Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 57

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126

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Auth in S .huyler County. Mr. Baxter took up the work of f. rning where he had abandoned it three years before, and meeting with deserved stroess. he married. September 20. 1966, Martha J. Workman, who was born in Ohio and came to Sommyler Comay with her parents. Samuel and Harriet thewton) Workman, in 1 54. In the spring of IMES Mr. Baxter moved to Hancock County. H1. where his wife died April 3. 1871. leav'ne two children, of whom Mary Margaret is the wife of Julius Harmon of Superior, Neb .. and mother of Robert, Oscar. Effie and Ruth Ilarmon : and things . fina farmer of Huntsville Township. married Via Robertson, and has five children. Sterling. Keith. Gladys, Open and Warren. de- centsl. The second marriage of Mr. Baxter oc- enried March 18, 1976. to Sarah Beckerdite, and of this union there is a daughter. Etlie, who is keeping home for her father since the lamented death of her mother March IT. ING. Mrs. Baxter was the center of an admiring circle of friends and well wishes, and her fine Christian example is sadly missed from the community which know her so well and favorably.

At the present time Mr. Baxter owns sixty deres of land in Section 5. Huntsville Township. He still is in active mangement of his place, al- though its arduous duties have been. handed over to His capable som. The years have dealt kindly with him, and he retains his interest in the en- terprises that contribute to the life and stability of the township. No man within its boundaries

HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

Is held in higher esteem, nor has any varved a more enduring moment of character and work for the inspiration and enlightenment of those to come after him.

BELLAMY, Leslie S .-- One of the influential and hopored fa nilies of Schuyler County is rep- resented by this rising young farmer of Rush- ville Township, whose home farm on Section 35 is also the place of his birth, which occurred Sep- tember 5, 1581. The identification of the family with this portion of Ilinois began during the early part of the pineteenth century and its members have been large contributors to the ag- ricultural development of this region. The father, George W. Bellamy, one of the lamored native- born sons of Schuyler County, was born in Fred- erick Township in 1 50, and grew to manhood on a farm, having few advantages for the acquisi- tion of an education. Environed by the narrow limits of a pioneer's home, he yet became a man of broad views, wide culture, and liberal traits, His marriage united him with Frances 1. Greer. daughter of a pioneer named Greer, who immi- grated to the United States from County Tyrone, Ireland. setling in Schuyler Comty when Rush- ville was a small handlet, and thereafter giving his attention to agricultural pursuits, Prior to leaving the home of his boyhood he had married a young Trish girl, and they became the parents of three children. nair dy: Mrs. Rollamy ; Lucr. widow of Daring Bellamy; and Isabel. wife of A. V. Strong, a resident of Overbrook. Kan.

Three children were born of the union of George W. Bellamy and Frances A. Greer. The daughter. Grace. is the wife of Albert Parks, a farmer in Rushville Township, and they have one child. Willard M. The older son, Herman, is a locomotive engineer on the Santa Fe Railroad with headquarters at Barstow, Cal. The younger son, Leslie S., remains at the old homestead. and his mother resides with him. The father, who died January 21, 1904. was a man of pronounced individuality, and for some time was recognized as one of the local leaders of the Republican party. On the regular party ticket he was elected to various offices, including tant of Supervisor for Rushville Township, which position he filled with conspicuous devotion to the welfare of the peo- ple. In religion he was a substantial supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Pleasant- view. Ilis citizenship proved of derided benefit to his township, and no movement for the ad- vancement of education, religion, agriculture or commerce in the county lacked his hearty co- operation.

Primarily educated in the Pleasantview school. Leslie S. Bellamy afterward attended the Rush- ville Normal for one term and then returned to the home farm to take up the practical duties of life. However, he was not satisfied to begin the quiet round of agricultural duties withont seeing something of the world, so he traveled for a year or more, and thus learned much from observation of different localities. During Jan- uary of 1905 he entered the train service with

the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com- pany, but a year of that work suflived and during February of the following year he was again on the home farm, which he now manages, main- taining an excellent class of improvements and superintending its eighty acres, January 16. 1907, he was united in marriage with Miss Bessie, daughter of Charles Ambrosius, and a member of a well-known family of this locality. In religious connections both are members of the Pleasantview Methodist Episcopal Church, while politically he has never attached himself to any party, but remains liberal in his views.

