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 82
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
43
68c
BIOGRAPHICAL RET'IEI
born May 9. 1862, and is a lawyer of prominence living in Joliet, Illinois. He married Miss Elizabeth Ruple and has three children, Genevieve, Charles and Richard. Hattie L. Cheadle, bom Octo- ber 26, 1864. is now the widow of John D. Kaser. Dr. Clarence M. Cheadle, born August 27. 1869. is a capable physician and surgeon of Ashton, Illinois. He mar- ried Miss Maggie McCormick and his six children-Genevieve. Clarence, Gertrude, Mildred. Harold and Grace. Thomas A. Cheadle. of Lockport, Illinois, was born July 11. 1871, and has for some years been editor and proprietor of one of the leading newspapers of that place. He married and has three children, Bruce, Arthur and Anna May.
Richard Cheadle. father of Mrs. Kaser. was twice married. His first union was with Miss Hanna Coleman, who died Sep- tember 25, 1856. leaving four children who were. reared by his second wife. These are as follows : S. R., who was bom April 3. 1847, lives in Ottumwa, Iowa, and is married and has four children. Clarence. Albert. Corinne and Willard. George, born January 8. 1849. died July 28, 1885. Edwin F., born May 5, 1852. and now living at Niota, Illinois, where he is agent for the Santa Fe Railroad Company. married Miss Sarah Way and lias eight children. Charles, Clarence. Mina, John. Elmer. Dora, Ruth and Frank. Mina, the youngest child of the father's first marriage, was born March 20. 1855. and died in early childhood. Thus Mrs. Cheadle, the mother of Mrs. Kaser, has reared a family of eight chil- (Iren, who are now a great joy and source of comfort to her in her old age. Her
sons are exemplary men, both in business and private life, not one of them ever using liquor or tobacco in any form. Mrs. Cheadle is an active and well pre- served woman. very intelligent and kind- hearted. She makes her home with her daughter. Mrs. Kaser, as does her invalid sister, Margaret. the widow of Henry A. Van Noy. They are the last survivors of a family of ten children, seven of whom reached adult age. Mrs. Van Noy had three sons, all of whom are deceased, but she has grandsons and great-grand- sons in Ohio. Mrs. Cheadle has thirty- five grandchildren in all. Mrs. Cheadle, Mrs. Van Noy and Mrs. Kaser are all eligible to membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution, for Mrs. Kaser's great-great-grandfather was a soldier in the war of independence under General Putnam and the father of Mrs. Cheadle was a soldier of the war of 1812.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kaser lived for two and a half years in Appanoose township and then removed to a farm in Scotland county, Missouri. where Mr. Kaser was successfully en- gaged in general farming and stock rais- there on the 6th of January, 1896, and his remains were interred in a cemetery 111 that county. He was a citizen of substan tial worth and was entirely a self-made man, for at an early age he was thrown upon his own resources by the death of his parents. He was not a politician, but he was ready to assist in furthering the po- litical principles in which he believed and he stood at all times for progressive citi- zenship. He was a devoted husband, kind father and true friend and in his house- Fold his death caused a great vacancy.
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
His good name and his upright acts will traits of character and she certainly de stand as a monument to his memory for serves much credit for what she is accom plishing in the home circle years to come. He heki membership in the Christian church, of which his wife is also a devoted member. Unto them had been born six children, all of whom are yet living. Olive M., born August 6. 1885. in Appanoose township. is a grad- uate of the high school of Dallas and now a student in Knox Conservatory of Music JOSHUA COCHRAN. of Galesburg, Illinois. Rose B., born Oc- tober 29. 1886, in Scotland county. Mi- souri, is a student in Dallas high school. Everett D., born August 12, 1888, in Mis- souri, is also attending the high school. Elmer L .. born in Missouri, July 23. 1890, is likewise a high school student. Nellie, born in Missouri, March 20. 1894. is pursuing her education in Dallas; and John D., born in Pontoosne township. July 16. 1896, is attending the city schools.
