USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past > Part 35
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JOSEPH F. DEITRICIL.
Joseph F. Deitrich, deceased, was an industrious, enterprising and representa tive citizen of Hancock county. He he- came a resident of Illinois in 1805 and
September 1. 1820, 14 pt the 18th of December, 1906, at the & ers seventy five years. His parents. php and Rosana ( Fullmer ) Deitrick, ved and died in Pennsylvania, where the last ci was a successful farmer. Unto him and his wife were born ten children, but am two are now living. Daniel, who fest is in Williamsport. Pennsylvama, and Sarah, the wife of John Kaver, of Mil ton, Pennsylvama.
Joseph F. Deitrich was educated 1 the subscription schools of his native state and was reared to farm hie, remaining at home with his father until twenty six years of age. He was then married on the 1st of January, 1852, to Miss Sarah A. Benner and they have become the par- ents of five children, of whom three are now living : Mary, the wife of Ludwig 11. Foresman, of Dallas City : Ellen, the wife of George M. Cummings, who is mentioned chewhere in this work; and Hettie, the wife of Walter Cummings, of Los Angeles, California. The wife and ut ther died February 21. 1862, and on the 15th of May, 1804. Mr. Deitrich was married to Miss Sarah E. Wolf, who was born in Northampton county. Pennsyl vania. December 28, 1845. a daughter . i Joseph and Mary Magdalena & Beck Wali, who were natives of Pennsylvania Her great grandparents in the materie line came from Germany Her father was a shoemaker In trade and thus po vided for the support of his ian Ban he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and passed away welke Keystone state, where they were hil to
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rest. In their family were five children, but only two are now living: Joseph, who resides in Williamsport, Pennsyl- vania ; and Mrs. Deitrich. By her mar- riage Mrs. Deitrich became the mother of thirteen children. of whom six are living. Etta A .. the wife of James Paulus, of Co- lusa, has eight children : Edith, the wife of Homer Matthews, of Burnside, by whom she has one child, Phineas Frank- lin: Grace, Joseph F .. Clarence V., Vesta, Edna. Irene and Ellen R., at home. El- mira. the second member of the family, is the wife of Warren H. Jacobs, of Mis- souri. and they have two sons: Verner Lloyd and Otis Cleon. William, living in Dallas township. is married and has one child. Susanna, Grover C. and John W. are at home with their mother.
It was in the year 1865 that Mr. Deit- rich came to Illinois, settling first in Mc- Donough county, where he lived for two years. He then came to Dallas township. where he purchased sixty-nine acres of land on section 13. It is upon this farm that his widow yet resides. Here he car- ried on general agricultural pursuits. He built a new house after his cottage was destroyed by fire, also built a new barn and made other needed improvements. He also bought one hundred acres of land across the road from his home on section 11. Dallas township. He lived a life of industry and enterprise and was a model farmer, keeping everything about his place in neat and thrifty condition. In matters of citizenship, too, he was also progressive and loyal. He gave his po- litical support to the democracy and served as supervisor for several years. No pub- lic trust reposed in him was ever betrayed
in the slightest degree. He belonged to the Lutheran church, in which he served as deacon and of which his wife is still a member. Mr. Deitrich was generous al- most to a fault, being particularly kind and helpful to the poor and needy. In his family he was a devoted husband and father and wherever he was known he was respected because of those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime command respect and admira- tion. Mrs. Dietrich still survives her husband and is managing the home prop- erty. Like him, she has many friends in the county and is well worthy of repre- sentation in this volume.
ARTHUR RAY MANIFOLD.
