of our subject, was a resident of Ottawa, and for many years was in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. For his wife he chose Miss Jo- hanna White, and to them were born seven children-four sons and three daughters. The family have been numbered among the substantial citizens of Ottawa during the greater part of the existence of the town, and have been noted for a worthy public spirit and patriotism. Jerry O'Donnell died September 13, 1899, aged seventy-two years.
The birth of John O'Donnell occurred in 1865, in Ottawa, and when he was a lad he acquired a practical business education in the common schools of this place. When he had arrived at years of maturity he went to Chicago, and for some time was employed as a conductor on a street car. He became one of the most popular conductors on the road, and the cour- tesy which has ever been one of his marked traits was particularly grateful to those who journeyed to and from the commercial center. At length, returning to Ottawa, he took a position in the Ottawa Bottle & Flint Glass Company's works, of which concern he was a shipping clerk for ten years. Afterward he was made the assistant manager, which position he held until the company went out of business in 1895.
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In 1889 Mr. O'Donnell wedded Miss Minnie Kennedy, a daughter of Captain and Mrs. Julia Kennedy, the former now deceased. Two sons bless the happy home of our subject and wife. their names being respectively Leo and George. Politically Mr. O'Donnell is associated with the Repub- lican party, and in the fraternities he is the second lieutenant of the uniformed rank Knights of Pythias.
JOHN KANGLEY.
The record of a man who started out to win a place for himself in the world, when a poor boy, almost alone and without friends, in a foreign land, and who, in spite of great obstacles and discouragements, persevered in the task he had set out before him, until he became wealthy and influential, is one which cannot fail to be of interest, and should spur the young to greater bravery and more steadfast principles of conduct. Such, in brief, is the sum- mary of the career of the late John Kangley, who was a highly esteemed citizen of Streator, LaSalle county.
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