Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 137

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174

USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 137

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Homer Ellis Robinson attended the district schools and lived with his parents until his marriage which took place December 26, 1900, to Lillie Jane Thompson, born in Fountain Green Township, March 15, 1880, a daughter of Harvey and Ida E. (Berry) Thompson, he he born at Macomb, Ill., and she near Gales- burg, Ill. The grandparents, John and Elizabeth Thompson, were born in New York, and Samuel and Jane (Tarbell) Perry, were natives of New York and New Hampshire. respectively. Harvey Thompson died November 27, 1918. His wife died June 25, 1918. Mrs. Robinson is the eldest in her family, the others being as follows. Lottie S., who is Mrs. Ernest Robinson, of Pilot Grove Township; Lester B., who is on the home farm; Leaffie M., who is Mrs. Tracy Wright, of Fountain Green Town- ship; and Lorena M., who is Mrs. Gay Wright, of Pilot Grove Township.

Following his marriage Mr. Robinson rented land in Pilot Grove Township and other farms in various places until 1906, when he moved to the farm in Hancock Township, on section 1, belonging to his father-in-law, comprising 288 acres where he carries on general farming and stockraising. Some years ago he bought forty acres of land in Fountain Green Township, later adding forty acres to it, but rents this farm. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have the follow- ing children : Opal Forrest, who was born Sep- tember 29, 1905; and Maxine Lottie, who was born December 24, 1916. Mr. Robinson belongs to Colchester Lodge No. 714, I. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members of the Hancock County Mutual Association. He is a Democrat, and has served as school director and trustee with efficiency and honor.

ROSEBERRY, Isaac John, one of the highly esteemed residents of Elvaston, was formerly engaged in a restaurant business, and is well known throughout this part of the county. He

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was born in Adams County, Ill., June 12, 1840, a son of Isaac and Margaret (Henderson) Rose- berry, natives of Pennsylvania, and grandson of John and Margaret (Roseberry) Roseberry, and Isaac and Mary (McIlhaney) Henderson, also natives of Pennsylvania, all of whom were early settlers of Adams County, Ill. In addition to owning 300 acres of land in Adams County, John Roseberry was a pilot for Mississippi River boats. Isaac Roseberry and his wife were mar- ried in Adams County and lived there until 1850, when they came to Hancock County, and bought a farm in Prairie Township, and there both of them died.

Isaac John Roseberry was reared in Adams and Hancock counties, and attended the district schools in both counties. On February 13, 1868, he was married to Mary Adeline Emery, born at Utica, N. Y., a daughter of Joel Albert and Jane (Adams) Emery, natives of New York. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Roseberry lived on the Roseberry homestead until 1SS2, carrying on general farming, and then moved to Elvaston and he bought and conducted a res- taurant, but sold it in 1912 on account of ill health. However, as he is naturally very in- dustrious, he has a shoemaking shop and repairs shoes to employ his time.

Mr. and Mrs. Roseberry became the parents of the following children : Nellie, who is Mrs. George Ellison, of Prairie Township; Orville, who lives at Peoria, Ill. ; Ella, who is Mrs. Myron Church, of Peoria, Ill .; Wesley, who lives at Elvaston ; Jennie, who is Mrs. Edward Strader, of Carthage; Adeline, who is Mrs. B. Roberts, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Charles, who lives at Low Point, Ill .; Cleveland, who lives at Chili- cothe, Ill .; and Veta, who is Mrs. Harry Whit- comb, of East St. Louis, Ill. Mr. Roseberry is a Democrat.

ROSENSTENGEL, William, D. D., pastor of the German Lutheran Church at Carthage, and a very learned and earnest clergyman, was born in the village of Asel, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Danistadt, Germany, December 25, 1846, a son of John and Catherine (Best) Rosen- stengel who were natives of Hesse-Darmstadt. The father conducted a hotel in the village of Asel, and he and the mother never came to Am- erica, but died in their native land.

