USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 32
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 32
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 32
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father remarried, his second wife being the mother of the subject of this biography. A short time afterward, he and his brother, with their families, six persons in each household, came from Fayette county, Ohio, to Schuyler, now Brown connty, Illinois. This journey of more than 400 miles was made in . three weeks, with two large covered wagons and eiglit horses, four animals under sad- dle. The father of our subject brought some means with him, realized from the sale of his farm in Ohio. He first settled in Schny- ler, now Brown county.
Eight years earlier Cornelius Van Deven- ter visited the Illinois bottoms, where he se- cured a claim. Five acres of this he fenced and planted to corn and pumpkins, and after completing their cultivation returned to his family. On his return in the fall, great was his surprise to find his crop intact, not an ear of corn or a pumpkin being missing.
The stalwart and much beloved pionecr, Jacob Van Deventer, died in 1833, aged fifty-three years, leaving a bereaved family and many sorrowing friends. His worthy wife survived him nine years, dying aged about forty-eight years. They were the par- ents of six boys and two girls, to-wit: T. R., J. F., H. D., and B. B., boys; girls, Caroline and Duan; one child, Pembrook Berbeck Van Deventer, died when small; the others were the subject of this notice, J. F., H. D. and B. B. In 1838, she bought fifty-three acres of heavily timbered land, which had a small enclosure cleared, in the center of which was a hewed-log house, for which she paid $600. This forms part of the present large farm of the subject of this sketcli. He and his brothers formerly owned this farm of 800 acres in partnership, but J. F. Van Deventer, of Mount Sterling, now owns another farm of 2,200 acres near by,
which he is farming on a large scale. Their specialty is stock-raising, including horses, cattle and hogs. On the land cultivated by our subject and his other brother, there is now a substantial farm residence, which they erected in 1866, besides which there are large barns and an excellent granary, which they built in 1880, all of which are models of their kind. They breed and raise from fifty to sixty head of dehorned short horn cattle annually, and have fed each year, for some thirty-five years, about 250 head, which they ship to market, together with many which they bny to sell. They now own ninety head of horses, and breed and raise ten to twelve head a year, most of which are draft horses, but some are for the saddle. They send to market from 200 to 300 hogs a year, beside shipping of their own stock from eight to ten car loads annually. Thus will be seen what a prominent part they take in the development of this conntry, which re- sults in their own prosperity and provides work for numerous attendants.
In politics, Mr. Van Deventer affiliates with the Republican party, the principles of which he has endorsed for many years.
Notwithstanding his marvelons achieve- ments in life, we have yet to chronicle the most wonderful feat of his existence, namely, his abstaining from matrimony. How he has escaped the wiles of the fair sex is truly phenomenal, unless we revert to his other superior accomplishments. However, we will not congratulate him yet, remembering 'lic will not be free from danger until he has left this mundane sphere.
His early educational opportunities were limited, but he inherited a clear and strong in- tellect, as well as superior physical strength, and, by much reading and reflection, has over . come these early disadvantages. Besides being
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one of the most successful of men finacially, he enjoys, by reason of his integrity of char- acter and uniform courtesy, the universal friendship of his fellow men.
ILLIAM A. BROKER was born in .Lippe-Detmold, Germany, March 19, 1837. He was a boy of eleven years of age when his parents, Samuel and Sophia (Haupfer) Broker crossed the Atlantic in the spring of 1849, to New Orleans, and thence up the Mississippi river to St. Lonis. This was during the year of the great cholera epidemic in that city, and within a few days the father and three of the children died, the mother and William having it severely, but recovering. When they were able to leave, the mother and her four small children moved to a farm near Watertown, Wisconsin. About one year later the mother died of cholera morbns, she being then fifty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Broker had always been members of the German Reformned Church.
Mr. William Broker is the youngest of the children yet living. He is now pattern- maker for the St. Louis division of the Quincy railroad, which is located at Beardstown. Hc has been a resident of the same city since 1851. He was only fourteen years old when he arrived at Beardstown, and learned the trade of a practical carpenter mechanic under C. A. Bushman. After learning his trade he worked on his own account, and later became a carpenter for the old Rockford company. In 1869, when the railroad was bought up by the Quincy company, he became their pattern-maker in 1879. He has ever since been regarded as a good, reliable workman, and a true, straightforward man, and his long
association with the railroad company is a recommendation of him as a citizen.
