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 75
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William J. Riggins is the only surviv- ing member of a family of three dangh- ters and four sons, of whom one son and one daughter were older than himself. He was reared amid the environments and surroundings of pioneer life and be- gan his education in a little log school- house, while later he attended school in La Ilarpe. He spent his boyhood days with his parents and from the time of early spring planting until crops were gathered in the late autumn he aded in the work of the fields. He was thus en- gaged until twenty-one years of age. when he started out in life on his own account and completed his arrangements for hav- ing a home of his own by his marriage
l'eck, who was born in Galloway county. Ohio, in 1835, and was a daughter mi Peter Peck. Unto this marriage were born seven children : William Riley, who died at the age of twenty-four years ; Pernila, the wife of Jacob Hesh, of M Donough county, Illinois; Roena Belle, who became the wife of Samuel Owings and died in the spring of 1890, in llan- cock county: Arali, the wife of Gillard Tilton, of La Harpe, Illinois: Werley, a carpenter, of Peoria, Illinois; Edwin J . also a carpenter, residing at Peoria , and Abigail, the wife of A. B. Barlow, an en- gineer on the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad. The wife and mother pastel away in August. 1871. and Mr. Riggins was again married on the 3d of Decem- ber, 1873. his second union being with Miss Amelia Bush, who was born Feb ruary 11, 1844. in Cumberland county. Pennsylvania, and acquired her educa tion in the common schools of that state ller parents. John C and Henriett. (Schmidt) Bush, were both natives of Germany. The children of the second marriage are: Carolina, at home : James Albert, who died at the age of twenty years: and Ernest Weaver, who died m infancy.
Following his first marriage Mr Rig gins located upon one hundred acres of the home farm, which he purchased it m his father and there he resided continu only until September, 1820, when he that property and bought one hundred & d sixty acres of land in Pontoane township Hancock county, making his home there- on for a decade, or until September. 1550. when he also sold this farm He then pur
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chased one acre of land in La Harpe, on which he erected his present residence, having since made it his home. He also built four other houses but has sold all except the one which he now occupies and one which he rents. On removing to La Harpe he purchased a butcher shop. which he conducted for two years and then became identified with building op- erations as a carpenter and contractor. He still continues actively in this line of business and has erected a number of the important structures of La Harpe and vicinity. He also bought four lots in Peoria and has built two houses thereon.
Mr. Riggins is a democrat in his po- litical affiliation and has served as super- visor and also as assessor. In the spring of 1906 he was elected as mayor of the city of La Harpe to fill the va- cancy caused by the resignation of C. A. Knappenberger. He has led a life characterized by industry and carries forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes. He has always lived in this section of the state and the fact that many who have known him from his boyhood to the present are numbered among his stanchest friends, is an indi- cation that he has displayed many sterling traits of character as the years have gone by.
EDWARD BRINES.
From an early period in the develop- ment of Hancock county to the present time Edward Brines has been numbered
among its residents and is now living in Augusta. He was born in Schuyler county, near Rushville, Illinois, October 29, 1829, and has therefore attained the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey. He was only two years of age when his parents removed with their family to Wa- bash county, Illinois, where the father engaged in farming, and in the public schools there the son acquired his educa- tion and in the summer months assisted in the labors of the farm. He resided there until twenty-one years of age, performing the various tasks incident to the raising of the crops and the care of the stock. In the fall of 1850 he returned to his na- tive county, where he engaged in farm- ing on his own account, cultivating a tract of rented land. He there resided until the spring of 1874. when he came to Hancock county and took up his abode in Augusta township, about three and a half miles southeast of the village of Au- gusta. Here he also rented a farm until the spring of 1878, when he located in Augusta, where he has since resided. He has been totally blind for the past twenty years but has learned to do some kinds of work, such as caning chairs and occu- pies much of his time in this way.
