USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 37
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J. 8. Porter.
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in the war for independence. Joseph and Eliza Porter became the parents of five sons and two daughters, of whom two are now living: Joseph E. and a sister, Sarah E., now the wife of Henry Moffett, of Ransom, Illinois.
Joseph E. Porter, the only living male representative of this family, was born in Brown county, Ohio, May 1, 1831, and has lived in Ottawa for the past forty-five years. On the 22d of March, 1860, he married Miss Margaret Hossack, daughter of John Hossack, who was the eldest son of John and Margaret (Forsythe) Hossack. He was born in Elgin, Scotland, December 6, 1806, and went to Canada when twelve years of age. His wife, Martha Hossack, was the eldest daughter of Cord Lens, who was born in Germany, in 1786, his wife being Ann Lens, who was born Decem- ber 4, 1786, and was a daughter of William and Ann Gilly, nee Banks, of England. Mr. and Mrs. Lens were married in England in 1810, but soon afterward removed to Scotland, where Martha was born, November 28, 1813. In 1818 they emigrated with their family to Quebec. Mr. and Mrs. Hossack were married in Quebec, Canada, in 1833; in 1838 removed to Chicago, and in 1849 took up their abode in Ottawa, where Mr. Hossack engaged in merchandising, dealing in lumber and grain. He purchased the latter commodity from the farmers and shipped it by rail to Chicago.
There were born to Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Porter, eight children: Eliza- beth, born March 7, 1861, married William F. Jacobs, February 18, 1890; Jessie F., born November 16, 1862, married George W. Yentzer, November 15, 1888; Lincoln Ewing, born February 26, 1865, married Anne Combs, May 23, 1889; Annie L., born June 5, 1867, married Arthur S. Hook, June 10, 1892; Josephine, born April 30, 1870, married Charles P. Taylor, October 31, 1894 (all the above mentioned now living in Ottawa, Illinois); John H., born January 4, 1873, and now living at Buffalo, New York; Louise C., born July 14, 1876, still at home; and Sidney S., born September 18, 1880, is at school.
It was in the fall of 1852 that Joseph Porter came from Ohio to Ottawa. He was first employed as a clerk by J. G. Nattinger, who was at that time one of the leading merchants of the city, but Mr. Porter did not see a favorable outlook for a clerkship, and being of an inventive turn of mind, he gave his attention first to the study of the daguerreotype art in 1854, and was one of the first inventors of photography. This he followed for a number of years. Visiting his father's farm during the fall of 1856, he was called upon to assist in storing away the hay, the work at that time being done by the common pitchforks and manual labor. Thinking that better methods could be secured he at once entered upon the work of inventing an easier way for storing hay, and as a result produced the famous Porter Hay Carrier, which has gained for him a national reputation as an inventor
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and manufacturer of hay tools, and in that occupation he has continued since 1869. Being without capital he at first began manufacturing them by hand, doing all of the work himself. After working until he had a sufficient quantity on hand he would make a tour of the country, exhibiting the tools and taking orders from the dealers. In this way he worked until 1872, when the demand for his goods had so increased that he was obliged to employ help in the manufacturing department. The excellence of his machines commended them to the trade and to the public, a fact which is evidenced by the large demand at the present time and the number of medals that have been awarded him by state fair associations and foreign exhibi- tions. He was awarded the first premium at the World's Columbian Ex- hibition, held in Chicago in 1893. His manufacturing interests have steadily grown until at the present time the J. E. Porter Company occupies large and commodious brick buildings and gives employment to a large number of workmen. The output of the plant is extensive, and the business has been so ably conducted that it returns an excellent income to him who is at the head. Mr. Porter is a man of resourceful ability, and in connection with his factory interests in Ottawa in 1894 he was instrumental in organizing the Inland Steel Company, whose mill is located at Chicago Heights. Mr. Porter was elected president of the organization and occupied that position for four years, when he resigned. His son, J. H. Porter, is now the secretary of the company and one of the active managers of the mill, the business of which has constantly grown until to-day the enterprise is one of the few rolling mills in the west, producing all kinds and shapes of steel used in the manufacture of agricultural implements. Mr. Porter certainly deserves great credit for his success, which has resulted from deep thought, careful inves- tigation and untiring labor.
