USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 46
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 46
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 46
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Mr. and Mrs. Milner had nine children, five of whom still live: Rebecca, wife of Samuel Wroe, of Nodaway county, Missouri, a farmer and cattle dealer; Thomas W., a railroad station master of Denison (now Leavenworth), Kansas; Nannie died one and one-half years after marriage, without issue, at the age of eighteen years ; Mary is at home, although she was a school teacher for some time; Rosa, wife of Henry Baujan (see biog-
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raphy); Maggie is single and at home; Mrs. Milner is a respected member of the Method- ist Church and is esteemned by all who know her. Mrs. Milner is the youngest of a large family, nearly all of whom are dead.
OBERT ATEN was born in West Vir- ginia in 1818, in what was then Brooke county of the old Dominion, a son of William and Jane (Anderson) Aten; his mother died in 1834, leaving a family of seven children. William Aten was a pros- perous farmer, and was noted throughout the country for the excellent grade of horses he kept. He was married a second time to Catherine Wycoff, who bore him four chil- dren. He died in 1866, leaving an estate of fair value. Five of the children are still liv_ ing: Robert, the subject of this biograplica sketch; William, a resident of Fulton county;I Mary, wife of William K. McClurg; Nancy Lester, a widow residing in McDonough county, Illinois; and Martha Beale, a widow in West Virginia; Aaron H., died in Mc- Donough county, Illinois, at the age of eighty-two years; John C., died in Fulton county; Richard died in the same county; he was a pioneer of Illinois, coming in 1840, ac- companied by Richard Aten. The latter re- turned to Virginia in 1842, and was back and forth until 1854, when he settled here per- manently.
He was married in 1850 to Sarah Beale, a daughter of Benjamin Beal and a member of the prominent familics of Virginia; she died one year later, to a day, leaving a daughter who died in infancy. Mr. Aten was married again in 1852 to Mary Jane Allison, who be- longed to a well-known family. Of this union were born nine children, all of whom
are living: Nancy L., now Mrs. Morris; Henry C., W. A. F., Robert Burns, Sarah, wife of Thomas Aslıwood; James Grant, Daniel Webster, Flora Ann and John Q.
Mr. Aten's first purchase of land was eighty acres, for which he paid $600, he soon added another tract for which he paid $1,100, and at one time owned 700 acres; he has dis- posed of all but 400 acres. He carried on a general agricultural business. He makes a specialty of raising live-stock, and ships from two to three car-loads of hogs and as many cattle during the year. He began life with a small capital, but this was strongly sup- plemented with will and determination to succeed, and has arisen to a position of finan- cial independence. Politically he has af- filiated with the Whigs and then the Repub- licans. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and give liberal support to the cause of Christianity. They have lived a useful life, and have borne their share of the burden assumed by the pioneers in their undertaking to redecin the wild prairie and bring it to a high state of cultivation, making of Illinois one of the leading agricultural States of the Union.
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ETH C. CRAMPTON, of section 9, Browning township, was born on the farmi on which he now lives, January 28, 1864, His father was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1797, came to Illinois in 1820, settled on the old homestead about 1835, went to California in 1844, and cn- gaged in mining for two years, being reason- ably successful. He returned from California in 1846 and resumed farming in Browning township. He was married the third time in 1858, to Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell, whose
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maiden name was Davis. The father died when Sethi was but eight years old. He at- tended the public schools of that district, and at the age of twenty-one entered a telegraph office at Baders, where he learned the busi- ness and became a practical operator. He continued at this business at various points on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail- road for five years, when failing health com- pelled lıim to make a change. He came back to the home farmn, put in a crop, continned business in the telegraph office, but with the opening of the spring of 1892 he became a full-fledged fariner.
He was married July 7, 1886, in Rushville, to Miss Mary E. Frome, born in this town- ship, October 8, 1863. Her parents were Abram and Nancy Frome; the former died suddenly of heart disease, and the mother married John Ebbert, and lives on an adjoin- ing farm. They have two living children, Meade Horace and Orpha Dot. Mr. Cramp- ton is a Democrat. He belongs to the Bruslı- ington Valley Relief Association, a beneficial order.
The Crampton family were among the very early settlers of Browning township, coming here when the country was a wilder- ness.
