Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 94

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 94

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John Rhodes Bryant attended Maplewood High school at Camp Point, Ill., and the Quincy College of Medicine, from which he was gradu- ated in 1885. For the subsequent nine months, Dr. Bryant was at Quincy, Ill., with Dr. R. Woods, and then went to La Prairie, Adams County, Ill., for nine months. He then located permanently at West Point, and has built up a valuable practice.

On November 27, 1890, Dr. Bryant was mar- ried to Celestia J. Hecox, born in Hancock County, a daughter of Bradley Hecox. Dr. and Mrs. Bryant have one daughter, Marguerite, who is at home. Dr. Bryant is an independent Republican. He belongs to the county and state medical societies and the Modern Woodmen Camp at West Point. On August 18, 1917, Dr. Bryant enlisted for service during the Great War, and was called to the colors in July, 1918, being stationed in the medical reserve corps at Camp Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, receiving his honorable discharge December 7, 1918.

BUCKERT, Albert John, one of the prosperous business men of Warsaw, is conducting a dry goods establishment that gives the people of his vicinity a choice in commodities and service that is equaled by few stores in this part of the state. He was born at Warsaw, Ill., June 16, 1885, a son of William and Christine (Ried- er) Buckhert. The father, who came to Car- thage direct from Germany, arriving in this city July 1, 1869, is a manufacturing cooper. He was married at Warsaw, on July 8, 1869, and he and his wife have made this city their home ever since.

Albert John Buckert attended the Warsaw German Lutheran school. After completing his studies he entered the employ of C. E. Ey- mann's dry goods store, and remained there for five years. For one year he was with the Star Dry Goods Company of Chicago, and then spent another year with L. Hellman, of Wauke- gon, Ill. On September 1, 1905, he returned to Warsaw and established his present business which he has built up to its present proportions, and is now the leading merchant of this part of the county.

On January 15, 1913, Mr. Buckert was mar- ried to Mabelle E. Crane, a daughter of C. B. and Eudora Crane, of St. Louis, Mo., who were married at Warsaw August 25, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Buckert have one daughter, Alberta Claire, who was born August 6, 1915. Mr. Buckert belongs to the German Lutheran Church. In ·politics he is a Republican. Standing well both as a private individual and business man, Mr. Buckert is justly regarded as one of the best representatives of Hancock County citizenship.

BUCKHERT, Gustave, one of the prosperous farmers of Montebello Township, is a self-made man and one who is held in high esteem by all who know him. He was born at Warsaw, Ill., November 19, 1863, a son of John and Louisa (Spitz) Buckert. John Buckert was born in Germany, and he died in June, 1875. His wife was also born in Germany, December 16, 1839, and she survives. Gustave G. Buckert has six brothers and one sister, namely : John, who lives at Nauvoo, Ill .; Edward, who lives at Trenton, Mo .; George, who lives at Nauvoo, Ill. ; Chris, who lives at Rock Island, Ill. ; Henry, who lives at Hamilton ; and Anna, who is Mrs. George Montgomery, of Carthage, Ill. The mother of this family came to the United States when she

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was eight years old, and the father came here at the age of twenty years. They were married in Missouri.

Gustave G. Buckert worked by the month on a farm when still a boy, saved his money and invested it wisely, and now owns eighty acres in Montebello Township, on which he carries on general grain farming and stockraising. He was married to Louisa Troutfetter, who was born October 22, 1863, a daughter of Adam and Eve (Young) Troutfetter. Her brothers and sisters are as follows: George, who lives in Oregon ; Louis, who lives in Hannibal, Mo .; Edward. who lives at Hamilton, Ill .; Fred ; Lena, who is Mrs. John Salzer, of Keokuk, Iowa; and Minnie, who is Mrs. John Kopsicker of Mendon, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Buckert have had the following children : Carl H., who was born January 30, 1893, is in the United States army ; Alvin B., who was born March 4, 1898 is at home ; Almeda K. E., who was born November 5, 1895, is at home; and Arthur, who was born December S, 1891, died January 1, 1916. Mr. Buckert is a Democrat and has been a county commissioner, and served as a school director for fifteen years. His present prosperity is all the more deserved as he has earned all he owns by his industry and thrift, and his personal characteristics are such as to have won for him the confidence and respect of his community.

BUCKERT, John F., a substantial business man, is a native of Hancock County, and one who is widely, and favorably known. He was born at Warsaw, Ill., a son of John F. and Anna Cath- erine (Spitz) Buckert, natives of Germany, The maternal grandfather was the third of his family to settle at Warsaw, Mrs. Buckert being a child at that time. Mr. Buckert was also brought to Warsaw in childhood, and both were reared there, and when they reached suitable age, they were married. He was a laborer and died at Warsaw in 1871. The mother lives at Oakwood, Ill., being now several years over eighty. They had eight sons and one daugh- ter.