Mr. Brines was married on the 21st of August, 1851, to Miss Mary Jane Curry, who was born in Kentucky. whence she came to Illinois with her par- ents when six years of age, the family . home being established near Rushville. where she was reared and educated. The family resided on a farm about two miles cast of Rushville and there she remained until her marriage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brines were born eight children. Nancy
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Susan, the eldest, is the widow of John N. Stark, who was a farmer of Augusta township. She now resides in Calfornia and has two children, Earl, of Chicago, and Kitty, who is the wife of Neal Thron- son, of Minnesota, and has three children. Elvira, Norma and Newman. George H. Brines resides in Kansas, where he fol- łows farming and merchandising in At- tica. He married Miss Ollie Manson and has three children, Hacey. Carl and IIelen. Charles Brines died at the age of four years, Edgar at the age of three. Ma- bel at the age of two and three other chil- dren died unnamed in infancy.
Mr. Brines exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the democracy but never sought or desired office, preferring always to give his undivided attention to his business interests and until blindness overtook him he led a very busy and useful life. Both he and his wife are members of the Chris- tian church and are well known in An- gusta, being classed with the worthy and respected citizens here.
GEORGE KLINEFELTER.
George Klinefelter, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural par- suits in Chili township, was born in Penn sylvania. in 1852, and is one of the four children and only living representative of the family of John and Rebecca ( Wor- rell) Klinefelter. The father's birth oc- curred in Mount Bethel, Northampton
county, Pennsylvania He was a pit ticing physician as was also the gratid father of our subject, who was a that'll of the same state Dr. Jolm Kneten was born in 1826, and died in 8868, at the comparatively early age of folly-ts years, his remains being mterred in Pent sylvania. His widow, who was hoff September 8, 1830, came to Ilmer alte the death of her husband and died m 18%. being laid to rest in Chili cemetery. She was a member of the Presbyterian church and was a most estimable lady. Her son, Joseph, who died in Minnesota, July 21. 1906, was brought to this county for interment in Chili cemetery and was land by the side of his mother. Mr Kline felter had an uncle on his father's sde Who was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, while two of his undles in the ma- ternal line were soldiers of the Civil war George Klinefelter acquired Ins educa- tion in the schools of Pennsylvania Ile came to Illinois, however, in 1807. at the age of fourteen years and lived with his mother in Chili township. Hancock con ty, until he had attained his majority. He early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agricul turist and throughout his entire he has carried on general farming. In 187; he was united in marriage to Miss Ahce P'ar ker, who was born in Chili township in 1810, a daughter of David and Sua ( Todd) Parker, the former born in l'ent sylvania in 1800, and the Litter in Com nectient in 1821. Her father followe agricultural pursuits and 00 conis tim Hancock county settled mil h tower hp where he resided until his death He vo in the Mormon war (1 18t4 .1 War
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connected with other events of early his- toric importance. In his family were four children, namely : Mrs. Klinefelter ; B. F. Parker, of Chili: and two who have passed away. The father died in 1894. while his wife departed this life in December. 1868. Both were members of the Presbyterian church and were de- voted Christian people. When Mr. Par- ker arrived in Hancock county in 1837 it was all open prairie and Indians could be seen daily in their tramps through this part of the state. There were many wolves and herds of wild deer were fre- quently seen, venison being no unusual dish upon the pioneer table. There were many kinds of lesser game and every evi -. dence of frontier life could here be found. .There were few houses between Chili and Carthage and the work of development and improvement seemed scarcely begun but Mr. Parker and other pioneer settlers laid broad and deep the foundation for the present development and progress of the county.
For some years after their marriage Mr. Klinefelter and his wife lived with her parents. He is now the owner of seventy-five acres of land on section 30. Chili township, and he built thereon his present residence, together with substan- tial barns and other outbuildings. He is now carrying on general farming and also raises some stock and the work of the fields is carefully conducted and results in rich harvests. He has never had time nor inclination to seek public office but has always given a stalwart support to the Republican party and its principles. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and are interested
in its work. They are esteemed in the community as people of genuine personal worth, their good qualities of heart and mind winning for them the friendship and regard of those with whom they have been associated.
MAX LAUBERSHEIMER.
