USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 38
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Mr. Merritt was married December 30, 1875, to Miss Sarah A. Bangs, daughter of Samuel Lyman Bangs and Margaret (Howard) Bangs. Mrs. Merritt is one of a family of five children-two sons and three daughters- and she has one sister and two brothers living, namely: Jennie, wife of Dr. A. H. Hatton, of Peru, Illinois; J. Edward, superintendent of the town- ship high school, Pontiac, Illinois; and Mark H., in business with Mr. Merritt at Lostant. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt have no children. For several years previous to her marriage Mrs. Merritt was a popular and successful teacher, teaching at Rutland and Lostant and for a short time in the academy at Hillsboro, LaSalle county. She was Mr. Merritt's assistant in the post- office during the four years and a half he filled that position. Religiously she is a Methodist and fraternally a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Mr. Merritt being identified with both the F. & A. M., Tonica Lodge, No. 364, and the O. E. S. Politically he is a Republican. In addition to the office already named, he has served in other local offices, such as town- ship assessor, member of the village school board and member of the village board of trustees.
In tracing the family history of the Bangs and Howard families, we find that both families are from good stock. Samuel Lyman Bangs, the father of Mrs. Merritt, was born in Massachusetts, of patriotic ancestors. His father, Zenas Bangs, was a soldier of the Revolution, and one of his brothers was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his son served his country during the civil war. The early ancestors of the Bangs family came to Plymouth colony in 1623.
Margaret Howard, the mother of Mrs. Merritt, was descended from the royal family-the Howards of England. She is now past eighty years of age, makes her home with Mrs. Merritt, and is remarkably strong and active both in mind and body for one of her age. Possessed of sterling qualities, the excellent family she has reared owe much to her for what they are and have achieved in life.
WILSON E. KREIDER.
A patriotic citizen and untiring worker for the good of Tonica, LaSalle county, is he whose name heads this article. His father, Samuel Kreider, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born October 15, 1816, was one of the pioneers of Illinois, as he came here in 1835, when Chicago was a tiny hamlet of a few houses, and was, in the main, a swamp, with no promise of future greatness. The father and son have thus been identified with the development of the northern central part of Illinois for nearly sixty-five
WELeider.
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years, witnessing almost the whole of its progress from its wild state to its present high standard.
George Kreider, the paternal grandfather of our subject, likewise was of Pennsylvania birth and of German descent. He, too, made a settlement in Illinois in 1835, and from that time until his death, at an advanced age, he made his home in Fulton county. His son Samuel grew to maturity in his native state, with his eight brothers and three sisters, learning agricul- ture in all of its branches. Believing that the west afforded greater oppor- tunities to a young man desirous of advancement, he came to this state sixty-five years ago, with his father, and was actively occupied in the cultiva- tion of farms in Fulton, Putnam and Marshall counties for many years thereafter. In 1880 he retired. He resided in Varna, Illinois, eleven years, one year in Quincy, and in 1892 removed to Tonica, where he died June 21, 1899. His wife, whose maiden name was Katharine Reed, was the daughter of John Reed, a farmer, who died aged seventy years in Knox county, Illinois, where he had settled in 1836; and her mother, Katharine (Wight) Reed, was ninety-nine years of age at the time of her demise. Mrs. Kreider departed this life May 25, 1879, when but fifty-two years of age. She was born in Indiana, May 21, 1826, was a consistent member of the Baptist church and possessed qualities of heart and mind which endeared her to everyone who knew her. She was the mother of five sons and a daughter, of whom but three survive, namely: W. E .; George, of Quincy, Illinois, and James, of Forest City, Missouri. The deceased are Sabina J., John R. and William.