He was married in Beardstown to Miss Dorothea Kratz, who was born in Hesse- Darinstadt, Germany, in 1844, and was twelve years of age when her parents emi- grated to this country. They have seven children: Frank, living at home, is a ma- chinist; Sophia and Katie are at home, they having been well educated in the high school of the city; William is learning the ma- chinist trade; Minnie, Amelia and Samuel are at liome. Mr. and Mrs. Broker attend the Lutheran Church, Mr. Broker is a Re- publican, and a member of the A. O. U. W. He is highly respected by all.
AMES N. RIGG, of the firm of Rigg & Sınith, merchants of Camden, one of the well-known pioneers of Brown county, settled in 1869 at Camden. He was born in Anderson county, Kentucky, January 18, 1826, being a son of Richard and Margaret (Utterback) Rigg, natives of Virginia. Each removed with their respective families to Kentucky, where they were married. In 1831 they emigrated to Illinois and settled in what is now Brown county, but was then a part of Schuyler. Mr. Richard Rigg pur- chased land near Mount Sterling, and entered land, and then became the owner of 400 acres of land on which he made many improve- ments. His death occurred in 1879, aged eighty-four years. His wife died in 1877, aged eighty- four years. They were members of the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Rigg was a Deacon. He had already made moncy when he started farming in Illinois, and added to his fortune in this State. He and his wife had three sons and four daughters:
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Elizabeth, married to John B. Anumos, de- ceased; Susan A., married to J. P. Singleton, of Mount Sterling; Eliza married James A. Parker, who died in Brown county; James N .; Peter, a farmer; and John J. died in Brown county. By a former marriage Rich- ard had two children, William T. and Sarah.
James was only five years of age when the family came to Illinois. He was reared on the farin and resided there until he grew to manhood, attending school in the log school- houses of the section, where the teaching was as rude as the furniture. After his marriage James purchased a farm in Brown county, and continued on it until he came to Camden in 1869, when he sold his farm of 160 acres and with his father-in-law, Willis Watts, en- gaged in general merchandising in Camden, nnder the firm name of Watts & Rigg, and continued business for ten years. Mr. Rigg continued alone some years, until 1881, when the cyclone passed through the town; his store and dwelling-house were badly injured. and his family were badly hurt. He subse- quently associated with his son-in-law in business, under the firm name of Rigg & Donnell. This firm continued two years. At the end of that time his present partner purchased an interest in the business, and the name was changed to Rigg & Smith.
He was married in 1849, to Emily I. Watts, daughter of Willis Watts. (For fam- ily history see history of Dr. B. P. Watts.) Mr. and Mrs. Rigg have five children: John J., of Keokuk, Iowa; Richard W. is a physi- cian of Pulaski, Illinois; Francis M. is in the insurance business at Quincy, Illinois; Olie married Jolin Donnell, a farmer of Iowa; and Gertrude, at home.
In politics he is a Democrat. He has been Supervisor of Camden township, until he declined to accept the office, and during
this time was chairman of the Board of Su- pervisors of Schuyler county for four con- secutive years. He has held many of the offices of the township. He has been Justice of the Peace for seven years, and been promi- nent in local politics, frequently having been a delegate of the county and district conven- tions. Mr. Rigg is a member of the Baptist Church, and his wife of the Christian Church. He has devoted his attention to merchandise, and is one of the oldest merchants in the county. He and his wife are respected throughout the county, where they are well known, and Mr. Rigg is regarded as a reli- able, honest business man.
ILLIAM L. ALEXANDER, of sec- tion 30, Huntsville township, set- tled in the county in 1861. He was born in Russell county, Virginia, December 19, 1836. His parents were William and Mary (McReynolds) Alexander. The grand- father of our subject was Jolın Alexander, born in the north of Ireland. He came to the United States, where he settled and pursued farming. He married and reared a large family. His son William was born in 1802 and was a farmer, marrying in Virginia. In 1840 he came to Illinois and settled in Adams county, North East township, where he became the owner of 400 acres of land on which he made good improvements. He died in 1887, his wife having died a few years previously. They were members of the Presbyterian Church and the father was a Democrat in poli- tics. He was poor when he settled in Illinois, owning only a horse and wagon. They had thirteen children, all of whom attained their majority: Nancy, John, Mary, Rachel, Mar- garet, William L., Davis, Daniel, Mitchell, Martha, Samuel, Robert Wilson and Rebecca.