ILLIAM H. LEE was born on a farın adjoining his present home, August, 1850. His father, Williamn Lee was born in the State of North Carolina, October 9, 1816. In 1827 the family moved to Tennessee and the next year came to Mor- gan county, Illinois, where they lived until 1830, when they came to Brown county and entered Govenment land on which William Lee, Sr., lived until he died. He was abont
fifteen years old when they settled on the farın and died here, January 26, 1884, after a painful and lingering illness. During his fifty years in this county he had been a most useful and influential citizen, filling places of trust and honor with fairness and discretion to all the fellow townsmen. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and his life was filled with deeds that testified that he practiced as well as preached. He was greatly missed by all who knew him, espe- cially liis wife and children. His remains were interred on the farm where he had lived and worked for so long. His wife was Mary A. Thomas of Switzerland county, Indiana. She is the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Jackson) Thomas, the foriner from Ohio and the latter from Maryland. They were mar- ried in Ohio and removed to Indiana, where their daughter was born. In 1830 they re- moved to Scott county, Illinois. They and their nine children inade the journey with teains, and after their arrival in Scott county another child was born to them. Five years later they came to what is now Pea Ridge, in Brown County.
The marriage license was the first issued in Brown county. The mother of Mrs. Lee died at their farm home at the age of forty- nine years and left her husband and ten liv- ing children. He was again married, and died at the age of sixty-five years, in Iowa. Mrs. Lee, Sr., began married life on eighty acres, their first purchase, near the present home of their son. To this they added 105 acres, making 185 in all. They had five chil- dren, one of whom died.
William Lee, our subject, was reared to farm life and las followed the same life ever since. He was fairly educated for the times.
Mr. William Lee lias been carrying on farming and stock-raising, giving special at-
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tention to the breeding of some fine road stock of horses. He has some fine young stock and fillies, four good mares and has re- cently bonght a fine young stallion of the Wilkes stock. This is a very promising two- year-old and he hopes to stock his farm with good roadsters. He keeps about 100 sheep of the Shropshire and Merino graded stock and turns off twenty or thirty porkers a year.
Mr. Lee had some experience in his youth in merchandising in his father's employ at Monnt Sterling, and later as a clerk at the same place, but his health failing he turned his hand to what he was fitted by nature to do and has made a success of it, although he has the natural ability to fill any commercial position in any city.
He was married in Mt. Sterling, December, 1877, to Miss Jennie Hanna, daughter of F. M. and Sarah (Hobbs) Hanna, residents of Mt. Sterling. They began life on the farm on which they now reside of 150 acres. They have buried one little son, Frank, and have now four children: Mary, in her thirteentli year, a bright child with musical talent which is being cultivated; George A., a bright child of ten; Freddie, five, and William, a Christ- mas gift of the year 1889. Both Mr. Lee and his wife are highly estecmed by all who know them and they are very influential among their large circle of friends.
ILLIAM W. WARD, a highly es- teemed and prosperous retired farmer of township 17 north, range 9 west, near Philadelphia, Illinois, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, June 26, 1822. He was the younger of two children born to William A. and Nancy (Wirt) Ward, the other being his sister Catharinc, now Mrs, Hancock, who
resides in her native county, in Kentucky. The families on both maternal and paternal sides were Southerners for many generations back. Mr. Ward's father was a native of Kentucky, while his mother was a Virginian by birth, and they were married in Scott county, Kentucky, about 1819. The mother died in Kentucky a number of years ago, while the father expired in Arcadia, Illinois.
The subject of this sketch came to Cass county, Illinois, in 1844, but afterward rc- turned to his home in Kentucky, whence he returned to Illinois permanently in 1848, locating on a farm, where he lived until twenty-five years ago, when he removed to his present location. The last farm comprises 1772 acres, most of which is under a high state of cultivation, and all of it tillable land. He has, besides this, considerable valnable personal property, and owns an at- tractive residence in Virginia, this State. He has gained all this by honest and toilsome efforts, and is highly deserving of his good fortune.
In 1851, he was married to Miss Sarah M. Turner, an estimable lady, who was born in Cass county, Illinois, in 1834. She is a danghter of Edward W. Turner, a native of Kentucky, and an honored pioneer of Cass connty.