In the fall following her husband's death Mrs. Kaser returned to Hancock county and purchased a good home one mile west of Dallas City adjoining the city limits. Here she has thirty-five acres of land on which she has erected a hand- some residence which she has improved. making it one of the most attractive sub- urban homes of Dallas City. She still owns the farm in Missouri and a house which she rents in Dallas. She possesses excellent business ability and executive force and is one of the sterling women of Dallas, of keen mental strength, ca- pable and enterprising. She is giving her children excellent educational advantages and in addition to this she is caring for her mother and her aunt. All who know her esteem her for her many excellent
Joshua Cochran, owner of the wild Cochran homestead in Wythe townslup. is a native of Pennsylvania. his birth having occurred in Westmoreland county. on the toth of March. 18.19. He is a son of James Cochran, and a grandson of John Cochran, and a representative of one of the early families of the Keystone state. James Cochran was born, reared and married in Westmoreland county, the lady of his choice being Names Elder, a native of the same county and a daugh ter of John Elder. He engaged in the manufacture of salt in Pennsylvama for a number of years and eventually traded his business there for a farm in Massemi but never lived upon that place. Wwant ten years later he traded his Missouri land for eighty acres and personal prop erty in Bear Creek township. Hancock county, Illinois, which tract was stiftel about Your miles from a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which hel been given him by his father In 1862 he came to his place in Bear t feel townslip which at that time was partially proved, and he completed the work vi de velopment and culinston, making home thereon for some time Laten low ever. he sold out there and remmed t
682
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Wythe township, purchasing one hun- dred and forty acres on section 16. This farm was equipped with good buildings and the land was well tilled. He had five sons and assisted each to become the owner of a farm in this locality. His life was characterized by unremitting dili- gence and thrift and he prospered in his work as the years went by. His death occurred in 1898, and his wife passed away in 1900, both reaching the advanced age of eighty years. Their children were : John, of Wythe township; James, of El- vaston ; Caleb and Joshua, twins, the for- mer living in Jacksonville, Illinois; Wil- liam, of Boulder, Colorado: Eliza Jane. twin sister of William, and a resident of Hamilton, Illinois; Lucy, who is the widow of William Weyand and resides with her sister Eliza in Hamilton: and Newton, who died at the age of seven years.
Joshua Cochran early became familiar with the work of farming. planting and harvesting, as he assisted in the operation of the old homestead farm in the days of his boyhood and youth. He attended the district schools of Pennsylvania and Illi- nois, and on attaining his majority he started out in life on his own account. his father giving him eighty acres of par- tially improved land on section 21, Wythe township. About the first thing which he did was to build a barn for the shelter of hay and stock. He later erected a commodious residence of nine rooms and has since built an extensive barn forty by twenty-five feet with twenty-five feet posts. He has set out many trees and has thus beautified the place and there are various other accessories which add
to the value and attractive appearance of the farm. In 1891 he made purchase of eighty acres additional and afterward se- cured sixty acres more of the old home- stead on section 16. He next bought one hundred and sixty acres adjoining on the south but afterward sold that property and then purchased the remainder of the old homestead-eighty acres. His is such a place as has won for Illinois its splen- did reputation as one of the greatest farm- ing states of the Union.
On the 22d of February, 1874. Joshua Cochran wedded Harriett Hill, who was born in Walker township, and acquired a district school education, while living with her parents, John and Julia A. (Haw- kins) Hill, who were natives of England and Pennsylvania respectively. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Cochran was cele- brated in Wythe township and has been blessed with three children: John H .. who was born October 4. 1875, and is liv- ing on the old homestead: James Ray. born August 4, 1884: and Ida Pearl, born in September, 1887.
The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian church of Wythe and since 1886 Mr. Cochran has continuously served as one of its elders, a fact which indicates his position in the church as a leading and helpful member. His polit- ical views are in accord with republican principles. Though he received some as- sistance in starting out in life he has con- tinuously enlarged the scope of his busi- ness activity and has added to his prop- erty holdings until he is now one of the substantial agriculturists of his community, where he has so long resided, and where he is held in esteem.
683
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
WILLIAMME R. HAMILTON.