Arthur Ray Manifold is a native son of Hancock county, his birth having oc- curred in La Harpe township, August I, 1883, and is one of the younger represent- atives of agricultural interests in this por- tion of the state. His father, John Mani- fold, was born in Roane county, Tennes- see. a son of George and Mary Manifold. who, on leaving their native state came to Illinois, locating on a farm on section 10. La Harpe township, this county. Here the son John was reared to farm life and after reaching man's estate was married in 1854 to Miss Eliza Ann Miller, and he continued to reside on the home place. assisting his mother in the management of her farming interests, his father having died in 1836, After the death of his
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
mother he mberited the homestead prop erty, to which he added from time to time until he possessed an extensive tract. com- prising four hundred and eighty-nine acres all in one body except twenty-five acres situated on section 10. La Harpe township. Here he engaged extensively in general farming and stockraising until his death, which occurred February 16. 1,01. By this marriage there is one soll. William Edison, who is a resident of this township The father was married a sec- and time to Elizabeth Loretta Chapin, the widow of Henry Foley, and a daughter of Robert P. and Elizabeth Chapin. She was a native of Ohio, and by her mar- riage became the mother of Arthur Ray Manifold. the subject of this sketch. Her death occurred November 10. 1900.
Arthur Ray Manifokl acquired his edu- cation in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades until he had completed a high school course, subse- quent to which time he pursued a course of study in Gettings Seminary, at La Harpe. He assisted his father in the op- eration of the home farm and always re- mained with his parents, and at their death came into possession of a valuable farm property, which he is non success- fully operating.
On the 19th of October, 1904. our sub- ject was united in marriage to Miss Vice May Smith, who was born at Raritan. Illinois, but was reared in Fort Madison. Iowa, where she acquired her education. there completing a high school course. She is a daughter of Albert R. and Ella ( Harris) Smith, the former a native of Fort Madison, lowa, where he still re- sides, being engaged in the conduct of a
A daughter, Fleur 1 . os bons this umon November - 1. 1,00
In his political views Mi Mewhat's a republican, while his religion tet, 1- dicated by his membership note Cm' tian church at la Hirje Hlea . M. - lek song to lodge No 105. Anders Irce and Accepted Mas great Har Harpe Has ing been born and reared in Black county Mr. Manifold his a wide acqu. nt aree both in business and social circles and loth he and his wife are popular young people, the hospitality of their home being freely extended to their many friends.
JOHN M. HABBEN.
John M. Habben, who is now one of the most prominent German- American farm ers of Hancock county, residing in Prairie township, where he owns a very rich farm of three hundred twenty acres. where his time and energies are devoted to general agricultural pursuits, is a native of For- ich. Hanover. Germany. He was born December 13. 1850, and when but seven years of age was brought to the United States In his parents. Minka and Anh ( Jaspers) Habben, likewise natives of Germany, who, on crossing the White. made their way at once to Ilmois setting in Adams county. There the father rent ed land for three vens, after which le made purchase of one hundred and sixty acres in Prairie towns. p. Hlattech county the farm tam bích his son
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John now resides. He transformed this from a tract of wild land into a well im- proved farm and made it his home until his death, which occurred when he was fifty-two years of age, his remains being interred in Concord cemetery. He pros- pered in his undertakings and was a self- made man, whose prosperity was attribu- table entirely to his own efforts. He never cared for public office or sought to figure prominently in any public light. content to devote his attention to his busi- ness affairs whereby he provided a com- fortable living for his family.' His widow, who held membership in the Lutheran church at Carthage, died at the age of seventy-three years.
John M. Habben largely acquired his education in the public schools of Car- thage, attending both the district and city schools, and in his youth assisted in the work of the home farm. He has always remained upon this place since his par- ents took up their abode here and he now owns the property which he bought in 1901 after the death of his mother, to- gether with one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the old homestead. Soon after buying the farm he built one of the most beautiful and commodious residences in the vicinity, the main part having a front- age of thirty-eight feet by sixteen feet deep, two stories, and a large ell in the rear. All is nicely finished and fur- nished, and also has modern conveniences as windmill, telephone and those acces- sories usually found on the place of the more successful men. His fields are all under cultivation and in addition to rais- ing the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he devotes his attention to the
raising of high grade stock. He is well known as an enterprising, successful farmer, who is never idle a day and who through his diligence has gained a place among the substantial agriculturists of the community. He has almost entirely unaided brought himself to a position of wealth and independence.
