USA > Illinois > Biographical and memorial edition of the Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
1018
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
except while a detailed forager in Sherman's army from Savannah to Goldsboro, until his dis- charge June 15, 1565. Soon after his discharge he came to Chicago and engaged in buying and selling live stock at the Union Stock Yards, con- tinuing in this field of activity until 1550, and since that time he has been engaged in buying and selling grain contracts on the Chicago Board of Trade, of which he is a member. Mr. Van Nostrand is a member of the National Union and the Royal League and is also a mem- ber of the Hawkeye Fellowship Club. He is the author of a number of valuable works, among which are "A Positive Method." pub- lished in 1890; "The Microcosm," published in 1891; "Beginning of a Formal Philosophy," pub- lished in 1892; "A Theory of the Mental Con- stitution," published in 1824; "A Mechanical Philosophy," published in 1901; and "The Philosophy of History," published in 1900. He is a man of broad information and marked in- tellectual activity and his labors along these lines have given impetus to the work of science, being valuable and far-reaching in its effects and influence. Although quiet and unostenta- tious in manner, he has many warm friends and
those who know him well recognize in him a inan of earnest purpose and progressive prin- ciples. Ile is widely kuown as a man of sub- stantial worth whose judgment is sound and sagacity keen. He has always taken a deep interest in the city's welfare, vever hesitating to advocate or oppose any measure or project whieb in bis judgment merits indorsement or opposition. He is interested in all that per- tains to modern advancement and improvements along material, intellectual and morat lines and his charities extend to many worthy enterprises.
Mr. Van Nostrand was married at Des Moines, Iowa, August 23, 1871, to Miss Martha George, a native of Cadiz, Ohio. and a lady of culture and refinement, and to this union two children were born; Myra B., who is the dis- trict superintendent of the Central District of United Charities of Chicago; and Jolin J., Jr., who is Professor of History st the State Uni- versity of California, at Berkeley, Cal. The family home at No. 5553 Drexel arenue is a hospitable one where good cheer always abounds and where Mr. Van Nostrand delights in enter- taining bis many friends.
GEORGE STEPHENS.
Of absorbing interest is the story of the life of the late George Stephens, once one of Mo- line's best known, most useful and most highly honored citizens. It is a story of ambition, industry, courage, persistency and success, and in a day when opportunity opens many paths to youths as it did not four score years ago, it may be an inspiration and be deemed worthy of emulation.
George Stephens was born in Ligonier Town- ship, Westmoreland County, Pa., February 22, 1819, the date suggesting his name, in honor of the Father of his country, George Wash- ington. It may not be amiss to state that many of the characteristics of the great soldier and statesman belonged also to his namesake, who also achieved distinction, although along the paths of peace and in the fields of industry. He came of notable ancestry. His father, Ran- dall Stephens, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his great-grandfather, Captain Alex- ander Stephens, born in England, became, after the battle of Culloden a soldier in the American colonies under Washington, in the French and Indian wars. Hle founded what was known as the Penn Colony, at the junction of the Sus-
quehannab and Juniata rivers in Pennsylvania, in 1746. For the distinguished services of his father, Amos, eldest son of Captain Stephens, was granted 118 acres of land in Westmoreland County. A branch of the family established in Georgia produced Alexander Hamilton Stephens, later a national character. as vice president of the Confederacy during the Civil war. The mother of the late George Stephens bore the name of Martha Boggs, one not un- known in Pennsylvania.
When George Stephens was a boy his edu- cational opportunities were meager, schools were not yet well established and books were few and expensive. He had so active and in- quiring a mind that he sought and secured read- ing matter, especially on scientific subjects, that would probably not have interested nine-tenths of his acquaintances, but he was thoughtful and serious-minded then as in later days, when, from his well stored mind he evolved ideas that sub- sequently made him the great manufacturer he became. Without capital, except a thorough knowledge of the millwright trade and experi- ence in mill construction in his native state and in Ohio, he came first to Moline, in 1841,
Leo Stephens 0
1019
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
and located here permanently in 1843. At this tinie he was engaged by D. B. Sears to put in the machinery in his flouring mill and to take care of it, and soon afterward built a sawmill on Rock Island for Sears, Wood & Co., and had charge of that mill for tive years. In 1859, in company with Jonathan Huntoon and Timothy Wood, he leased the mill and in 1561 the three men purchased it, the firm name becoming Stephens, Huntoon & Wood. This mill was an extensive one for its day, having a capacity of 3,000,000 feet of lumber annually. They con- tinued the business on the island until 1866, when the Government paid them $28,270 for their property.