Until 1SS2 John F. Buckert remained on thea family farm in Wythe Township, rendering assistance to his mother, and then he became a farmer on rented land in Wythe, later moving to Nauvoo, where he embarked in a draying business which he still conducts. When he was fourteen years old he began learning the coop- er's trade, and has worked at it in the winter months, at intervals, ever since.

On April 17, 1SS2, Mr. Buckert was married (first) to Annie Ernst, born in Warsaw, and they had two children, namely: Adam, who lives at Warsaw ; and Oscar, who lives in Appa- noose Township. The first Mrs. Buckert died in 1885. In 1887, Mr. Buckert was married to Lizetta Wolf, of Nauvoo, a daughter of Adam and Amelia (Horning) Wolf, natives of Ger- many and Buffalo, N. Y. By his second mar- riage Mr. Buckert has had the following chil- dren : Elmer G., who lives at Louisville, Ky .; Otto, who died at the age of five years; John

Harold, who died in infancy ; and Ralph Harold and Irvin Charles, who are at home. Mrs. Buckert attended the public schools of Nauvoo, while Mr. Buckert went to the Lutheran paro- chial school at Warsaw. Mr. Buckert belongs to the German Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and he served as alderman from the Sixth Ward for six years. Frater- nally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America, while Mrs. Buckert be- longs to the Rebekahs, Royal Neighbors and the Woman's Relief Corps. Both are very highly esteemed at Nauvoo, and in the neighborhood.

BUNNELL, Walter F., one of the enterprising farmers of Augusta Township, owns and op- erates 200 acres of valuable land in partnership with his father-in-law, on section 13 of this township. He was born in Hancock County, May 21, 1875, a son of Horace T. and Mary E. (McCune) Bunnell, natives of Hancock and Schuyler counties. The father still survives, but the mother is deceased.

Walter F. Bunnell attended the district schools, and the West Point High school for two years. He then worked for neighboring farmers until his marriage, which took place August 26, 1903, when he was united with Edna A. Tarr, born in Adams County, Ill., January 29, 1882, a daughter of John P. and Adella (Shriner) Tarr. John P. Tarr survives and lives in Augusta, but his wife is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell have three children : Ethel, Dessie and Lelia. Politically he has always been a Republican, and he has served as a school director and a justice of the peace.

After his marriage, Mr. Bunnell began farm- ing in conjunction with his father-in-law, and, as above stated, they own their farm in part- nership. Here they carry on general farming and have made a great success of their work. They are both well and favorably known throughout their neighborhood.

BURGNER, William, a retired farmer of Car- thage, owns 320 acres of valuable land in Carthage Township, and was formerly very active in agricultural matters. He was born in Carthage Township, March 7, 1854, a son of John and Maria A. (Troutman) Burgner, born forty miles from Harrisburg, Pa. They were married in Ohio, and then, accompanied by Jonas Troutman, the father of Mrs. Burgner, came in 1850 to Carthage, Ill., where a son-in- law of Jonas Troutman lived. After several months spent at Carthage, John Burgner bought an unimproved farm on section 5, Carthage Township, on which he built a log house, cut- ting the logs from his own timber, as a portion of this sixty acres was in timber and the rest was prairie land. Later he added to his farm until he had 160 acres in the home place, and he bought land in Rock Creek and in Pilot Grove townships, having in all about 400 acres of improved land. He died August 7, 1871, at the age of fifty-one years, his widow surviving him many years, dying September 18, 1917, aged

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

ninety-one years. Their children were as fol- lows: Emily, who is deceased; Mary, who is Mrs. George Thompson, of Ferris, Ill .; William ; Anna, who is deceased ; two sons and one daugh- ter, all of whom died in infancy ; Charles, who lives at Oakland, Cal .; Nellie, who is Mrs. W. O. Kunkel, of Carthage; and Cora, who also lives at Carthage.

William Burgner remained at home until his marriage, which took place November 6, 1878, when he was united with Ella A. Thompson, born at Carthage, Ill., a daughter of Charles and Henrietta (Wilkie) Thompson, natives of Ken- tucky and Ohio, respectively. After his mar- riage, Mr. Burgner moved to 120 acres of land adjoining his father's homestead, and lived there until 1913, when he moved to Carthage, and bought a residence, where he still lives. He owns 350 acres of land in Carthage Township, and has other farming interests in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Burgner had the following children born to them: Ethel, who was born in 1882, died in infancy; Roy, who was born in 1884, died in 1885 ; Harley T., who was born February 17, 1886, lives at Peoria, Ill., and is chief elec- trician of the traction system of that city. He was married April 12, 1919, to Miss Lela Eve- lyn Hall, of Buffalo, Ill. Mr. Burgner is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he has served as trustee, and he belongs to the Men's Bible class. A Republican, he has been prominent in his party, served as school director for thirty-seven years, as township clerk for the same length of time, and since 1913 has been county superintendent of highways. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.