Mr. Habben was married April 16. 1881. to Miss Anna Ficht, who was born in Eurich, Hanover. Germany, March 8. 1860, and came to the United States about 1868, living in Prairie township until her marriage. Her parents were Henry and Marie (Bruntz) Ficht. They were born in Germany, and there they followed the occupation of farming and all but one of their six children were born. When Anna (now Mrs. Ficht). was about eight years old they embarked for America on one of the oldtime sail vessels, being eight weeks making the voyage, and after arriving in New York, it took eight days to come to Illinois. He rented land first near Golden. Adams county, and there he lived but a short time when he moved to Prairie township. his wife dying within a few years. He was a farmer of Prairie township during his active life. He is now living retired and makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Habben at the age of eighty-three years. Unto our subject and his wife have been born five children and the family circle yet remains unbroken. These are: Mim- ka, who aids in the operation of the home farm: Mary. Louis, Henry and George, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. All were born upon the homestead farm in Prairie township. The parents are members of the German Luth-
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eran church of Carthage and are well known residents of the community in which they make their home, enjoying the favorable regard of all with whom social or business relations have brought them in contact.
While a democrat in politics he is rather independent, voting each time for the best man. He does not care for office. preferring to give his time to his exten- sive farming interests. He has been school director for a number of terms, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend.
JAMES F. GIBSON.
James Finley Gibson is one of the na- tive sons of Hancock county, whose life record stands in contradistinction to the old adage that "a prophet is never with- out honor save in his own country." for here in the locality where he has spent his entire life he has gained signal recogni- tion as a lawyer of ability, who, though yet a young man, has gained prominence equal to that of many a practitioner of twice his years. He was born in Pilot Grove township, June 19. 1879. and is a son of Robert C. and Harriet ( Lowrey ) Gibson. He is a graduate of Carthage College and prepared for his chosen pro- fession as a student in the law department of the University of Wisconsin. from which he was graduated in the class of 1903. He was president of his class and commencement orator, the two highest honors that could be bestowed in the law
School. Following his 21 cuddle M Gibson located at once i Cartlidge am opened an office. He has met entes de gratifying success in In- choseif fon labor and has secured a liberal centage that has connected him with much mujer tant litigation tried in the courts of Dis district. He is a close and discriminating student and has comprehensive know! edge of the principles of jurisprudence and is correct in their adaptation. 1. 1005 he was elected city attorney of Carthage, which position he sull fill-
On the Ist of September. IN08. MI Gibson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Mberta Tyner, who was born in Pilot Grove township in 18;8 and is a daughter of Jared L. and Emily 1 .. Tyner Her father was a popular druggist of Burnside, where he died and is buried In the family were three children : May. now the wife of George W. Khen, of Carthage: Viola, the wife of Edward Lyon, of this city; and Mrs. Gibson. U'nto our subject and his wife has been born a son, James C., whose birth of- curred in Madison, Wisconsin. July 21. 1903. Her mother. Mrs. Toner, is still living and makes her home with her daughters in Carthage.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Gibson hold mem bership in the Christian church and take an active and helpful part in its work Ile served as church treasurer in Hos at has put forth effective effort in beha im the church and has contributed geller- ously of his means to its support He b longs to the Masonic fraternity Me he has served as seiner de en i stanch advocate of the comes we owns one of the largest Mol te
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libraries in the city, with the contents of which he is largely familiar. In the prep- aration of his cases he is most thorough and careful, preparing for the unexpect- ed which happens in the courts quite as frequently as out of them. He is always well armed for any point of attack and is quick to notice the weak points in an adversary's position. He has won many notable forensic triumphs and is regarded as an able member of the bar, who is mak- ing rapid progress in the line of success- ful practice. He and his wife are recog- nized as people of culture and refinement to whom an enviable social position is readily accorded.
GOTTLIEB BOLLIN.
Gottlieb Bollin, in his farming opera- tions, keeps fully abreast with the most modern methods of farming, using the latest improved machinery and all the accessories which facilitate farm work. Advancement along agricultural lines has been rapid and pronounced, and Mr. Bol- lin is a typical representative of this spirit of progress. He resides on section 23. Sonora township, where he has a tract of two hundred acres, and he also owns one hundred and twenty acres on section 15. besides twelve acres of timber land in Sonora township on the banks of the Mis- sissippi river. Mr. Bollin was born in Baden, Germany. September 15, 1841. and is a son of Joseph and AAgnes ( Haire) Bollin, likewise natives of the
fatherland. The father on leaving his native country made his way to Cincin- nati, Ohio, where he located in 1856, there following farming for three years, and in 1859 he removed to Nauvoo, where he operated rented land in Sonora township. Two years later he removed to Rock Creek township, where he remained for three years and then came to Nauvoo, where he spent his remaining days. His wife had died in Cincinnati, Ohio, leav- ing six sons and three daughters. The father was married a second time to Mrs. Kimes, of Nauvoo, and her death oc- curred in this city, while the father also passed away here in the fall of 1881.