The birth of Wilson Elmer Kreider occurred in Marshall county, Illi- nois, November 9, 1865, and his boyhood was quietly spent upon the parental homestead. After completing a district school course of study he further equipped himself for the practical duties of life by attending the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, this state. He was in his sixteenth year when he left the farm, and from that time until 1890 he was employed by his brother George, in a hardware store in Varna, also in this state. The follow- ing year he clerked at De Kalb, Illinois, in an establishment devoted to the sale of dry goods, boots and shoes, and general furnishing supplies. Going to Quincy next, he embarked in the hardware business in partnership with his brother George, and a year later came to Tonica, since his home. Here he at once engaged in the grain business, becoming the proprietor of the William A. Flint elevator, which he saw fit to demolish in 1895, build- ing a much larger and better one in its stead. His present elevator has a capacity of about forty-five thousand bushels of grain, and a most flourish- ing business has been built up by the enterprising owner. Within a very few years he has won a reputation as one of the leading business men of
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Tonica, and for six years he has served efficiently as one of the village trus- tees. He is the president of the Tonica Switch Board Company, a private telephone line, and has given of his time, influence and means to many local industries.
The marriage of Mr. Kreider and Miss Carrie B. Conaway, a daughter of James E. and Mary E. (Maxwell) Conaway, was solemnized September 5, 1888. They have three children, Alta, Edna, and one unnamed. The pleasant home of the family is situated in the northern part of the town. Mr. Kreider purchased there a substantial house, which he reconstructed, making a pretty modern residence, and which he has since occupied.
In political matters he has used his ballot in favor of Prohibition can- didates for some years, in national elections, as the great temperance cause has appeared to him to be of supreme importance, but in the last presi- dential election, when the sound financial system of this country was threat- ened, he promptly gave his influence and vote to McKinley and the Repub- lican party.
ALEXANDER KELSO.
Forty years ago, Alexander Kelso came to LaSalle county, and during the period since then he has become wealthy and influential in his own community. Industry and perseverance have been his watch-words and integrity has well marked all of his transactions.
He is a native of the Emerald Isle, his birth having occurred in county Londonderry, July 12, 1838. He is one of the eight children of Alexander and Margaret (Densmore) Kelso, of whom the three daughters are deceased. Joseph is living in Australia, Samuel in Ireland, James in Richland town- ship and Daniel in Hope township. LaSalle county. The latter two named are twins. The father, who was a farmer, died in Ireland about the year 1850, his wife having died several years before. They were both members of the Presbyterian church.
Alexander Kelso, of this sketch, resided in Ireland until he was sixteen years of age, the greater part of which time he attended the public schools, on which his education depended at that time. his parents both being dead. Sparkling with energy and ambition, he finally decided to try his fortunes in America, and accordingly in July, 1854, he crossed the ocean. Finding employment at Albany, Castleton and other points along the Hudson river, and pleased with the change of countries and labor, he remained at these points about four years, the greater part of which was spent at Albany in the manufacture of brick.
During that period of time he met with Miss Annie Murphy, whom
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he married November 22, 1858, the ceremony being performed by Father Roach in St. Mary's church, Albany. Mrs. Kelso also is a native of Ireland, her parents, Collins and Annie (Kavenaugh) Murphy, being farmers there. Both died in the early part of their united life, leaving eight small children, one son and seven daughters, and Mrs. Kelso being but two years of age at the time of their death. After this she made her home with her uncle and aunt, Richard and Julia Gory, until she was sixteen years of age, when she and another sister came to America, in the fall of 1856. Mrs. Kelso, with her sister, Mrs. Bridget Dean, now living at Sierraville, California, are the only survivors of the family at this writing.
In the spring of 1859 Mr. Kelso and wife came to Illinois and have since resided in LaSalle county. After living in Tonica about six months Mr. Kelso worked by the month for a short time, after which he raised crops on shares for three years. Next he bought seventy acres of land in Hope township, east of the Illinois Central Railroad, which property he improved and still owns. Later he purchased another eighty-acre tract, situated three-fourths of a mile from his present home, and then the home- stead, comprising eighty acres, which he has since improved with a hand- some house, barn and other buildings. From time to time he invested in additional land and now owns, altogether, in one body, six hundred and twenty-six and one-half acres. One farm, of ninety acres, is located south- east of his home; one, of a quarter section, north; another, of eighty acres, east; and sixty-six and one-half acres to the north of that place. In con- nection with general farming, Mr. Kelso is an extensive stock raiser.
