USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 56
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 56
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 56
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He married, in December, 1843, Elizabeth C. Garrett, who was born in Georgetown, Scott county, Kentucky, in April, 1824. Her fatlier, Thomas Garrett, was born in Delaware and was the son of David Garrett, wholived for inany years on the line between that State and
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Pennsylvania and spent his last days there. The father of Mrs. Kruse went to Kentucky when a young man, and married in Lexing- ton, Susanah Wigert, who was born in Mary- land and went with hier parents to Kentucky, while she was an infant. After her marriage she reinoved to Georgetown with her hus- band, and some years later again reinoved with him to Illinois by way of the Cumber- land, Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Mr. Gar- rett made several removals in Illinois and spent the last few years of his life near Browning, Schuyler county. The mother of Mrs. Krnse survived her husband for many years, and died at the residence of a younger daughter, who was a resident of Nebraska, at tlie advanced age of ninety-one years.
ACOB D. GERRISH, born in Brown county, Illinois, March 12, 1861, is the son of Sewall and Elizabeth (Grove) Gerrish. He owns part of his father's farm, and lives with his mother. In politics he is a Democrat. His father, Sewall Gerrish, was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, March 18, 1809; came to Brown connty Sep- tember 8, 1836; ran a sawinill on McGee creek, and later was a farmer. He was a Democrat in his political faitlı, and held several township offices. He was married January 8, 1846, to Elizabetlı Grove, who was born in Virginia, February 22, 1825. Sewall Gerrislı died May 17, 1879. He was the son of Lieutenant Stephen and Hannah (Ames) Gerrish. His father, born April 16, 1770, died November 11, 1815. He in- vented the first practical auger for boring logs and pumps, also the attachment of tlie screw to the pod auger. With his father lie
used to make the mill saws and cranks on the common forge. He was one of the first in New Hampshire to inake cut nails.
February 7, 1796, he married Hannah, daughter of Lieutenant Samuel Ames; she was born January 14, 1776, and died Novem- ber 18, 1834. Steplien Gerrish was the son of Colonel Henry and Martha (Clough) Ger- rish. His father, born May 3, 1742, died May 16, 1806; married Martha, daughter of Jeremiah Clough, November 10, 1763. She was born November 10, 1742, and died October 15, 1826.
Henry Gerrish was the son of Captain Stephen and Joanna (Hale) Gerrislı. His father, born January 22, 1711, died in 1788, in Boscawen, New Hampshire. He married Joanna Hale, July 15, 1741, who was born in June, 1715, and died in 1792.
Steplien Gerrish was the son of Colonel Joseph and Mary (Little)-Gerrish. Colonel Joseph lived in Newbury, Massachusetts, and was a member of the Colonial Legislature twenty years. He married Mary Little, February 26, 1703. She was born March 20, 1682, and died January 1, 1765.
Joseph Gerrish was the son of Colonel Moses and Jane (Sewall) Gerrish. Colonel Moses Gerrish, born in Newbury, Massachu- setts, May 9, 1656, married Jane, daughter of Rev. Henry Sewall, September 24, 1677. She was born in Badesly, England, October 25, 1658, and died in January, 1717; he died in 1694. Colonel Moses Gerrish was a son of Captain William and Joanna (Oliver) Gerrislı. Captain William Gerrishi was born in Bristol, England, August 20, 1617; came to New England in 1639, and settled that year in Newbury, Massachusetts; was the first captain of the military band in that town, and representative in 1650-'54; mar- ried Joanna Oliver, of Newbury, April 17,
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1645, who died June 14, 1677, and he moved to Boston in 1678. At the semi-centennial anniversary meeting of Boston, March 14, 1686, Captain Gerrish opened and closed tlie exercises with prayer. He died in Salem, Massachusetts, August 9, 1687.
Elizabeth (Grove) Gerrish, dangliter of Joseph and Catharine (Staley) Grove, -he of Baltimore, Maryland, and she of Lynchburg, Virginia,-came to Illinois in 1826, settling in Sangamon county in 1828; came to Elk- horn township and entered land. She died in 1846, and he was married a second time, to Elizabeth (Hunter) Clamp in 1851, and died in October, 1858. Mrs. Gerrish is one of twelve children. All are prosperous farm- ers, mostly in Missouri.