Gottlieb Bollin, the second in order of birth in his father's family, pursued his studies in Germany to the age of twelve years, and continued his education for two years after the family arrived in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. He remained with his parents to the age of seventeen years and then started out to face the responsible duties of life on his own account. He began work as a farm hand in Sonora township, where he was employed for one season and also worked for a time in Nauvoo township. In June, 1861, how- ever. he put aside all business and per- sonal considerations, and in response to the country's call for aid offered his serv- ices to the government, enlisting as a member of the First lowa Cavalry, at Keokuk. The company was mustered in at Burlington in August, and did duty in the state of Missouri. He served in the army until the close of the war. and then went with General Custer to Texas, where he was honorably dis- charged at Austin in the spring of 1866.
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After the close of hostilities Mr. Bol- lin returned to his home, where he was employed as a farm hand by the month until 1871. when, through his industry and economy, he was enabled to make purchase of forty acres of land on sec- tion 15, which he had hitherto rented. Three years later he added another tract of forty acres, adjoining on the west. Later he added another forty-acre tract. belonging to the estate of his father-in- law, and known as the Theodore Lohr farm, thus making in all one hundred and twenty acres situated on section 15. Here he carried on general agricultural pur- suits and as the years passed by he pros- pered in his undertakings, so that in course of time he was able to make fur- ther purchases, at one time adding eighty acres situated on section 23 and at a later (late, eighty and then forty acres, mak- ing a total of two hundred acres on sec- tion 23. and one hundred and twenty acres on section 15. On the two-hundred-acre tract he erected a house and barn, and has since made an addition to his house of brick, the residence now containing nine rooms, and two stories in height. He built a horse and cattle barn, corn cribs and all substantial ontbuiklings for the shelter of grain and stock. lle also set out a fine orchard. containing apple. peach and plum trees. He has a wind- pump on his place, and has two wells, one thirty-three feet in depth, while the other is forty-three feet deep. thus furnishing water for stock and for use in the house. He has used both wire and Osage hedge fencing in dividing his farm into fields of convenient size, and thus his is one of the valuable farms of this portion of the
state. He is practical and progressive in all that he does and each year his turn cial resources are greatly enhanced and today he is numbered among the wealthy citizens of Sonora township.
On the 1st of August, 1870, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bollin and Miss Christina Lohr, a native of Prussia, bom February 9, 1848. Her mother died 111 Germany, and Mrs. Bollin then accom- panied her father to America in 1855. being then a little maiden of seven sum- mers, and one of three sons and two daughters. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bollm have been born nine children, as follows: John Theodore, born March 13, 1871. and a resident of Sonora township: An- nie Katherine, born April 1. 1873, and her death occurred October 20. 1874: Andrew, born December 18, 1874, and a resident of Sonora township. married Julia Beecher: Mary Josephine Benedic- ta, whose birth occurred September 20. 1877: Jacob Joseph, born May 27. 1880, of Sonora township, who married Miss Jennie Terry. August 22. 1900; Frances Louisa, born March 5. 1883, and likewise a resident of this township: Nellie Ger- trude, born October 30, 1886, and Wil- liam Adolph and Frank Leo, twins, born July 22, 1880. are still under the parental roof.
Mr. Bollin's study of the political que's tions and issues of the day have led hun to give his support to the Republican party although he has never been an office seek er, for he finds that his business affairs make sufficient demand upon his time and attention, and he has attained through his own labors his position as one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of
19
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Hancock county. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and in reli- gious faith is a Catholic. Although start- ing out in life empty-handed, he possesses that spirit of enterprise and industry so characteristic of the German race, and by the proper use of his native talents has worked his way up to a position of prom- inence and affluence.