WILLIAM W. HILTABRAND.
Seventy years ago the father and numerous relatives of William W. Hiltabrand came to the frontier of Illinois, and thus from pioneer days the name has been indissolubly connected with the early history of the state. The family has been noted for all of the sterling qualities and public spirit which goes toward the making of valued citizens.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Conrad Hiltabrand, was a native of Pennsylvania and was of German descent. At an early day he re- moved to North Carolina, and his last years were spent in Tennessee, where he died at an advanced age. His widow, Jane Brown Hiltabrand, came to Illinois, and departed this life in Putnam county about 1860. They were the parents of ten children, most of whom followed agricultural pursuits, to
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which calling they had been reared. The maternal grandfather of our sub- ject was Hartwell Hailey, of Scotch-Irish extraction. He was born in North Carolina and in 1829 came from Tennessee to Illinois, locating in Putnam county, where he died at a ripe age. He was the father of thirteen chil- dren.
The parents of William W. are Isaac and Elizabeth (Hailey) Hilta- brand, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father came to this state in 1829 and took up a quarter section of government land in Putnam county. Later he became quite wealthy for that day, and owned a section of land, some being within the boundaries of this county. He continued to dwell in Putnam county until his deathı, in 1877, when he was nearly seventy years of age. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, and never failed in the discharge of his public duties. His wife died in 1871, when fifty-two years of age. Both were members of the Baptist church, and loved and honored by every one who knew them. Eight sons and one daughter of their fourteen children are yet living, namely: William W., our subject; Gilbert, Andrew and James, of Hope township, LaSalle county; Allen, of Henry, Illinois; Austin, of Tonica; Douglas, on the old homestead in Putnam county; Edward, in Magnolia, same county; and Amanda, the wife of Eliphlet Ketchum, of Henry, Illinois.
Born in Putnam county, February 2, 1839, William W. Hiltabrand was early initiated into the routine of farm life, and received such knowledge as he could gain in the common schools. As he approached manhood he managed the old homestead on shares, for his father, for four years, and then bought eighty acres in LaSalle county. To this tract, situated in Hope township, he subsequently added adjoining land from time to time, and in- vested in other property until he is now the owner of eleven or twelve hun- dred acres, altogether. Seven tracts of eighty acres each are located in Hope township; and another, the one on which he now makes his home, is in Tonica; while one quarter section is in Iowa, and two quarter sections are in Nebraska. That he possesses business ability is evident from the above mentioned facts, and when it is taken into consideration that he started out a poor boy, and that his success has been mainly due to his own efforts, his success in life is well worthy of admiration. Honesty and industry are the only secrets of his prosperity.
In 1863 Mr. Hiltabrand married Miss Sabina Kreider, who died just ten years subsequently. She was a daughter of the well known citizens, Samuel and Catherine (Reed) Kreider, and was a consistent member of the Baptist church. Three children were born to our subject and his first wife, namely: Sabina Katie, Marion F., and John Willard. The latter died at the age of twenty-three years. Sabina K. is the wife of H. A. Barr, and
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resides near Lostant. She is the mother of seven children, named as follows: Elsie, Verna, Mina, Florence and Forest (twins), Ralph and Hazel. Marion F. married Miss Ida Stillwell, and their home is in Hope township. They have five children-Wilma, Berle, Laura, Lelah and Charles. In 1874 our subject wedded Miss Melissa Ferry, and their two children, Burton and Jane Elizabeth, are at home-the former still a student in the local schools, and the latter a teacher in district schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hiltabrand are active members of the Methodist church. Following out his strong ten- perance principles, he favors the Prohibition party with his ballot. For a number of years he served as a road commissioner and school director. All public enterprises calculated to benefit the people have received his earnest co-operation.
WILLIAM PATTERSON.
This estimable citizen of Vermilion township, LaSalle county, is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Washington county, that state, August 3, 1829. His parents, Samuel and Eliza (Helm) Patterson, likewise, were natives of the Keystone state, as were his two grandfathers, William Patterson and William Helm. William Patterson, Sr., was of Irish descent and was a miller by occupation, following that pursuit until he was well along in years. He was the father of three sons and two daughters. Both he and the maternal grandfather lived and died in Pennsylvania. The latter was of Irish extraction, also, and was a miller by trade. His children, eight in number, comprised three sons and five daughters.
