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 65
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HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
His political allegiance is given to the democracy and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, al though he does not seek or desire office. His wife is a member of the Methodist church. U'nto them were born seven chil- dren: Oliver, who died at the age of ten months: Fannie Maud, who is the wife of Danby Harrison, of Adams county, and by whom she has three chil- dren. Arthur Thomas, Margaret Adeline, and Paul Leonard : Ada May, who died at the age of ten years: Mary S .. who is a graduate of Wesley Hospital and Train- ing School for nurses, of Chicago, in the class of 1903, and who is successfully fol- lowing her profession in that city: Tina P .. Eva D .. and Grace E .. all at home with their parents. The latter is a grad- nate of Bowen high school and has studied music in Quincy and Chicago, and is now teaching music in Bowen.
Mr. MeNeall is recognized as a man of high principles and genuine personal worth and is respected by all who know him. In manner he is quiet and unpre- tentions, yet kind and warm-hearted and he and his family are greatly esteemed throughout the community in which they live.
JAMES C. COULSON.
James C. Coulson, editor and proprie tor of The La Harper, is a native soll of this city, his birth having here of curred September 24. 1847. where he was educated in the common schools. Ile
is a son of Dr. George and Nancy Am (Corsitt) Coulson, the former born in Trumbull county, Ohio, and the latter in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1852 Jantes C. Coulson, in company with his mother and brother George, made a trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, returning overland to La Harpe. in 1857. the return journey covering a period of two months. In 1863 he went to Raritan. Henderson county, where he was employed as a clerk in various stores for sixteen years, and for one year he taught school in that lo- cality, after which he returned to his home in La Harpe, and purchased The La Harper, the paper having been estab- lished in 1874 by I. S. Coggswell and is the oldest paper of the city. When he assumed the editorship the printing was done by an old hand press but in course of time, as his business increased he was enabled to add modern equipments and accessories and in 1886 purchased a steam press, In 1803. however, the city suffered a disastrous fire whereby the main business district was destroyed. including the building in which Mr. Coul son was located. However, he had his paper issued at Bushnell until he could established himself again in business. He then erected a new building to replace the one which had been destroyed in fire. this being twenty two In its- five feet and two stories in height. and installed a Potter press, which is run by a gasoline engine He has con tinued as editor of The le Harper to the present time, being assisted m his with by his daughter, Effie M, who has charge of the local department
Mr Coulson has been twee married
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BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEI
He first wedded Miss Anna B. Stans- bury. June 25, 1868, at Raritan. She was a native of Urbana, Ohio, having been born November 19, 1848, a daughter of C. Il. and Sidney E. (Humes) Stans- bury, natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively. She became the mother of a son and daughter : Effie M., who is as- sisting her father in the management of the paper ; and Charles Sidney. who is a teacher in Getting's Seminary, of this city. The mother of these children passed away .April 8, 1882, her remains being interred in the cemetery at Raritan. On the 28th of October, 1885, Mr. Coulson was mar- ried a second time, this union being with Alice M. Corzatt, the widow of Nelson Corzatt. She is a native of Harrison county, Missouri, born November 15, 1860. a daughter of John Armstrong. Of this marriage there are three children, Margie C., George C. and Edna C., all vet under the parental roof.
In politics Mr. Coulson is a democrat, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, the United Workmen. Court of Honor of the Odd Fellows society, having belonged to the latter organization since 1873. He has been representative to the Head Camp of the Modern Woodmen ten times. He acted as postmaster at La Harpe under Cleve- land's first administration, in which ca- pacity he gave general satisfaction. Mr. Coulson is one of the influential factors of this city, and has a wide and favor- able acquaintance throughout Hancock county.
He has been a member of the Illinois Press Association since 1882 and served as first vice-president one term. He is also
a member of the National Editorial Asso- ciation since 1886, and has attended each year since 1886 except one year when his daughter attended and in 1905 when his son attended.
HENRY STURM.