To this union eight children have been born, four of whom are now living. America E., the eldest, now Mrs. Long, resides in Vir- ginia, and has had four children, two of whom are deceased; Edward Williams is married; Alice Catharine, born September 22, 1858, married James Whalan, and resides with her father on the old homestead. Mr. Whalan was born in Keokuk, Iowa, November 15, 1855, and was married in Jacksonville, Illi- nois, in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Whalan have two children; Mary Margaret, born in Cass
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county, June 5, 1875, an intelligent and amiable young lady, who holds a diploma of graduation, which she received from the pub- lic school in this district; James Edward, born April 22, 1877, is at home, as is also Miss Margaret. Mr. Ward has another daugliter, Emma Josephine, who married Joseph Treadway, who was born in Harford county, Maryland, December 29, 1851, and is a prosperous farmer and lives in Sugar Grove, Cass county, Illinois. They have eight children, the eldest of whom is four- teen years old at this writing. Those of Mr. Ward's children now departed this life, are Louisa Jane, who married Henry DeGroot, and wlio died at Mr. Ward's house February 7, 1891, leaving one child; three of his children died in infancy, unnamed. February 13, 1876, the family were called upon to mourn the loss of the devoted wife and niother, who was beloved by everyone on account of her fer- vent Christian character. She and the chil- dren deceased were at first interred in the pri- vate cemetery on the farm, but the remains have since been removed to the cemetery in Ashland, Illinois. Since her mother's death, Mrs. Whalan has kept house for Mr. Ward, botlı before and since lier marriage, thus greatly alleviating the force of this crushing affliction.
Politically, Mr. Ward affiliates with the Democratic party, to which lie has belonged for many years. Socially, lie is an ardent advocate of the temperance cause, and has been for many years an active member of the I. O. G. T. Mr. Ward is an earnest and use- ful member of the Baptist Churchi, as was also his wife. Mrs. Whalan and her daughter, Margaret, belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
It is seldom that we have to chronicle a more blameless life than that just written.
Intelligent and well informed, yet modest and retiring; energetic and progressive, yet inindful of the rights of others; industrious, persevering and highly moral, we have a combination which insures true success in life, which many others would do well to copy, and verify in their daily life work.
R. D. W. OWENS was born in Lewis county, Kentucky, August 16, 1845. His father, Lewis, was born in the same county, and his father, Aaron, was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and remo ved from there to Kentucky when a young man. He settled in Lewis county, bought land, raised a family and spent the rest of his days there. The maiden name of his wife was Dorotha Hathaway. Lewis was reared on a farm, where he learned the trade of black- smith which he continued in connection witli lis farming. He removed from Ken- tucky to Kansas in 1877, and settled in La- bette county, dying there in 1881. His wife, Nancy Owens, was born in Mason county, Kentucky. Her father was born in Fau- quier county, Virginia, and moved from there to Mason county, Kentucky. She re- moved with her husband to Lewis county, where she died in 1869. She reared eight children, of whom Dr. Owens was the seventlı. He was raised in liis native county, received his early education in the log schoolhouse, assisting his father on the farm until 1864. He enlisted in March of that year in Company K, Sixteenth Ken- tucky Federal Infantry, and joined the regi- ment at Louisville. He was with Sherinan in the Atlanta campaign and participated in some of the battles en route to the seizure of that city. After that lie was with Thomas
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in pursuit of Hood and fought in the battles of Columbia, Franklin and Nashville. In January. 1865, he took passage on a steamer bound for Cincinnati, and from thence to Washington, District of Columbia, from there to Alexandria, and on to Fort Fislier, North Carolina, and thence to Wilmington. The regiment participated in the capture of Fort Anderson, Town Creek and Wilmington, and then was marched to Goldsboro, where Sherman's men soon joined them. After inuch inarching and counter marching they were placed on garrison duty near Greens- boro, and there remained until July, 1865, when they were mustered out of service, and discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, and Mr. Owens returned home in August.
He commenced the study of medicine in 1863. After his return he continued it and also resumed farming, and in 1878 he grad- tiated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, and commenced practice at Hersmian, Illinois, where he has been in practice ever since. He united with the Regular Primitive Baptist Church in 1870, and was licensed to preach and was or- dained to the ministry at Rock Creek Church, Hancock county, Illinois, in June, 1873. and that was his first pastorate. He remained there until 1878 when he came to Hersman and was associated withı Elder James Harper in the pastorate at Mt. Gilead Church, and when the elder died he suc- ceeded him, and in addition to this has sup- plied the congregation at Camp Creek Church for the past eight years.