Grandfather Jacob Grove was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Virginia. His wife, Margaret (Garinger) Grove, was born in Virginia, and died in Maryland. Grand- father Stephen Staley died in Virginia, and his wife, Barbary (Yeasley) Staley, died in Virginia. She was born in Germany.
Mrs. Gerrish was the mother of ten chil- dren; eight are yet living. Hannalı married Fred Wenneker, and has four children,- Frank F., Henry G., August C. and Katie M. Harriet married Samuel C. Gerrish, and has three children,-Nettie M., Harry E. and Carlos A. Martha married George E. Ricli- ardson, and has five children,-Otis E., Josie L., Sewall H., George E. and Nina L. Samuel S. married Addie Hargus, and they have two children,-Myrtle C. and Loren E. Jose- phine married Joseph J. Moore, and they liave six children,-Joseph G., Edith M., Frank G., Harlan E., Dallas J. and Mabel C. Mary E. married P. C. Sweeny, and has one child,-Jolin. Jacob D. and Cynthia are at home. Her people came to America in 1717, and settled in Pennsylvania. The first was
John Grove, who came from Holland,-a Quaker. Some were in the Revolutionary war. The family belong to the Presby - terian Church, and are highly regarded in the county.
HRISTIAN S. KRUEGER, a farmer of sections 22, 3, and 14, township 17, range 12, was born on the farm he now owns in 1846. He was reared on this farm, and has since lived on it. His father, John, was a native of Hanover, Ger- many; who grew up and was inarricd there to Mary Hendricker, of the same place. After the birth of two children, in 1839 the family decided to come to America. They came from Bremen, and after many weeks, landed in New Orleans, coming from thence to Beardstown. He purchased the land where he lived and died, the latter event occurring August 11, 1873, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. He was a good, hard-working man, always very quiet and peaceable. He was a Luthieran, and embraced the Republican po- litical faith. His wife, who was also a good Lutheran, died at the age of sixty.
Our subject is the younger of four living sons, a sister having died young. The chil- dren are: Henry, a farmer in Morgan county; John and Fred arc farmers in Nemaha county, Kansas.
Christian was married in Cass county, to Elizabeth Meyer, who was born May 10, 1853, in this county, and was reared and educated here. She was the daughter of Charles and Minnie (Rusch) Meyer, natives of Prussia, Germany, who came to the United States in the '40s, and made a settlement on a farın in section 17, Cass county, afterward selling tliat and buying land in range 17, township
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
12, where they died, both past the age of sixty years. Mrs. Krueger is the youngest of her father's children, and she with the eldest, a brother, Charles H., a farmer in this county, are the only members of the family living.
Mr. Krueger is a Republican, and he and his wife are active members of the Lutheran Church. They have eight children: Chris- tian V., Minnie K., Henry E., Charles F., Lydia N., John F., Amelia M. and Benj. H. Mr. Krueger now owns 160 acres of land, which he purchased from the heirs of his father's estate, having owned it eighteen years. He has improved it, and is considered one of the most success ful farmers of the county.
AMES M. READ was born in Birming- ham township, October 2, 1842. He was the son of Amasa Read, who was born in Massachusetts, and Jane, nee Hender- son of Ohio. The grandfather, with two brothers, came to America from England when they were young men, and followed farmning. Ainasa and two brothers came to Ohio at a very early day, and settled at Xenia. In 1837 Amasa sold out his land, and with a wagon came overland to this county. He traded his teamn to some inen to build him a house. In 1837 he went back and brought his family and settled on the farm where our subject now lives. When he came back the house was not finished, and he was obliged to rough it for nine inonths without doors or windows. Thic most of the children were born in this old log house.
James was one of six children, three yet living. His father died in the old log house five years after coming here at the age of sixty-six years, and his wife died in 1890, aged eighty years. Amasa Read ran a clock
factory in Ohio, and when he first came to Illinois he started a nursery. He was an old- line Whig, and voted for William Henry Harrison.
James remained at home until his mar- riage, January 3, 1871, to Sophia King, daughter of Louis and Harriet King, who came to Huntsville, Illinois, in 1838 or 1839, and are still living. Up to the time of his marriage, James worked at home, attended the district school, and went one year to Abingdon Seminary. John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, was an own consin of Mr. Read. Mr. and Mrs. Read have five children: Effie M., Ellen J. and Eliza S., now in school at Augusta, and preparing for col- lege; George M. and James M., are both at home.
