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 46
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several years he has served de a compan of Burlington and has also been Via ber of the school board, filling the se p - sitions with dignity and honor. 1 1 him and his wife have been born sise children, of whom five are yet living Joben M. is engaged in the lumber business La Harpe and is a graduate of Parsopa College, of Fairfield, Iowa. Witham I. is the second of the family. Lydia 1. also a graduate of Parsons College. vi Fairfield, is residing with her parents 1 Burlington. Charles, who is a graduate of Elliott's Business College, of Burling ton, is now engaged in the lumber busi ness in Palmyra. Missouri. Bessie, who has been attending Parson's College at Fairfield, is at home with her parents.
William E. Lyon was a public school student in his native city and for two winters' attended Elliott's Business Col lege. He was afterward bill clerk and stenographer for the Burlington Lumber Company for four years. While attend ing school he began to handle saws and tools in the sawmill, working when quite a young boy for fifty cents a day. lle spent his vacations and Saturdays in this way and gained an intimate knowledge and interest in the trade with which huis father was connected. He did all kinds of work in the sawmill in order to me quaint himself with the business and be come qualified for a position in connection therewith. After four years spent as bill clerk and stenographer for the Burning ton Lumber Company he came to Cr thage in February, 1802. when not quite twenty-one years of age and established a lumber yard. having an office on Main street. He handles sash, doors, molding,
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nails, barbed wire, fencing wire and all grades of lumber, and in 1901 he enlarged his business by adding to it a coal office. dealing in wood and both anthracite and bituminous coal. He has the largest luni- ber plant in the city and has established a fine business. In 1902 he purchased the brick and tile plant of Plumb Broth- ers and has since conducted that enter- prise under the firm style of W. E. Lyon & Company. They have enlarged and re- built the tile plant and make shipments of their output to various points in Illi- nois. There is also a large home de- mand for their tile and brick. They like- wise deal in lime, cement and patent plas- ter and also handle sewer pipe.
On the 20th of December, 1894. Mr. Lyon was married to Miss Viola Susan Tyner, who was born in Burnside, Han- cock county, Illinois, a daughter of Jared and Emily (McGahan) Tyner, both of whom were natives of Hancock county. Illinois. The father, who was a drug- gist at Burnside, passed away a number of years ago, but the mother is still liv- ing and is a member of the Christian church, to which Mr. Tyner also be- longed. They had three children : Mary. the wife of George W. Ray, superintend- ent of the Lyon brick plant at Carthage: Mrs. Lyon : and Birdie, the wife of James F. Gibson, of Carthage .. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have three chikiren, all born in Car- thage: Emily Margaret, aged eight years: Orville, six years of age; and Jared Edgar, three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon reside on Wabash avenue with her mother, Mrs. Tyner.
Knight of Pythias. He and his wife are devoted Christian people, his membership being with the Presbyterian church, while his wife belongs to the Christian church. He is serving as elder and clerk of the session and is also teacher of the men's Bible class. He gives his political sup- port to the Republican party, but has never aspired to office. While he has never been a public man in social or po- litical life he has always been quite prominent in church circles and there is no good work either in the name of char- ity or the advancement of religion which does not find in him an earnest and ma- terial helper. That his tastes have not led him into public walks is the only rea- son why he has not been honored by his fellow townsmen with office and political preferment. Like his ancestors, he is a man of large proportions and is equally large-hearted. Of genial good nature. pleasant and jovial, he is always a gen- tleman and numbers his friends and ad- mirers among all classes of people. He has made a notable success in business for one of his years and his success is due chiefly to his natural ability and his thorough insight into the business in which as a young tradesman he embarked.
