USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2 > Part 67
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Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lales: Stella M .. November 22, 1881, who is now the wife of Harley Wilson, a carpenter of Augusta, III., and mother of Glenn, Silva and Sibyl (the last two twins) ; Edna E., born July 4, 1553, who lives at home, and Mary A., who died in infancy. They also have an adopted son, Harry B. Eates. The parents are both mem- bors of the Christian Church. Mr. Eales being identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.
EALES, Thomas .- Among the successful rep- res mitatives of the agricultural element in Schuyler County. Ill., none is more worthy of commendatory mention than Thomas Eales, of Bainbridge Township. Mr. Eales was born in Ralls County, Mo., February 15, 186S. a son of James T. Eales and wife. Thomas Eales was reared on the paternal farin in Missouri, and revived his education in the district schools of Ralls County, meanwhile assisting his father in work on the home place until he was about twenty years of age, when he purchased a half- interest in his father's land and live-stock, with when he jointly conducted farming operations until 101. They then divided their interests. and in the spring of that year. Thomas Eales came to Schuyler County, Ill., renting a farm which he purchased two years later, and on which he has since continued to live. It is lo- vated in Section 5. Bainbridge Township, con- sisting of 160 acres, of which 135 acres are un- der cultivation. Here he has made many import- ant improvements, and now has one of the best agricultural properties in the township. He is very partial to draft horses. of the breeding of which he makes a specialty, and has on band some of the best grades in Schuyler County.
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
In 1SSS, Mr. Eales was united in marriage with Miss Etlie Grist, who was born in Bain- bridge Township, a daughter of Simon J. Grist and wife, her father being one of the first male children born in Rushville. This union has re- sulted in two children, namely: H. V., born March 30, 1SS; and Vassar Paul, who died at thirteen years of age.
In polities, Mr. Eales is a stanch adherent of Hle Democratie party, and although he has never been inclined to seek political preferment, he keeps thoroughly informed in regard to the cur- rent issues in local and national affairs. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the 1. 0. 0. F. and M. W. A. in Rushville, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church of that place. Both are highly esteemed by all who know them.
EATON, Allen .- During the nine and thirty years of his occupancy of the same farm in Section 6, Camden Township, Allen Eaton has up- held the dignity, usefulness and progressiveness of his tine-honored calling, and has proved that. with few advantages and little material help, men of definite purpose and determination may realize the dreams and expectations of their ambitious youth. It is not without arduous ef- fort, failure and discouragement that Mr. Eaton has come to represent a dependable element in Schuyler County. This invariably must be the fate of a man who starts with nothing and by le- gitimate means, attains the ownership of 650 acres. Born in Knox County, Ohio, October 3. 1861. Mr. Eaton is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Crider) Eaton, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively. Joseph Eaton was the son of an Irish immigrant who settled in Pennsyl- vania, and whose brother, General Eaton, helped to make the martial history of the Civil War. while adding to the fame of the enlisted men from Ohio. Joseph Eaton died in early life in 1842, and in 1856 his wife. and her two sons, Allen and John, moved to Vermont, Fulton County. Ill., in 1859 locating in Littleton, Schuy- ler County, where the mother died in 1500. Of her nine children. John was a soldier in the Mex- ican War and died on the Schuyler County farm in February. 1899: Jane is the widow of Henry Schoonover. of Brooklyn Township; Mary is the widow of John Dexter. of Pike County. Il. ; Catherine is the deceased wife of Harry Austin, of Seattle, Wash. : Martha beeme the wife of a Mr. Johnson, and both are deceased : and Ellen is the wife of L. D. Nichols, of Pike County, Ill.
When the Civil War broke out Allen Eaton was twenty years old. but as he was the sole support of his widowed mother he was persuaded not to enlist. After the death of his mother his brother John, and his sister Ellen. came to Camden Township, the latter for many years being a successful teacher. In 1964. Mr. Eaton invested in forty-three acres of land, which he soon after sold to Mr. Fisher, and then bought sixty-three acres in Section 22, Camden Town- ship. This also was sold not long afterward and
in 1569 he bought sixty-four aeres in Section 6, which proved the nucleus of his present large property. This land had a log cabin on it, which long since has been replaced by a modern dwell- ing, and the years have witnessed continued im- provements in every way known to the progress- ive and scientific farmer. At the present time the family owns 650 acres, all but fifty of which is tillable, and it is safe to say that no farm in the county has more to recommend it to the student of latter day agriculture. General farming is conducted on a large scale, and in the stock line preference is given to registered Aberdeen Angus cattle, Poland-China hogs, and high bred dratt and road horses.