BURR, Dennis R., one of the directors of the State Bank of La Harpe, and a substantial farmer of Hancock County, operating upon an extensive scale, is held in the highest esteem by all with whom he is associated. He was born in Durham Township, this county, Octo- ber 27. 1863, one of the five children of his parents, Jarvis N. and Johanna (Gillman) Burr. Jarvis N. Burr was born in Connecticut, but came to Durham Township, Hancock County, in 1855, and thereafter made that township his home, dying on his farm in 1911.

Dennis R. Burr was reared in Durham Town- ship and there attended the district schools, and afterward attended Gettings Seminary at La Harpe and was graduated with the class of 1SS4. He then took a commercial course in Burlington, Ia. Being brought up amid rural surroundings and taught farming from boyhood, he naturally turned to agriculture as his life work. He now owns 600 acres of very valuable land in Durham Township. In addition to gen- eral farming, Mr. Burr raises a large amount of stock and in 1897 was made a director of the La Harpe State Bank.

Mr. Burr was married to Lulu M. Pacey of Peoria County, Ill., and they have one son, Lauren R. Mr. and Mrs. Burr are consistent members of the Union Church. Politically lie is a staunch adherent of the principles of the

Republican party. For some time Mr. Burr has made La Harpe his place of residence, and is very active in its civic affairs. A loyal American, he was interested in forwarding the work of the government in the conduct of the Great War.

BURROW, William, who is one of the pros- perous farmers and residents of Hancock Town- ship, owns 120 acres of land on section 2 and forty acres of timber land on section 11, but no longer engages actively in operating his prop- erty. He was born in Macon County, Tenn., April 20, 1847, a son of Garrel and Emeline (Wright) Burrow, natives of Bedford and Macon counties, Tenn., respectively. In the fall of 1849 Garrel Burrow drove overland to Han- cock County, living at Webster during the suc- ceeding winter, but in the spring of 1850, rented a farm in Fountain Green Township, moving in the spring of 1852 to one he had purchased in Hancock Township. In the fall of 1852 he moved to another farm he had bought that fall which was also in Hancock Township. He died in 1906 aged eighty-six years as he was born in 1820; and his wife, born in 1823, died Decem- ber 12, 1918. Their children were as follows: Tabitha, who is Mrs. Martin Burrow, of Peoria, Ill .; Mary Jane, who died in 1889; Amanda, who is Mrs. William Lovely, of Hancock Town- ship; and William, who was the eldest.

William Burrow grew up in Hancock Town- ship and attended Walnut district school, and his wife attended the Joe Duncan school. He was married September 14, 1870, to Rachel Dye, born in McDonough County, Ill., July 30, 1850, a daughter of James and Rebecca (Brown) Dye, natives of Virginia and Hancock County, Ill., respectively. Her grandfather, William Brown, was a native of Virginia. After mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Burrow moved to his farm of 120 acres of land on section 2, where he carried on general farming and stockraising until he retired in 1908, his sons now conducting the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Burrow have the fol- lowing children : James. who is a farmer of Hancock Township ; Parielee, who is Mrs. Lyman Peck, of Hancock Township; Eva, who is Mrs. Walter Hungate, of Boone, Iowa ; Morris, who is a farmer of Hancock Township; Bessie, who is Mrs. Charles Golden, of Odessa, Wash .; Lyman, who lives at Colchester, Ill .; and Bertha, who is Mrs. William Hamline, of Cambridge, Iowa, all of whom are living, and Taylor the fourth in order of birth, who died in infancy. Mr. Burrow is a Republican. He is one of the highly respected men of his community, and deserves the success which has attended his efforts.

BURT, Alonzo W .. , now deceased, who was for a number of years associated with the business interests of Nauvoo, was one of the substantial men of Hancock County. He was born in 1833, a son of Benjamin and Adeline Burt, who came to Nauvoo, from Montrose, Iowa, sometime in the fifties. From the time he was fourteen

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years old, Mr. Burt was self-supporting. After locating at Nauvoo he was employed in the post office for four years, and then served in the One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for three years, during the Civil War. He was engaged in the retail liquor business at Nauvoo, and elsewhere for many years, or until his death which occurred in 1900.