L. THADDEUS THOMAS.
1 .. Thaddeus Thomas is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, constituting the northeast
Mr. Lyon belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity and is also an Odd Fellow and quarter of section 24. Montebello town-
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ship, where he has lived since the spring of 1900. His home. a commodious frame residence, stands in the midst of a fine lawn, ornamented with beautiful shade trees and about fifteen rods from the road that divides Montebello and Prairie town- ships. Mr. Thomas is a native of Adams county, Illinois, born December 1, 1849. His father. Isaac Thomas, was born in Bourbon county. Kentucky, and was a son of James and Abigail ( Langsford) Thomas, who were likewise natives of Kentucky. Isaac Thomas came with his parents to Illinois in 1831. the family home being established in Adams county near Quincy, and in that locality. after attaining his majority, he married Miss Louisa Nichols, likewise a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and a daugh- ter of John and Kittie (Carter) Nichols. who were born in the Blue Grass state. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Thomas began their domestic life upon a rented farm in Adams county. where they remained until 1851, when they removed to Sonora township. Han- cock county, making purchase of eighty acres of land. This Mr. Thomas im- proved and cultivated. erecting thereon a frame residence and extending the bound aries of his farm by additional purchase from time to time. Eventually he became one of the extensive landowners of the county, his hoklings covering about seven hundred acres. He used the place for stock-raising and general farming. rais ing large numbers of cattle, hopes and hogs. His business interests were a source of large revenue to him, owing to his capable conduct of his farm and his thorough understanding of the best meth
ods of tilling the soil and caring for the Stock. He died upon the old house road in April, 1901, at the age of seventy tom years, and in the spring of 19ob h- widow removed from the farm to tur thige, where she is now living at the age of seventy-seven years.
1. Thaddeus Thomas was one of twins. the sister being Laura Ann Thomas, who is now with her mother in Carthage. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are yet living. the others be- ing: Luella, who is the widow of Henry Webber, and resides in Carthage: Nao- ma Jane, who is with her mother : Mar that the wife of Orville Honce, of Mon tebello township: and James Harvey, of Carthage.
In his boyhood days 1. Thaddeus Thomas remained upon the old homestead farm, acquiring his education in the dis trict schools, but his opportunities in that direction were somewhat limited. He was married April 15. 1886, to Miss El- abeth Honce, who was born in Many county, Illinois, a daughter of Henry and Sarah i MeBroom Honce, natives of Butler county, Ohio, who in 1850 ar rived in Adams county. Ilinois, where they resided for a few years and then caine to Montebello township. Honce purchased a farm upon which he lived until his death in August, 1800. while his wife now makes her bonn among her chiklren.
Following his marriage Wi IMO:11s purchased eighty acres of land 1 st tion 13. Montebello township, wie w. an improved prairie farm He belt barn forty by sixty feet and which they modern structures and equipme . He
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also extended the boundaries of his place until he owns over two hundred and forty acres all in one body, but he now rents the land, while he gives his personal su- pervision to his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 24, Montebello township, which he purchased in the spring of 1900. This place was well improved when it came into his posses- sion. He has here a very pleasant and comfortable home and a two-story frame residence which is situated in the midst of a fine growth of ornamental and shade trees. There are also well tilled fields, the grain ripening under the summer sun and promising abundant harvests. In the barnyards and pastures are seen good grades of shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs for his stock-raising inter- ests prove an important department of his business.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has been blessed with two children : Alta Pearl, born January 26, 1889; and Les- ter Earl, born October 5. 1891. Both are attending school in Hamilton. The parents hold membership in the Presby- terian church at Elvaston, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part. while since 1905 Mr. Thomas has served as one. of the church trustees. His political support is given to the democracy.
SAMUEL DAVID GNANN.
The attractiveness of Hancock county as i place of residence is plainly indicated
by the fact that many of its native sons have remained within its borders since attaining adult life to enjoy its privileges and benefit through the improvement of its business conditions. Such a one is Samuel David Gnann, a resident farmer of Appanoose township. He was born in this township, January 30, 1869, his parents being Benedict and Ursula (Sut- ter) Gnann, natives of Prussia and of Switzerland respectively. About 1858. the father leaving Germany, crossed the Atlantic to the new world and took up his abode in Wisconsin, where he was employed at farm labor. Mr. Gnann, however, had learned and followed the baker's trade. He removed to Iowa, lo- cating in Keokuk, where he was em- ployed in various ways for three years and on the expiration of that period came to Appanoose township, and invested the money which he had saved from his earn- ings in one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 33. The farm had been placed under cultivation and upon it was a brick dwelling. He was married in Keokuk to his brother's widow. She had accompanied her first husband to that city. and by that marriage had become the mother of one child, Hannah, who is now the wife of John Gross, of this town- ship. The death of Mrs. Ursula Gnann occurred in November. 1892. and in the spring of 1894 Benedict Gnann was again married. his second union being with Mrs. Minnie (Lutz) Blum. the widow of Carl Blum. Since their mar- riage they have resided in Nauvoo.