April 5, 1867, Mr. Eaton was united in mar- ringe to Sarah McKee, who was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to America with her parents when eight years old. Her father, Wil- liam McKee, first stopped in the vicinity of In- dianapolis, Ind., and a few years later moved to Schuyler County, where Mrs. Eaton grew to womanhood. She was the mother of five chil- dren: William, born April 26, 1568, married for his first wife Mabel MeDonald, who became the mother of a daughter. Rena, now eight years old, and died September 24, 1903. his present wife being in maindenhood Annie Lynn; John Eaton, born March 10, 1570, married Pearl An- derson, and has two children, Lena and Lester ; Frank, born August 23, 1873. his father's as- sistant on the home place and the comfort of his mother in her last days; llenry, born May 23, 1×76. living with his father; and Roscoe, born May 31, 1879, also at home. These children have all been given a practical common school edu- cation, and the three sons who are at home are experienced and successful famers. The death of the mother occurred February 11. 1900.
Mr. Eaton's political affiliations are with the Democratie party, but aside from casting his vote he has taken no active part in local po- litical affairs. While not a member of any church, he is a liberal contributor to churches and benevolent organizations, and no effort at public, improvement, material or otherwise, has failed to receive his hearty support. He has established a family in the county which maintains high standards of character and worth, and which, because of the largeness of its oper- ations and the extent of its control, has been a leading factor in agricultural practice for many years.
EDMUNDS, Henry HI .- One of the names connected with the attainment of the present and the promise of the future in Schuyler Conty, is that of Henry H. Edmunds, A public school educator for the past quarter of a cen- tury, and since 1901 Superintendent of Public Instruction in the city of Rushville. Mr. Ed- mands is a virile example of the qualities of usefulness and control which he seeks to ineul- cate in the hundreds of pupils within his jurisdic- tion. Ilis youth knew the weight of responsibil- ity, and his professional qualifications are the
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
result of self-sacrifice, resourcefulness and untir- ing perseverance.
Born in Gardner, Grundy County, f., April 28, INGS, Mr. Edmunds represents a family con- neeted with the dawn of American history and the pioneering of Rhode Island. in which State settled his progenitor on this sale of the water. Reuben Edmunds, a soldier during 1675-76 in the war of King Philip, chief of the Wampanoag In- dians. In Providence. R. L., James Edmunds, great-grandfather of Henry 1 .. was born in 1762, and while still a boy followed the martial fortunes of Washington during the Revolution- ary war. James Edmunds married Freelove Olin, a native of Vermont, and eventually set- tled in Hartland, Niagara County, N. Y., where bis son. Henry J. Edmunds, was born, the latter marrying Lucy Arnold. also a native of New York. Arnold Edmunds, son of Henry J .. and father of Henry II. Edmunds, was born in llart- land. and became an carly settler of Ilinois, finally locating in Gardner, and recently Los Angeles. Cal., his present home. Through his marriage with Julia Clagne, who was born in Rochester, N. Y .. he became allied with a Manx- man family. His wife's parents, Hugh and Mary (Corris) Clagne. having been born in the Isle of Man.
In order to secure a higher education. Henry Il. Edmunds tangle in the country schools for a couple of years after completing his training in the high school of Gardner. In the fall of Iss! he entered the lilinois State Normal University. but as lack of funds necesitated further teaching. did not graduate therefrom until 1915. He since has pursned post-graduate work in the Univer- sity of Chicago and the University of Illinois, and by examination previous to coming to Rush- ville, secured a lite certificate as wacher in HI- linois, and was Superintendent of Schools in Lovington, Moultrie County. and Atlanta, Logan County. Mr. Edmunds is a Republican in poli- tics a Baptist in religion, and a Mason socially. In 1900 he was united in marriage with Emma F. Washburn, a native of Danvers, Il., and a graduate of the IHinios State Normal. Two sons have been born of the union, Arthur W. and Richard Henry. Mr. Edmunds is now located in Clinton, Ill., as Superintendent of the City Schools.
