Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 103

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II > Part 103

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In 1897 Mr. Mannon was married at Litchfield, Ill., to Minnie Beatrice Brown, born at Vandalia, Ill., in 1869, a daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Frances (Wallace) Brown, he born in Fayette County, Ill., September 5, 1839, and she was born in Greene County, Ill. For some years Mr. Brown lived on a farm with his parents in the vicinity of the place of his birth, but when he attained to maturity, he became a railroad en- gineer on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, hold- ing that position for thirteen years, when he met with an accident, since which time he has been engaged in farming and saw milling. While liv- ing at Vandalia, Mr. Brown served as marshal for some years. Mrs. Brown died July 22, 1899, and Mr. Brown resided at Vandalia, Ill., until 1913, when he came to Rockford, and has since made his home with Mrs. Mannon.

After the death of Mr. Mannon, Mrs. Mannon returned to Vandalia, and there resided until April, 1, 1913, when she came to Rockford and bought her present residence on Corbin street. Mr. and Mrs. Mannon had one son, Carroll Brown, who was born January 16, 1898, and is employed as a machinist for the M. L. Love Man- ufacturing Company. Both the Mannon and Brown families have been prominent in the sev- eral localities where their members have lived, and the rising generation is a credit to both.

MANNY, John P., page 707.

MAPES, W. C. Modern ideas relative to sani- tation and the reasonable demands of many households to enjoy the comforts of improved heating apparatus, have contributed in no small way to make the business of a plumber a very important one. One of the men who is sensibly taking advantage of this fact is W. C. Mapes, member of the reliable firm of Mapes Bros., of No. 407 S. Church street, Rockford. He was born at Rockford, July 22, 1875, and is a son of Fred and Ernestine (Grosch) Mapes.

Fred Mapes was born in Germany, and his wife near Milwaukee, Wis. When only a small boy Fred Mapes was brought from Germany to the United States by his parents, who located near Toronto, Canada, where the father farmed and engaged in hunting and trapping, and died there. The mother, the grandmother of W. C. Mapes, survives, being ninety-six years old. In young manhood Fred Mapes located at Mil- waukee, Wis., where he married in 1869. He was a coachman there for a time, and later came to Rockford, Ill., and continued as a coach- man, being employed by Mr. Van Cutler. Still later he went to Rockton, Ill., and there engaged in a retail liquor business for two years, but then returned to Rockford to engage in the same line, near the present site of the Forest City Bank, and he continued to conduct his business for twenty-seven years, then retired and lived at No. 407 S. Church street until his death in 1909, when aged sixty-three years. He was a Demo-

crat in politics. His wife died in 1904, aged fifty-eight years.

W. C. Mapes was reared and educated at Rockford, and his first employment was with the Rockford Watch Company, where he remained for three years. He then started to learn the plumbing business with W. H. Durham, plumber, and was with him for six years, then went with Royer Plum, plumber, continuing with him for two years. For the next five years he was with J. W. Maynard, and until 1904 was with a Mr. Gregory, when he embarked in business for him- self at No. 315 S. Main street, and remained there for eight years. In 1912 he moved to his present location, which was the Mapes family homestead. His business is a large and con- stantly growing one, and is recognized as being a leader in this line.

In 1859 Mr. Mapes was married to Miss Amy Hollister, and they have one child, Robert, who is fourteen years old. In politics Mr. Mapes is a Democrat, but not active, confining his public duties to casting his vote for the candidate of his party.

MAREAN, Harry, assessor of Winnebago County and one of the competent officials and public spirited men of Rockford, was born near Belvi- dere, Ill., October 15, 1858, a son of Marvin C. and Olive A. (Howard) Marean. He attended the public schools of his native place until fifteen years old, when he went to Freeport. There he learned the printing trade, working in various printing offices. He continued at Freeport until 1877 when he came to Rockford, which con- tinued to be his home until his death, which occurred April 6, 1916. Until 1909 he continued working at his trade, being with the old Reg- ister and the Register-Gazette from 1877 until 1909. He was the first business manager with the Republican, later changed to the Republic, being one of the organizers. When the Register- Gazette was formed by consolidating the Register and the Gazette, he went with the new concern as foreman of the mechanical department, re- maining with it until December 25, 1909. In 1907 he had been elected township assessor. This office he filled in conjunction with his other work. In 1909 he left the newspaper business and bought the R. H. Ross insurance and real estate business and conducted it very profitably, developing it to a considerable extent. In his' work he had the assistance of his son, Hollis A., who, on his father's death, was appointed to succeed him as assessor and school treasurer of Rockford Township. Mr. Marean succeeded himself in the office of township assessor at subsequent elections from 1907 on. He was made a Mason in 1911, and became prominent in that order. He was an active member of the Centennial Methodist Church of Rockford, being on the board of trustees at the time of his death, and for many years previously.