William R. Hamilton, one of the oldest residents of Carthage, was born in Johns- town, New York, November 5. 1820. 8 son of Artois and Atta ( Bentley ) Hamil- ton. The father was born in Tolland. Massachusetts, August 15. 1795. and spent his early boyhood there, after which he removed to Johnstown. New York. Ile was married in Mayfield, a suburb of Johnstown, to Miss Atta Bentley. a daughter of Elisha Bentley. While re- siding in the Empire state Mr. Hamilton engaged in the tanning business and was also a raftsman on the river. He came west in 1835, reaching Carthage on the 14th of August of that year, driving across the country with horse teams. Here he opened the first tavern in the place and he owned and operated two large farms in the county. In his little hostelry he entertained many of the prom- inent men of that day, including Abraham Lincoln. He conducted his hotel from 1835 until 1851 and afterward concen- trated his energies upon agricultural pur- suits. He lost his wife during the cholera epidemic in 1851. her death occurring on the 18th of July of that year, while he survived until July 4. 1873
William R. Hamilton, being brought to Illinois in his early boy hood days. com pleted his education in a private school for the public school system had not been established at that time. When he put aside his text-books he became his father's assistant in his farming operations and later he began farming on his own ac- count. He married Miss Martha 11 Miller on the 8th of June. 1854 Her
parents, Warren and Phoebe (Strong) Miller, came to this county i 18go from Adams county, Almots, but their home was originally in Elmira. New York
It was subsequent to his mariage that he was elected sheriff on the Dentistalle ticket in 1858 for a two years term The law at that time did not perunit of fe- election. His duties were very arduous. owing to the events that followed the panic of 1857. He continued to serve until December, 1800, and then retter to his farm, where he successfully carried on agricultural pursuits for more than two decades In 1882. however, he sold his property and went to the west, making his way to Oregon. Washington and other places on the Pacific coast After a few months, however, he returned to Hancock county and purchased a home in Carthage. About that time Mr Ferris died and Mr. Hamilton was elected a> hi- successor in the office of magistrate. which position he filled for ten years In 1803 he was appointed under Grover Cleveland to the position of postmaster of Carthage, which position he filled il four years and during his meumberes the business of the office was largely 1- creased. It was just at the clone of the term that the government pall nere changed and the postoffice Dias por vided. Since his retirement 1000ft no Mr. Hamilton has engage mor mone Insiness pursuits but les empresel carned rest
been born three dolley wo soll te three having ched m chi Last 0 8
at home. and Herbert wheels de teile
684
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEWV
taker. The family attend and support the Presbyterian church, of which Mrs. Ham- ilton is a member. Mr. Hamilton be- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Hancock lodge, No. 20, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which he is a past master, having been the first worshipful master in the lodge at Hancock. He was made a Mason here in 1852 and he took the Royal Arch de- gree in Stapleton chapter in Rushville in 1853, afterward serving for ten years as its high priest in Carthage Chapter No. 33. In 1877 he beame a member of Car- thage council, Scottish Rite Mason, and in 1884 attained the Knight Templar de- gree in Ahnoner commandery. He has been associated with business, political and fraternal interests in the county and for more than the allotted psalmist's span of three score years and ten has been a resident of the state, watching with interest its progress and development and doing much to assist in its upbuilding. Few have longer resided in the county and none are more familiar with events which have shaped its history and molded its policy than William R. Hamilton, who at all times has been regarded as one of the most prominent. valued and influential citizens here.
J. B. MONROE.
J. B. Monroe, a prosperous merchant of Powellton, where he is engaged in deal- ing in all kinds of agricultural imple-
ments, vehicles, etc .. is a native son of Hancock county, his birth having oc- curred in Appanoose township, March I, 1862. His parents. Martin and Marguer- ite (Fitzgerald) Monroe, were both na- tives of Ireland, the former born in Tuam, County Galway, in 1829, while the moth- er's birth occurred at Limerick, in 1831. The father, a stonemason by trade, left the fatherland in 1851, and upon landing in New York, at once made his way to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1855, when he went to Fort Madison, Iowa, and there worked at his trade. On the 4th of June, 1860, he was married in that city to Mrs. Marguerite Stack, who had emigrated from the fatherland to Keo- kuk, Iowa, in 1852, and in 1856 was there married to James Stack. whose death occurred in 1858. By that mar- riage one son survives, James Stack, who resides in Sonora township, this county. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Stack then removed to Fort Madison, Iowa, and as stated was there married to Martin Monroe, the father of our sub- ject. The parents then removed to a farm in Appanoose township, and in 1870 the father purchased a farm of two hundred and sixty acres, situated on section II. He developed and cultivated the property and erected all of the buildings thereon. including many substantial outbuildings. and a fine home containing ten rooms, and costing twenty-two hundred dollars. He was a stanch democrat in his political views. In 1864 he enlisted for service in the Civil war, and was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea. being honorably discharged at the close of hos- tilities, when he returned to his home and
there spent his remaining days, his death occurring November 20, 1896, while his wife had passed away September 15. 1888.