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William L. was reared on the farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, Eighty- fourth Illinois Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Perryville, Kentucky, Stone river and Chicka- mauga, Tennessee, and the Atlanta Campaign. He returned with General Thomas and par- ticipated in the fight at Franklin and Nash- ville. He was mustered out at Camp Har- ker, Tennessee. He was a non-commissioned officer. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain he received a gunshot wound in the head, for which he now receives a pension.
After the war he returned to Schuyler county, where he owned sixty acres of land, purchased in 1864. He has since pursued farming and now owns 541 acres of land and has two good sets of farm buildings. In ad- dition to his farming he has raised stock and dealt in the same. Since 1889 lie has rented all his land.
He was married in 1861 to Rachel J. Derry, daughter of Basil and Sarah Derry. She was born in Adams county, near Quincy. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have four children: Mar- tha A., wife of William H. Naylor, resides in Baxter Springs, Kansas; Edward died, aged nineteen; Emma, wife of Edward Straub of Galesburg, Illinois; Keely L. is at home. In politics Mr. Alexander is a Democrat and has been a member of the School Board. His wife is an earnest Christian lady, but not a member of any sect. Mr. Alexander has made his property and is a well-to-do mau, richly deserving the respect in which he is held by all who know him.
ROVE CONINGHAM, deceased, was a native of New York city, born Decem- ber 27, 1816. His father, Grove Con- ingham, Senior, was born in Londonderry,
Ireland, about 1766. He emigrated to New York city at an early age and married Betsy Baldwin, of Putnam county, New York. They had nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth. The father died in Deceniber, 1831, in New York city. His wife survived him thirty-eight years.
Our subject received his education in New York and at the age of sixteen came to Schuy- ler county, Illinois. In 1843 he returned to his native city and lived there for three years, then returned to Illinois and settled in Schuy- ler county in 1851. He made a trip to Cali- fornia in 1851 and remained for two years employed in the custom house. This was his business and had been from his youth, as he had been associated with his father in the same for years. In 1853 he returned to his old home in Frederick and settled there. There he resided until his death in 1891, Feb- ruary 21. Mr. Coningham was a business man for many years as a member of the firm of Farwell & Company, which lasted from 1855 to 1870. He was a stanch Republican in politics and an ardent supporter of the war and a friend of the soldiers. For two years after the dissolution of the firm of Farwell & Company he served as steamboat agent, and subsequently as Tax Collector, and held other positions of trust and responsibility. In 1866 he was appointed Postmaster at Frederick, which position he held for over twenty years. Mr. Coningham was a man of sterling worth and integrity. He was of a jovial disposition that made himn friends wherever he was. He was noted for his firm adherence to the right whatever the cost might be. He was a worthy communicant of the Episcopal Church.
He was inarried in Frederick, Illinois, to Sarah H. Beal, in 1856. She is the daughter of Jesse O. and Sarah (Vail) Beal, born in
-
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.
Coshocton connty, Ohio, March 21, 1836. Her father came of German ancestry, and hier mother traces her genealogy back to the Vails who came to Plymouth. Of a family of nine only three are now living. Her brother Fos- ter was a soldier in the Mexican war and is buried on Mexican soil. Samuel now resides in Frederick, a farmer; Jnlia resides in De- Witt, Iowa, and Mrs. Coningham is the third living one of tliat once large family.
Mr. and Mrs. Coningham had seven child- ren, namely: Charlie, married, and lives in St. Louis, a telegraplı operator; Grove, un- married, located at San Francisco, in the in- surance business; Jesse is employed in the registry department of the St. Louis post- office, a position he has held for eight years; Betsy, now Mrs. Moses, resides in Pueblo, Colorado; Grant, the yongest, named for the noted general, is married, employed in a saw mill and resides with his mother. Mrs. Con- ingham is a worthy member of the Christian Church, and has always been respected and liked by her large circle of friends.
OHN S. DODGE, one of the most prom- inent fariners of Littleton township, Schuyler county, Illinois, was born in Bloomington, McLean county, this State, Marclı 14, 1837. His parents, Solomon and Betsey (Springer) Dodge, were both natives of Ohio, his father being a carder and filler by trade. His mother's ancestors were originally from Cork, Ireland. In 1833, his parents came by way of the Ohio and Missis- sippi rivers to Bloomington, Illinois, where our subject was born in his father's hotel, which was the first in that town, called the Caravansary. His father retired about twenty- five years before his death, he being ninety-
one years of age and his wife seventy-two' when they died at the home of their son, the subject of our sketch. His godfather, Israel Dodge, was from Scotland, and died in Mari- etta, Ohio, aged seventy-five years.