In 1865, with Henry Candee, R. K. Swan and Andrew Friberg, Mr. Stephens went into the plow manufacturing business at Moline, and in 1870 the firm was incorporated as the Moline Plow Co., with a capital of $250,000, its pros- perity being indicated by its later increase of capital to $2,400.000. Mr. Stephens was made its first vice president and continued in that position until 1885, when he resigned, but after the death of President S. W. Wheelock, he was made president and held that position until his death, in July, 1902. It was largely through his energy and practical knowledge that pros- perity came to this enterprise, and was so over- whelming that at the time of Mr. Stephens' demise his factory was one of the largest of its kind in the world, in fact being the second largest steel plow factory on the globe.
In 1846 Mr. Stephens was married in Rock Island County to Miss Mary A. Gardner, who was born near Ithaca, N. Y. She was a descend- ant of the Wilkinson family that founded Prov- idence, R. I., and of Stephen Hopkins, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and of Esek Hopkins, the founder of the American navy. To Mr. and Mrs. Stephens eight chil- dren were born. The survivors are: George . Arthur, Charles Randall, Mary L. (Mrs. George II. Huntoon), Minnie Florence (Mrs. Frank Gates Allen), Nellie M. (Mrs. Charles Howard Lippincott ), and Ada Eudora. All are residents of Moline except the Lippincotts, who live in Hollywood, Cal.
Although Mr. Stephens never released him- self entirely from the cares of business, he en- joyed social relaxation and through his kind and genial personality had a very wide circle of friends which embraced the leading men of this section. The faculties of his mind were with him to the last, even his exceptionally retentive memory, and his business advice was valued as it had been in earlier years. He was not only respected by his army of employes, but was regarded by them with affection. All his life he found pleasure and recreation in scientific studies, and had he not developed into the head of the mammoth manufacturing concern, he undoubtedly would have become equally distinguished through achievement along other lines.
JOHN DEERE.
No citizen in Rock Island County, or through- out the country, was probably more widely known than John Deere, of Moline. He was born at Middlebury, Vt., February 7, 1803, and died May 17, 1856. The reading, writing and little arithmetic obtained preparatory to his entering Middlebury College, which he attended a few months, stimulated the inborn inclination for active practical work and his career began, which for unconquerable energy, determined will, and self-made success, has few equals, if any superiors. Becoming tired of the school- room, he hired himself to a tanner to grind bark, and the pair of shoes and suit of clothes purchased with the wages were the first informa- tion the mother had of John's doings. At the age of seventeen, he became an apprentice to Captain Benjamin Lawrence, and began learn- ing the blacksmith trade. He faithfully worked
out his engagement of four years, and was then employed in the shop of William Wells and Ira Allen, to construct iron wagons, buggies and stage coaches. A year later, he was at Burling- ton, Vt., and did the entire wrought-iron work on the saw and linseed oil mill built at Col- chester Falls, Vt. This indicates the mechanical ability of the young man ; for it must be romem- bered that work which is now done by machin- ery, in those days must depend upon the skill and strength of the common blacksmith. In 1827 Mr. Deere went to Vergennes, Vt., and en- tered into partnership with John MeVene, to do general blacksmithing. On January 28, 1827, he was married to Demarius Lamb, who became his faithful companion and helper for thirty- eight years. When she met Mr. Deere, she had just returned from the Emma Willard school at Troy, N. Y. Of their nine children, only one
1020
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
survives, she being Jeannette Deere Chapman. After the death of his first wife, John Deere married (second) her sister, Lucinda Lamb.