In 1852 Samuel Patterson came to Illinois and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in Vermilion township. Later he sold that property and removing to Ottawa resided there for several years. He then returned to this township and rented a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, the present homestead of the subject of this narrative. Here he spent his last years, dying in 1889, at an advanced age. He was a citizen thoroughly respected for his many sterling qualities and his friends were legion. His first wife, the mother of our subject. died in July. 1852, and he subsequently married Mary Hughes, by whom he had one son. Frank. After her death he wedded Julia Ann Helm. a sister of his first wife. By his first wife he had eleven children, but only three are now living. namely: William; Stephen, of Scat- tering Point. Livingston county. Illinois, and Samuel.
William Patterson was reared on a farm in his native county and at- tended school in an old-fashioned log school-house in his boyhood. He has always followed farming as a means of livelihood, and has met with success. as he justly deserves. Before coming to Illinois, in 1852, he spent two
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years in Virginia, but he concluded to locate permanently in the west, as this. state was then thought of by the people of the east. Arriving here, he lived in Livingston county for about a year, since which time he has resided in LaSalle county. For a twelvemonth or so he carried on a farm three miles east of his present homestead, and then for eighteen years he managed a homestead situated south of Lowell. Going next to Deer Park township, he remained there during a year, and then came to his fine farm on section 27, Vermilion township. Here he bought eighty acres and later added another tract of like extent. He has made substantial improvements and his farm bears the reputation of being one of the most productive and valuable of all in this locality. Following in the political footsteps of his father, Mr. Pat- terson is a Democrat. For eleven years he served efficiently as township collector, and for the past three years he has been a road commissioner.
The marriage of Mr. Patterson and Miss Minerva Huss, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Church) Huss, was solemnized May 22, 1851. They became the parents of twelve children, ten of whom they reared to maturity, Agnes and Stephen dying in infancy. Their eldest born, Sarah Adeline, married Alonzo Trout, of Seneca, Illinois, and has three children-Ernest, Ella and Thirza. Robert Franklin, the eldest of the six sons, married Minnie Humphreys, and resides in Chicago. Elizabeth Joan became the wife of Henry Marsh, of Utica, Illinois, and mother of William, Charles, George, Nettie and Fred. Thomas Harvey chose Ellen Trout, of Vermilionville, for his wife and their children are named respectively Jesse, Bessie, Ralph and William. Benjamin Austin wedded Marian Groat and their home is north- east of Tonica, this county. Their four children are Mabel, Ira, Noah and Verna. Maria Jane is the wife of Ebenezer Hurton, of Deer Park, LaSalle county ; and Mary Minerva, wife of F. A. Gardner, of Franklin county, Iowa, has two children living-Ray and Marie. John William, of Franklin county, Iowa, wedded Rose Hetrick; and Noah Elwin married Elnora Brown. Eliza Caroline is unmarried and is devoting herself to the care of her loved par- ents, who are approaching the evening time of their lives, esteemed and honored by every one.
JOHN THOMAS.
John Thomas, of Deer Park township, LaSalle county, Illinois, is one of the enterprising farmers of this county. He was born in the German empire, March 28, 1867, and in his infancy was brought by his parents to this country, their first location being in Putnam county, Illinois.
Henry Thomas, the father of John, was a tailor by trade, at which he worked in Germany, but after his arrival in this country he turned his;
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attention to agricultural pursuits. He was not able at first to establish himself on a farm, having only seven dollars upon his arrival here and with a family dependent upon him, but after working by the day for about two years as a farm hand he saved enough from his wages to sufficiently furnish him with a scant equipment for renting. Year after year he toiled early and late and his honest efforts were crowned with success. When he died he left an estate which comprised six eighty-acre tracts of land. His death occurred June 13, 1889. His widow who, like himself, is of German birth, was before her marriage Miss Margaret Brown. She is still living, is sixty-five years of age, and is the mother of five children, viz .: Henry, Louie, John, Christopher and Jacob, all well known farmers of Farm Ridge and Deer Park townships, LaSalle county, and all respected for their industry and push.