GUY B. CHANDLER.
Guy B. Chandler is the owner of a fine farm in Wythe township. An attractive residence stands in the midst of fine shade trees and there are ample buildings in the way of barns and sheds for the shelter of grain and stock. There is also an ap- ple orchard of two and a half acres, while the well tilled fields annually produce good crops, showing that the owner is thoroughly conversant with the best methods of tilling the soil.
The owner, Guy B. Chandler, is one of Wythe township's native sons, his birth having occurred within its borders on the 15th of September, 1842. His pater- mal grandfather, Dr. Chandler, was a noted physician who practiced near Zanesville in Muskingum county, Ohio, but died there when comparatively a young man. His son. Rudolphus Chan- dler, born in Vermont, was but a young lad at the time of his father's demise. He learned the trade of a harness maker and coach finisher, and. attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, in
1836. he drove across the country with team and wagon and purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, constituting the northwest quarter of section 20, Wythe township, Hancock county. Illi- nois. This was all .wild prairie covered with the native grasses and there was little indication in the entire neighborhood that the work of improvement and prog- ress had been begun. Mr. Chandler brought with him to Illinois his family. constituting wife and three children. He had been married in Ohio to Miss Lydia Hutchinson, a native of that state, and unto them were born two sons and a daughter ere they left their old home. After reaching this county Mr. Chandler built a log house and log stable, and in true pioneer style began life here. He broke the prairie with the crude imple- ments then in use, finding it an arduous task, but he persevered in his work and continued the cultivation and improve- ment of the farm until his death, which occurred December 13, 1876. His wife passed away January 10, 1871, and was laid to rest in the Congregational church cemetery in Wythe township.
Guy B. Chandler was the youngest liv- ing child at the time of his father's death. llis early education acquired in the dis- trict schools, was supplemented by three terms of study in Warsaw Seminary, and he remained upon the off homestead un- til the time of his marriage, aiding in the work of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. On the 12th of March. 1864. when twenty-one years of age, he wedded Miss Elizabeth A. Smith, who was born in Clark county, Indiana. March 23, 1839, a daughter of William and Susan ( Scott)
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Smith, natives of England and Maryland respectively, the former a son of John Smith, and the latter a daughter of John Scott. In the spring of 1856 they went to Warsaw and soon afterward settled with his brother, John Smith, in Wythe township.
Following his marriage Mr. Chandler purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Clark county, Missouri, of which sixty acres had been cleared. fenced and was under cultivation. le resolutely undertook the task of improv- ing the remainder of the farm and there lived until after his mother's death, when he returned to the home place in Hancock county, conducting the farm for his fa- ther until the latter's demise. when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead. Eight years later he remodeled and improved the residence. which his brother had built. After his father's death he also fenced the place with hedge and with wire fences and he planted many fine shade trees, which add much to the value and attractive appear- ance of the farm. He also has an apple orchard covering two and a half acres. In 1903 he replaced the old home by a fine residence, containing all modern equipments and conveniences. It is sup- plied with hot and cold water and heated by furnace and convenient in its arrange- ment and tasteful in its furnishings.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Chandler has been blessed with three daughters: Luella, now the wife of P. A. Fulton, of Keokuk, Iowa ; Nettie S., the wife of Key. Edward Montgomery, a Presbyterian min- ister at Warsaw, Indiana; and Eve E .. the wife of Rev. W. 11. Matthews, pas
tor of a Presbyterian church in the .go. The daughters were educated in Anos College, the older two pursuing the regu- lar course, while the other pursued the scientific course and also studied music in that institution. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler thus gave their children excel- lent educational privileges and have lived to see them well settled in life. They hold membership in the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they are deeply interested and to the support of which they contribute generously. Mr. Chandler is a republican, who has served as trustee of his township and also as assessor, discharging the duties of these offices with promptness and fidelity. Ilis entire life has been passed in Wythe township and he is both widely and fa vorably known in this part of the county. He has made an enviable record as a business man and has achieved a measure of success which is most creditable, as it has been honorably won.
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