Samuel David Gnann, the only son in a family of seven children, has always re- sided upon the old homestead and on the
12th of April, 1900, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of this place. He attended the Maple Grove township school, wherein he acquired his elemen tary education and subsequently he was a student in the high school at Nauvoo. Since beginning business on his own ac- count he has made substantial improve- ment upon his farm, not the least impor- tant of which is a fine residence, which was erected in 1905.
On the 24th of October, 1895. Mr. Gnann was married to Miss Nellie May Webb, a native of Appanoose township. and a daughter of William G. and Laura ( Davis) Webb, the former born in Han- cock county and the latter in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Gnann now have two sons : Everett Ervin, born August 20. 1896: and Merle Edgar, born Angust 9. 1903. In religious faith Mr. Gnann is a Lu- theran, having been confirmed in the church when fifteen years of age. Ile votes with the democracy, has served as township clerk for three years and has been school treasurer since 1894. 11is aid and co-operation can always be count- ed upon for supporting movements for the general good. Fraternally he is iden- tified with Temple lodge. No. 222. Inde pendent Order of Odd Fellows, at Nan voo, and also is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America at Niota.
CHARLES WILKENS.
township, and because if (r success in business makes me tentative citizen and by reason the that he is a native som of Hiperky un ty. well deserves mention in ton more He was born in Appanouse township February 2. 1857 and is the oldest . family of two sons and three daughters. where parents were William and MOT garet (Zimmerman ) Wilkens, the former a native of Hanover, Germany, and the latter of Bavaria. His material grand father was Charles Zimmerman. Wil- liam Wilkens emigrating from Germany to America in 1840, made his way to Si Louis, accompanied by a son and two daughters born of his first marriage, the wife and mother having died prior to that da'e. lle was employed in a brickyard in St. Louis for a time, and after the Mormon war came to Appanosse lown- ship. Hancock county, and purchased eighty acres of land two and a half miles. northeast of Nauvoo, which had been placed under cultivation. Subsequently. in connection with a Mr. Bryant, he pur chased one hundred and sixty acres ci lan F and later bought several acres more He improved these different places and continued to engage actively in farming until 1882, when he sold out and remove ! to the town of Nanvon, spending his re maining days in the enjoyment of a vel carned rest. His wife died September 19. 1875. and his death occured July 11. 1885.
Charles Wilkens dequoted Danach with the common branches of Isi learning by attending the distr et & land but his educational privileges were some
Charles Wilkens, who is the owner of an excellent farming property in Sonora what meager, as in his youth le hull
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sisted his father in clearing the land and cultivating the fields. He swung the cra- dle during many harvest seasons and per- formed all the work incidental to devel- oping the fields and cultivating crops. Following his first marriage he bought eighty acres of land in Rock Creek town- ship, where he lived for seven years. He then sold out and bought eighty acres on section 29. Sonora township. all under cultivation save for about seven acres of timber which he has since secured and placed under the plow. The improve- ments upon the farm constituted a stone dwelling of eight rooms and a stone barn, which he has since remodeled, adding thereto sheds and granaries. In 1904 he also built a new barn and has improved his property until it is now a fine farm. It is well supplied with water, for he has dug four wells and two cisterns. which furnish an unbounded water supply for the house and for the stock. He has a fine house upon the place and various ac- cessories and conveniences which go to make up a model farm of the twentieth century. On the 23d of May. 1903. he added ninety-seven acres to his farm ad- joining the original tract on the south and purchased from the estate of Joseph Miller. It is situated on section 32. So- nora township, and he also bought ninety- eigh: and seven-tenths acres on section 31. of which forty acres was under cul- tivation. while the remainder was coy- ered with timber and brush. He carries on general farming and raises shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs of good grades. He is well known as an extensive feeder.