On May 2, 1871, Mr. Burt was married to Nancy Moffitt, born at Nauvoo, November 4, 1840, a daughter of James and Julia (Hatch) Moffitt, natives of Ireland and New York, re- spectively, and very early settlers of Hancock County, where they were married. He was a farmer, and took care of his parents until they died. Mr. Moffitt passed away in 1902, but Mrs. Moffitt died in 1848. Mrs. Burt recalls many very interesting events connected with the early history of Nauvoo when it was still a Mormon city, and relates them entertainingly. Among her schoolmates were the two sons of Joseph Smith, Joseph and Alexander, and she visited at their home, and when the wife of the Prophet died, Mrs. Burt attended her funeral.

Mr. and Mrs. Burt had the following chil- dren : Julia, who is Mrs. Arthur Weeks of Cleveland, Ohio; Harry, who lives at Denver, Col .; Mary, who is Mrs. Oscar Seidler, lives with her mother, and has two children, Ralph and Annita; and Jane, who lives at Chicago. Mrs. Burt supplemented her attendance upon the Nauvoo common schools with six months spent in a convent at St. Charles, Mo. The family all belong to the Catholic Church. Mr. Burt was a Republican. For some years he was a member of the Nauvoo Post, G. A. R. A man of large charities, he is gratefully remembered by all with whom he was associated.

BUTLER, Thomas Cassingham, one of the suc- cessful general farmers and stockraisers of Han- cock County, owns and operates 100 acres of valuable land in Durham Township. He was born in Durham Township, October 22, 1868, a son of Samuel Baxter and Harriet (Cassing- ham) Butler, natives of Ohio. Samuel B. But- ler came to Hancock County in young manhood. The maternal grandparents, Thomas and Mary Cassigham, natives of England, came to the United States and located in Durham Township about 1850. After their marriage, Samuel B. Butler and wife settled on 160 acres of land in Durham Township. which he owned, that was located just opposite the farm owned by the Cassinghams. The land was cleared, although Samuel B. Butler made many further improve- ments, and he died on it in June, 1872. His widow was later married to George Searse, who now resides on the homestead. Samuel B. But- ler and his wife had the following children : Thomas C .; Charles, who lives at Maryville. Mo .; George, who lives at Pilot Grove ; and Mil- ton. who lives in Fountain Green Township.

Thomas Cassigham Butler attended the Inde- pendent district school, and resided with his mother. helping in the farm work. until his marriage. This event occurred November 25,

1889, when he was united with Kate McGrath, born at Dallas City, Ill., a daughter of James McGrath. Mr. and Mrs. Butler became the par- ents of the following children: Vernon, who served his country in the National Army during the Great War; Bertha, who is Mrs. Arthur Shirey, of Pilot Grove Township; and Harold and Ruth, both of whom are at home.

After his marriage, Mr. Butler rented a por- tion of the homestead, and remained on it for nine years. when he moved to Carthage, and worked in a grain office for about a year. How- ever the call of the soil was too strong, and he again became a farmer, buying 100 acres of land in Durham Township, which he has since improved considerably, building new fences and necessary outbuildings, boring a well and put- ting things in excellent repair. Here he car- ries on general farming and raises horses, cat- tle and hogs. He is a Republican, and served as road commissioner for three terms, and as a justice of the peace for one term. Fraternally he belongs to Webster Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Durham Camp. M. W. A. A man of wide ex- perience. he is conducting his farm in such a way as to serve as an example to others, and bring in a fair profit to himself.

BYERS, Frank, one of the representative men of Colusa, is interested along various lines in Hancock County, and has been instrumental in promoting some important enterprises. He was born in Durham Township, March 14, 1872, a son of John W. and Lois (Hopkins) Byers, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Adams County, Ill., respectively, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work.

Frank Byers attended the Durham Center district school, and the Johnson Business Col- lege of Fort Madison, Iowa. When he was twenty-two years old he began buying stock, and some months later he and Edward Ownings opened a general merchandise store at Colusa, Jesse Lionberger becoming his partner when he bought out the interest of Mr. Ownings. The firm of Byers-Lionberger branched out and now also owns a grain elevator and conducts a livestock business. Mr. Byers owns a sixty- acre farm, upon which he raises hogs and feeds cattle, and he is a very alert and capable busi- ness man.