Occupying a leading position among the prominent and influential farmers of Appanoose township, Hancock county, Illinois, is the subject of this sketch, Max Laubersheimer, who was born across the water, his natal day being November II. 1839, and the place of his nativity Rheim, Bavaria, Germany. When a youth of eighteen years he accompanied his par- ents. Laurence and Barbara ( Ballinger) Laubersheimer, to the new world, their destination being New Orleans, in which city they remained for only six months. at the end of which time, in the spring of 1858. they went to St. Louis, where they spent the succeeding six months, and in the fall of that year removed to Nauvoo. Illinois. Previous to the removal of the family to the United States the father had engaged in farming in his native country and also conducted a grocery store there. After his arrival in Nauvoo he purchased a house and an acre of ground and in this city his death occurred in February, 1883, while his wife survived him for only a short period. passing away on the 31st of November following. Franz Schreiber's father conducted three
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very large hotels in the Alps, and after coming to this country located for a time in Missouri, where he was watch-maker, but he later came to Nauvoo, where he followed his trade, and was here joined by his family in 1853. His death here oc- curred in 1873. while his wife had passed away on the toth of December. 1854. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Laubershei- mer there were three sons and a daughter. of whom the subject of this review is the eldest, and he also has a half sister.
Max Laubersheimer, on his arrival with his parents in New Orleans, was em- ployed for one month in a hotel in that city and for five months was a bartender. After the removal of the family to St. Louis he learned the barber's trade, which he followed for some time before coming to Nauvoo. In 1865, however, he put aside all business and personal considera- tions, and responded to the country's call for aid by his enlistment at Chicago in the Twenty-third Illinois Infantry, being as- signed to duty in Company G of that com- mand. He participated in the siege of Richmond with the army of the Potomac. and was honorably discharged in August of that year, having served from March preceding. While at Richmond he was poisoned by mistake and for a time was in a serious condition and after his re- turn home was confined to his bed for three months, and he has never entirely recovered from its effects, having been in poor health ever since his service in the army.
About a year after his return home from the war Mr. Laubersheimer again resumed his trade as a barber, which he continued to follow until 1885. in the
mantone he had purchased a tract of land of one hundred and eleven acres, sit Hated on section 10. Appanoose township. of which only twenty acres had been cleared of the timber. The only bulding on the place consisted of an old løg house. and, having made a small addition to the house, he made this his home until 1899. and this primitive dwelling was then re- placed by a modern frame residence. com taining eight rooms and supplied with all conveniences for the comfort of the fam- ily. He has cleared about fifty acres of timber and has placed many modern im- provements on his land, and here with the assistance of his eldest son he is en- gaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, having fine grades of horses, cattle and hogs, and both branches of his business are proving a gratifying source of income to him. In former years he was engaged to some extent in the raising of fruit, mostly of berries, but is not now engaged in horticultural pur suits. His farm is one of the attractive features of the landscape, being situated on a high point, commanding an excellent view of the Mississippi river, of the city of Fort Madison six miles distant and of Montrose, Iowa, three and a half miles distant.
On the 6th of January, 1861, Mr |_u bersheimer was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Schreiber, a native .i Switzerland, born September 21 1. and a daughter of Franz and Birbir Am (Weber) Schreiber Her paten d grandfather was Fran Schieber. We the material grandfather was Schief n Antone Weber. Mr. Laubers CHIT JE- quired her education in the schools of er
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native country and also in the schools of Nauvoo. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four sons and eight daugh- ters, namely: George, born October 4, 1861, and assisting his father in the op- eration of the home farm; Matilda, born November 31. 1862, who died in infancy ; Valentine, who was born September II, 1864, and also died in infancy ; Emilia A .. born September 27. 1866, and is now the wife of John E. Schaefer, of Burlington, Iowa : John, who was born April 4, 1868, and is now engaged in merchandising in Nauvoo; Valentine, born July 15, 1870, and died in infancy ; Bertha A., who was born October 13, 1872, and is now the wife of Albert Herbert. of Appanoose township: Sophia Adel, who was born April 1, 1874, and is now the wife of Frank A. Wilkins, of Sonora township; Dena, born September 9, 1876, and is the wife of William Clark, of Pontoosuc township: Marie Edith, born January 4. 1878, and now the wife of Joseph T. Boeddeker, of Niota, Illinois; Josephine Elizabeth, born June 20, 1880, and now the wife of Henry J. Boeddeker, of Appa- noose township; and Florence Gertrude, born May 8, 1883. and now the wife of llenry .A. Boeddeker, of Appanoose township.