A change was made in 1829 to Leicester, Vt., where a shop twenty-five by thirty-five feet was built, which was destroyed by fire six months after. It was rebuilt, only to be again burned. A third one was built, in which business was car- ried on till 1831, when the family moved to Han- cock, Vt., where Mr. Deere followed his trade, adding to his general work the business of mak- ing forks and hoes. Energy and diligence were bringing in sure but small returns, but the ru- mors of larger openings and richer rewards in the "Great West" induced Mr. Deere to sell out his business, leave his family at Han- cock, and come to Chicago. The town was small, unpromising and planted in a swamp. Strong inducements were urged that he should remain and shoe horses and repair coaches, but he re- jected them and removed to Grand Detour, ou Rock river. Here a shop was opened, and to the general work was added the building of breaking-plows. Mr. Deere soon began to see that his iron plows with wooden mohl-board could not be made to do good work in the prairie soil; with difficulty they entered the ground, clogged up and failed to scour. Then began experiments and improvements which finally resulted in the present perfect steel plow. With characteristic energy and will, the battle was pushed till success came. There was a de- mand for a good plow, and such a plow must be made. The first one which did satisfactory work was made in this way : Wrought-iron land- slide and standard steel share and moldboard cut from a sawmill saw, and beam and handle of white oak rails. In 1838 two of these plows were made, with which the farmers were much
Gen. William C. Kueffner, soldier of the Civil war and former attorney-at-law, Belleville. Ill., was born in Rostock, Mecklenburg, Germany, February 27, 1840. His father, Carl Kueffner, was also a native of Mecklenburg. Mr. Kueff- ner came to America at the age of sixteen years and was located at Memphis. Tent .. at the out- break of the Civil war. Thence he came to St. Louis, and then to Belleville. Ill., where he enlisted April 20. 1861, in Company D. Ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in as sergeant of Capt. Alexander G. Hlawe's company, and transferred to Company
pleased, and did unusually good work for those days.
Mr. Deere became a resident of Moline in 1847. Here was good waterpower, coal in abun- dance within three to five miles, and cheap river navigation. A partnership was formed with R. M. Tate and John M. Gould ; shops were built and work commenced, resulting the first year in seven hundred plows. About this time the first shipment of steel from England came to hand. Fifty plows were made and sent to different parts of the country where the soil was most difficult to work. They proved successful, the trade enlarged, new machinery was added, the shops enlarged, till the annual product was ten thousand plows. Mr. Deere then bought out the company. In 1858, Mr. Deere took his son, Charles HI., into the business as partner, and the business was conducted under the name of Deere & Company till 1868, when it was incorporated under the general laws of the state, with John Deere as president.
This business is John Deere's monument on the business side of life. It is the result of quick foresight, practical energy, great executive ability, and an almost resistless will, which were marked characteristics of the man. It is con- ceded that he was the originator of the steel plow. He was a Republican in polities from the organization of that party. An active member of the Congregational church, he was a generous contributor to local and foreign objects of be- nevolence. The religious, moral and educational interests of society bad in him a friend and patron. He was a large stockholder in the First National Bank of Moline, and was its second president. Once elected mayor of the city, he was also one of the directors of the free public library.
WILLIAM C. KUEFFNER.
C, as first lieutenant, serving three months. He then re-enlisted for three years as captain of Company B, in the same regiment, and partici- pated in the battles of Saratoga, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, Tenn., in February, 1862. He was wounded in the head by a gunshot at the battle of Shiloh, and was taken to the hospital and thence to St. Louis. After his recovery he rejoined his regiment and took part in the battle of Corinth, where he was again wounded by a gunshot through the breast and removed to the hospital. After the expiration of his sec- ond period of enlistment, he enlisted for a third
.
1021
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
time in February, 1865, as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry-one of the last regiments organized for the Civil war-of which he was commis- sioned as colonel. and on March 13 following, promoted to brevet brigadier-general for gallant and meritorious service, remaining in service until January 27, 1560, when he was honorably discharged with his regiment at Springfield, Ill. In all General Kueffner took part in 110 battles and skirmishes. During a part of the war he was stationed for one year and three months at the Barracks, St. Louis.
