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 36
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CHARLES B. DOOLITTLE
Charles B. Doolittle, owning and op- erating one of the finest tracks of land in Appanouse township, is a native with of this township, having here been bun May 25. 1838, a son of Am and I hele ( White) Doolittle, natives of New York and Ohio respectively The paternal grandfather. Edward Dodlittle lef Vce York at an early day, coming to l/s. settling in Sunganim & m's 11
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brought with him his son Amzi, who was then seventeen years of age. He then left the son in Illinois and started back to New York for his wife and the other members of the family but died on the way. The son Amzi worked at farm la- bor in Sangamon county, receiving nine dollars per month for his work. He was thus employed for thirteen months and during that time had saved one hundred dollars, which he invested in a heifer. a yoke of steers and a sow. He then broke eight acres of wild land, which he plant- ed to corn, and in this way he gained his start in life. At the end of two years, having raised quite an amount of stock. which he disposed of, and then removed to Schuyler county, Illinois, where he also broke eight acres of land, on which he lived until 1826, and then came to Appa- noose and built the first house in the vil- lage-double log cabin. Many Indians were still to be found in this section of the state, and Mr. Doolittle traded some stock to them for a tract of land. He also conducted the first ferryboat run- ning from Appanoose to Fort Madison. Iowa. He was married in this state to Miss Phebe White and they took up their abode in Appanoose. Later in company with his wife and one child he started for his old home in the Empire state. traveling on a steamer up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and it was not until he had reached his old home that he learned of his father's death, he having died twelve years previous while on his way to that state for his family. Mr. Doolit- tle after a time returned again to Appa- noose, where he continued the operation of his ferry-boat. He also built a large
sawmill and in connection with two other men built one of the first houses in Bur- lington, Iowa. He was a very prosper- ous man in all of his undertakings and eventually became a large landowner. having one thousand acres. situated in Iowa, Missouri, and Hancock county. He also conducted a merchandising en- terprise and dealt in lumber. He was very active in the ranks of the Democratic party, serving as supervisor, as poor mas- ter of the county, and during his incum- bency in the office of supervisor he saved the township several thousand dollars.
Charles B. Doolittle, whose name intro- duces this record, was reared to farm life. assisting his father in the operation of the homestead property, where he re- ceived practical training in all depart- ments of farm labor. His educational advantages, however, were very limited for, owing to the unsettled condition of the country in his youth, there was not a good school system established, and dur- ing the short time that he pursued his studies the sessions of school were held in private homes. In 1862, in company with three comrades, he crossed the plains, traveling overland with six yoke of oxen, and after a long, tedious jour- ney, which covered four months and five days, they reached Walla Walla, Wash- ington, where he was employed in the gold mines during the summer season and through the winter months he worked on different ranches. In October, 1866, he started down the Yellowstone river to Sioux City, Iowa, from which place he went by stage to Denison, and there boarded the first railroad train he was ever on, his destination being Fort Madi-
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
son. He worked for his father for one year following his return from the west. and his father then gave him one hundred and nine acres of land, situated on section 11. Appanoose township, of which twen- ty-five acres had been cleared. while the remainder was covered with timber. He has since cleared much of this and now has about seventy-five acres under culti- vation, which each year yields abundant harvests as the result of care and labor he has bestowed upon the fields. He has nineteen acres in oak timber, which is the first growth. He has also added many modern improvements upon his place. in- cluding good fences and outbuildings. which are kept in good state of repair. so that his farm shows evidence of an en- terprising and progressive owner.
In August. 1867. occurred the mar- riage of Mr. C. B. Doolittle and Miss Nancy Olive Atherton, a native of Appa- noose township, and a daughter of Rob ert Atherton. She became the mother of four sons and a daughter: Amzi, of Decorra, Illinois: Cora, the wife of Wil- liam Long, of Hancock county, Illinois: Harry D. and Charles Roy, on the home place : and John Simpson, of Niota, Illi- nois. The wife and mother died about 1894. and thus passed away one of the highly esteemed women of Hancock county, her loss being deeply regretted by many friends, as well as her immediate family.