J. B. Monroe is the ellest of three sons and two daughters born of his father's family, but of this number one son and a daughter are now deceased : Henry. who died in 1896, at the age of thirty- three years, and Mary, who passed away May 3. 1887, when twenty-one years of age. One brother, George, who was born June 4, 1868, makes his home with our subject.
Mr. Monroe acquired his education in the public schools at Powellton, and re- mained with his parents on the home- stead farm until September. 1884. when he went to Sheridan county. Nebraska. and took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and remained on the place until January 10, 1800, since which time he has rented the land. . At that time he again returned to Hancock county and rented his father's farm. which he operated for a few years, but in 1895 he took up his abode in the vil- lage of Powellton, where he has since successfully conducted a business center- prise, dealing in agricultural implements. the Deering harvesters, vehicles of all kinds and grass seeds, and the business has now increased from six thousand dol lars to from twenty-six thousand to thirty thousand dollars, which indicates the care ful management and executive ability of the owner.
On the 16th of AAugust. 1892, Mr Monroe was united in marriage to Miss Tela E. Ewing, who was born in Carthage township, where she acquired her carhy
education, while later she attended so good in the city of Carthage for two term- Her parents, James and Angeline ( Me- Kee) Ewing, are natives of Ohio and Air- ginia respectively.
I'mto our subject and his wife have been born five sons and three daughters. namely : Morris E., Catherine . \., Helen, Henry, Louis, Geneva, Leslie and John B., Jr. In his political views Mr. Mon- roe is a stanch democrat and held the of- fice of collector of Sonora township for one term, while for three years he served as school trustee. He is a communicant of the Catholic church at Nauvoo.
JAMES OGDEN.
James Ogden, now practically hving re tired on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 5. Sonora township. is a native of Lancashire. England, his birth having there occurred March 30. 1828. His father. Dennis Ogden, died in England, and follow my his dense the mother, who bore the maiden name i Elizabeth Madder, engrated with her children to the United States, anding 11 Nauvoo, May 22. 1842 In their family were three sons and two difighter i shem eur subject to the edest. Beatles being . Samuel, a resident of Cali ties. Sarah, the wal w of can Prolle te siding near Divis City, Jowas Ain, the Wife of M. this Welling to, co Pats Kansas ! and Will un, a resident of le Lowag After coming to this state the
686
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW'
mother of these children was again mar- for St. Louis, Missouri, from which city he traveled by steamer to Nauvoo. ried, her second union being with George Nelson, by whom she had two sons, John and Joseph, the latter being in the bank at Nauvoo. Her death occurred in 1850. . E. Risse, who was born in Baden, Ger-
James Ogden remained with his mother until the time of her second marriage, when, in 1843, he went to Schuyler coun- ty. this state, where he was employed by Squire Dron at farm labor for six years, and he always made that place his home until the time of his marriage. In 1850. in company with Erasmus Cady and a Mr. Taylor. he made the overland trip to California, the journey requiring three months. He remained at Hangtown, now Placerville. fifty miles southeast of Sac- ramento, and was there employed until 1854. when he started on the return trip. traveling by way of the Nicaragua route to New York, from which city he returned to Nauvoo, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, located on sec- tion 5. Sonora township. only a quarter of which had been cleared, while the re- mainder was covered with its native growth of timber. On the place had been erected five cottages, in which the Mor- mons had lived. Here Mr. Ogden took up his abode, remaining on the place un- til 1855, when he made a second trip to the Pacific coast, traveling by way of the istlimus of Panama. He was in various places during his sojourn in the west but made his headquarters at St. Louis, in Sierra county, California. After remain- ing in the west for a year he again start- ed on his homeward journey, traveling by way of the isthmus route to New York city, where he boarded a railroad train
On the 7th of March, 1859, Mr. Ogden was united in marriage to Miss Frances many, a daughter of Lawrence and Wil- helmina Risse. He took his bride to his farm and then for the third time made his way to the west, making the overland journey with mule team, his destination being Walla Walla. Washington, where he and a Mr. Dovenspeck went into the mountains and there engaged in the man- ufacture of shingles and clapboards, but for this work they were never compen- sated, and they then went into the gold mines. In the meantime they had dis- posed of their mules and purchased ponies, tools, etc. At one time during their journey in the far west the two men were compelled to travel through snow to the depth of four feet. They dis- posed of their ponies March 20. 1863. and Mr. Ogden there entered a claim, on which he remained for six months, and then disposed of it to good advantage. He then purchased two ponies and in com- pany with fifteen others started on the re- turn trip to Illinois. While traveling over the plains he got lost and was forced to lie out two nights, but finally made his way to Fort Boise, where he remained four days, and replenished his stock of supplies and then continued on the jour- ney, arriving home in September, 1863. In January, 1864. Mr. Ogden made an- other trip to the west. this time traveling by rail to New York, where he boarded a steamer and made his way to San Fran- cisco, and from there went to St. Louis.