BERTHOLF, Edward. - There are few men who. through the blamelessness of their lives. the purity of their motives and the excellence of their services, have so deeply impressed them- selves upon a community as has Edward Bert- holt. This venerable citizen, seventy 'of whose more than ninety years have been spent within the boundaries of Rushville, has pursued his wage-earning career largely in the Rushville court house, where have awaited him respon- sibilities calling for ability and strict integrity, and the discharge of which has placed him among the stable benefactors of the community.

The first impressions and moulding influences in the youth of Mr. Bertholf were centered in Warwick. Orange County. N. Y., where he was born April 9, 1\16. His father, John Bertholf, was born in the same county, and his paternal grandparents, Samuel Bertholf and wife, wore also natives of that State. His mother, formerly Elizabeth Perry, was a native of Sussex County, N. J., and a daughter of William Percy. Both families wore represented among the Colonists of New England, and were people of modest tastes and quiet ambitions. The home in Warwick tolerated no shams or false ideas of life and duty. The children were obedient at home and diligent at school. Edward. in particular. made Attat progress with his studies, and at the age of sixteen was enrolled as a teacher in a coun- tr> school of Orange County. At the age of twenty he had the satisfaction of having earned enough money to shape his circumstances rather than be shaped by them. It pleased his taste for pioneering to move to Illinois in 1836, and .to settle in Rushville, where he would be aided by the imimence of his brother. then Judge of the Probate Court.

In Rushville Mr. Bertholf earned his first money as clerk in the general store of Josiah Par- rott. He soon after hogan to assist his brother. the Judge, and in time because Deputy Clerk and Recorder of Schuyler County. His frank. out- spoken ways and thoughtfulness inspired con- fidence from the start, and in 184\ he was ap- pointed Treasurer of the school funds, a position which he maintained for twenty-one years, or until 1869. Office holders in those days suffered from none of the restrictions which now hedge in aspirants for public honor, and various re- sponsibilities often were dis charged at the same time. Thus, in 1848, Mr. Bertholf was elected also

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

Justice of the Peace, Sheriff and Collector of Taxes, the office of Justice being held by him for twenty years. In 1855 he was appointed Deputy Clerk under Nathan Moon, and upon the death of Mr. Moon, six months later. succeeded to the of- fire of County Clerk. He was elected Sheriff of the county in 1860, and in 1560 assumed charge of the Circuit Clerk's office. at the same time serving as Deputy County Clerk. In the mean- time, when his official duties permitted, Mr. Bert- holf kept books for several of the merchants of Rushville, and was otherwise employed in the business life of the town. Ilis special predilee- tion, however, was for politics, and in the able discharge of official duties he met a growing need of almost half a century.

The married life of Mr. Bertholf dates from November 22, 1838, when culminated a. romance significant because of the fact that his wife's father, Levi Jackson, came to Rushville the same year as Mr. Bertholf. Mrs. Bertholf was born in Huron County, Ohio, and is the mother of nine children: Emily Ann, William Henry (deceased ), Horace E .. Harriet E .. Mary E .. Frank E., Fred L., John Jesse and Alice C. (de- ceased). Mr. Bertholf is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The passing years have dealt kindly with him, and the experiences of his life still stand out elearly in his memory. He and the city have grown old together, and have exchanged op- portunities and honors to the permanent credit of both. Few men are permitted so long a lease of existence, and few are permitted so great a peace and serenity of mind.

BESSELL, Charles C .- There are few of the in- terests associated with the material development of Schuyler County that have lacked the co-oper- ation and practical assistance of Mr. Bessell, who, while aiding in the permanent growth of the county, has also established his own for- tunes upon a firm basis, so that now he ranks among the moneyed men of his region and is enabled to live retired free from the cares and responsibilities of his earlier years. His entire life has been passed within the confines of Brook- lyn, Schuyler County, near which town his birth occurred May 11. 1535, the oldest of a large fam- ily of children born to his parents. Frederick Lewis Alexander and Jane A. (Robinson) Bes- sell. The mother was a native of the East. born in Putnam County, N. Y., in 1814. and at the age of twenty (June 15. 1534), she was united in marriage with Frederick L. A. Be-sell in the vil- lage of Rushville, Ill. The parents of this Mr. Bessell (father of the subject of this sketch) lived on the island of Sumatra : but. a war break- ing out, they sailed for Boston, Mass., Mr. Bes- sell being born on the voyage, and in Boston and vicinity made his home until attaining man- hood. While he was a mere child in years he was deprived of the love and protection of both parents, a loss which was later accentuated in the death of his only brother. Cast upon his own resources at an early age, he proved him-

self equal to the occasion by accepting any hon- orable employment that came to hand, which con- sisted principally of farm work in the vicinity of IN TON.