Mr. Doolittle gives his political sup port to the Democratic party, and served as school director for eight years, but aside from this has held no public office. Although deeply interested in the all. vancement of his county and its welfare
he finds little time for holding public of fice, preferring to concentrate Ins ener gies upon his own private interests, 111 which he is meeting with very desirable success. Although he inherited his prop erty from his father he has worked hard in clearing and improving the place until today his is one of the productive and val- table tracts of his section of the state
WILLIAM IL HARTZELL
William H. Hartzell is actively con- nected with a profession which has im portant bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any section of com- munity and one which has long been con- sidered as conserving the public welfare by furthering the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights and in his practice has attained considerable promi- nence, having today a distinctively rep- resentative clientage.
Mr. Hartzell was born in Durham township. Hancock county. November S. 186, and is a son of Noah and Rebecca ( Weatherington ) Hartzell. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1820, and the mother's birth occurred in or near Columbus, Ohio, in the same year Mr. Hartzell was a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit following his removal to Hancock county In religious faith he was a Methodist, while Ins wife belongs to the Baptist church His death occurred in La Harpe, while Mrs Hari zell is now living in that town with her
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daughter, Belle C., who is now the wife of Harry E. Claycomb and is the eldest of the family. The others are: Judd O., who resides in Monmouth, Illinois; Franklin, who died in childhood; and William H., of this review.
Reared under the parental roof Wil- liam H. Hartzell pursued his education in the high school at La Harpe, of which he is a graduate, and in Gitting's Semi- nary. In 1886, at the age of seventeen years, he took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of the firm of O'Hara & Scofield, of Carthage, and in 1890 was admitted to the bar, being then twenty-one years of age. He was then admitted to a partnership by his former preceptors and the firm became O'Hara, Scofield & Hartzell. Following the dissolution of this connection Mr. Hartzell joined Truman Plantz in the es- tablishment of a law firm, Mr. Plantz maintaining an office in Warsaw and Mr. Hartzell in Carthage. The firm had an existence of nine months in that form, at the end of which time William C. Hooker was admitted to a partnership and so continued for three years. In 1901, Mr. Hartzell opened an office alone on Jack- son street in Carthage, where he is now located. Ile possesses a fine law library, with the contents of which he is largely familiar. A self-made man, he entered business life as an employe of Charles Gill, proprietor of a general store in La Harpe, working in the implement depart- nient through the summer vacations, on Saturdays and after school hours. To- day he is a leading lawyer of Carthage. having one of the finest practices in jury cases in the county. He is indeed a
strong and able trial lawyer and has won notable successes in several criminal cases. His is a natural discrimination as to legal ethics and he is so thoroughly well read in the minutae of the law that he is able to base his arguments upon thorough knowledge and familiarity with precedent and to present a case upon its merits. never failing to recognize the main point at issue and never neglecting to give a thorough preparation. He served as state's attorney from 1892 un- til 1896 and was also city attorney for La Harpe.
On the 13th of June, 1891, Mr. Hart- zell was married to Miss Inez E. Char- ter, who was born near La Harpe in 1872. a daughter of Samuel and Salina (Lov- itt) Charter, both of whom were natives of Muskingum county. Ohio. Her fa- ther was descended from Kentucky an- cestry and came to Illinois at an early day, settling on a farm. He is now de- ceased, while his widow resides in Los Angeles, California. They were mem- bers of the Christian church and to this church Mrs. Hartzell also belongs. In her parents' family were five children : Phoebe and Ella, both deceased; Lucile. wife of J. W. Mitchell, who is living in Kentucky: Clara, the widow of Richard Sailor, of Los Angeles, California: and Inez E .. the wife of our subject. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell have been born five children, Ruth. Franklin. Philip. Eloise and Grace, aged respectively thir- teen, eleven, eight, four and one years. All were born in Carthage. The family home is pleasantly located about three and a half blocks northeast of the square and is a beautiful residence at the corner of
IL.INCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Jackson and Davis streets. Mrs. Hart- nes, In 181; he Found 1 50 zell is a most active and interested worker in the church and is now president of the Missionary Society. Mr. Hartzell usu- ally votes with the Democratic party, but does not consider himself bound by party ties and often casts an independent bal- lot. Ile is a jovial, warm-hearted man. a true friend and an entertaining conver- sationalist, who looks at life from a prac- tical standpoint, appreciative of its bless- ings and pleasures and never neglectful of its duties. He has won a notable place in legal circles and is respected by all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.