General Kueffner was a zealous champion of the principles of the Republican party and after the war served for a time as justice of the peace and police magistrate, and in March, 1867, was appointed collector of internal revenue for the Belleville District. He later began the study of law in the law department of Wash- ington University, from which he graduated on March S, 1871, after which he practiced his pro-
fession in Belleville up to the time of his death. He was twice married, tirst to Cecelia Mal- linckrodt, a native of St. Louis, to whom he was married in May, 1865, and who died in 1873, having borne him two children, namely : Cecelia W. and Louisa D. On June 3, 1876, he was married (second) to Miss Elise Lorey, who was born and educated in Belleville and who still survives. His death, resulting from an attack of pneumonia, occurred March 18, 1893, and he was buried with the honors due to a veteran of the Civil war, in Walnut Hill Cemetery. An earnest patriot, General Kueffner took a just pride in his record as a soldier, and was a devoted member of Hecker Post, No. 443. Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. Almost his last words, uttered in command of his comrades-the "Boys in Blue"-as he lay upon his death-bed, indi- cated the deep hold the memories of the war period still had upon hin,
OLIVER PERRY SOWERS.
The majority of the people of this country, especially those living in a county like Rock Island, that gave so many of its loyal sons to. the Union cause during the dark days of the Civil war, will continue to hold in highest honor and respect the men who saved the Union and retained the flag in its unsullied purity. Many of those men who for years were familiar figures of everyday life, wearing proudly on their coats the bronze button which meant so much to them and their comrades, have responded "pres- ent" to the last roll call of eternity, but they are not forgotten, and their memories are kept green the year through, as their graves are upon the day dedicated to them. One of the old sol- diers of his country, as well as an honored resi- dent of Rock Island County, was the late Oliver Perry Sowers, of Moline.
Born at Felicity, Ohio, March 24, 1841, Oliver Perry Sowers was a son of Samuel and Susan (Ritchie) Sowers, both of whom were also born in Ohio. Samuel Sowers was a man of high character and splendid citizenship. For many years he was a well known building contractor. and his connection with any contract was a guarantee of its thorough execution according to specifications. The death of this excellent man occurred in the early seventies, his widow only surviving him ten months. Their children were as follows: Ann, who is Mrs. Larkins, of
Hampton, Ill .; Nellie, who is Mrs. James Gib)- son, of Pleasant Valley, Iowa; Jennie, who is Mrs. Jack Wall, of Moline; Oliver Perry, whose name heads this review; and Susan, who is Mrs. James Conkling.
Oliver Perry Sowers attended the common schools of Hampton, Ill., to which place the fam- ily had removed when he was five years old, and where he had grown up amid wholesome surroundings. Upon leaving school, he learned the carpenter's trade umler the instruction of his father, but his labors were interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil war, and the loyal young man enlisted on October 25, 1861, and was attached to the command of General Sheridan, participating with that general in his campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, even acting as one of his aides in the famous ride from Winchester. At the close of the war, Mr. Sowers returned to Illinois, and soon identified himself with the interests of Moline. Having developed a more than ordinary mechanical ability, he became one of the experts in the mechanical department of the Moline Plow Works, thus continuing until his death which occurred August 2. 1998. Ile was one of the most important factors in the conduct of the company's affairs, although not an official.
On April 23. 1872. Mr. Sowers married Miss Ann E. Warren of Hampdon Township, Rock
.
1022
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
Island County, Ill., a daughter of Ephraim and Almira (Snell) Warren. Ephraim Warren was born July 16, 1807, at Ludlow, Vt., and Almira Snell was born May 5, 1814. Mr. Warren freighted goods over the mountains, wool, cheese, butter, eggs, pork and hides, from Ludlow to Boston, and as this was prior to the days of the railroads, used ten horse teams, owning some magnificent horses, which he drove without reins, controlling them with whip and word. These horses were attached to a wagon that would carry ten tons, as much as a flat car. The tires on the wheels were five inches wide. During his many trips Mr. Warren had many thrilling experiences, and visited some of the large eastern cities, being at Boston at the time of the burning of the Gray Nunnery. A man of great strength, he was an athlete, and during his whole life met but one man who could throw him. Not only did he enjoy his prowess
as a swimmer, but put his skill in this direc- tion to good effect in saving more than one life, when people were in danger. Absolutely fearless, he never shirked danger, but took a pride in being able to meet any emergency ef- fectively and promptly. Owing to his many ex- cellent traits of character, he was called upon more than once to hold offices of trust and dis- charged his responsibilities in an effective man- ner. He was a man of sterling New England integrity and characteristics.