He married, in 1867, Nanna M. Boggs, daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Means) Boggs, of Lewis county, Kentucky. He is a member of the Alumni Association of the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, of Keokuk, Iowa, and is at this time its first vice-
president. He is also a member of the Board of Examining Surgeons of Mt. Sterling, Illi- nois. He is a very successful physician and a useful citizen. His influence for good is felt in the community.
EWIS E. KROHE, an intelligent and enterprising citizen of Bainbridge town- ship, Schuyler county, Illinois, was born in Cass county on May 18, 1837, and re- moved to Schuyler county March 13, 1859, and has lived here ever since. His father, Angust Krohe, was a native of Saxony, Ger- many, and was a son of Frederick Christian Krohe, also a native of Saxony, and a weaver by trade. His father followed the weaver trade in his native country until 1833, when he cmigrated to America, making the voyage across the ocean in seven weeks, and landing at New Orleans, Louisiana. From there he came direct to Beardstown, Illinois, being a week coming from St. Louis to the former place, a distance made now in two hours. There were at that time but two houses in Beardstown, and the surrounding country was sparsely settled and deer and wild turkey, qnail, prairie chicken, and other game abounded in profusion. He bought a tract of land near Virginia, which was mostly covered with timber, the rest being wild prairie land. There was a log cabin on the land when he bought it, and in this he took up his abode, beginning the life of a pioneer. He soon met and married Christiana Jockish, daughter of Gotlieb Jockish. She was a na- tive of Saxony, where she was born, and came to America with her father. After his marriage, August Krohe went to live on his farm, but afterward bought land near Bluff Springs, where he resided many years, until
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he finally returned to his old home on the farm, where he now lives. They had seven children: August, Lewis, Mena, Louisa, Henry, Julia and Amelia. In April, 1889, the faithful wife and fond mother dicd, leav- ing many friends to mourn lier loss. She was a woman of intelligence and generous impulses, and highly csteemed by all who knew her.
Our subject, was reared and cducated in his native county, that of Cass, and resided with his parents until the time of his mar- riage, which occurred on March 13, 1859, to Marie Sophia Korte. She was a native of Hes- se-Cassel, Germany, in which place she was born November 14, 1841, her parents being Jolın Conrad and Christiana (Myer) Korte. Her father was also born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, where lie was reared and after- ward married. He followed the trade of blacksmithing in his native land until 1857, when with his wife and thirce children he sailed from Bremen, Germany, for America, landing in Baltimore. Maryland, in August, after a voyage of fifty-eight days. From there he came directly to Illinois, spending a few months in Cass county, and moving thence to Schnyler county, where he worked at his trade, in Bainbridge, until his death, where his wife also died. They reared three children: Henry, Mrs. Krohe and George.
After his marriage, the subject of our sketch rented some land in Schuyler county, which he farined for five years. He then made his first purchase of land, since when he has from time to time made other purchases. until he now owns upward of 700 acres. This is under a good state of cultivation, with a commodious home, besides other modern con- veniences to faciliate agricultural pursnits. His home is situated on an attractive site on the bluffs, from which he has an uninterrupted
view for miles around, extending across the river to Cass county. He has a large or- chard. Hc is acknowledged to be one of the most substantial farmers in this locality. All his property lie has accumulated by industry and economy.
Mr. and Mrs. Krohe have seven children living, viz .: Amelia, wife of Jacob Logsdon; Frank, Louisa, Julia, Edward, Emma and Minnic; William died at the age of thirty- one, andAdolph died in infancy.
Mr. Krohe is a Democrat in politics, but takes no active interest in political matters, other than desiring the advancement and wel- fare of his country. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and have contributed liberally towards its support.
Intelligent and able, industrions and fru- gal, enterprising and progressive, he has bent circumstances to liis will, until from nothing he now stands among the first inhabitants of his community, looked up to and esteemed by all who know him.