In October, 1892, Mr. Byers was married to Maude A. Lionberger, born in Dallas Township, a daughter of Jackson and Elizabeth (Wint) Lionberger. Mr. and Mrs. Byers have the fol- lowing children : Helen, Doris, Selma and No- rine Catherine, all of whom are at home. Mr. Byers is very prominent. in the United Brethren Church, having donated the land on which the present $15,000.00 church now stands, and hav- ing served as treasurer and secretary of the building committee for the erection of this church. He is also treasurer of the Sunday school, and deeply interested in all kinds of church work. In politics, he is a Democrat. He served as a school director for nine years, and is now road commissioner. He is a charter

LOUISA RADEL

PETER RADEL

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

member of Colusa Camp, M. W. A., and he be- longs to the Colusa band. Mr. Byers has been instrumental in promoting the organization of the Farmers Telephone Company of Colusa, which is owned and operated by the farmers of this locality, with an exchange at Colusa. He also took part in raising the standard of the Colusa High school which is now one of the accredited ones of the county.

BYERS, John W., now deceased, was for a number of years one of the leading agricul- turalists of Durham Township, where he set- tled in the early days, and there developed val- uable farm property. He was born in Pennsyl- vania, a son of William and Agnes (Cochran) Byers, substantial people of the Keystone State. Realizing the fact that the broad prairies of Illinois afforded better opportunities for people of limited means to secure farming land, Wil- liam Byers and his wife started forth on the then long and dangerous trip from Pennsyl- vania to Illinois. When they reached the Ohio River they took passage on it to the Mississippi River, as far as Quincy, Ill., from there traveled overland to Durham Township, Hancock Coun- ty, and there bought land.

After their arrival in the new home their son, John W. Byers, met Lois Hopkins, a native of Adams County, Ill., and subsequently they were married. then located in Durham Town- ship, where they spent thirty years. They then moved to Dallas Township, where he died in 1900, but she survived him for some years, pass- ing away in June, 1917.

John W. Byers and his wife had the follow- ing children: Narcissa, who lives at Colusa, Ill. ; Esther, who is Mrs. William Blythe, of Dur- ham Township; Frank, who lives at Colusa ; Grace, who is the widow of Frank Lamb, of Dallas Township: Elizabeth, who is Mrs. Jesse Lionberger, of Colusa ; John Wesley, who lives in Dallas Township; Anna, who was Mrs. Hugh Lamb, is now deceased ; Mary, who is Mrs. Wil- liam Deitrich, of Dallas Township; and Alfred N., who lives at Colusa. Although John W. Byers has passed away, the results of his hard labor and upright living remain, and his name is held in respect by the community in which he lived.

CAIN, Cecil, one of the enterprising farmers of St. Mary's township, operates for his mother "Lone Cedar Farm," which is the old nomestead. He was born here January 10, 1899, and has spent his entire life on the farm. He is a practical farmer, successful in his work, and he is also skillful in another line, being a special- ist in taxidermy. He has one of the finest preserved collection of birds and reptiles out- side of public museums in the state. In addi- tion to preparing and mounting his own speci- mens, Mr. Cain does considerable work for others in this line and is a recognized expert in it. In addition to his natural aptitude for the work, he has the further advantage of hav- ing taken a course in taxidermy at the North-

western School of Taxidermy, at Omaha, Nebr. His collection includes birds, reptiles and eggs, and also butterflies and Indian relics. His mother, who survives and makes her home with him, sympathizes in his work, and has encour- aged him in pursuing it. His knowledge of the fauna of Hancock and surrounding counties is remarkable, and there is no doubt but that his efforts will receive due recognition from scientific organizations, which can appreciate the value of collections prepared and mounted in Mr. Cain's manner.

CAIN, Douglas, now deceased, was for many years proprietor of Lone Cedar Farm, and was one of the leading farmers of St. Mary's Township. He is remembered as one of the representative men of Hancock County. He was born in St. Mary's Township, and spent his life in its borders. He was a son of Jesse and Hessie (Stanley) Cain, natives of Ken- tucky and Tennessee.

Growing up in St. Mary's Township, Doug- las Cain attended its schools and remained with his parents until his marriage, which oc- curred November 27, 1879, when he was united with Loretta D. Thompson, and they became the parents of the following children : Edna, who is Mrs. Elbert Wheeler, has had the fol- lowing children, Dessie, Fay F., Dovie D., Hop- son L. and Pearlia E., the last two being de- ceased; J. J., who is now serving his country as a soldier in the Thirty-fourtli Illinois In- fantry, went to France in August, 1918; Cecil, who is assisting his mother; and two who died in infancy. In politics Douglas Cain was a Republican, but never held any offices, prefer- ring to devote himself to his private affairs. On January 12, 1918, ,Mr. Cain passed away, leaving a large circle of acquaintances and friends to mourn his loss.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 94

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