BREVET MAJOR GENERAL OLI- VER EDWARDS.
Brevet Major General Oliver Edwards was born in Springfield. Massachusetts. January 30, 1835. The family has al- ways furnished representatives as defend ers of the country.
Captain Oliver Edwards entered the colonial service in 1775. and valiantly aided in the struggle that secured the re- lease of the oppressed colonies from Brit- ish tyranny. He married Rachel Par- sons, of Northampton, and their son, Dr. Elisha Edwards, father of the general. was born in Chesterfield. Massachusetts. January 26. 1795.
When a young man, Elisha Edwards went to Northampton and in the employ of E. Hunt learned the apothecary busi
Massachusetts, and engagel m o on his own account I 1820 le cal a partnership with Hemy Ster lasted until 1825. and m 182 11 Charles J. I phan under the firm ame nl C. J. U'pham & Company he est. be a wholesale drug house. He was me the subscribers to the fund that pure Court Square and was chosen one site nime original directors of the Chicopee Bank of Springfield. In 1821 le Ws united in marriage to Face Lombard. the daughter of Daniel and Sylvia i Burti Lombard, the birth of the father of carring February 1. 170%. In 1787, during Shay's rebellion, Mr. Lombard was :c tive on the side of the government forces in quelling the insurrection. He recessed the commission of quartermaster of the First Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. from Governor Samuel Adams on July 31. 1794. and was honorably dis- charged January 20. 1708. He was ap- pointed postmaster by Thomas Jefferson in 1806 and held that office during the ul- ministrations of James Madison. James Monroe and John Quincy Adams une ' June 3. 1829. a continuous service di twenty three years. He married Sil Burt, of Longmeadow. Massad wells
To Dr. and Mrs. Edwards were both five sons and five daughters, sefe ff whom grew to maturity - Mr. Combine I. Smith, of Springfield. Most ase Mrs. Sophia O Johnson, di Bal Ves Hampshire: Mrs. Charlotte I' Wane of Springfield. Massachusetts I -on a prominent merchant of Casello Mrs. Julia E Hurd. of Drieeso, No sachusetts: Oliver, of Wirsis Ilin
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and Mrs. Mary E. Childs, of Cleveland, Ohio.
From early boyhood, Oliver Edwards, of this review. had shown an undivided interest in mechanics. taking delight in the construction of articles from his play- things. It had been his mother's inten- tion to give him a collegiate education, but so firmly was his heart set on mechan- ism, that she at last consented for him to pursue studies along that line and ar- ranged for him a paid apprenticeship at the Springfield Arsenal, and there he be- came a master mechanic.
At the age of twenty-one, he started for Dubuque, Iowa, with the intention of establishing a foundry. An accident to the steamer coming up the Mississippi. delayed him at Warsaw, Illinois, and overtures were made to him to build a foundry at that point. He entered a busi- ness partnership known as Neberling, Ed- wards & Company, a foundry was built and to this work he devoted his time un- til the breaking out of the Civil war. Be- ing in Cleveland, Ohio, when the first call for troops was made he determined to return to the state where his ancestors had fought to establish the Union and there offer his services to aid in its pres- ervation. He entered the service June 21, 1861. as a private, but was appointed adjutant of the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment. but was soon detailed senior aid-de-camp on the staff of General D. N. Couch, commanding the division. In August. 1862. he was commissioned ma- jor and directed to organize the Thirty- seventh Massachusetts Volunteer Regi- ment and September 4. 1862, he was mus- tered in as its colonel.