ELLIS, James D .-- To the man who has spent more than halt a century on the same farm. and who, since earliest youth. has known no other home save that afforded within its borders, or any means of livelihood save that made possible by the cultivation of its soil. an interest is de- veloped that is scarcely possible of acquirement under other conditions. James D. This Was born in Kenton County. Ky .. December 11. 1.1. a son of James Ellis, a native of Kentucky, and grandson of Elijah Ellis, who was born in Vir- ginia. For his first wife dann Ellis martial Nancy Harmon. also of the Bourbon State. and after her death in Oakland Township. Schuyler County, in 1846, returned to Kentucky and mar-
ried Margaret Ann Harmon, sister of his first wife. He spent the first winter of his sojourn in Schuyler County in the village of Rushville, and the next year settled on the farm in Oakland Township, now owned and occupied by his son. This farm formerly was owned by William Wil- lis, and when purchased by Mr. Ellis had few improvements, a large part of it being under timber and brush. No effort had been made at road making in the neighborhood, the public thoroughfares passing in all directions across bis Ind. Mr. Ellis was enterprising aud resourceful, however, and before his death cleared about 200 acle's.
At the present writing (1907) James D. Ellis lies stricken with paralysis at his beautiful country home, and his family and many friends are greatly concerned regarding his condition. Ilis life has been mull of good deeds and industry. and under his wife guidance the work begun by his father has continued with very gratifying financial . nd general results. Ile has been a careful and conscientious farmer, has carefully and painstakingly reared his children, and has set a moral example which the younger generation would do well to emulate. In the present emer- geney he is fortunate in having capable, indus- trious sous to carry on his work and maintain his reputation for public spiritedness and good citizenship. Mr. Ellis received a common school education and in 1560 married Mary Berry, a native of Rushville Township, and of the union there are six children : Edgar, a farmer of Oak- land Township, who married Cora Tutt, and has two children, Marie and Francis; Arthur, also a farmer of Oakland Township, who married Anna Tutt. a native of Rushville Township, and mother of two children. Cora and Iva ; Alice. wife of Edgar Rose, a farmer ot Rushville Township, and mother of Ethel B. and Everet Rose : Grace. wife of Charles E. Garrison. living on the old home place ; Lewis, a farmer of Neds- wiek. Kan .. husband of Maude (Bosworth ) Ellis, and father of two children who died in infancy : and Water, of Sedgwick, Kan .. who married Adt Frisby.
The perpetuation of the character and deeds of the Ellis family in Schuyler County is practi- cally assured. not only by the work of those who represent the first and second generation. but by many evidences of their forethought and gener- osity shared in common with their neighbors and friends in the community. For instance. out of respect to the life of the first Ellis, who estab- lished the family here. there has been built upon the Ellis farm a church and school house, both of which have been in active use for many years, the ground having been donated by the present owner of the property. Mr. Ellis never has been active in politics, but he has earnestly supported the Republican party, and always has stood for clean local government and office. He was just a year obl when he came here in ISH, and the changes which have led up to the Prosperity of the present are all vividly impressed upon his memory.
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
ERWIN, Lewis D .- During the summer of 1839 Lewis D. Erwin came overland from Toledo, Ohio, to Schuyler County, III., which since has been his home, and where for many years he was engaged in general farming and stock raising. He was born in Plattsburg, Clinton County, N. Y .. July 1, 1815, and was educated in the public schools of New York. Ohio and Ilinois, lle is of a generation of whom there are now few living in any part of the country, for in 1906 he had passed the ninety-third mile post of his earthly pilgrimage, and few survived with whom he could renew the incidents which crowded his youth and early manhood. For the past fifty-five years he has lived in the same house in Rush- ville, and his pleasant fare and kindly manner have been as familiar to the people of the town as are the many landmarks which indicate the transformation which has passed before his eyes.