On October 20, 1886, Mr. Marean was married to Hattie S. Fay, a daughter of Orson C. and Mary E. (Sears) Fay, who survived him, to- gether with their two children, namely: Hollis

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

A. and Mary O. The family is well known in Winnebago County, Mr. Marean being highly respected for his integrity, his breadth of judg- ment, his fidelity to every trust and his staunch support of the best interests of the community and of good citizenship.

MARSH, Jason, page 656.

MARSTON, George W., one of the survivors of the Civil war now residing in Winnebago County, has been associated with its agricultural history and also with its educational movements. He was born in New York state, February 12, 1835, a son of Charles and Meribah (Morrill) Mars- ton, who came to Seward Township, Winnebago County, Ill., in 1845, and bought land from the government. The father died in 1872 and the mother in 1876.

The education of George W. Marston was secured in the public schools of Winnebago County. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil war, in Company C, Fifteenth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, and served until August 9, 1862, when he was mustered out at Chicago. Wounded at the battle of Shiloh, he lay on the battlefield for three days before he was rescued and thereby was incapacitated for further service. He was in the Marine Hospital, Chicago, for some time prior to his discharge.

On August 23, 1863, Mr. Marston was married to Miss Sarah Scott. Her father was a physi- cian who brought his family to Illinois in 1857 and located in Seward Township, Winnebago County. During the Civil war he was a surgeon in the Union cause. His death occurred in 1901 when he was eighty-one years old. Dr. Scott's wife died in 1889, aged sixty-five years. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Marston have been as follows: Anson, who is a professor in the Iowa State College, dean of the engineering department; Amos W., who has been an active practicing lawyer of Chicago for twenty-one years ; Charles L., who is a physician at Mason City, Iowa; Mary A .; George, who lives on the old homestead which is located six miles south- east of Seward; and Robert, who is at home.

In religious faith Mr. Marston is a Metho- dist, while his wife is a member of the Pres- byterian Church. The latter was a teacher for some years prior to her marriage in the public schools of Stephenson and Winnebago counties, her first school being taught in a log school- house west of Freeport. Mr. Marston is a Re- publican and served as a school director for nine years. He is justly proud of his family, which comprises in addition to his wife and children, thirteen grandchildren, and he is actively inter- ested in whatever promises to be of benefit to them or the community. He is a member of Nevius Post No. 1, G. A. R.

MARTYN, James B., page 643.

MATSON, James C., senior member of the firm of J. C. Matson & Company, manufacturers of leather belting, with plant at No. 703 W. State

street, is one of the alert business men of Rock- ford who has known how to take advantage of a demand, and through supplying it, build up a large trade. He was born at Chicago, III., June 27, 1871, a son of Martin and Sophia Matson. The parents were natives of Denmark, where the father was a farmer, but after coming to the United States in young manhood, and locating at Chicago, he embarked in a belting business. He is now living retired at Chicago. The mother died at the age of sixty years. Fraternally the father belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He enlisted for service during the Civil war, at Chi- cago, and after four years' service was honorably discharged. He belongs to the G. A. R.

James C. Matson was reared at Chicago, and there educated. He went into the belting busi- ness, and for twenty-one years was associated with the Munson Belting Company as its travel- ing mechanic, visiting Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York and New Orleans, and in 1905 he came to Rockford to establish himself in the line of business he had learned so thoroughly. He now carries on a general mill supply business, and is a recognized authority on all mechanical mat- ters relating to belting manufacturing, and his plant is a large and well equipped one for his purpose.