On the 17th of February, 1881, Mr. Wilkens married Miss Carrie Kahler, a
native of Nauvoo, who died March 29. 18SS, leaving two children : George William, who was born November 25. ISSI: and David F., born February 17, 1885. Another son, Bernard, died in in- fancy. On the 2d of May. 1889. Mr. Wilkens married Mary Schmidt, who was born in Nauvoo, a daughter of John and Mary ( Blockberger) Schmidt, na- tives of Austria. The children of this marriage are: Valley M., born April 22, 1890: Charles and Gabriel, twins. born May 4, 1892: John, May 5. 1898: Ralph O., October 10, 1899: and Eulia. born January 8. 1903.
When only six years of age Mr. Wil- kens made frequent trips to Nauvoo, walking two and a half miles, and he re- members seeing the county when there were still many evidences of frontier life and the work of improvement has been carried on until this is one of the rich agricultural centers of the state of Illi- nois, nor is it lacking in its commercial and industrial advantages. He belongs to the Catholic church at Nauvoo, and is a supporter of the Democratic party, on which ticket he has been elected to the office of highway commissioner. He has also served as school director and is known for his devotion to matters that are of material interest to the county.
COLLINS BRUNTON.
Collins Brunton, deceased. was an carly settler of Illinois, whose memory com-
ILINCOCK COUNTY. ILLINOIS
passes the greater period of development. progress and improvement in this part of the state. Hle bore, too, an active and helpful part in the work of general improvement, especially along material lines and he justly merited the success which came to him and the high regard which was uniformly tendered him by those with whom he was associated. He was born near C'incin- nati, Ohio. May 14. 1818, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brunton. The father was born in Scotland, while his mother had her birthplace among the Pennsylvania Dutch. About 1830 the parents removed from Ohio to Indiana. and in 1840 became residents of Mlc- Donough county, Illinois, but soon after- ward took up their abode in Adams county, this state, where the mother died. The members of the family then became scattered and Collins Brunton came to Wythe township. Hancock county. Hle was a youth of about twelve years at the time of the removal to Indiana and his education was largely acquired in the pub- lic schools of that state. Following the death of his mother he came to this county in 1850, purchasing three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 26. Wythe township, of which about one hundred acres was covered with timber. He after- ward. however, disposed of much of the timber tract but two hundred and fifty acres are still comprised within the okl homestead farm. When he came into pos- session of this property there was no building upon it save a log house, which had been erected by the Mormons, while forty acres of the land had been placed under the plow. In 1851 he erected .at
residence ni deven you all the em passed be placed upen has farm all newleft improvements-which are many is also a house for tenants and a time till ber tract of thirty or forty actes fol barns and outbuildings are a feature d the farm and during the active manage ment of Mr. Brunton everything th ant the place was kept in most thrifty condition.
On the 28th of March, 1852, occurred the marriage of Collins Brunton and Miss Nancy N. Medice, who was born in Me- Donough county, Illinois, March 31. 1832. and was educated in the district schools there. Her parents were Sammuel and Elizabeth ( Bullington) Medice, na lives of Kentucky, whence they removed to ludiana in their childhood days. They were married in the latter state and ses- eral children were born to them ere them removal to MeDonough county, Minor. about 1820. They heated there just prior to the winter of the great show an incident memorable in the history of this state. It brought on very hard times and the Medice family had to go to Jack- somville, about eighty miles, to get brend stuff. having to break a road through the snow with of teams. Sometimes stich it trip would require three weeks. Mr Ve Gee had lost his first wife in lunchant. ato] at her death she left his children the second wife was the mother of Mis Brunton, and there were the ve el de by this marriage Altogether Liter of his children lived to mature years but four are now Ining. 1. mich Brunton: Sarah E. the wife of Iste Wilson, of Carthage, Lower V riopel Elvaston: and Andrew Jackson, wie Is
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living in Bear Creek township. Mr. McGee passed away May 31, 1864, while his wife survived until August 21. 1882.