John Thomas was early inured to farm work of various kinds and has never been engaged in any other occupation than farming. On the death of his father he succeeded to the homestead in Deer Park township, the operations of which he has since successfully conducted. He was married in 1891 to Miss Lizzie Egart, a daughter of a German farmer of LaSalle county, and they have three children: Carrie J., John C. and Arthur. Mr. Thomas is a Republican.
SIMEON C. HILTABRAND.
The subject of this sketch is one of the wealthy and influential farmers of Hope township, LaSalle county, Illinois, his home farm being on the south- east corner of section 4; Tonica his post-office address.
Simeon Conrad Hiltabrand may well claim to be a pioneer of Illinois, the date of his arrival here being 1829. From that date until 1851 his home was in Putnam county, and since 1851 he has been a resident of the township in which he now lives. He has not only been an eye-witness to the devel- opment that has been wrought here but has done his part toward bringing about the transformation of a frontier district into a beautiful, well-cultivated farming country. We take pleasure in here recording the life history of Mr. Hiltabrand.
He was born in Tennessee, about thirty miles from Nashville, in what was then called Robinson county, September 13, 1826, a son of George and Elizabeth (Gunn) Hiltabrand, natives of North Carolina. Their family was composed of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, eight of whom are now living: Jerusha, wife of Christian Hartenbower, near Tonica, Illi- nois; Simeon C .; Henry H., of Hope township, LaSalle county, Illinois; Edward C., of Henry, Illinois; Josephus, of Tonica; George W., of
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Henry, Illinois; Benjamin F., of Bloomington, Illinois; and Me- lissa, the wife of Joseph Ebner, of Hope township. The father of these children was a farmer all his life. Also he was a natural mechanic, and as such did many a kind turn for his neighbors in the way of repairing, etc., without ever a cent of charge, when there were few mechanics on the frontier. He and his wife were known to all the neighbors throughout the pioneer settlement as "Uncle George" and "Aunt Betsey." He went from North Car- olina to Tennessee when nineteen or twenty years of age, crossing the mountains on horseback. and in the fall of 1828 came to Illinois. That first winter he spent in Tazewell county. The next year he moved to Putnam county, being the second man to settle in Ox Bow Prairie, in this move being accompanied by his brother-in-law, Hartwell Haley. Mr. Hiltabrand took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he afterward added eighty acres, and still later he accumulated four hundred and eighty acres in Hope township, LaSalle county, where his son, Simeon C. now lives. Also he owned eighty acres in what is called the "Quaker neighborhood." At the time he settled in Ox Bow Prairie there was not a rail in sight nor a foot of land broken. He at once put up a little cabin, which was torn down during his absence and which he rebuilt, being assisted by a few Magnolia families. In after years he improved his place handsomely, and on his farm passed the rest of his life and died, his death occurring in 1870, at the age of seventy-one years. His widow died in 1881, at the age of seventy-seven. Both belonged to the old-school of Baptists. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war; politically, was always a Democrat.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Conrad Hiltabrand. He was descended from German ancestors who were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. and it was in that state that he was born. In his boy- hood he went to North Carolina and some years later to Tennessee, where he died at about the age of seventy years. He was a farmer and also ran a sawmill. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Lutz, were the parents of a large family. The maternal grandfather of Simeon C. Hiltabrand was Daniel Gunn. He was a native of North Carolina, moved from there to Tennessee, and in August, 1829, came to Illinois and located on Ox Bow prairie, where he died soon afterward, aged about seventy years. He was a farmer and was the father of fourteen children.