The German-American element has al - ways been an important one in our citi- zenship, for the representatives of the Teutonic race have everywhere they have gone readily adapted themselves to changed conditions, and at the same time have brought to bear in business life the spirit of perseverance which is one of the chief characteristics of the fatherland. and which is always a strong and invah- able element in success. Henry Sturm is one of the residents of AAppanoose township that the fatherland has fur- nished to Hancock county. He was bom in Alsace. Germany. April 1. 1864, and his parents, Louis and Salma (Wohl- huter) Sturm, were likewise natives of that province. The paternal grandfather was Jacob Sturm. and the maternal grandfather, Henry Wohlhuter. Reared in his native country. Henry Sturm learned the cabinet-maker's trade in . Al- sace, following that pursuit until sixteen years of age. In 1881, attracted by the broader business opportunities of the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to America and made his way to Cape Gi- rardean, Missouri, where he worked as a carpenter. He was also employed at
HANCOCK COUNTY. ILINOIS
farm labor for three years and thus utg ized every means that would bring him an honorable living and enable him to gain a start in life. In 1884 he came to Hancock county, where he again se- cured employment at farm work, being thus engaged for four years. Desirous that his labors should more directly bene fit himself. be rented land in Appanon-e township, and thus cultivated a farm for six years, during which time his economy and industry brought him sufficient capi- tal to justify his purchase. in 1892, of one hundred and thirty acres of land on section 36. This had already been culti- vated and improved, but he further car- ried forward the work of development and improvement and all of the building's upon the place stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise, having been erected by him. He built a house of eight rooms and has also put up good barns, corn cribs, wagon sheds and other structures necessary for the shelter of grain, stock and farm machinery. He has a good orchard and vineyard, and the fields are carefully tilled, bringing him good crops of the various cereals best adapted to soil and climate.
On the 13th of March, 1888, Mr. Sturm was married to. Miss Minnie Gnann, who was born in Appanoose township, and is a daughter of Benedict and Ursula (Sutter ) Gnan, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Sturm now have three children : Olia, born October 20. 1888; Elyn, born January 10. 1801. and Vera, born March 25, 1800. Mr. Sturm belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp at Niota, and he was reared in the
faith of the Lutheran church & when he has always adhered. In politics be 0 independent but has no aspiration for of five. He has never had accessto this gret his determination to seek 1 ligne 111 America and here through the 11 provement of business conditions and the utilization of his opportunities he Is worked his way upward from a humble financial position until now his property interests class him with the substante residents of Appanoose township.
LEWIS D. HAIGIL
Lewis D. Haigh, who has followed agricultural pursuits during the greater part of his life but is now living in the village of Niota, is a native of the Key- stone state, his birth having occurred in Philadelphia. April 23. 1844. a son of John and Sarah (Folkrod) Haigh, of whom more extended mention is made in connection with the sketch of John Haigh on another page of this work. Losing his mother during his infancy. the father was again marred. his second union being with Sarah Sheward.
Lewis D. Haigh accompanied his father and step-mother on the removal from the east to Hancock county. Illinois, the family settling on a farm in Appare one township. He had begun his education in the schools of his native city and at- tended for only a short period after I . arrival in Appanose township, attending in all only about a year He has how
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BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEIN'
ever. through reading and investigation added largely to his knowledge so that he is a self-educated man. He remained with his father until the age of seventeen years. when. responding to the country's call for aid during the Civil war, he enlisted on the 17th of February, 1862, as a member of Company D, Seventeenth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, joining the company at Fort Madison, being under command of Generals Grant and Sherman. He was in the skirmish at Corinth, Mississippi. Vicksburg, Rodney, Lick Creek Church, Mississippi, and at Coleman's Plantation and Duck River. Tennessee, the latter place being the last battle in which he participated. He was on picket duty on a gunboat. Autocrat. on the Mississippi river near Ashton Landing. Mississippi. During his service he was wounded in the right foot, and was honorably discharged in November, 1865, having spent almost three years in the service of his country, where he proved himself a loyal and faith- ful soklier.