In 1904 Mr. Matson married Miss Elizabeth Hart, a daughter of Cornelius and Bridget Hart, early settlers of Winnebago County, and sub- stantial farmers. The family are all Republi- cans. A man of thoroughness, Mr. Matson has turned his ability to account, and his reliable- ness which stood him in such good stead while working for others, is one of his best assets now that he is conducting his own business. and his general worth is universally recognized.

MAY, William Henry. With the passing of William Henry May, Rockford lost one of its most representative citizens and honorable busi- ness men whose activity in the commercial field was marked by integrity and efficiency of serv- ice. Mr. May was born at Belvidere, Ill., 1844, and died November 20, 1895.

William Henry May was educated in his native place where he lived until seventeen years old, at which time he went to Pike's Peak, Col., in search of gold, but returned in a year, and spent the next year at Belvidere, and then went to California, and spent another year at gold mining. Once more he came back to Belvidere, but later moved to Rockford and here embarked in a jewelry business with a Mr. Friedman. Selling his business after a few years, he once more went to California for a year, but in 1878 returned permanently to Rockford, where he resumed his business relations with Mr. Fried- man, in the jewelry business. Six years later these connections were severed and Mr. May went into a jewelry business on his own account, being engaged in conducting this establishment at the time of his demise. He was an Odd Fel- low fraternally, and a Democrat in politics.

October 6, 1880, Mr. May was married to Miss Mary Hamilton, a daughter of John D. and

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Nancy (Drew) Hamilton, and they became the parents of one son, George E. Mr. Hamilton was born at Bernardston, Mass., in January, 1811, and his wife was born at Alton Bay, N. H. They were married at North Andover, Mass., in 1837. There Mr. Hamilton was in a machine business with a partner to whom he later sold his interest, and moved to Conway, Mass., where he was engaged in the same line for five years, then selling, he was connected with the Otis Company, machinists at Ware, Mass., until 1874, when he retired and moved to Rockford. Here he lived until his death, June 17, 1887. Mrs. Hamilton died at Rockford, January 4, 1904. The grandparents died in Massachusetts. Mrs. May is living with her son at No. 302 North Fifth street, Rockford, and is in excellent health.

MAYNARD, Edward C., not only did his full duty as a private citizen during his lifetime, but served bravely and faithfully when his country had need of his services during the Civil war. He has passed from mortal ken, but his memory is cherished and his example held up for others to follow. Mr. Maynard was born at Rockford, October 5, 1841, a son of Henry and Emeline L. (Kilburn) Maynard, natives of Massachusetts. They came in the late thirties to Rockford, where he worked as a carpenter and spent the remainder of his life in this city. Their children were as follows: Edward C .; Henry, who resides at Rockford; Maria, who resides at Rockford; and Charles, who resides at Chehalis, Wash.

Edward C. Maynard attended the common schools of Rockford. Becoming interested in the Colorado gold fields he went to that state on a mining expedition with James Lake. They drove across the country with oxen, taking six weeks to make the trip. After two years spent in mining, Mr. Maynard returned to Illi- nois, and enlisted for service in the Civil war, in Company D, Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, on August 7, 1862. He was taken prisoner, but was soon therafter paroled, and was discharged May 20, 1863, on account of disability. He returned to Rockford and took up carpenter work and contracting, and rendered efficient service as assistant superintendent of streets for two years, but before this, he was on the police force for four years. He died August 1, 1909. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Rockford Camp No. 51, and Nevius Post No. 1, G. A. R. In politics he was a Republican.

Mr. Maynard was first married to Eliza Oatz- - man, of one of the New England states, and they had the following children : Frank William, Mary E. and Nellie, all of whom are deceased. Mrs. Maynard died October 13, 1870. On Novem- ber 4, 1886, Mr. Maynard was married (second) to Susan Merchant, born in Burritt Township, Winnebago County, Ill., May 17, 1854, a daugh- ter of James and Margaret (Milne) Merchant, born in Aberdeen, Scotland, who settled in Burritt Township in 1850. The children of

Mr. and Mrs. Merchant were as follows: Eliza- beth, who lives with Mrs. Maynard; Mrs. May- nard; and Mary, who is the widow of Alonzo H. Cox, resides at Rockford. Mr. and Mrs. Maynard became the parents of two children: Vera T., who was born November 29, 1888, is now Mrs. H. S. Bigelow of Rockford; and Bertha H., who was born July 13, 1891, is now Mrs. W. L. Stevens of Rockford. Mrs. Maynard belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps.