William Rosenstengel is the only surviving member of the family of five children born to his parents. He was reared and educated in his native place, and came to America on an old fashioned sailing vessel, the Adler, which took five weeks to make the trip, and he landed in New York in 1867. Immediately leaving New York, he came to Illinois and was employed by a farmer until 1871, when he entered Carthage College, spending five years there as a student. Later he matriculated at the Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated after a three years' course, and he was assigned to a charge in Fulton County, Ill., which he held for three years. While there he was married to Margaret Walter, born in

Illinois, October 4, 1854, a daughter of George H. and Catherine (Muhl) Walter, both natives of Germany. Her father was a tradesman in Germany, but became a farmer after coming to America. Mrs. Rosenstengel is one of a family of ten children, six of whom survive, namely : ' Catherine, who is the wife of Philip Rock, of Fulton County, Ill. ; Ernest, who lives at Canton, Ill .; George, who lives in the vicinity of Can- ton, Ill .; Peter, who died in 1915; Philip, who lives at Des Moines, Iowa ; Henry, who lives at Bushnell, Ill. ; and Mrs. Rosenstengel. Mr. Wal- ter and his wife belonged to the Lutheran Church for a number of years and he was on the church council. In politics he was a Demo- crat.

After leaving his first pastorate, Mr. Rosen- stengel was sent to a charge at Nebraska City, Neb., and was later stationed at Grand Island, Neb. From there he went to Albuquerque, N. M., where he organized and erected a church. Upon his return north, he was called to the First Lutheran Church of Beardstown, Ill .. where he also erected a fine church. In 1899 he came to Carthage, where he has since re- mained as pastor of the German Lutheran Church and is doing great good among the peo- ple with whom he labors for character develop- ment and spiritual advancement. He is editor of a German paper known as the Lutheritcher Zions Bote which in English means Zion's Mes- senger, a paper of sixteen pages published bi- monthly, and devoted to church work. He is untiring in his efforts for the church and the dissemination of principles of the Christian re- ligion, and his labors have been far-reaching and beneficial.

Dr. and Mrs. Rosenstengel have had four chil- dren, three of whom survive, namely : Marie. who was graduated from Carthage College in 1905. was a successful teacher in the Plymouth schools. and is now the wife of Charles San- ford : Margaret, who was graduated from the Carthage High school, attended Carthage Col- lege for one year, and then took a year's busi- ness course, is now studying art at Chicago; and Mina, who was graduated from the Carth- age High school, is now a public school teacher at Herscher, Ill. When Dr. and Mrs. Rosen- stengel celebrated their Silver Wedding anniver- sary, the members of their church were present and in token of their high esteem presented them with a fine silver tea set. In his political views Dr. Rosenstengel is a Republican, and he adheres firmly to the principles of his party. He is an honored trustee of Carthage College, having held that position for many years, and he is president of the German Wartburg Synod. At a meeting of the latter body at Mt. Pulaski, Ill., he was for the sixth time elected chief ex- ecutive official. At the commencement exercises of Carthage College in 1905, the board of trus- tees conferred upon him the degree of D. D., an honor which was well merited. Dr. Rosensten- gel is a pleasant, scholarly gentleman who is held in high esteem by all who know him. Mrs. Rosenstengel is a lady of culture and refine-

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ment and ably assists her husband in his many labors.

ROSS, Herman F., one of the enterprising farmers of Augusta Township, owns 140 acres of valuable land in sections 16 and 17, and rents eighty acres additional, carrying on gen- eral farming and stockraising, and specializing on Berkshire hogs, Guernsey cattle, and Barred Plymouth Rock poultry. His estate is known as the Golden Rod Farm, and its products meet with a ready sale at good prices because of their excellent quality. He was born at Lit- tleton, Ill., March 16, 1872, a son of George W. and Letha J. (Hale) Ross, natives of Illi- nois, and farming people, the former of whom is deceased, but the latter survives and makes her home with her son, herman F.

Herman F. Ross attended the schools of Schuyler County, and remained at home until his marriage, when he began farming for him- self. He bought his present farm in 1908 and since then has made a number of improve- ments. On March 20, 1902, Mr. Ross was mar- ried to Luella Leneke, born in Hancock County. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have two children, namely : Mildred L. and Opal J. Mr. Ross is a Re- publican and has served in several of the town- ship offices. The Methodist Church holds his membership. He is .a man who understands his business and has been able to make his efforts count for something substantial, and his standing is an enviable one in his com- munity.

ROWE, S. Guy, cashier of the Farmers State Exchange Bank of Dallas City, and one of the able financiers of Hancock County, is held in high esteem by his associates and the patrons of the bank. He was born in Iowa, January 2, 1887, the only child of his parents, George B. and Ollie (Narver) Rowe. George B. Rowe was engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, but had retired when death claimed him on January 9. 1913. The mother survives.