His ability as a commander was many times demonstrated. At Salem Church. Va .. May 3, 1863, he was placed in com- mand of his own and the Thirty-sixth New York Regiment to occupy the posi- tion of the extreme angle on the Federal line of battle, throughout the night of the 3d and the ensuing day. This exposed position was one of great peril and Gen- eral Sedgwick, the corps commander, ex- pressed his gratification at the outcome, frankly admitting that he had not expect- ed to save a single man from the exposed position in which it had been necessary to place the command. Colonel Edwards personally led his command through the terrible cannonade at Gettysburg, July 3. 1863, and when more than thirty of his men had fallen in a few minutes his reso- nant words of confidence. "Steady. Thirty-seventh!" rose above the din of battle and held every man to his place in a manner that won immediate and un- qualified compliment delivered upon the field by the brigade commander. On the 30th of July, 1863. an order was given detailing "Four of the best disciplined regiments of the Army of the Potomac" for duty at New York in connection with the draft temporarily suspended owing to the draft riots, and the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts was the first regiment named in arranging for the detail. Dur- ing his stay in New York Colonel Ed- wards was in command of the troops at Ft. Hamilton, consisting of his own regi- ment. two regiments of New York heavy artillery and some detachments of regu- lars that formed the permanent garrison. One incident only of the two months' stay there may be repeated there, although
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many others would make interesting read- ing: Learning that prominent anti-draft leaders had declared that probably no fur- ther rioting would take place unless Mas- sachusetts troops were brought to the city, in which case not a man of them would be allowed to leave alive. Colonel Edwards promptly requested that he be allowed to bring up his regiment as a special guard for the drafting quarters. that no other troops be allowed in sight and that only the Massachusetts state flag be displayed unless actual conflict took place. The request was granted and the plan fully carried out, but the threatened vengeance of the murderous wretches. who a few weeks before had drenched the city with blood, did not ( very fortunately for them) go further than sullen looks and gloomy silence. The will of one fear- less commander had faced a lawless che- ment boasting an organized force of 20,- 000 men and had won a bloodless tri- umph for law and order.
It was not until fall that an opportu- nity occurred for leave of absence that enabled Colonel Edwards to return to Warsaw for the intended bride who had waited with trunks ready packed since May. the time first set for their marriage. and on September 3. 1863. Oliver El- wards was united in marriage to Ann Eliza Johnston, daughter of John E. and Catherine ( Baldwin ) Johnston, of War- saw, Illinois, whose sketch appears on another page of this work.
In the battle of the wilderness. May 5. 1864. General Wadsworth, whose divi- sion had been broken and driven back in some disorder, called upon Colonel Ed- wards and his regiment for assistance in
checking the triumpham enemy and che ! ing the field so that the broken down might be reformed and put mito action For nine hundred yards Ins single reg ment swept the field triumphantly, though at at cost of one fourth of its number
"You have made a splendid charge your regiment has done all Iwished. and more than I dared hope," said General Wadsworth as he rode away in search of his division and to instant death
General Edwards received the brevet rank of brigadier general October 19). 1804. "for gallant and distinguished services in the battle of Spotsskam Court House and meritorious conduct on the field of battle at Winchester. Vir- ginia."
At the battle of Opegnam. September 19. 1864. upon the death of General Ku- sell and the wounding of General ('pham the command of the division devolved upon Colonel Edwards, which he held until the close of the battle and handled with such promptness and skill. with such unfailing judgment as to win the ad miration of his superior officers, especially General Sheridan, who as a mark of ap preciation appointed him commandant of the post at Winchester. Virginia, with In- brigade as post garrison. It was from the breakfast table at General Edwards's headquarters that General Sheridan start ed on his ride to Cedar Creek to check the disaster of October 19 In fact. the friendship between Generals Sheridan and Edwards was so close that the former urged Edwards to accept the apprent- ment of provost marshal general on his staff and it was with great reluctance th.it Sheridan consented for him to return to
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his old brigade. In vain was the offer of a command of a division not includ- ing his old brigade made Edwards by General Meade. When his return to ac- tive duty was decided upon the heart of the commander was with his old regi- ment and he emphatically refused to take any appointment which would take him from them. In the assault of April 2 on the lines at Petersburg his brigade took an active part, being the first to break through the confederate works. Next morning General Edwards received from the mayor of Petersburg the sur- render of the city very soon after the evacuation of General Lee. For his serv- ices at this time he received the commis- sion of brevet major general to date from April 5. 1865. On the 15th of January, 1866, he was honorably discharged from the service of the United States after declining an appointment for permanent military advancement of which any sol- dier might be proud, contentedly return- ing to take up the broken threads of busi- ness life. Returning to Warsaw. Illi- nois, at the close of the war, he remained for three years, serving the city as post- master for a year and a half, a position he resigned to become general agent for the Florence Machine Company at North- ampton, Massachusetts, removing with his family to that place, and later be- came the company's general superintend- ent, during which time he patented ser- cral improvements on the sewing machine. Hle invented and patented the Florence spring skate, which the company manu- factured. also the Florence oil stove. the base of which is used in all the wick oil stoves used and manufactured today.