With sncb means as he had been able to save from his earnings Frederick Ia A. Bessell started for he Middle West in 1933. coming direct to Schuyler County. 11., and after his marriage during the following year be entered land from the Government in Section 34. Brooklyn Town- ship, which he at once legan to improve, and in the home which he established in the wilder- hoss all of his children were born. In is18, be purchased property in Brooklyn. whither he removed with his fandily the topowing year. (oincident with this removal came the news of the finaling of gold in California, and among those who left Brooklyn for the Far West was Mr. Bessell, who made his way overland with ox- teams. It was not until about 15g0 that he re- turned to his Illinois home. but fate did not permit him to remain there long. for the toesin of war soon sounded, and all able-bodied men were called to the defense of the country. Mr. Bessell attempted to enlist from his home town. Imit as the quota was then filled he went to Macon Chy. Mo., and enlisted in the Seventh Missouri Infantry. Ilis service was brief. how- ever, for he was soon taken ill with measles, from the effects of which he died December 24,

Six children comprised the family of Fred- erick I. A. Russell and wife. Charles (. (sub- jeet of this sketch) being the eldest of the num- ber. The next in order of birth was Joseph M .. who was born December 28, 1536, and died Feb- ruary 11. 15 2. By his marriage with Miss Edison he had two children. Mary and Heury. Henry R. Bessell (third of the original Schny- ler County familyi, was born November S. 1838, and four children were born of his marriage with Rosa Shamell. as follows : Jessie, at home : Phoebe, the wife of Charles Sellars, of Dodds- ville, and the mother of one son. Arthur: Fred- prick. a farmer in Industry Township. Me- Donough County. Ill., who married Mattie Wells. by whom he has two children : and Winnie. the wife of Peter Peterson. also a farmer in Me- Donongh County. The next child in the family was Clinton In Bessell, born March 17, 1-12. 110 married Miss Carrie Clark and three children were born to them. as follows: Edna became the wife of Vivian Irvin. a wholesale grocer in Galesburg. IL .. and they have one childl. Leslie ; the others are Paul and Florence. both living with their parents in Galeshours. For three years Clinton I. Bessell gave his service to his conn- try in her hour of need, enlisting as a mem- ber of the Second Illinois Cavalry, at the close of his term of service returning to his home in Brooklyn. where for many years he was known as one of the town's most sheep sind business men. lle was enabled to retire trom active business in 1901. and the same year removed to Galesburg, which has since heon his home. Angstus C. Bessell cthe fifth som was born November 17,

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

1845, and therefore was still a youth when the Civil War broke ont, but emulating the example of his father and older brother, he too enlisted in his country's cause, becoming a member of the Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry, and during the three years in which he was in the service, took part in all the hard-fought battles and marches to which his company was subjected. After the close of the war he returned to Brooklyn and once more engaged in peacetui pursuits. While on a trip to St. Joseph. Mo., he was taken ill and compelled to return home, where he died soon afterward, on January 1. 1865. He was the first member of his company to die after the re- turn of the regiment, and the company's they was buried with his body-a tribute to his bravery, for he was ever ready for any unty. whether on the post. picket or in camp. The youngest child in the original Schuyler County family was George Ward Bessell. born December 27, 1SIS. His marriage united him with Alice Colt, and five children were born to them : Pross. a resident of Guymon. Okla., married Kathryn Gregory ; Earl. a resident of Bloomington, IL. ; Grace, Mrs. Clifford Morse of Berkeley, Cal., has two children, Gladys A. atul Francis V. ; una and Bessie are members of the class of 1908 in the State Normal University. at Normal. Ill. The parents of these children are both deceased. the mother dying November 24. 1597. and the father December 17. 1903. Atter the death of the wife and mother. Mr. Bessell tenderly cared for the children until they grew to manhood and womanhood. a devotion which was reciprocated by the children, all of whom became useful and respected citizens of Brooklyn, loved and hon- ored by all who knew them.