S. Guy Rowe attended the grade and the high school of his native place, and completed his studies in the Penn College. His first venture in the business world was in a real estate busi- ness, and he conducted it very profitably until he was offered his present position, March 3, 1910. His fitness for the duties pertaining to it, has been so ably demonstrated that the bank has made it desirable for him to remain with it, and has benefitted by his connection therewith. Recognition of his financial knowl- edge and business standing has been demon- strated by his election to the presidency of the Hancock County Bankers Association.

On October 21, 1916, Mr. Rowe was married to Miss Nellie Noyes, a daughter of David Noyes, who belongs to one of the prominent families of Illinois. Mr. Rowe is a Thirty- second Degree Mason and a Shriner. Politically he is a Republican. A man of sound judgment, he has risen to his present position through his own merits and deserves the confidence and re- spect he inspires.

RUGER, Michael J., now deceased, was during life one of the successful farmers of Prairie Township, and his widow still resides on the homestead. He was born in Prairie Township, June 19, 1861, a son of John and Elizabeth (Riel) Ruger, natives of Germany. They lo- cated at Chicago, Ill., where John Ruger con- ducted a grocery for a short time, and then they moved to Hancock County, buying a farm in Prairie Township. He was very successful in his farming, became the owner of a large amount of land, and had the reputation of be- ing an extremely hard worker.

Michael J. Ruger attended the district schools and grew up on his father's farm. On April 29, 1886, he was married to Mary Foltz, born in Prairie Township, March 24, 1855, a daugh- ter of Adam and Elizabeth (Richtscheid) Foltz, born in Bavaria, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Foltz were married in Germany, August 12, 1862, and immediately thereafter came to the United States. They spent five years at Hamilton, Ohio, and in 1857 came to Hancock County, and that same year, they bought a farm in Prairie Township, where both died. After their mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Ruger located on a farm owned by his father and rented it for fifteen years, when they purchased it. This farm com- prised 140 acres of land in Prairie Township, and Mr. Ruger later added 160 acres to it, and conducted his homestead until his death, which occurred December 23, 190S. He erected the present buildings and made many other im- provements, so that the farm is now very valu- able. Since his death, Mrs. Ruger and her son have continued to operate the property. Mr. and Mrs. Ruger became the parents of the fol- lowing children : John Adam, who is at home; and Myrtle E., who is Mrs. Paul Cutler of Don- aldson, Iowa. Mr. Ruger belonged to the Luth- eran Church. He was a Republican, and served as a school director. Like his father, Mr. Ru- ger was very industrious, and deserved the prosperity which attended him. He also won and retained the confidence of his fellow citi- zens and his death was a distinct loss to his community.

RUGGLES, Charles Oscar, a successful general farmer and stockraiser who has won his pres- ent prosperity through his own efforts, is recog- nized as one of the representative men of Han- cock Township. He was born in Carthage Town- ship, February 11, 1862. a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Watkins ) Ruggles, natives of Lewis County, Ky., who came to Hancock County at an early day, buying a farm in Carthage Town- ship upon which they lived until they died, he passing away in 1890. He became a prominent man in his township and held a number of the local offices. The children born to him and his wife were as follows: Thomas, who lives in Scotland County, Mo .; William, who is de- ceased; Mary, who is Mrs. Alonzo Carter, of Clark County, Mo .; James, who is deceased ; John, who lives in Carthage Township; Charles Oscar, whose name heads this review ; Snowden,

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who lives in Kansas; Ellen, who is the widow of James Hackett of Carthage; Joseph, who lives in Kansas; and Walter and Sadie, both of whom are deceased.

After the death of his father, Charles Oscar Ruggles began working by the month for neigh- boring farmers, and was so engaged for ten years, when he bought 120 acres of land on sec- tion 16, Hancock Township. This farm was improved, sixty acres being cleared and the balance in pasture, and here he has since re- sided, his care and skill greatly increasing the value of the land.

On May 4, 1893, Mr. Ruggles was united in marriage with Miss Nettie Anderson, born in Hancock Township, a daughter of William Nor- ris and Susan (Timberman) Anderson, natives of Butler County, Ohio, who came to Hancock County in 1857, just after their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles have one son, Burton, born October 25, 1894, who lives in Hancock Town- ship. He married Vera Booz and they have one daughter, Nettie. Mr. Ruggles is a Demo- crat, but has not held any offices. He belongs to the Hancock County Mutual Association. An excellent farmer and good citizen, Mr. Ruggles is held in high esteem by his neighbors.