Upon his return from the war he made his way to the home of his father, where he remained until the spring of 1866. when he started out in life on his own ac- count. being employed for a time at farm labor by the month. He then rented bot- tom land opposite Fort Madison, where he engaged in farming operations until 1873. when he removed to Montgomery county, Kansas, where he operated rented land for one season and once more re- turned to Hancock county, where he lo- cated on a rented tract of land in Pon- towane township, which he operated until 1879. and then removed to the sand In his political allegiance Mr. Haigh prairie in Lee county, lowa, where he is a republican, while for twenty years
remained for three years, subsequent to which time he again returned to Pon- toosuc township and farmed land which he rented until the spring of 1887, when he removed to a farm of sixty-one and a half acres, lying on section 18, Pontoosuc township, which he had purchased in 1886. Here he continued his agricultural pursuits until 1895. when he sold his farm and invested the money in town property in Niota, consisting of two lots, a house containing six rooms, and a story and two-thirds in height, and here he has since continued to make his home to the present time.
On the 17th of April. 1873, Mr. Haigh was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Ballinger, who was born February 8. 1854. in Mifflinville, Franklin county. Ohio, a daughter of Orish and Elizabeth (Canfield) Ballinger, also natives of Franklin county. Her paternal grand- parents were William and Elizabeth ( Green) Ballinger, while the maternal grandparents were Henry and Elizabeth ( Montgomery) Canfield. Her father on leaving the Buckeye state removed to Nauvoo in 1859, where for two years he followed agricultural pursuits, and then removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he likewise engaged in farming until 1866, when he once more came to Hancock county, renting a farm in Pontoosne township, and here his death occurred in November, 1896. His wife still survives and now makes her home in the village of Niota. In their family were two sons and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Haigh is the eklest.
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HANCOCK COUNTS, ILLINOIS
he was a member of the Grand Army of United States, this time making a per the Republic at Niota, or until the lodge disbanded in 1904.
ALEXANDER BOLTON.
Alexander Bolton, a prominent and progressive farmer of Sonora township. where he owns extensive landed posses- sions, is a native of thuill. England, having there been born on the 13th of March. 1837, a son of Peter and Mary ( Brier ) Bolton, also natives of the fatherland. and the former a son of Richard Bolton. The father, hearing favorable reports of the new country and the opportunities here afforded, decided to try his fortune in America, and. accordingly, in 1844. he took passage on a sailing vessel bound for this country. He made his way at once to Canada, locating near Montreal, being accompanied by his son George. The son there remained but his father returned again to England, where he spent a time with his family and once more made his way to America, this time coming to llan- cock county, where he purchased ninety- two acres of land, lying on section 19. So- nora township. In 1845 he returned a second time to England. and in the spring of 1847 sent two of his sons, William and Charles, to America, the sons making their way at once to the farm which had been purchased by the father previous to his return to the old country. In the fall of the same year. 1847. the father with the remainder of his family came to the
manent location on his tarm im Sonora township. This tract had formerly been in possession of the Mormons, and here Mr. Bolton made many improvements and cultivated his fields, each year har vesting good crops. Here, with the as- sistance of his sons, he carried on agri cultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1865. while his wife sur- vived him for about six years and passed away in 1871. In their family were seven sons and three daughters, of whom five sons yet survive: James, Charles. William and Alexander, all of Sonora township, and Joseph, a resident of Rice county, Kansas.