The remote ancestors of Mr. Erwin were Scotch-Irish on the paternal side, and presuma- bly German on the distaff side of the house. llis paternal great-grandfather came from the North of Ireland in 1730, and located in Newark, N. J .. where David Erwin, the paternal grandfather was born, and where the latter married Cather- ine Munson. Cornelius M. Erwin, son of David, and father of Lewis B .. was born after his pa- rent's removal to Fairhaven. \t., and there he married Lucinda Fairman, a native of Rutland. Vt., and daughter of James Fairman.' supposed to be of German ancestry. Both sides of the fam- ily were represented in the great struggle for American independence begun in 1776. David Erwin enlisted under the banner of Washington at the age of eighteen, and among his martial ex- periences crossed the Delaware with the great commander on that memorable Chrishoas night. James Fairman also was a soldier in the Revolu- tion, enlisting from Vermont. and serving in three different regiments of the Colonial army.
Lewis D. Erwin established a home of his own in Schuyler County, November 12. 1843, marrying Elvira Wells, who was born in Henrietta. Loraine County, Ohio, and educated in the public schools of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin are the parents of the following children : David Douglas, Cath- erine P., Mathilda, Eliza. Elizabeth L .. Emma, Lewis D., Jr .. George Lemuel. Anna E .. Sophia Bessie and Edward II. Mr. Erwin is a Demo- crat in politics, a Presbyterian in religion, and fraternally a Mason. His heart still is young. his interests many sided, and his outlook noon life broad and hopeful. He has walked always close to the heart of truth and integrity, and his richest legary to those who shall sneveed him is the confidence and good will of his fellow men.
FOOTE, George H .- The manufacture of woolen goods constitutes an important if not extensive. commercial resource of Schuyler County, and the promotion of the industry has enlisted the brain. energy and lifelong activity of some of its core- most citizens, Chief among those who, at pres- ent. sustain an enviable reputation as magnfao- turers of this commodity is George II. Fuote. a
man of broad general experience, and thirty-two year's of whose life has been devoted to his pres- ent business. Mr. l'vote is the manager of the Rushville Woolen Mills, and one of the best known, most Progressive and dependable com- inercial factors in the community. He comes honestly by his ability and inclination, for his father, John Foote, the establisher of the pres- ent mills, was an early and very prominent local manufacturer, and a resume of his life may be found elsewhere in this work.
George 11. Foute was born in Eastern New Hampshire. July 9, 1561, and as a lad was taken by his parents to Charlestown, same State. where he acquired his primary education in the public schools. Subsequently removal was made to Ofsega, Mich., and later to Rock Island. Il., and from there to Rushville, where in 1974 Grorze 11. went to work in the Rushville Woolen Mills, of which his father was boss corder. In 1876 John Foote established the Rushville Hosiery Mills, in which his son was installed as mana- ger and bookkeeper. a position which he since has maintained with credit to himself and the community. The mills are in a prosperous con- dition, and their products are known and nord throughout a large area of country. They are equipped with the best modern machinery, and give employment to about twelve people the year round, extra hands being required in rush seasONS.
J'y his marriage, in 1884, to Susan Weber, Mr. Foote became allied with another woolen manu- facturing family. John Weber, the father of Mrs. Fonte, being the pioneer of the business in Schuyler County. Mr. and Mrs. Foote became the parents of two children: George, who died at the age of eight years; and Edna, wife of Peter Olson. of Rushville, who has one child. Mr. Foote has taken a keen interest in Repub- lican polities for many years, and has served as Alderman of the Third Ward. Rushville, several terms. Ho is socially connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. With his wife he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for several years has been an offrial in the same. He is regarded as a man of buisiness integrity and sound judgment. and as a friend of education. progress. social purity and honest municipal control.
FOOTE, John, (deceased.) -- The Rushville Hosiery Factory was in continuous operation under the same management from the time of its establishment, in 1576. by John Foote. until the date of his death in 1906. The results achieved were such as might have been expected from a man of extended experience and thorough knowl- edge of the details of his business. Behind the success of Mr. Foote were the thought and labor of generations of his family as weavers and manufacturers of fabrics. He was born Jan- mary 17. 1827. in Leeds, Yorkshire. Eng .. the fifth city in population, and the chief woolen manufacturing center of England. While still
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
a student in the public schools, he began to learn from his father, John Foote, the trade of cloth- dressing. The elder Tooth also was born in Yorkshire, and from his father, in turn, learned the trade of we aving, which he followed during bis entire active life. He married Margaret Hines, also born in England, and reared a large family, of who'n three of his children, Frank, Mary and Joho, came to America.