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
in Sierra county, where he worked on some of his old claims, and returned home in the early fall of the same year, and once more resumed farming on his own property. He engaged in farming and stock-raising for a number of years, but is now practically living retired, leaving the actual work of the farm to his son. James L.
U'nto our subject and his wife have been born five sons and one daughter: Eliza, the wife of Joseph Weber, of So- nora township: James L., who operates the homestead farm: Samuel, a resident of Nauvoo: William, of Seattle. Wash- ington : Bernard. of Salt Lake City, Utah : and Levi, a resident of Jacksonville. Illi- nois. In his political views Mr. Ogden is a democrat. and has served as highway commissioner and school director, while he has filled the office of deputy sheriff for several terms. Ile is a Mason, and hell membership with the Blue lodge at Nauvoo until the lodge was discontinued.
WALLACE DIVER.
Wallace Diver, postmaster at Dalla- City, was born May to. 1876, in Hlen derson county, Illinois, a son of Murray 1. and Elizabeth M (Hazen) Diver The father was born in linois and the mother in Ohio. He was a farmer by occupation and always carried on agri- cultural pursuits in Henderson county At the time of the Civil war be en- listed for active service in the Twenty- eighth Illinois Infantry, with which he
was connected for three years He was unable to do much work after this great conflict, his health having been impaired through his military experience and he died in 1870. His wife passed all! April so, 1804. and both were buried in Henderson county cemetery. Mr. Diet was a member of the Methodist church In their family were four children, of whom three are now living. The chest. Celia, married Lewis Moore and died April 1. 1900, leaving your children. w . live with their father in Henderson com ty: Illinois. Amanda is the wife of Felis Shain, of the state of Washington, and they have one daughter. Wallace is the next of the family. Clayton Daer isa farmer in Idaho.
Wallace Diver acquired In early educa- tion in what is known as the Finappity school in Dallas precinct. Henderson county. Illinois, and afterward attended school in Missouri, while for a time he was a high school student in Stronghurst. Illinois. He remained with his widowed mother until about sixteen of seventeen years of age. When he began to provide for his own support In working as a farm hand on various farms in Hancock commits spending four of five years in Durham township. He afterward operated no brother-in law's farm in Hendersonte . ty for one year, after which he spelft year as a fireman in the employ of the Big Four and the Santa Fe Raffinal & m pannes On the List of August, Byly, Le began carrying the mura mal tiem Dalle City and was thus engaged for hvor go Ili years, or until Vorembet of HA when he was appointed to poston the postoffice in Dallas ( it Chy
688
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
April, 1905, he received the appointment to the position of postmaster and is now acting in that capacity. Since that time the postoffice has been moved to the new building, corner of Oak and Second streets, where he installed a thoroughly modern equipment throughout and also has two rural routes.
Mr. Diver was married June 4, 1902. to Miss Lillie May Hull, who was born in Mineral county, West Virginia, in 1878. a daughter of J. O. and Jennie (Arnold) Hull, of Dallas, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Her father was engaged in farming in the Old Do- minion for many years and came to Han- cock county about twenty years ago, here carrying on general agricultural pursuits until 1905, when he retired and removed to Dallas. He served in the Civil war. In his political views he is a republican and for many years was sheriff of Mineral county, Virginia. He has been a school director of this county for the past ten years and has been road supervisor. He and his wife attend the Methodist church. of which Mrs. Hull is a member. They have had five children : Lulu, the wife of Charles Rice, a resident farmer of Dur- ham township; William, living in Dur- ham township; Mrs. Lillie Diver: Guy a resident of Dallas; and Nina, who is at home with her parents.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.