After his marriage he still lived on the old farm where he had bought out all of the heirs. Later he sold eighty acres, leaving him 240 at present. He has built a fine house and barn, and has as good a farm as is in the county, on which he raises a good deal of stock. He voted first for Lincoln, and has been a Re- publican ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Read attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Read joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of nineteen. His sister, Eliza J., at the age of twenty-six taught kindergarten in Chicago, and is now the wife of Rev. J. T. Sunderland. Mr. Read has a delightful family and a very fine home.
OHN SCHULTZ, of the firm of Schultz & Baujan, proprietors of the Home Mills and Elevator, located on the south bank of the Illinois river, where they do a large business, was born in Bavaria, in the Rhine province, on the river Rhine, June 1, 1849.
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
He learned his trade of wagon and carriage maker before he left for America in the sum- mer of 1860. He proceeded to Beardstown, joining his sister, Mrs. Anton Rink, who had come before. The father of our subject was a native of Germany, and died there when sixty. He was a farmer and small land-owner, and married a German lady, Miss Margaret Caalniann, who died when forty-eight. She had six children.
Mr. Schultz began in Beardstown as a car- riage and wagon maker. He then became a dealer in wines and liquors for three years. His present business is successfully carried on by himself and the two sons of his old partner, Mr. Baujan, who took their father's place when he died in 1890. Their brands of flour are represented by traveling inen and they do business all over the State. The mills liave a capacity of 200 barrels per day, and the elevator of 80,000 bushels. They have warehouses also at Spring Bluffs and other places. The mills have nine sets of rollers and are run by steam power. Their main brands are Sunbeam and Sea Foam. It was started in 1875, under the firm name of Bau- jan & Company.
Mr. Schultz is also connected with other local enterprises, being a stockholder in the First National Bank and the Beardstown Electric Light & l'ower Company, and a director in both. He has been a leader in many other enterprises that have affected the welfare of the city.
He was married in Beardstown to Miss Rosa A. Baujan, who was born and reared in Cass county. They have four children: Harry, now dead; Olive A., Etta A., Alfred C. Mrs. Schultz is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Schultz is a strong Democrat and has been Alderman of the city, and also
delegate to the State Congressional Commit- tee. He is a member of the order A. O. U. . W., and has filled the chairs. He has been sent to the Grand Lodge.
AYLOR L. SMITH, Superintendent of the Railroad Round House at Beards- town for the St. Louis & Rock Island di- vision of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy, was born near Zanesville, Ohio. His father, James Smith, was a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry. He had grown up in his native county of Washington, at which place his father, William Sınith, had followed the occupation of butcher. Later he came to Ohio and there lived and died at Newark, Licking county. It was there that his son James had settled and engaged in the butcher business. He had married Miss Elizabetlı Leggett in Pennsylvania. After settling in Newark they became prominent in society, and Mrs. Leggett died there when she was forty-three. Mr. Smith was married a sec- ond time to Miss Lotta Frink, in Ohio, and in 1887 moved to Butler, Bates connty, Mis- souri, and are now living there, Mr. Smith still actively engaged in the meat-market busi ness. They are good, hard-working people.
Taylor L. is the third child of six chil- dren, all married and prominent persons in life. He grew up an industrious, hard-work- ing boy, and earned his bread by his own per- sonal endeavors. He was reared near the place of liis birth, and later became an appren- tice to a firm selling portable and stationary engines at Newark, Ohio. Three years after- ward, he became connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He came to Beardstown a number of years ago, began in the machine shops and being a practical unachinist and
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
good workman, soon became overseer of the engine repair shops. He was engaged there for more than three years, when he was pro- moted to the round house and lias since been thus connected, having some twenty- five men nnder him, besides having to direct about one hundred engineers. He has held this office for two years. He has been very successful, and owns a comfortable home in Beardstown.
He was married in Newark, Ohio, to Miss Mary Dalton of Newark, a very intelligent lady, the daughter of Michael and Mary Dal- ton, now living in Newark, both in the 60s.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of four children: Maybell, Edith, Anna and Warren, all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are promi- nent in Beardstown society. Mr. Smith is a Master Mason and is a member of Arch Lodge No. 16, I. O. O. F., also of the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 207. He is a Republican in politics and a genial, pleasant gentleman.