Jolm Foote followed the cloth-dressing trade in England until 1&11, when he came to Boston, Mass,, and later, in the interests of his business, made brief visits to Millbury, Cherry Valley, Foxboro, Oxford : nd Winchester. At Bridgewa- ter, Mass., he broadened his knowledge by work- ing at the boot and shoe trade until the begin- ning of the Civil War, when he moved to New- port. N. IT. On March 20. 1865 Mr. Foote en- listed in Company K. Eighteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged on May 6, 1665. Ile then spent a year in Charlestown. Mass .. and thence went to Michi- gan, where he lived three years. le next be- came foreman of the Rock Island Woolen Mills, at Rock Island. Il., and in isik came to Rush- ville, where two years later he established the Rushville Hosiery Factory.
At Foxboro, Mass,, in 1816. Mr. Foote was united in marriage to Martha A. Childs, a native of Maine, and a daughter of Amos Childs. Mr. and Mrs. Foote were the parents of four sons and one daughter. namely : Charles F., Alfre l A .. Ada, John W. and George 11. Charles F. is connected with the Ipava eltax Woolen Mills. George Il. is a young man of exceptional prom- ise, who. having been his father's business part- ner and right hand man, continued into another generation the occupation with which his family has so long been identified. John Foote was a typical representative of the English American, whose inherent and substantial traits of charge- ter remained in full strength during more than halt a century spent in another than his native clime. His career in this community constituted an impressive lesson in perseverance. upright living and high regard for the rights of his fel- lowmen. Mr. Ponte died February 28, 1906. his excellent and faithful wite having passed away October 18, 1903. For many years both were active and useful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Fonte long acted in an official capacity, and was inthiential in all the branches of church work. In political action. he was an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Fraternally, ho was af- filiated with the I. O. N. W .. and was held in high regard by his comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic.
FOSTER, Hon. Alrick Mann. An interesting study in early development and large usefulness is forthcoming in the career of Hon. Alrick Mann Toster. who, though only twenty-six years of age, has caused his fellow-citizens of Selmyler Coanty to speculate upon his practical accom-
plishments and promising possibilities as an ed cator, law-maker and scientific farmer and st raiser. Principaily, however, Mr. Foster's chu to distinction rest upon his efforts as a sto raiser, and Woodview Larm, whose many si. interests he controls, is unsurpassed among . terprises in the State devoted to the stock indi. try.
That Mr. Poster has reached his present + nenee with surprising rapidity is due largely . the fact that the man and his work are b. companions, and each the complement of . other. He likes stock. has unbounded faith its possibilities, cherishes ideals of accounts ment which will keep him unsatisfied with #. thing but the best, and delights in the head giving and soul-satisfying compensations o ral existence. Born on the farm he now ov : and occupies in Littleton Township. 8 :1,03 County, January 15, 1881. he is the son o: 1 rick Mann and Susan ( Dorinda) Foster, 1 former of whom swelled the brief list of rak builders of 1832. and mention of whom it found elsewhere in this work. Three-qui of a century in the same county has devely ho diminution of the popular regard for 1 honor and ability of the family, but on the . trary the character and labor of its membr; mains the encouraging goal of the rising zu ation.
After the death of the elder Foster in ) the son remained on the old place until 1 :. with his mother to Rushville in 1800. II . supplemented his earlier country school t. by attendance at the high school. thereafte. it's a course at the Rushville Normal at. Rushville Business College, graduating fro latter in the class of 1898. In the means mother had returned to the farm in 1-0 atter competing his education he joine .. al for three years combined agriculture school teaching. achieving marked success 1. tter capacity, and building up a rep . which brought him many practical indue to continue as an educator. However. the. the country rose above all other voices. :: gan to engage actively in stock raising. os .. in the breeding of Ohio Improved Chest . and along this line he has achieved mot- anticipated success. Each year Mr. Fost ... logues his hogs, and each year with - marked improvement in both the quall quantity of his herd. Probably no one part of the State is better prepared to hogs of this kind for breeding purpose- more thoroughly conversant with the mu vantages eredited to them. He has spared time nor expense in making his business # - and the result has surpassed his most s hopes. He also has a well-bred hend o. tered AberdeenAngus cattle. Every da of his farm is considered from a when business standpoint. and his facilities for taining high standards and continuous are unsurpassed. Bis hogs have a repur .!!
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