MAYNARD, Frank E., one of the leading mem- bers of the bar of Winnebago County, and a candidate for the office of state's attorney of Winnebago County, has his offices at No. 202 Trust Building, Rochester. He was born at Ore- gon, Ogle County, Ill., March 11, 1885, and is a son of Henry and Frances ( Sargent) Maynard.

Henry Maynard, his father, was born at Rock- ford, Ill., in 1846 and enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war, at the age of seventeen years, and served one year until the close of the war as a private, at which time he received an honorable discharge and returned to Rockford. He learned the butchering business in the mar- ket of Upton & Fay, in Rockford, and then went to Oregon, Ogle County, Ill., and pursued this business for several years. It was at Oregon where he met the lady who became his wife, Frances J. Sargent, and they were married at the home of her parents on the Hemmenway farm, now known and called the Sinnissippi farm, owned by Col. Frank O. Lowden. His mother as a girl was well known and a favorite in and about the county seat of Ogle County. There were three hundred guests present at her wedding. About the year 1880 Mr. Maynard's parents moved to near Yankton, South Dakota, where they farmed for several years, tlien re- turning to Ogle County, settled on the farm where they resided until 1904, at which time they moved to the city of Oregon, where they lived until 1914, when they moved to Rockford, and are now back at Mr. Maynard's old home, and live at 923 Kilburn avenue, Rockford, Ill. Henry Maynard is a member of the G. L. Nevius Post, No. 1, G. A. R.

Attorney Frank E. Maynard resided with his father and mother on the farm in Ogle County until the year of 1904, when they mnoved to Oregon, after which Attorney Maynard became associated with the Ogle County Abstract Com- pany at Oregon, and later studied law in the office of J. C. Seyster, a prominent attorney of Ogle County, and upon leaving the office of J. C. Seyster, took a special law course in the Univer- sity of Illinois at Urbana,

Mr. Maynard worked his own way through school and college, and.is a self-made man in every respect. He is one of a family of eight children, six boys and two girls, whose names are as follows: Harry E., a mechanic; Charles H., a dentist : Neil E., a trained nurse ; Fred B., a farmer ; Alice Donaldson ; Curtis H., a phar- inacist ; Arthur H., a student of law ; and Frank E., an attorney.

On November 29, 1911, Attorney Maynard was married to Jessie Louise Joslin, of Sycamore,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Ill., a daughter of James C. and Katherine Joslin. Attorney Frauk E. Maynard is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Star in the East Lodge 166 of Rockford, and is commander of the John A. Logan Camp No. 26, sons of Veterans, U. S. A. He is a member of the Yeomen of America, the Mystic Workers of the World, of the Brother- hood of the Court Street Methodist Church, the Chamber of Commerce in Rockford, and is also a member of the University of Illinois Club, and of the Veterans of the Third Illinois, I. N. G.

Mr. Maynard has educated himself by his own efforts, and has built up a growing practice in the city of Rockford, and is counted as one of the strong members of the Winnebago County bar.

MAYNARD, Henry H., an honored resident of Rockford and a veteran of the Civil war who enjoys universal confidence and esteem, was born in this city, November 17, 1847, and has continued a loyal son of Rockford all his life. He is a son of Henry and Lucy Eveline (Kil- burn) Maynard, natives of Massachusetts. The father came to Rockford in 1835, one year after the town was laid out, but in 1836 returned to his old home. There he married and came back to Rockford, bringing with him Benjamin Kilburn who afterwards married Henry May- nard's sister. Henry Maynard had been a machinist at Worcester, Mass., and he and his brother-in-law, Benjamin Kilburn, conducted a blacksmith shop at Rockford. Later he worked at carpentering and became the owner of city property and farm land, operating the latter for many years. At the time of his death, in 1867, he was residing on School street, Rockford. His wife died in 1901, aged eighty-nine years.