Our subject came to this county in 1846, and bonglit the farm on which he at present resides, whichi he has since mnuch improved by the erection of a substantial residence and barns, and has the land well cultivated. He is one of ten children, five of whom are now living, two boys and three girls. He is the only farmer, all the others being iner- cliants and mechanics.
Mr. Dodge remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, attending district school and helping his father. He then herded cattle for a couple of years, after which he worked around at different places until he was twenty-one years of age. He was, at the end of this time, married to Miss Emily Hoyt, on December 24, 1855, a native of Detroit, Michigan, where she was born November 2, 1836. Their happy married life was doomed to be of short duration, for three years later his wife died in Wahpeton, Min- nesota, aged twenty-two years. She was an intelligent woman, with many charms of per- son and character, and was much regretted by all who knew her. Her people were from New York State.
Mr. Dodge, after about eight years, mar- ried Miss Rachel Moore, on Jannary 11, 1866, who was born in Buena Vista town- ship, this connty, June 15, 1838. Her par- ents, Thomas and Mary Moore, were pioneers of this county, and highly respected people. They are now both dead, her mother surviving her father by several years. She was one of twelve children, nine of whom are now living.
After his marriage Mr. Dodge rented a farın in this county, which he cultivated until
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the time of the war; when, on February 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Sixty-second Illinois Infantry, under Captain Joseph Mc- Lean, and served for three years and four months in the army, and was on detached duty for two months. He was sick in 1864 and was in the regimental hospital. In 1865, on May 2, he was honorably discharged at Smithfield. Mr. Dodge and D. Wheat are the only ones left in Springfield township, who were members of that company.
After the war Mr. Dodge bouglit his pres- ent farm, which at that time was unimproved and had only a log house on it. It hardly resembles the same farm now, for he has erected a substantial residence, besides com- modious barns for his grain and stock, be- sides other modern conveniences for the facilitating of agricultural pursuits. He has bought eighty more acres of land, making his present possessions 240 acres, all of which is under a good state of cultivation. Besides his farming interests, he is largely interested in stock-raising, making a specialty of cattle, in which he is very successful.
Our subject and wife have had eight chil- dren, six of whom still survive: Avey E., born in this county, was educated at Bush- nell College, and studied music at Shenandoah, Iowa, and is now teaching music; Homer P. is at home; he was educated at Bushnell College; Fannie T. is at home, and was also educated at Bushnell College; Adda A .; Ruby J. and True; the last three are living a home with their parents.
Mr. Dodge is at present a Republican, al- though he went to war as a Douglas Demo- crat; after that international struggle lie voted with the Republicans. His first vote was cast for John C. Fremont. His con- stituents have seen fit to honor him with public office, and he has served as Assessor
and Commissioner of Highways, in which capacity he lias rendered eminent satisfaction to all. He is a member of George Brown Post, of Brooklyn, also of No. 320, G. A. R., and affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., No. 766, of Littleton, of all which societies he is a prominent and esteemed member.
Of superior ability, high integrity and . morality, lie also adds the gentler virtues of sociability and amiability, thus commanding the respect and affection of all alike.
ILLIAM BADER, proprietor of the village of that name, was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1826. His parents were Jeremiah and Sarah (Thompson) Bader. The father was a native of Germany, and the mother of Pennsylvania. They had eleven children; of whom eight are now liv- ing, namely: Mary, now Mrs. Hopkins, re- siding in Mason county; Sarah A., now Mrs. Gibbs, residing in Hancock county; Rosanna, now Mrs. Bleeker, of Pasadena, California; Margaretta, now Mrs. Doane; Jeremiah died when seventeen; John L., now residing in Kansas; Benjamin F., residing at Vermont, Illinois; Henry O., residing on a farm ncar Bader. The family moved from Ohio to Broom- ing township, Schuyler county, in 1846, and the parents both died on a farm near what is now known as Baders.
The early life of our subject was passed on the farm, and later he learned engineering and operated a saw and grist mill for many years. He then went into the lumber busi- ness in Ohio, where he conducted a mill before he removed to Illinois, he not coming until '1857. Here he continued his business in the lumber mill, and accumulated a large for- tune. He and his wife have been enjoying
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some of their money by spending a year in California, on account of her failing health.