In 1875 he retired from active business, and returning to Warsaw bought the house built by William H. Roosevelt, a grand uncle of President Theodore Roosevelt, which remains the family home.
In 1882 he accepted an appointment as general manager of the Gardner Machine and Gun Company. of England, with headquarters in that country. After a year he returned to the United States for his family, but two years later resigned owing to ill health and again returned to Warsaw.
He was always active in the advance- ment of the best interests of his city, serv- ing it as mayor three terms, was chosen many times upon the boards of public school and library, was frequently com- mander of Arthur W. Marsh Post No. 343. Grand Army of the Republic, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he was a stalwart republican. During the last two years of his life he gathered into manuscript his recollec- tions of the Civil war. An ardent lover of nature, time never hung heavy for him and he spent many hours in the cultiva- tion of his rose garden, in growing and experimenting with fruits and vegetables. He was a keen sportsman with rod and gun, a friend of animals, a student of books, a loyal friend and an honored citi- zen. following faithfully every pursuit of earnest duty, content and proud to pass his life modestly, sweetly, in the land his valor had helped to save.
General Edwards died at his home in Warsaw. April 28. 1904. There sur- vive him his wife and two children : John E. and Julia Katherine, the latter now
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living with her mother at the home in at 1. Mag mus, Montan Warsaw. John E. received his educa- h. ve lit win the . tion in the public schools of Massachu- setts and Illinois up to the age of four- teen, when he was sent to Hanover Col lege. Hanover, Indiana, for two years. and then for one year attended the Quincy (Illinois ) Business College. At the age of seventeen, being in poor health, he went to Colorado to spend the summer on the ranch of his mother's uncle, Ed- win Baldwin, intending to enter the Uni- versity of Michigan that fall, but the charm of the west held him and the fol- lowing three years he spent on the ranches in Colorado, Texas and Indian Territory as a cowboy. In 1888 he went to Chi- cago and for a year was in the employ of Nelson, Morris & Company and of Swift & Company. but returned to Texas and drove a herd to Montana. For nine years he was in the employ of Thomas Cruse as foreman of an outfit and as general manager of all his cattle and sheep in- terests in Fergus County. Montana, re- signing to go into a general merchandis- ing business at Junction. Montana. A1 year later he was appointed United States Indian agent on the Crow reservation, an appointment he held for three years, re- signing to be appointed United States Indian inspector for the northwest. from which he resigned to go into business at Forsyth, Montana, where he is president of the Bank of Commerce, of the Electric Light and Telephone Company and is also engaged in irrigation and railroad construction. He has recently been elect- ed to represent Rosebud county as state senator. In 189t he married Julia, a daughter of Reese AAnderson, a ranchman
living : Anme Johnstone al Fam Irene Edwards.
Taken from the Spingh & M. chusetts, Republican, date September 1004): At the presentation of ap tout of General Edwards In Mr. Bavette Springfield, Massachusetts, city laff 20 lection.
Secretary James 1. Bowen, of the - ity. who made the presentation speech, sant that General Edwards needed no mem rial to keep his memory enshrined in the hearts of those who fought under him. and with him. But it was fitting that the members of General Edwards's old regi- ment should leave something to serve as a reminder in the city of his birth of their old commander. Mr. Bowen said that he should not attempt to review the life of General Edwards, for the facts were too well known. His military rec ord did not need to be culogized. From the battle of Fair Oaks to the mustering out in 1865 he fought bravely. General Edwards had entered the service. Mr. Bowen said, from civilian life. dropping his business in the west on the call to arms. He came to Springfield and be gan recruiting on Hampden park. And when the recruits that he had collected were portioned out to fill other brigades General Edwards did not sulk in his tent. but accepted the conditions like a true ' dier. His promotion was due. Mr Bowen said, not to polit cal influence, but to his own ability
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