Mr. Laubersheimer acquired his edu- cation in the common schools of his na- tive country and later pursued a six months' course of study in a college of Germany before accompanying his par- ents to the United States. He was reared in the faith of the Republican party and has taken an active interest in the ranks of his party, having served as alderman of the second ward in Nauvoo, as city
treasurer for seven years and as school director for nine years, in all of which positions he was loyal to the best inter- ests of the public at large. Although starting out in life on his own account in a strange land, without financial assist- ance, Mr. Laubersheimer started at the bottom round of the ladder and through his persistency of purpose and his lauda- ble ambition he has worked his way stead- ily upward until he occupies a foremost place among the leading agriculturists of his adopted county.
SAMUEL SWEENEY.
Samuel Sweeney, engaged in business in Carthage as a stone mason and also conducting a general teaming business, was born in Preble county. Ohio, October 10, 1846, his parents being George and Elizabeth ( Hoover) Sweeney. The fa- ther was born in Fredericksburg, Mary- land, and the mother near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. George Sweeney was a farmer by occupation and on leaving Ohio, where he resided for a number of years, traveled across the country with team to Hancock county, Illinois, in 1852, being fifteen days upon the way. He set- tled on a farm in Carthage township, liv- ing in a log house for some time and with characteristic energy and purpose he im- proved his farm, placing it under a high state of cultivation. In 1870 he built a large modern residence and made other improvements, transforming the place
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into an excellent farm property, which he continued to cultivate until November, 1886, when he retired and took up his abode in the city of Carthage. He voted with the Republican party and served as school director and road supervisor. Both he and his wife were faithful mem- bers and active workers in the Presby- terian church, in which he served as an elder from 1854 until the time of his death, his labor proving a source of much benefit in various church activities. lle died honored and respected by all, March 27. 1891, and his wife, who was a most estimable lady, passed away in November. 1889. Both were laid to rest in Moss Ridge cemetery. In their family were nine children : Jacob and William, both deceased : Susan. the wife of Milton Wieder. of Carthage: George, who is liv- ing in Carthage; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Biery, of Carthage: Reader, who died in the Civil war while serving in the Seventh Missouri Cavalry: Samuel, of this review : Alexander M., who is living in Cedar Rapids, lowa; and Mary, the wife of Thomas Metcalf, of Carthage.
Samuel Sweeney was educated in the public school called the Mount Zion school. north of Carthage, and when not busy with his text-books worked at farm labor. He lived with his parents until twenty-eight years of age, although for a short time previous he was engaged in farming on his own account. On the 21th of March, 1874. he married Miss Alice Jordan, who was born in Muskin- gum county, Ohio, June 20, 1851. a daughter of Aaron and Mergeline ( Rob- inson) Jordan, who were likewise natives of the Buckeye state. The father was a
schoolteacher and followed the profession of teaching in the public schools of Ohio for many years. He also engaged in merchandising there for some time and was a man of marked intellectual force and business ability. In 1859 he came u Hancock county, settling near Warsaw. where he taught school and also engaged in farming until 1820, when he took up his abode upon a farm near Carthage. there residing until his death, which ve- curred on the 20th of November, 1870. His wife had passed away June 23, 1872. and both were buried in Wythe township cemetery. Mr. Jordan in his political views was a stalwart republican and held various positions in Ohio and also in this county, ever proving faithful to the trust reposed in him. In his fraternal relation- he was a Mason and Odd Fellow and took a very prominent part in the work of the lodges in the Buckeye state. Both he and his wife held membership in the P'real- terian church and he acted as an eller from his twenty-first year until his death. In the work of the church he was very greatly interested and took an active part in advancing the growth and extending the influence of his denomination. Ils wife, too, shared with him in the good work and both were earnest Christian pen ple, enjoying in unqualified measure the good will and respect of those with whom they were associated. In their family were ten children, of whom seven ate low living : Mary 1 .. Jordan, who for thisty years engaged in teaching school m 11 nois and Kansas, but is now living th AAnthony, Kansas: Plummer, who died m May. 1807: Mrs. Sweeney : Mercy, the wife of Benoine Warne, who reside
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South Zanesville, Ohio; Merritt Jordan, living in Kansas City, Kansas; Harriet Jordan, who resides in Anthony, Kansas, where she is a successful music teacher ; Silas R., who died in Kansas in 1892: J. Arthur, who lives in Freeport, Kansas; Abraham and Grace. the former living in Anthony, Kansas, with his two sisters, while the latter died in 1888. after having taught school successfully for seven years in Harper county, Kansas.