OHN H. DEPPE; an old settler and well known and retired carpenter of Beardstown, was born in Hanover, in 1832, August 29. His parents were Casper and Elizabetlı (Recor) Deppe, natives of Hanover, and of good German stock. After their marriage and the birth of their chil- dren, Mr. and Mrs. Deppe came to the United States, in the fall of 1842, in a sailing vessel of three masts. After a journey of seven weeks and three days they landed in New Orleans. After a three weeks' trip on a Mississippi river steamer they landed in St. Lonis in January, 1843. After some time in the city they went to Missouri, and they went to Beardstown from there. Casper was
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a carpenter, having learned his trade in Ger- many, and he began working at it for $7 a month for some months. Later he received seventy-five cents a day. This seemned big wages to him. After overcoming many hard- ships and troubles he succeeded in obtaining a foothold in life. He then entered into contracting and building, and as he was a good workman he had many friends in the city. Later in life he purchased land in In- dian creek precinct, Cass county, and there lived for a time and then came back to Beards- town. Here he spent the remainder of his days in retirement and quiet. He died in 1889, February 28. He was then eighty- four years of age. His wife died in 1884, at the age of eighty-six. They were well known old settlers of this city and had a host of friends by whom they were missed. They were active members of the Sixth street Lutheran Church, which they helped organize and build up. Mr. Deppe was a Democrat.
Mr. John Deppe was the only son of the family. He had two sisters, but one died, and the other married Charles Kobelenz, and they are both living in Beardstown. Mr. Deppe has always been a hard-working man, and for eighteen years before his retirement from active life was employed in the car shops of the Quincy Railroad at this place doing work as a car bnilder and woodworker. He learned his trade under his father. Ex- cepting three years, when he engaged in farming, he has always lived in Beardstown and has been successful in whatever he at- tempted. He bought a farm in Indian Creek precinct of 160 acres, nearly all of which is improved.
He was married in this city to Miss Annie Morman. She was born in Ingra, Prussia, in 1835. She died at her home in this city, May 3, 1883. She was one of the good 27
worthy women of the city, and was the dangh- ter of German parents, who lived and died in Prussia. Mrs. Deppe came to America in early girlhood. She was a worthy mem- ber of the Sixth Street Lutheran Church, Mr, and Mrs. Deppe were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are now living, namely: Louis, tinner by trade, who mar- ried Louisa Dieckhous; Gustav, of the dry- goods firm of Deppe Bros .; William, of the same firm; Lydia is at home; Robert H. is a barber of the city; Herman C., a tailor by trade; and Conrad J. at home. The children are young men and women that any one would be proud of, and Mr. Deppe is a father to be envied. He is a Democrat in politics.
ACOB H. SNYDER, an extensive farmer of Brown connty, was born about four miles from Duncannon, Perry county, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1831. His father, Jacob Snyder, was born in Germany, and his father, George Snyder, was also a native of Germany, who emigrated with his family to America about 1814, locating in Pennsylva- nią. Here he spent his last years in Perry county. His son was twelve years old when he came to America, with his parents. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and fol- lowed farming in Perry county until 1837, when he removed to Ohio. He and his family made the entire journey overland with teams. He purchased a tract of land in Preble county, which he improved, and on which he resided until his death, in 1858. His wife was named Elizabeth Young, born in Pennsylvania, of German parents. She died on the home farm in Preble county, in 1867.
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Jacob was six years old when he inoved to Preble county with his parents, and there he was reared and cducated. He began when very young to assist on the farin, remaining with his parents until he attained his ınajor- ity, and then began life for himself on rented land. He continued to rent land in Ohio, until 1865, and then came to Illinois, and bought land in Woodstock township, Schny- ler county, and lived there until 1872. He then bought land in Cooperstown township. He also bought other land at different times, and at the present time owns 740 acres in the samc township. He resided there until 1891, when he bought the farm where he now re- sides. This is a well improved farm of eighty-six acres, on the Rushville road, two miles east of the Mt. Sterling courthouse.
In 1860, he married Margaret Rush, born in Preble county, Ohio. Her father, Cor- nelius Rush, was born in Virginia, and his father, John Rush, was also a native of Vir- ginia, and he emigrated from there to Ohio, being a pioneer of Preble county. From there he went to Indiana, and spent his last years near Logansport. Father of Mrs. Sny- der was married in Preble county, resided there a few years, then moved to Cass county, Indiana, and was quite an early settler there. He purchased a tract of timber land and built a log house and resided there nntil his death in 1857. His wife was named Barbara Brower. She was born in Virginia, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Flora) Brower. She now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Sny- der, and has done so since the death of her husband.
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