In all of his joys and sorrows, for the past two-score years and more, Mr. Kelso has been aided by his ever dutiful and devoted wife. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Kelso was blessed with six sons and six daughters. Joseph married Kate Hickey, of Dimmick township, October 30, 1895. James chose Mary Molloy, of Chicago, Illinois, for his wife, and they were married February 14, 1892. Maggie became the wife of Peter Stumpf March 17, 1880, and was the mother of Mary Anna, Alexander and Lauretta. Mrs. Stumpf and oldest daughter, Mary Anna, died on September 5, 1887, and both were buried in the same grave. Alexander, of this family, died when but four months old. Robert wedded Mary Ryan, of Dimmick township, May 3, 1893, their only child being a boy and named Alexander, after his grandfather. Mary became the wife of Frank Faircloth, an operator, No- vember 23, 1898, and is the mother of one child, whose name is Anna Cecelia; their place of residence at this writing is Litchfield, this state. Daniel died in infancy. Bridget died at the age of one year and six monthis. Alexander, Jr., is unmarried and living at home. Matilda became the wife of David Ryan, of Dimmick township, May 28, 1890, and is the mother
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of three children, Alexander, Ella and Marie. Samuel is unmarried and living at home. Isabella and Maria, twins, are also unmarried and living with their parents. Lauretta Stumpf has made her home with her grandparents since the death of her mother. Mr. Kelso and wife are both members of the Catholic church and have reared their children in that faith.
Mr. Kelso's political views are Democratic, but he is not an aspirant to public office, though for a period of three years he served as road com- missioner and has acted as pathmaster.
SPENCER S. BURGESS.
Among the pioneers of Vermilion township, LaSalle county, is Spencer Stokes Burgess, who has been an interested witness of its development from a wild state to its present condition of excellence. He experienced the vicissitudes of life on the frontier, and his accounts of the hardships and trials of the early settlers here are replete with interest. Money was a very scarce commodity in those days, and he recalls a time when a neighbor could not raise enough money in the whole township to get a letter out of the post- office, twenty-five cents.
The parents of our subject were Jacob and Olive (Clark) Burgess, natives of Massachusetts. For a few years their home was. in New Jersey, but in 1837 they set out for the west and located in Vermilion township, where they spent their last years, the father dying on his farm in 1842, just after he had made a fair start toward prosperity. At the time of the family's arrival here there were no roads or fences and only two or three houses anywhere near the tract of land where they took up their abode. Mrs. Bur- gess, whose father lived and died in the Bay state, became the mother of nine children, only three of whom survive, namely: Spencer S., Warren and Sidney. She was a woman of great force of character, and after the death of her husband she heroically took his place and reared her children to lives of usefulness. She was summoned to her reward in 1862, when seventy- two years of age. In religious belief she was a Presbyterian.
Spencer Stokes Burgess, who was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, November 21, 1831, was but six years old when he was brought to this locality, and he vividly recalls the appearance of the vast expanses of prairie land, unbroken by signs of human habitation, for the most part. His educational advantages were, necessarily, extremely limited, and he has had to rely upon his own energy in the acquisition of knowledge as well as material wealth. When he was about sixteen years of age he commenced working for wages, and at eigliteen he took charge of the old homestead for
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his widowed mother. At length he had saved a sufficient sum of money to buy a quarter-section of land on section 28, in the same township, and this place is his present home. From time to time he made other investments in real estate and now is the fortunate possessor of nearly five hundred and forty acres, besides having given his son a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres. In his business transactions he has been just, prompt and reliable, and he owes his success to his honesty, industry and perseverance. He has attended strictly to business, raising a full line of crops usually grown in this latitude, and keeping such live stock as he needed upon the farm.
In his young manhood, Mr. Burgess served as a road commissioner of this township for several years, and for eight or ten years he acted in the im- portant office of supervisor, during that period being a member of the building committee who had in charge the construction of the court-house at Ottawa. Other enterprises calculated to benefit the people of this county have received his earnest co-operation, and for several years he was the president of the Wenona Union Fair Association. The cause of education has been warmly supported by him, and for some years he was a school director, while at present he is a trustee of the local school board. He favors the Republican party with his ballot.