Silas Robinson, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Sweeney, served with the militia during the Revolutionary war, and his son and namesake, the grandfather of Mrs. Sweeney, was a soldier of the war of IS12, while two of his brothers, Isaac and Aaron, also fought for the American interests in that struggle. Aaron Jordan, father of Mrs. Sweeney. had seventeen relatives in the Civil war.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney lived for four years in a log cabin, which his parents had built when they came to Illinois. In 1878 they re- moved to Sumner county, Kansas, settling on a frontier farm forty miles from a railroad and sharing in the usual expe- riences and hardships of pioneer life. They remained for three and a half years in the Sunflower state and then returned to Hancock county, after which they spent a similar period upon a farm in Car- thage township. Later they resided again in Kansas for ten years and in 1895 they took up their abode in the city of Car- thage, where Mr. Sweeney has since en- gaged in teaming and also working as a stone mason. They purchased a pretty home at No. 904 Buchanan street in 1900 and have here since lived. They are con-
sistent and helpful members of the Presby- terian church. in which Mr. Sweeney has served as an elder since 1885. while Mrs. Sweeney is a popular teacher in the Sun- day-school. She was also a teacher in the public schools for a part of five years prior to her marriage. Mr. Sweeney votes with the Republican party and his interest in community affairs is that of a public-spirited citizen. Unto this worthy couple have been born six children. Mer- geline E., born in Hancock county, was formerly a teacher in this county but has been in the telephone exchange for the past five years. Hattie M., born in Sum- ner county, Kansas, died there in 1897. Grace E., born in Sumner county. is a stenographer, bookkeeper and cashier for the Western Electric Company, at Kan- sas City, Missouri, with which she has been connected for three years. Minnie Alice, born in Hancock county, is also in the telephone exchange here. George A .. born in Kansas, in October, 1885, is liv- ing at Shawnee, Oklahoma. Carrie Helen. born in Kansas, is now a sophomore in the high school at Carthage. Minnie is a graduate of the high school and all are members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Sweeney is classed with those busi- ness men who are known as self-made. having started in life without family or pecuniary assistance, placing his depend- ence upon industry and enterprise to gain him a living. His Christian faith has prompted him to follow the golden rule at all times in business transactions as well as in social relations. In manner he is quiet and unostentatious but pos- sesses sterling traits of character that have won him warm regard. He now
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has a comfortable home in Carthage and has provided a good living for his family. and both Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney occupy a very enviable position in the friendship of those with whom they have come mn contact. Their religious faith has per- meated their lives and has been the de- cisive factor which has governed their actions on many occasions.
JOSIAH C. BELL.
Josiah C. Bell, a highly respected citi- zen of Warsaw, where he is living retired. was born in Tyler county, West Virginia, September 5. 1834. His father, William 11. Bell, was born in Lancaster county. Pennsylvania. March 5, 1801, and was there married, on the 12th of September. 1826, to Miss Rebecca Coyn, whose birth occurred in Allegheny county. September 27. 1801. Following their marriage they removed to Tyler county. West Virginia. where they located on a farm there re- maining until the spring of 1835. when they removed to Ohio, settling in Monroe county, where the father purchased a farm of one hundred and ten acres, which he operated until 1857. when he disposed of Following his arrival m Warsaw Mr Bell continued his work as a stone cutter. being employed by others in this way for about thirteen years, or until 1870, when. in company with Henry Beach, he opened a marble yard in the village, which was successfully conducted until 188; In that year Mr. Bell disposed of his bus his property and came to Warsaw, Illi- nois, where he lived retired throughout his remaining days, his death occurring April 15. 1877. His wife, however, had preceded him to the home beyond. she having passed away October 22, 1858. In their family were seven children, five solls and two daughters, and three of the sons ness interests and made a contract to de-
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