Alexander Bolton, the seventh in order of birth in his father's family, began his education in England before the removal of the family to Hancock county, and here continued his studies. During the periods of vacation and in the summer months he assisted in the work of the home farm, and remained with his par- ents to the age of sixteen years, when he started out to make his own way in the business world, being employed for one season by his brother George, with whom he made his home for two years, and then began farming on his own account In renting. land until 1859. in which year he made purchase of eighty acres of wild land lying on section 22. Sonora township Later, in connection with a Mr Fortel. he purchased an additional ond mitudred and sixty acres, for which they paid tif- teen hundred dollars Viter fifteen veirs Mr. Bolton gave his partner siste dollars for a choice of eight acres si this trust. and he then continued his farming niter
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
ests alone. He improved his land and built a house thereon. containing four rooms. this being erected in the year 1860. He fenced his fields and set out many kinds of fruit trees. having in all about thirty-six different varieties of choice fruit trees on his place, of which two apple trees and one pear tree are still standing. In the fall of 1865. he bought an addi- tional one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract. adjoining his original purchase, but lo- cated on section 26. This was all wild prairie and he at once undertook the task of breaking the sod and planting his crops. which in due course of time brought forth abundant harvests. In 1873. having ac- cumulated considerable capital from his business interests, he was enabled to again make purchase of land. this time coming into possession of an eighty-acre tract on section 23. adjoining his original pur- chase. the entire tract comprising one hundred and sixty acres, of which his brother Charles was joint owner. In March. 1892. Mr. Bolton purchased an- other one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract on the southeast quarter of section 26, this land being improved, so that he now has an extensive tract of five hundred and sixty acres, all lying in one body. Here he is engaged in general agricultural pur- suits and in addition raises considerable stock, consisting of horses, shorthorn cat- tle and hogs. He is'ever practical in all his work, following the most progressive methods of farming and uses all the latest improved machinery in the cultivation of his fields. He occupies a fine country residence, in which are found all modern conveniences and his is one of the highly productive and attractive farms of this section of the county.
On the 30th of October. 1864. Mr. Bolton was united in holy bonds of wed- lock to a companion and helpmate on life's journey, Miss Phedora Dort, who was born in Union county, Ohio, August 11. 1839. a daughter of Calvin and Mary (Clark) Dort. natives of Vermont. They . removed from the Green Mountain state to Fulton county, Illinois, where they re- mained for two years and then went to Burnside, Hancock county. They then removed to a farm belonging to our suh- ject, situated on section 26. where her father's death occurred in 1879. His wife, however, had passed away in Ohio, being killed by the upsetting of a buggy. In their family were three daughters and one son. After the mother's death the father was married a second time and by that marriage had one son and a daughter.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bolton were born the following named: Florence, born August 13. 1865. became the wife of David C. Clark, of Fairfield, lowa, and her death occurred one year later. F. Belle. born August 8. 1866. is at home. William C .. born January 9. 1868. makes his home in Sonora township. Mary .A., born June 23. 1869. is also at home. Maggie R .. the next of the family, was born January 5, 1871, and gave her hand in marriage to Edward B. Bollin. a resi- dent of Sonora township. Edgar A .. born October 18. 1872, is with his father. M. Burns, born March 1. 1874, resides in Sonora township. Charles O., born April 9. 1876. resided in Sonora town- ship. where his death occurred March 10, 1906. The wife and mother passed away August 27, 1905. and her death was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret among her many friends as well as in
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ILINCOCK COUNTY. ILLINOIS
her own household. where she was un- tiring in her labors for the interests of her family. She was a most estimable lady. possessing many traits of heart and mind which endeared her to all with whom she came in contact.
In his political allegiance Mr Bolton is a stalwart republican but not an active office seeker, prefering to give his undi- vided attention to his private business interests. Starting out in life without financial assistance, and working as a farm hand. he has gradually worked his way up from year to year until today he has one of the best improved properties of this part of the state, for here are found all modern improvements which consti- tute a model farm of the twentieth cen tury. Mr. Bolton, too, has been found reliable and straightforward in all busi- ness transactions so that his success bas been richly merited and honorably won.
GEORGE W. BAILEY.
George W. Bailey, carrying on gen eral farming in Rock Creek township. was born in West Virginia. August 21. 1849. and is one of a family of nine chil dren whose parents were Wright B. and Malinda ( Bailey ) Bailey, who, though of the same name, were not relatives. The father, who was born in Harrison com ty. Virginia. October 7. 1810, was a wall of Samuel and Agnes ( Hudson ) Bailey.