Mr. and Mrs. Sowers had no children. He was a man of unusually sweet disposition, and made no enemies, calling every man his friend. His fraternal connections were with the Masonic order, and he also belonged to the local G. A. R. Post. As one who knew him well said of him after his death :
"In his passing, Moline lost one of its best friends, and so have I."
GEORGE WASHINGTON SMITH.
George Washington Smith, history professor, was born near Greenfield, Ill., November 13, 1855, son of Stephen and Sallie M. Smith. Ile attended the public schools and Blackburn Uni- versity (Carlinville, III.), and later pursued work at the Cook County Normal School, Chi- ·cago, under Col. Francis W. Parker. Professor Smith taught six years in rural schools, three years in high schools, and four years was super-
intendent of city schools. In 1890 he became a member of the faculty of the Southern Illinois Normal University, at Carbondale, and is now professor of history at this institution. He is the author of "A Student's History of Illinois." which is regarded as a valuable text book in the schools of the state. Professor Smith is an elder in the Christian church, and is a member of the Carbondale Board of Education.
SAMUEL TROUTMAN
There are no more intelligent and far seeing business men in the country than the successful agriculturists, The life of a farmer is exacting in that he may not choose his own times and seasons for exertion, Nature adjusting such matters, but it is not likely that any other occupation gives such. large and certain returns for effort expended. When a farmer success- fully produces large crops he may be called a careful and capable husbandman, but when he also is able to profitably handle the yield of his fertile fields for himself, he is entitled to be considered a man of excellent business capacity. A well known man who achieved success both as a farmer and business man, was the late Samuel Troutman, of Decatur, Ill. He was born March 1, 1843. near Logansport, Iml., a son of Peter and Mary ( Bruce) Troutman, the former of whom was a physician by profession, following it and also farming in both Indiana
and Illinois, to which latter state he came and settled four miles from Decatur.
Samuel Troutman received his educational training in his native county. At the age of nineteen years, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, for service in the Civil war, and during his army life made a most creditable record. After the close of the war, as he had no ties to bind him to Indiana, his family having settled on their farm near Decatur, he joined them there, and remained at home until his marriage, at which time he moved with his bride to a farm of 160 acres he had bought in the vicinity of Bearsdale, in Macon County, Ill., and there he engaged in farming for twenty-four years. He conducted the grain business at Bearsdale, in connection with his farm work, for sixteen years. Once more he made a change, moving to Decatur and buying a comfortable residence
Hugh Rinale,
1023
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
at No. 906 West Macon street, and lived there until his death, which occurred June 17, 1910.
On January 10. 1867, Mr. Troutman . was united in marriage with. Elizabeth A. Bear, a daughter of Jacob and Martha ( Bowman) Bear, natives of Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Bear passed away. Mr. Bear came to Illinois in 1852, when Mrs. Troutman was eleven years old, she having been born July 21. 1840. From the time he located on a farm in Macon County, this state. Mr. Bear continued to operate the same property near Bearsdale, Mr. and Mrs. Troutman became the parents of two children : Frank S., who was born January 26, 1873, re- sides on the homestead, married Lizzie Barner, a native of Kansas, and they have five chil- dren. Martha E .. Bruce F., Barner, Francis E. and Ruth C .; and Mary Etta, who was born October 2. 1868, married A. J. Conover, and
live on a farm in Macon County, III., and they have one child, Albert T.
Mr. Troutman was a member of Dunham Post No. 141, G. A. R., of Decatur, and Mrs. Troutman is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps connected therewith. He was a Repub- lican in politics, and belonged to the Methodist church, of which Mrs. Troutman is also a mem- ber. A man of fine character, genial in tem- peramient and pleasant in manner, he found his greatest pleasure in his home. A good and loyal citizen, he was public spirited and believed in advancing the interests of his community, but was too well balanced to be led away by schemes to use the public money without giving adequate returns. Patriotic to the end and faithful in all things, he rounded out a long and useful life, and dying left behind him the record of an honorable career.
HUGH RIDDLE.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.