Charles C. Bessell was educated in the sub- seription and district schools of Brooklyn Town- ship. and when not in school was performing his share of the chores on the home farm. The monotomy of this life was changed when his father sold the farm in 1819 and removed into town, but the necessity for continuing at work was even greater than before. for the father's removal .to California about this time left him the main support of his mother and the younger children. Though only fourteen years of age. he manfully shouldered the burden which fell upon him, and, securing an ox-team, engaged in freighting goods from Brooklyn to Frederick. the trip covering three days. After continuing this business for about three years, he gave it up for what seemed a better opening in Augusta. Ill .. where he engaged in work as a farm hand. However, it developed that the man with whom he had engaged himself had contracted to haul rock and ties to what was then called the North- orn Cross Railroad. but which now is a part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. After Gle year with this employer. Mr. Bessell returned to Brooklyn, determined to carry out his plan to engage in farm work. The first year he hired out at $12 per month, and in 1855 en- tered the employ of James Worthington in the same capacity but with increased wages, l'e-

ceiving $18 per month during the two years he remained in Mr. Worthington's employ. His ex- perience thus far had covered all phases of farm work and he felt justified in starting out on his own behalf. Purchasing a team, he rented land from his former employer. Mr. Worthington. and in addition in its cultivation also took a con- tract to clear a thirty-acre tract of heavy timber for Mr. Worthington. le accomplished the un- dertaking and from the timber made rails to fonce his farm.

It was about this time, in March, 1860, that Mr. Bessell formed domestic ties by his mar- riage with Miss Anna Bruce, a native of Mahon- ing County, Ohio, and soon afterward the young people set up housekeeping in a double log cabin on the eighty acre tract rented from Mr. Worth- ington. Before the little home was completed. however, the wife was called home, April 6. 1802. leaving a child two weeks old, to whom they had given the name of Amm. The latter did not long survive, her death occurring in Sep- tomber of the same year. After this bereave- ment Mr. Bessoll once more turned his energies to the clearing of the land and also completed the house. llis second marriage, April 14, 1864. united him with Mrs. Harriet (Colt) Whitson, widow of the Rev. John T. Whitson, by whom she had two sons, William 11. and Warren C. Whitson. William 11. Whitson served as a sol- dier in the One Hundred and Fifty-first Ilinois Infantry. He now has a position as bookkeeper in the National Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee. Wis. By his marriage with Miss Anna Mason, he became the father of two children. Warren M. and Stella. who married James Pickering of Chicago, but is now deceased. Warren C. Whit- son was united in marriage with Kate Black- burn, and now has charge of the Central Tele- phone office at Brooklyn. Schuyler County.

After Mr. Bessell's second marriage he took up his abode in the log cabin which he had in' the meantime finished, and soon afterward pur- chased from Mr. Worthington 127 acres of land. In time the log cabin gave place to a fine eight- room dwelling, and he also erected good barns and outbuildings for the protection of stock and machinery. One child was born of Mr. Bessell's second marriage. Nettie, who was born on the home farm June 14. 1865. and became the wife of Joseph F. White. Mr. White was born and reared in Brooklyn Township, a son of W. P. White. the latter one of the most honored pioneers of Schuyler County. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. White are now residents of Raton. N. M. Their daughter Mabel is a member of the class of 100% of the Wesleyan College at Cam- cron, Mo. Mrs. Harriet Bessell passed away October 4. 1993, mourned by family and friends, who remember her as a devoted Christian whose chief happiness was in doing good to those about her. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church.

In November, 1994, Mr. Bessell was married to Mary B. Agnew, a native of Littleton, Schny- ler County, and the daughter of David and Mar-

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

Caret L. (Tucker) Agnev, natives of Erio County. N. Y., and Spencer County. Ind., respect- ively. From Erie County. N. Y., Mr. Agnew re- moved to Pennsylvania, and from there come to Schuyler County, Ill., some time during the forties. After his marriage in 1856 he made Li- home in Rushville until 1862, in which year he removed to Littleton. It was in 1805 that Mr. Possell disposed of the home farm and took up his abode in Brooklyn, and in the beautiful rosi- dence which he now owns is spending his later years free from the labors which his former years of industry have made possible. During the seventy-two years of his life be has made his home continuously in Brooklyn Township, and it is safe to say that no citizen of his community stands higher in the estimation of friends and neighbors than does Mr Bessell. October 1. 1550. he united with the Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, and during the intervening years ho has been one of the most useful members and officers of that organization, since 1863 serving in the capacity of elder. Ile also represented the Schuyler Presbytery in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church when it met in Detroit in 1899. Ilis political sympathies have always been in favor of the Republican party. and his first vote was east in favor of Jomm C. Fremont.