the latter a descendant of the mofilm Hudson, whe first discovered and - gal up the river which new bears 1 . 1. 100 Wright B. Bailey was alocated in ine old-time subscription schools. a fost books constituting a New Testament. speller and arithmetic. He was so ane mms to learn that he dressed a stapste ne which he had taken from the creek and had his friends make him copies of the alphabet upon it and he worked with assiduity and accomplished the task that was thus set for him. He never had a grammar lesson in his hife, but his ambi tion enabled him to learn in the school of experience many valuable lesons lle came to Hancock county. November 14. 1851. settling in Wythe township, where he followed farming. In 1864 he re- moved to Rock Creek township, where he spent his remaining days, passing away September 23. 1888, at the age of ses- enty-seven years, eleven months and six- ten days. He was married April 19. 1838, to Miss Malinda Bailey, and they lived to celebrate their golden wedding. For fifty years he was a devoted member of the Missionary Baptist church and lived an earnest, consistent Christian hie. He had no enemies and he was ever really to speak a good word for all. Rev. Ward assisted Rev. Doud in preaching his in neral sermon. His wife was also a mem ber of the Baptist church and when called to the home beyond their remains were interred in Moss Ridge cemetery at l'ir thage. Of their family of nine child of six are now living: Sarah, the wife if Eugene Nair, of Kansas: Colbert if Brashear, Missouri: Maria, the wife mi George Jackson, of David City, Veley
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW'
ka : George W. : J. M. C., who is living in Laplata, Missouri; and Victoria, the wife of A. J. Casburn, of Ferris.
George W. Bailey was a student in the schools of Rock Creek township and re- mained with his parents until twenty-two years of age. never being away from home for two weeks at a time during the period of his minority. On the 21st of December. 1871, he wedded Mary Eliza Ward, who was born in La Harpe, Illi- nois, January 8, 1853. a daughter of Rev. William and Isabelle (Johnson) Ward. Her father was born in Northhampton- shire. England, in 1827, and came to America immediately after his marriage as a passenger on an old-time sailing ves- sel, which was sixteen weeks in making the voyage. He is now a superannuated minister of the Northern Illinois confer- ence. In his childhood days he attended the Church of England. and at the age of nineteen years was converted and joined the Wesleyan Methodist church, wherein he labored faithfully. leading many to a knowledge of the better life. After his marriage he came to America. settling in Illinois, where his experiences were those that usually fall to the lot of the pioneer minister. On one occasion he went to a love-feast which was held behind bolted doors. Quite a number of the christian ladies of the neighborhood. together with Mr. Ward, were shut out because they were too late. This dis- tressed the ladies greatly and Mr. Ward tried to comfort them by saying that when they reached the church triumphant they would always find the doors open. Viter an experience of this kind in the Wesleyan Methodist church it was but
natural that he seek a church where the lines were not so strictly drawn and he therefore joined the Methodist Protestant church, whose love-feasts were open, free . to all. He entered the ministry of that denomination by uniting with the Illinois conference in 1851, and from that time until he entered upon superannuated re- lations proved a faithful and efficient preacher of the conference, acting as pas- tor of some of the most important charges of the conference. He was a popular minister who held the affections of his people and the seeds of spiritual truth which he had sown bore rich fruit in later years. His home life has always been a most beautiful and largely ideal one, and he is today one of the most hon- ored representatives of the Methodist ministry in this state. He now resides in Ferris and his membership is with the church of his denomination there. In his family were nine children. of whom seven are now living: J. W .. a resident of Argyle, Iowa: Mary E., of this re- view: W. H., of Adrian, Illinois : C. B .. of Rock Island: Fannie, the wife of J. A. Van Nelson, of Woodlawn, Illinois : Belle, the widow of Senator W. F. Har- ris, and a resident of Carthage: and D. 1 .. of Niota, Missouri. The parents are now residents of Ferris and they have a wide acquaintance in the state. where they have lived and labored to such good- ly ends.
For a year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bailey lived upon a farm west of Ferris, and after three removals returned to his father's farm, where they resided for twelve years. During the succeeding fourteen years they lived upon a farmi
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ILINCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
northeast of Ferris, which was owned by our subject, and in September, 1902, he bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 13, Rock Creek township, and re- modeled the house into a beautiful coun try residence and added many modern equipments. Here he has since carried on general farming and stock-raising. He is also a large stockholder in the ele- vator at Adrian, and a director of the Seminary at La Harpe. Illinois, while his wife is the owner of four lots in Okla- homa. In his business interests he has displayed a watchfulness and alertness which argue well for success and his in- dustry and probity are unquestioned fac- tors in his business career.
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