He was married November 9, 1856, in Randolph county, Indiana, to Miss Mercy A. Hunt, a daughter of Rev. William Hunt, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a pioneer of Randolph county, Indiana, although he was a native of Kentucky.
Mr. and Mrs. Bader have no children of their own, but they have reared two as their own; the first one died, but the present one is still living, and is a young lady of seven- teen. Mr. Bader is extensively engaged in the grain business, and owns 160 acres of land, a warehouse, several residences and two- thirds of a brick building in Baders. His wife is a member of the Christian Church and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of I. O. O. F. Heis a Democrat in politics and has served three terms as a member of the Board of Supervisors of his county. He has been School Treasurer for fifteen or sixteen years, and has lield various positions of trust and responsibility.
AMUEL M. SCHRODER, a rising young business man of Oakland town- ship, and one of the most progressive agriculturists of Schuyler county, was born in MeDouougli county, Illinois, in 1860, on the 27th day of April. His father, Nicholas Schroder, was a native of Germany, but emi- grated to America with his mother when a lad of eleven years, in 1837; his father, John Schroder, died in the Fatherland about the year 1830, leaving a widow and three sons in very humble circumstances; the names of the sons are Christopher, Carson and Nicholas. They sailed from Bremen to New York, land- ing after a voyage of six weeks; they came
direct to Pennsylvania, and from there to Schuyler county, and settled on a tract of Government land which the brave motlier and stanch, energetic sons converted into a farm of great fertility and value. Nicholas went to California, taking the overland route; he mined for seven years, meeting with fair suc- cess, and then returned to Illinois, purchasing a farm of 160 acres in McDonough county. He was married in 1858 to Lucinda Phillips, a daughter of Samuel and Amy Philips, who were settlers in Illinois as early as 1840; they had a family of two daughters and a son: Amy Ann, wife of John W. Danners; Ada L., wife of Robert Robertson; and Samuel M., the son, is the subject of this notice. Tlie parents came to Schuyler county in 1864, and purchased 220 acres of land in Oakland town- ·ship, on which they lived until 1889, when they went to Vermont; here they bought a home in which they are now living in quiet enjoyment of the reward of their labors.
Samuel M. Schroder was reared to the life of a farmer, and received his education in the common schools. His opportunities were somewhat limited, but this lack has been more than overbalanced by wide reading and clear thinking upon all the topics of the day.
Mr. Schroder was united in marriage, in 1880, to Miss Sarah E. Smith, a native of Fulton county, Illinois, and a daughter of Jolin and Rebecca (Barcns) Smitlı, natives of Pennsylvania and Illinois, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Schiroder have buried an infant daughter, and have three children living: Harry W. was born December 22, 1882; Cleveland B. was born March 3, 1884; and Maud, November 2, 1889.
Mr. Schroder first settled on eighty acres of land, and has since bought the eighty acres adjoining it; he also owned 280 acres in Schuyler and McDonough counties, which he
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recently sold at a handsome profit, after cul- tivating it four years. He does a general farın- ing business, inaking a specialty of corn and wheat in the cereal line, and cattle, horses and hogs in live-stock. He has represented the people of his township in various local offices, and has always been a stanch supporter of home interests and home industries. He was elected vice-president of the J. Wershon Bank in June, 1892, and is a stockholder of this corporation. He is possessed of excellent business qualifications, and has met with marked success in all his undertakings. Al- ways employing the most honorable methods, he has the highest regard and esteem of the entire community.
HOMAS WILSON, President of the Schuyler County Bank, and a leading financier and business inan of Rush- ville, Illinois, was born near Five-Mile Town, in county Tyrone, Ireland, in March, 1812. Both his grandfather, Thomas, and father, Thomas, were natives of the same county. They were of well-known and esteemed Scotch ancestry, who were sturdy, rugged farmers, and passed their entire lives in their native land. His father was reared to man- hood in his native county, where he married Jane Greer, also a native of the Emerald Isle. They resided in Ireland until 1843, when they commenced the long journey to America. Unfortunately the wife and inother died in England while en route, leaving six children and a bereaved husband. These children were: William, Thomas, Joseph, George, Jane and Robert, all of whom caine to America, except George, and located in Illinois. The father settled first in Schuyler county, Illinois, where he remained four
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