BILDERBACK, William M .- An extensive land- holder and a well-to-do agriculturist. Mr. Bilder- back is prosperously engaged in his independent occupation on one of the pleasantest and most desirable homesteads in Schuyler County. Ilis home farm is finely located on Section 28, Bir- mingham Township and comprises 183 1-3 acres of as fine land as is to be found in the country. all of which is under a high state of cultivation. While he carries on general farming. raising the usual grains and commodities to be found on an Illinois farm, it is in the raisin z of stock that he takes his chief pleasure and on his farm may be seen a fine herd of Poroc red Jersey hogs which are eligible for registration. In his choice of cattle he is partial to the black breed, and has from twenty-five to sixty head on his farm. Mr. Bilderback is a descendant of German fore- fathers, although the family. for a number of generations, has been represented in America. The records state that the grandfather Bilder- back. died in Kentucky, where he reared a large family of sons, among whom was Charles, the father of William M. At the death of their father the sons Charles. Alex. William. Jantes and John) left the South to take up life in what at that time ( ISAGDY was considered the frontier. coming to Schuyler County, Ill. Charles made his choice of land in Section 26. Birmingham Township, where he purchased about 300 acres of wild, uncultivated prairie land. far removed from any other white settler. The brothers. not quite so venturesome, selected a spot class to the timber. and here they worked together in improve their property, all the time fearing tor the safety of their brother Charles, whose bleik

location in the open prairie made him an easy prey to the Hasts of wind and vorm which were no meotanion visitors even in the more sheltered parts, on the land which be had selected and jotchased. Charte. Bilderback at once began the work of improvement. eroet ne a hewed frame building. material for which he hauled from Pulaski, Adams Conty. In the meantime he had fornant domestic ties by his marriage with Sarch 1 .. Crawford, who proved a help- inate in every sense of the word. and together they labored to make a comfortable home for their children. of whom there were five in num- br. ra x: Thom s. wla fel in infancy ; William M., whose name heads this article : Charles E. and him F. both farmers in this township: and Idi B., the wife of S. P. Foster. their home bring at St. Mary, Handwerk Counts. Ill. The mother of these children passed to her reward in 1\\1. and ten years later. in 1891. the father was laid to rest, after a life of many years spent in the upbuilding of the community where in young manhood he selected his future home.

The second child in the family, William M. Bilderback was born on the home farm on See- tion 2%. Birmingham Township. October 15, Isto : and. in fact, he has never known any other home. for after the death of the mother. the farm was placed under his management. His educational training was meager, consisting only of stich tulvantages as were offered in the schools of the Huntsville district. but nevertheless he was alert and observing, and by well-selected reading has become well informed generally, and is an agreeable conversationalist. When his school days were over, he turned his attention to as- sisting in the duties of the farm. and upon the death of his father. he purchased the old home- stead property. No opportunity to improve upon the older methods of farming have been lost sight of by Mr. Bilderback, and as a result his property is not only in appearance, but in reality. one of the most prosperous and productive in this part of Schuyler County.

Mr. Bilderback was married. May 5, 1585. to Miss Finma %. Harkness, who was born in Ka- hoka. Mo,, August 31. 1861. the danghter of James C. and Elizabeth (Stauffer) Harkness. natives of Pennsylvania. who as early as 1842 established their home in the wilds of Missouri. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hark- ness, those besides Mrs. Bilderback now living are as follows : Abraham, of Clark County, Mo. ; John, of Lake City. Colo .: George, a farmer of Clark County, Mo. : James and Frank, both resi- dents of Kahoka. Mo .: Jane, the wife of Henry Strickler, of Farmington, lowa: and Annie, the wife of Jasper Stover, of Lake County, Cal. The mother of these children passed away in HIMNO, but the father is still living in Kaboka, Mo. at the ripe oll age of ninety-four years. Eight chil- dren blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bil- derback, as follows: Arthur Glenn, who died when seven years of age: Tivis E., who was born Angust 16. INAS, ail is now a student in the State Normal University, Normal, III. : Troy P.,

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 57

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1126

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126