Forty-one years ago, in June, 1858. Mr. Burgess and Miss Eliza Jane Kellar, daughter of Absalom Kellar, were united in marriage. They be- came the parents of a son and daughter, Elwin S. and Lonie J. The son wedded Miss Addie Gallup, and they have four children, Joseph G., Pansy B., Stokes H. and Fern D. Mrs. Burgess is a member of the Congregational church, and with her husband takes a lively interest in everything tending to uplift and benefit humanity.
HENRY SHERMAN.
Among the prosperous farmers and best known citizens of Northville township, LaSalle county, is found the subject of this sketch. Henry Sher- man, who resides on the old Sherman homestead.
Henry Sherman was born December 21, 1858, a son of Stephen and Louise Sherman, pioneer settlers of Northville township. Further men- tion of Stephen Sherman and wife will be found in the sketch of Joseph Sherman on another page of this work. Henry was reared on the home farm and has always been engaged in farming here. He was married in 1883 to Miss Caroline Martin, a native of France. Her parents both having died in their native land, she, in company with her three brothers, came
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to this country in 1870. In Illinois she married Mr. Sherman, and their happy union has been blessed in the birth of the following named children: Stephen, George, Nora, Joseph, Edward, Vernon and Freddie. The last named is deceased.
Politically Mr. Sherman is a Democrat, and at this writing he is serving as a school director.
IRA CONOVER.
Ira Conover, foreman of the Griffin clay bank and farm in Utica town- ship, LaSalle county, has been identified with the interests of this place for some time and is well known as a man of sterling integrity.
Mr. Conover's father, James Conover, was born in New Jersey and in early life removed from that state to Ohio, where he carried on farming operations for a number of years. When the civil war came on he joined the Seventy-fifth Ohio Volunteers, was captured at Franklin, Tennessee, and died in Andersonville prison. His wife, nee Mary Ann Connor, died within two weeks after learning of his awful experience and death. Their family comprise the following named members: Henry, of Loveland, Ohio; Ira, whose name introduces this sketch; Frances, wife of Richard Rose Swift, of Brown county, Ohio; and John, also of Brown county, Ohio.
Ira Conover was born in Brown county, Ohio, April 2, 1848, and in his native place spent his childhood and youth. He left Ohio at the close of the war, in which he served a short time, and the following seven years was employed as a farm hand. He located at Utica, Illinois, in 1872, and en- tered the store of E. E. Taylor, in which he clerked five years, following which he clerked three years for Messrs. Leonard and Holland. At the end of this time he engaged in business for himself. He dealt exclusively in groceries until 1890, when he added a stock of dry goods to his store, and for five years longer he continued in business. In 1895 he became con- nected with Mr. Griffin's interests, as foreman, the position he holds at the present time.
Mr. Conover was married April 2, 1874, to a daughter of William H. Arthur, of Brown county, Ohio. She died July 2, 1895, leaving a husband and three sons to mourn their loss. The eldest son, Frederick, married Mary Farmer, and is a resident of Utica. Thomas and George, the other sons, are also residents of Utica.
For years Mr. Conover has been an active Republican of LaSalle county. He was a member of the Utica school board three years, served as the town clerk five years, and for four years was the supervisor of Utica township. Also he served on the committees on miscellaneous claims and
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equalization of town lots. In these various places of local trust and respon- sibility he performed faithful and acceptable service and won the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact.
SIDNEY W. BURGESS.
Among the leading farmers of Vermilion township, LaSalle county, is found, residing on section 31, Sidney W. Burgess, who was born on the farm on which he now lives, July 19, 1840, and who has passed his whole life in LaSalle county.
Mr. Burgess is a son of Jacob and Olive (Clark) Burgess, natives of Massachusetts, and one of their family of eight children, only three of whom are now living-Warren, Spencer S. and Sidney W. Jacob Burgess was a farmer. He came to LaSalle county when it was on the frontier and made a settlement among its pioneers, buying eighty acres of land. This land he partly improved, but while this section of the country was yet undeveloped he died, passing away in middle life. His wife died in 1862. She was a Presbyterian.