OSES HARBISON, an intelligent and progressive farmer of Cass county, Illinois, numbered among the substantial men of this section, was born in Barren, now Metcalfe county, Kentucky, September 3, 1831.
His parents were Adam B. and Hannah (Rhea) Harbison, the former a native of Vir- ginia, who, when a young man, operated different mills and also did teaming. In 1831, he came to Illinois with his wife's people, although at the time unmarried, his union taking place in the latter Statc. Accom- panied by his wife, he shortly afterward re- turned to Kentucky, where they resided for a year or two, after which they removed to Washington county,. Missouri, in which
place he farmed for about five years. He then sold out and returned to Illinois, settling in Mason county, where he entered 200 acres of good land, and built a log house. Here he died two years later, at the comparatively early age of forty-four years. He was twice married, his first wife being the mother of the subject of this sketch. She died on the farm in Missouri, at the early age of twenty-three years, leaving three small children to the care of her bereaved husband.
The subject of this sketch is the only sur- vivor of these children. He lived at home until his father's death, after which his stepmother bound him out to a farmer. Two years later, however, at the age of thirteen years, he took " French leave," and started out in life for himself. He first worked for $2.50 a month, which was in 1845. At the end of five months, he bought a sow and pig, which was his first speculation in pork. Out of his small income, he provided them with corn, and, like Jacob's kine, they waxed strong and beautiful. This was only the beginning of his schemes for advancement. In 1848 he rented sixteen acres of land, which, with one horse, he started to improve. The following year, he bought another horse, and thus continued to rent land and work it until 1853, when he and a brother caine to where our subject now lives, and bought 160 acres of land. An old house was on the place and ninety acres were under cultiva- tion. This land they industriously improved, and, in 1868, Mr. Harbison erccted on it his present substantial farm house. He has re- cently sold some of his land, but still re- tains 342 acres, most of which is under culti- vation.
. He was first married, January 7, 1857, to Miss Mary A. Davis, an intelligent and energetic lady, and a native of Cass county.
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This union was destined to be of short dura- tion, the devoted wife and mother dying at the age of twenty-three years, leaving a child to the care of her bereaved husband, which afterward died, aged nineteen months. Her people were very old and esteemed settlers of this State.
March 13, 1863, Mr. Harbison was again married, his second wife being Miss Lydia F. Mason, an estimable lady, and a native of Culpeper county, Virginia. She wasa daughter of John and Emma (Milliner) Mason, also natives of the Old Dominion. They came to Illinois in 1856, settling first in Cass county, whence they removed to Joplin, Missouri, where the mother died, aged seventy years, the father still surviving. This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living.
Mr. and Mrs. Harbison have ten children: Virginia S., married and has one child, a daughter; Charles C., who is at home; Mary C. is married and has one son. The other children are still at home and are as follows: Arthur J., Robert F., Estella, Alice, Martha C., Emma and Nancy A.
Politically, Mr. Harbison is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen- eral Pierce. His constituents have recog- nized his ability and integrity of character, and have sought to gain the benefit of these traits by electing him to various local offices, in all of which he has served the best in- terests of the community. He has been an efficient member of the school board for twenty-two years, which fact of itself speaks volumes in favor of his excellent judgment and moral force of character.
Mr. Harbison's life would furnish an in- spiration to many poor, young men, who, alone and unaided, are starting in life, with no compass by which to guide their course.
Happy are they, if, like the subject of this sketch, they keep their eyes stedily fixed on the North Star of Truth, while industriously spreading their sails to the breezes of pros- perity, which will eventually waft them to the desired haven of comfort and happiness.
ATHANIEL H. BOONE, M. D .- This gentleman was born in Troup county, Georgia, June 6, 1836, and was the son of William and Elizabeth (Bradford) Boone. He was a farmer in South Carolina, and died in Mississippi, aged forty-nine years. The mother of our subject was also born in South Carolina and died at the same place, aged seventy-four.