Simeon C. Hiltabrand was reared in Putnam county from the time he was about two and a half years old. He attended the old-fashioned sub- scription schools on Clear creek before the Black Hawk war, on the Indian camp ground, where they had fine springs of water. And he bears testimony to the honesty of the Indians; says he never knew them to steal in his neigh- borhood. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old, assisting
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his father in the farm work, and when he started out for himself he rented some land from his father. his father furnishing the seed, which he (Simeon) sowed the next day after lie was twenty-one, his share being one-third of the crop. Afterward he hired for one month to a man who was building a sawmill and, being known for his ability and willingness to work, was given nineteen dollars a month. During the following winter he chopped cord wood, helped to dig a mill-race, and split rails. As a rail-splitter he some- times made one dollar and a quarter a day, when seventy-five cents was considered good wages. After he had raised three crops on the eighty acres he rented of his father, he moved to his present home place, which he bought of his father, this place consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, the improvements on which have been made by him. Since then he has at different times bought other land and is now the owner of eight hun- dred and twenty-six acres, all in LaSalle county except two hundred and forty acres in Wright county, Iowa. Besides this he has bought and sold several pieces of land.
Mr. Hiltabrand was married March 29. 1855, to Miss Hannah A. Funk, daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Wigfall) Funk, natives of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Having no children of their own, they have taken into their home and reared three children and now have a fourth one with them, namely: Louis A. Deobald, Julia Borngasser, Maude Gunn and George Henry Roth.
Mr. and Mrs. Hiltabrand have been members of the old-school Baptist church since 1867. Politically he harmonizes with the Democratic party, and has served as a road commissioner and school director.
AMOS W. MERRITT.
Amos W. Merritt, of the firm of Merritt & Bangs, general merchants, Lostant, Illinois, claims Ohio as his native state, his birth having occurred in Belmont county, June 29, 1843.
Mr. Merritt is a son of Henry P. and Margaret M. (Wilson) Merritt. natives of Pennsylvania. Their family was composed of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of whom nine are now living: Amos W., whose name introduces this sketch: John E., of White City, Kansas; Isabel W., wife of I. P. Wierman, of Lostant, Illinois; Hannah B., wife of Sewell Gotchell, of Freeport. Illinois: Mahlon L., of Dwight, Illinois; Charles H., also of Dwight; Maggie J., wife of George B. Hager, of Ottawa, Illinois; Isaac E., of Buckley, Illinois; and George L., of Roberts. The father of these children learned the trade of wagon-maker in early life and followed it until he was forty years of age, from that time on giving his attention to
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farming. He went with his parents from Pennsylvania to Belmont county, Ohio, when he was seven years old, and grew to manhood and married in that state. In 1853 he moved to Illinois and located in Magnolia, Putnam county, where he had a wagon shop for four years, until 1857. That year he came to LaSalle county and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hope township, partly improved at the time of purchase. It was principally upon this farm that he reared his family. He lived there until 1882, when he moved to a place near Wenona and lived there twelve years. He died April 13, 1896, at the age of seventy-eight years. His widow is still living, now in her eightieth year, her home being in Lostant. She is a member of the Society of Friends, as also was he. Politically he was a Republican, and at different times held several township offices, including that of super- visor.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Merritt. He was a Pennsylvanian, a dealer in boots and shoes, and died in the prime of early manhood, being only twenty-five years old at the time of his death. He left a widow and three little sons. On his mother's side Mr. Merritt's grand- father was Amos Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1794. Mr. Wilson was twice married. His first wife, Hannah Brown, a native of Penn- sylvania, and whose father was an Irishman, he married in Pennsylvania and by her had five children. The family moved to Ohio and located on a farm in Belmont county in 1826, and the same year the wife and mother died, at the age of twenty-six years. In 1828 Mr. Wilson married Miss Anna Morris, by whom he had nine children. They came to Illinois in 1851 and located in Putnam county, on a new farm, where he passed the rest of his life, and where he died January 15, 1881, in his eighty-seventh year.
Amos W. Merritt was ten years old when he came with his parents to Illinois, and he has lived in Hope township, LaSalle county, since 1857. His youthful days were passed not unlike those of other farmer boys, assist- ing in the farm work and in winter attending the district schools. When he started out in life on his own responsibility it was as a farmer on rented land. He continued farming until 1888, when he moved to Lostant. The following year he was appointed postmaster. While filling this office, in 1890, he engaged in the grocery business, and the following year took in as partner M. H. Bangs, his brother-in-law, the firm becoming Merritt & Bangs. They then added a stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, making a complete general store, and have since kept a well assorted stock of gen- eral merchandise. They have established a good trade among the leading citizens of the town and surrounding country and are ranked with the enterprising, up-to-date business men of Lostant.
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