RUGGLES, John L., who owns and operates a very highly cultivated farm of eighty-five acres of land in Carthage Township, is numbered among the representative men of Hancock Coun- ty. He was born in Hancock County June 27, 1860, a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Matthews) Ruggles, who had eight sons and three daugh- ters, of whom John F. was the fifth in order of birth. Seven of these children survive, and three are now living in Hancock County, they being : John L .; Charles, who is a farmer, living near Webster, Ill., is married, has one son, Benton, and his wife is a member of the Chris- tian Church ; and Dora Ellen, who is the widow of James Hackett. Her four living children are as follows: Edward B., who is serving in the United States army oversea; Martin, who is serving the government at the Rock Island arsenal; Lelia, who is a graduate of the Car- thage High school, is in the employ of a Car- thage dry goods establishment ; and Flossie, who is a graduate of the Carthage High school.

Charles Ruggles was born in Kentucky, where he was reared and educated. He came to Illinois at an early day, and settled in Hancock County when pioneer conditions prevailed. He accumulated 150 acres of land on which there was a log cabin, and in it the Ruggles had their first home in the county. John L. Ruggles distinctly remembers his mother cooking the corn cakes in the fireplace, and he operated the old fashioned double-shovel plow and corn cultivator. Charles Ruggles was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and active in his party. He died in Hancock County and is buried in the Frank- lin Cemetery, his wife lying by his side, she having died about 1890. She was also a native of Kentucky, where she lived until her mar- riage.

John L. Ruggles early began to be self sup-

porting, but even before leaving home, he was encouraged to earn money. He and his brothers picked blackberries, and sold the fruit and with the money paid for a calf. After he left home he received $13 per month for some time, as he became more useful, his wages were increased, and he saved his money, and in time invested it wisely.

On November 11, 1886, Mr. Ruggles was mar- ried to Miss Sadie Lydia Ervin, and they be- came the parents of four children, of whom the living are as follows: Jessie Mabel, who attended the public schools, and since com- pleting her studies, has lived at home with her parents; Ada Pearl, who received her di- ploma from the common schools in the class of 1905, and then took a four-year course in the literary department of Carthage College, after- ward did clerical work for the government in connection with the Red Cross and W. C. T. U .; and Ruth Amanda, who is also a graduate of the common schools and Carthage College, is now teaching in Carthage Township, having completed a course at the Macomb State Normal school. The only son of the family is deceased. Mrs. Ruggles was born in Hancock County. December 13, 1863, and is the third living child of her parents' family of ten children. She is a daughter of Edward O. and May Ann (Yetter) Ervin. She has one brother and one sister, namely : Willis, who is a farmer of Car- thage Township, is married; and Amanda, who is the wife of Meredith Kimbrough, lives at Spokane, Wash., where Mr. Kimbrough is a merchant, and they have two daughters, Bertha, who is the wife of Walter Cooper; and Jessie, who is the wife of Charles Allen, both being resident of Spokane, Wash. Edward O. Ervin was a native of Kentucky, and he died in 1887, having been a farmer all his life. In politics he was a Republican. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for thirty years was a class leader and a great church worker. During his life here he accumulated 220 acres of land in Hancock County. Mrs. Ervin was born in Illinois.

Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles located on their present farm in 1891, since which time they have erected their residence and other buildings. The farm is located four and one half miles from the courthouse, and it is all clear of debt. Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles and their daughters are members of the Franklin Methodist Episcopal Church. Owning their own automobile, they are able to travel about considerably, and their daughter. Miss Ada Pearl is an expert driver of this automobile. They are people who exerted them- selves to the utmost since this country entered into the Great War, to give loyal support to the government, and their efforts proved very effective.

RUNYON, Charles A., M. D., one of the efficient and successful physicians of Hancock County who is engaged in practice at Elvaston and Hamilton, residing at Elvaston, is specializing in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear and nose, his practice having so increased as to

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necessitate the maintenance of two offices. He was born in Washington County, Iowa, August 6, 1861, a son of W. C. and Emily (Hood) Run- yon. W. C. Runyon was a large landowner in Washington County, and divided his time be- tween cultivating his land and discharging the duties pertaining to a professorship in Grand View College, where he taught scientific agri- culture, in which he was an expert, and he was very well posted on other subjects.