The subject of the present notice was one of ten children, three of whom are yet living. He remained under the parental roof until he was sixteen years of age, when occurred his father's death. He then was sent to an academy for several years at College Hill, and then to medical college at Nashville. He graduated at this college in 1860, and in 1861 he married Miss Cornelia Blackwell of Georgia, but Dr. Boone had met lier at Pine Bluff, where he had gone to practice. Her life was short, as her death occurred at the the age of twenty-three. Her two children died also. She was the daughter of James and Mary Blackwell of Georgia, who later removed to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and there died, he at the age of fifty-five or sixty, and she about fifty years old. Our subject was mar- ried a second time September 25, 1870, to Miss Harriet H. Codington, who was born in Me- nard county, Illinois, December 21, 1838, and was the daughter of Joseph and Jane (Leeper) Codington. They were natives of Barren county, Kentucky, and he followed black-
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smithing until in 1829 or 1830 he came to Illinois. He drove his stock and wagon and a carriage for the family, and first settled in Menard county, and took up Government land and then built a log cabin upon it. Herc they lived for quite a time in a tent and in the log house, probably cight years. The father, Mr. Codington, brought three chil- dren with them and seven more were born lierc, and six of this family still live. His life extended to seventy-two years, and that of his wife to sixty-four years. The Coding- tons were of German ancestry, and on the another's side a little Irish. Mrs. Boone says of those early times that the country was sparsely settled and wild game was abundant.
Dr. Boone practiced medicine in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, about three years, and in 1864, he sold out there and came North and settled in Chandlerville, this county. Later, he bought land and kept on adding to it until now he farms over 1,700 acres in this State and in Kansas, and rents the most of it. He works a host of men and presents the nnusual spectacle of a suc- cessful professional man who is also a success- ful farmer. ·
Dr. Boone has taken no active part in poli- tics, but his first vote was for Bell, and since he has been a Democrat and a Prohibitionist. He has served the town for years in the town Conncil. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and the Doctor has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years.
Living with the subject, is his nephew, Howard B. Boone, who was born in Fayette county, Mississippi, May 30, 1870. He was the son. of William Sanford and Ophelia (Watson) Boone. William S. Boone was born in the same place as our subject, March 6, 1841, and there died aged abont thirty-
five or forty years. His wife Ophelia still lives in Mississippi, on the old homestead. Howard B. is a very promising young man and medical student, and will receive every advantage the best medical colleges afford.
E. NIEMANN, a successful dealer in wines and liquors at the corner of Washington and Main streets, in Beardstown, was born in West Darling, Prussia, Germany, April 17, 1832. He lost his father, Casper Niemann, who lived and died in his native province in Prussia. His death occurred in his sixty-seventh year. He had been a live-stock dealer and trader. His mother lived to come to this country with her children in 1859, where she spent her last days. She and her husband were consistent members of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Niemann came to Beardstown in 1859 and began as a poor man and has for twenty years been steamboating on the Mississippi river and for the last few years as mate. He las, however, always lived in Beardstown and been closely connected with the town in its growth. Since lie came from Prussia, land- ing at New Orleans, he has lived to see the great changes come over the steamboating of the great rivers. He has been in his present business fourteen years.
He was married in this city to Miss Eliza- beth Howard. She was born in Hanover, Germany, and was twenty years of age when she came to the United States. Her parents and relatives all died in her native country. Mr. and Mrs. Niemann have had eleven chil- dren, of whom only four are now living. They were among the first members and or- ganizers of the Lutheran Church at this
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place, to which they have always subscribed. He has always been a Republican in politics, but in no sense is lie an office-seeker. He lias many warm friends among his large circle of acquaintances.
HEODORE FRANKENFIELD .- The subject of this sketch was born Decem- ber 28, 1850, in Prussia, and was the son of Adolph and Johannes (Fielden) Frank- enfield, who were natives of the same place. The father was a soldier for thirty years. Our subject came to America when twenty- five years of age and was seventy-five days on the trip, and landed in the city of New York. He was a blacksmithi by trade and worked at tliis business until he came to Illinois. His first change in this new country was from New York to Pennsylvania, and from there he went to various places until in 1861 he settled near where he now lives. He worked by the month and at his trade, and in June, 1863, he was married to Miss Catherine C. Morris, who was born on the farm where onr subject now lives. She was born April 28, 1846, and was a daughter of Joshna and Nancy (Hickey) Morris. Her father came from Kentucky and settled here about 1830, locating in this township with his father and mother, Henry and Mary Morris, and lived and died here, aged abont seventy years. The father of Mrs. Frankenfield was born in the year 1801 and lived until 1881. He was of Irish ancestry, and was proprietor of a frontier grocery store. He was one of the first of the pioneers of this section and lived in a primitive log house, but at his death he owned 700 acres of land to bequeath to his family. He built the present home
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