Sidney W. Burgess was reared on his father's farm. In his early boyhood there were only four or five houses in the neighborhood in which they lived and the district school which he attended was held in a log cabin. Later he attended a commercial college in Peoria. When he started out in life on his own account it was as a farm hand working for wages. As soon as he was able he purchased eighty acres of land in Vermilion town- ship, which he subsequently sold. After his mother's death he came into possession of the home farm. In addition to it he owns ten acres near by, and has eighty acres in Sedgwick county, Kansas, not far from Wichita.
November 20, 1871, Mr. Burgess married Miss Eugenia Allen, a daughter of Cornelius and Excy (Striker) Allen, natives of New York, and the fruits of their union are three children, namely: Olive, Eva and Burton S. Olive is the wife of Wilson Childers and has two children-Hazel and Glen. They reside in Lostant, Illinois. Mrs. Burgess is a member of the Tonica Congregational church.
Politically Mr. Burgess is a Republican and takes an intelligent and commendable interest in public affairs. He is now serving as the township clerk, which position he has filled for about twelve years. He is a member of Randolph Post, No. 93, G. A. R., having earned a membership in this distinguished body by loyal service for his country in its dark days of civil war. He enlisted August 6, 1862, as a member of Company B, One Hun- dred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was in the army a little
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over three years, having been honorably discharged and mustered out Sep- tember 1, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. He was at Hartsville and in the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns; in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge; was in the Atlanta campaign at Buzzards' Roost, Resaca, New Hope Church, the battles around Kenesaw Mountain and that of Peach Tree Creek, in which last named battle he was. wounded.
Mr. Burgess is a civil engineer, and his business as such he has followed to some extent in connection with his farming operations. His postoffice address is Tonica.
CAPTAIN GEORGE W. HOWE.
The venerable gentleman whose name adorns this page is one of the well-known citizens of LaSalle county, where he has lived for nearly half a century.
George W. Howe was born in Windsor county, Vermont, December 15, 1822, one of the three children of Calvin and Achie (Wallace) Howe. His brother Norman, the eldest of the family, died at the age of twelve years, and his sister, Eunice W., the second in order of birth, married Philip G. Sewal, and became the mother of two daughters and one son. She died in 1889, at the age of seventy-six years. Their father, Calvin Howe, was a carpenter and farmer. For a number of years he was the captain of an independent military company in Vermont. He was born, passed his life and died in the Green Mountain state, his death occurring about 1862. Politically he was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party, when he identified himself with it. Religiously both he and his wife were Universalists. She survived him about two years.
The Howes are of English origin. Representatives of the family were among the early settlers of New England. Grandfather Howe was, it is supposed, born either in Massachusetts or Connecticut. For many years he was engaged in farming in Vermont, and he died on his farm in that state when past middle life. His family was composed of five sons and four daughters. Of the maternal grandfather of our subject. we record that his name was John Wallace, that he was of Scotch descent, and that he lived and died in Vermont, his death occurring on his farm in Windsor county, at about the age of eighty years. He was a lieutenant in the Revo- lutionary war and drew a pension. His children numbered ten.
George W. Howe was reared in his native county, receiving his education in its district schools, and he remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he started out to make his own way in
-
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the world, beginning as a farm hand and working by the month. In this way he was employed for twelve years. He came west in 1850, landing at LaSalle, Illinois, from a canalboat, the 15th of September, and soon took up his abode in Eden township, LaSalle county. The first winter of his resi- dence here misfortune overtook him in the way of sickness and death, his wife dying, and that winter he spent a considerable portion of the money he had saved up with the expectation of buying land. In 1861 he secured warrant to a tract of land in Allen township, one hundred and sixty acres, which he kept till after the war. In March, 1856, he bought eighty acres of his present farm, which he called his "first love" in land desire, and which he paid for before the war broke out. Then he gave his notes for another eighty adjoining it, and has since added one hundred and sixty acres, making in all three hundred and twenty acres. This is all prairie land and has for many years been under a high state of cultivation. Also he owns ten acres of timber land.
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