Following his marriage Mr. Brunton located upon what has since been known as the old homestead and there he tilled the soil and raised cattle, horses and hogs. while during the period of the Civil war he also kept sheep. In early days there were many wild animals in the forests and various evidences of frontier life were still to be found in Hancock county. His wife had located in Bear Creek township in 1846. and was here during the Mor- mon war, while her half-brother. Henry. and her eldest brother. Elisha, partici- pated in the effort which resulted in the expulsion of the Mormons from the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Brunton became the par- ents of two children. Henrietta Evelyn and Minnie Frances. The former was born March 21. 1855. lost her hearing when eighteen years of age and has al- ways remained at home with her mother. Minnie F., born November 25. 1859. is the wife of Nelson Comfort, of Carthage, and she is now sending two daughters to school there. Marie Evelyn, born April 17, 1885; and Annetta Grace, born Sep- tember 15, 1890.
Mr. Brunton was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years but afterward joined the Baptist church, in the faith of which he passed away. He belonged to the Masonic fra- ternity in Warsaw and gave his political allegiance to the Republican party. His death resulted from heart trouble, occa- sioned by lagrippe, and he passed away March 17. 1896, his remains being in-
terred in McGee cemetery on the old home place in Wythe township. He was then in the seventy-eighth year of his age, and was accounted one of the most respected and venerable of the worthy pioneer settlers of this part of the state. He had lived in Hancock county from the early '40s and had been a landowner here from 1850. A life of diligence and en- terprise was crowned with a goodly measure of success and through his hon- orable dealings he became known as a man of unquestioned integrity who closely adhered to the golden rule in all of his business and social relations.
JOHN T. THORNBER.
John T. Thornber, who is engaged ex- tensively in agricultural pursuits in Han- cock county, owning a farm of two hun- dred and fifty acres situated in Sonora and Rock Creek townships, a portion of which was the property of his father. is a native of Lancashire. England, born October 16, 1854, a son of Henry and Lucy (Ellison) Thornber. also natives of that country. the former born in Lance- shire. while the latter's birth occurred i:1 Yorkshire. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Thornber was Mathew Ellison. Henry Thornber, father of our subject, on leaving England emigrated to Amer- ica, and at once made his way to Hancock county, the year of his arrival being 1843. Here he bought forty acres of land lying in Rock Creek township, and two years
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
later was married to Miss Lucy Ellison, the operation of the leme dem her parents having emigrated from Eng- land to this portion of the state. In 1853 the father returned to his native land, but two years later made his way once more 10 Rock Creek township, Hancock coun- ty, where he purchased considerable land and engaged in general agricultural pur- suits. His death occurred in February. 1887. while his wife had passed away many years before, her death occurring on Christmas day. 1865. The father was married a second time, in February, 1868. his union being with Margaret Pilking- ton, likewise a native of England, and of this marriage there is one son. Amos J .. a practicing physician of Burlington. Iowa. Of the father's first marriage there were born six children, of whom our sub- ject is a member, namely: David R .. a resident of Chateau county. Montana : Mary H., the wife of Isaac Seigfreid. of Rock Creek township: John T .. whose name introduces this review : Lucy M .. who became the wife of C. H. MeCollom. of Carthage, Illinois, where her death oc curred in December, 1886: W. H., a res- ident farmer of Sonora township: and James Il .. a printer of Fort Madison. Iowa. At the time of the father's death he left his family a valuable estate, com- prising twelve hundred acres of land, sit- uated in Rock Creek. Sonora and Pon- toosuc townships, of which our subje .t fell heir to one hundred and thirty-one acres lying on section 12. Sonora town- ship.
Mr. Thomber of this review acquired his education in the district schools of Rock Creek township. and during his boyhood and youth assisted his father in
At the age of twenty three gen he located on the farm wher fe inherited from the father's gate, and here he added many modern improve ments, including a nice home, good barn- and other substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, and here he look up the work of general farming and. stock-raising, meeting with very gratis ing success, so that he was eventually able to add to his original holdings In the purchase of more land, lying on see tions t and 12, Sonora township, and he also owns ten acres of timber land in Pontoosuc township. In 1905 he erect ed a barn forty by fifty feet, for the shel- ter of horses, grain and hay. On his farm he has also erected a tenant house which is now occupied by his son-in lau. Ilarry H. Martin, who assists Mr. Thomber in the operation of the farm. He has also set out many shade and fruit trees, having an orchard of two acres planted to apples, cherries and peaches. and many varieties of smaller fruit.
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