Dr. Runyon grew up in a scholarly atmos- phere and after attending the district schools, took a course at Washington Academy, and af- ter being graduated from that institution studied medicine at Keokuk, Iowa. During 1SS3 and 1SS4 he attended- the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, from which he was gradu- ated, and he then went into active practice at Ferris, Ill., where he remained until 1SS6, at which time he came to Elvaston. Until 1914 Dr. Runyon was engaged in a general practice, but in that year he took a post graduate course in diseases of the eye, ear and nose, and since then has confined his practice largely to the treatment of these ailments.

Dr. Runyon was married June 29. 1SS2, to Miss Emma Miller, a daughter of Dr. J. R. Miller, of Elvaston, Ill., where Mrs. Runyon attended the grammar school and the high school at Elvaston. Dr. and Mrs. Runyon have had the following children: R. S. Runyon, who is a dental surgeon at Carthage; W. C. Runyon, who is in practice at Metamora, Woodford County, Ill., was graduated in 1906 in medicine; Gretta M., who attended the West- ern University at Oxford, Ohio, is the wife of J. A. Califf, of Chicago, Ill. ; Charles A. Runyon, Jr., who was graduated from Carthage Academy, later attended Carthage College 9 years and is now at Bushnell. Ill., with John Brandt Co .; and Willard Miller, who is now attending the Elvaston High school. Dr. Runyon is a Mason and also belongs to the Eastern Star, the Mod- ern Woodmen and several other orders. In politics he is a Republican.

EMRICK, Edward E., president of the Emrick & Owsley Clothing Company, and president of the Emrick, Owsley & Helfrich Company of Carthage, is one of the substantial representa- tives of the business life of Hancock County, and a man who is known all over his section of the state. He was born at Fountain Green, Illinois, August 19, 1864, a son of Jacob H. and Nancy (Comegys) Emrick. Jacob H. Emrick was born in Rheinish, Bavaria, Jan- uary 18, 1835, and his wife was born at Indian- apolis, Indiana, June 28, 1841. In 1849 Jacob H. Emrick located at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he continued to reside until 1854, and in the latter year moved to Fountain Green, Illi- nois. The latter place continued his home until 1876 when he located permanently at Carthage, and there he lived until his death which occurred in 1887. Mr. Emrick was a mer- chant tailor. His widow survives him and is still in excellent health.

Growing up in Hancock County, Edward E.

Emrick attended the public schools of Carthage and Carthage College, and in 1882 entered the post office at Carthage as assistant postmaster, holding that office until 1886, under Dr. W. H. D. Noyes. In 1886 he went to Chicago and for a year was in the employ of Marshall Field & Company, and he spent two years in the, mercantile business at Grand Junction, Colo- rado. Returning to Carthage in 1889 he once more became assistant postmaster, this time serving under Mr. Charles S. DeHart, but re- signed at the end of his third year to enter the mercantile field, in which he has achieved so gratifying a success. The two concerns with which he is connected as chief executive, are numbered among the most dependable of the county, and much of their solidity and prosperity is due to his energy, foresight and knowledge of the mercantile business.

On July 3, 1895, Mr. Emrick was married at Aledo, Illinois, to Nannie Love, who was born at Aledo, September 23, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Emrick became the parents of the follow- ing children: Katherine Emrick Blazer, who was born December 6, 1896; John J., who was born January 6, 1900; Philip O., who was born June 2, 1902, died May 22, 1917; Doris E., who was born February 1, 1904; Edward E., Jr., who was born February 17, 1909; and Nancy E., who was born January 30, 1912.

Well known in Masonry Mr. Emrick belongs to Aledo Lodge No. 252, A. F. & A. M .; Cyrus Chapter No. 211, R. A. M .; Aledo Council No. 94, R. & S. M .; Rock Island Commandery No. 18, K. T .; Peoria Consistory, and Mo- hammed Temple, Mystic Shrine, both of Peoria, Illinois. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and liberal in his donations to the local congregation of that denomination. While he gives his loyal support to the candidates and principles of the Republican party, he has not cared to enter politics, his time and atten- tion being fully occupied with his business responsibilities. Mr. Emrick has long had the welfare of Carthage at heart, and has given practical expression to his faith in its future by investing in its realty, at present being the owner of business buildings in the center of the city.

While Mr. Emrick is identified with Carthage business interests as above stated, and fre- quently visits his early home of Carthage, it is proper to state that he now lives, and for many years has lived, at Aledo, Illinois, where he has a large mercantile establishment. The active management of the Carthage enterprises is under the immediate control of his partner.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 137

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1174

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174