Henry H. Maynard was eighteen years old when he began working for Rockford business men, and he so continued until 1870, when he embarked in a meat market business, but in 1872 went to Oregon, Ill., where for two years he worked in a meat market, and then started another meat market of his own, selling it in 1875. He then went to Bonhomme, S. Dak., where he homesteaded 160 acres and a 160-acre timber claim, proving up the homestead and relinquish- ing the timber claim later on for property in Oregon, Ill. In 1882 he traded all his interests in South Dakota and purchased a farm three miles from Oregon, in Oregon Township, Ill., which he conducted until 1904, when he rented out his farm and moved to Mt. Morris, Ill., and there spent eighteen months. Later he sold and bouglit property at Rockford where he now re- sides. During the Civil war he enlisted in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, February 5, 1865, and did scout and parole duty, until he was dis- charged at Savannah, Ga. He was mustered out at Camp Butler, Springfield, Ill., February 5, 1866. He is a member of the G. A. R. and enjoys meeting with his old comrades.

On November 17, 1873, Mr. Maynard was mar- ried at Oregon, Ill., to Frances J. Sargant, born at Mendota, Ill., but brought to Oregon in child- hood by her parents, Harvey P. and Cordelia

(Foster) Sargant, natives of Connecticut and of Albany, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Maynard became the parents of the following children : Harvey Eugene, who is a machinist, who lives in Wiscon- sin ; Charles H., who is a dentist at Sycamore, Ill. ; Clyde, who died in infancy; Cornelia E., who is a trained nurse at Rockford; Fred Benjamin, who now lives in Iowa ; Frank E., who lives at Rockford, is an attorney, member of the firm of Maynard & Knight; Alice, who is Mrs. John F. Donaldson of Mt. Morris, Ill .; H. Curtis, who is a druggist of Chicago; and Arthur, who resides with his parents. Mr. May- nard attended both'tlie graded and high schools of Rockford, and Mrs. Maynard was educated in the public schools of Oregon, Ill. She is a Lutheran in religious faith. Mr. Maynard is a Republican, while fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order. In every walk of life he has proven his worth and his high standing has been honorably won and sustained.

McALLISTER, Martin H. Among the officers of Winnebago County, few have a better record for conscientious service than has Martin H. Mc- Allister, county coroner, an office in which he has served since 1908. A native son of Winne- bago County, he has passed his entire life within its limits, and has built up a substantial reputa- tion as an honored man of business and an excel- lent public servant. Mr. McAllister was born in New Milford Township, Winnebago County, Ill., October 25, 1869, and is a son of Elvin J. and Catherine ( McGuire) McAllister.

Elvin J. McAllister was born March 15, 1839, about sixty rods from the birthplace of his son, but in Ogle County, near the county line. In 1865 he was married to Catherine McGuire, who was born in Toronto, Canada, township of Corn- well. During the Civil war lie enlisted in the Second Illinois Light Artillery, an organization with which he spent three years, when he received his honorable discharge. Having been reared an agriculturist, when his military career was completed he returned to the pursuits of the soil, continuing to be engaged therein until the year 1889, when he moved to Rockford and accepted a position as night watchman in a furniture factory. He is now retired from active labors and he and Mrs. McAllister are making their home with their son, Martin H., who was the third in order of birth of their eight children.

Martin H. McAllister received the foundation for liis education in the district schools of New Milford Township, following which he . enrolled as a student at Rockford Academy, an institu- tion from which he was graduated with the class of 1890. He next secured a position as clerk in a grocery and meat market and contin- ued to be thus employed until entering the em- ploy of the Grand Union Tea Company, with which concern he was connected until 1907. Mr. McAllister then became the proprietor of a busi- ness of his own when, on August 1, 1907, he opened an undertaking establishment. This was a somewhat daring venture, as at the time he

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

was without funds or influential backing, but his business ability soon asserted itself, and in the years that have since passed he has developed a substantial enterprise.

Mr. McAllister was first elected coroner of Winnebago County in 1908, and since that time has continued to retain the office. His duties have been discharged in a most capable aud con- scientious manner, and his official record is a clear and interesting one, including among its incidents the conviction of several poisouers. Fraternally, Mr. McAllister is a member of Win- nebago Lodge of Odd Fellows, Scottish Clans No. 203, American Yeomen aud the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the First Presbyterian Church, was a teacher for two years and at one time was also treasurer of the Sunday school.

Mr. McAllister was married (first) March 20, 1894, to Mary Elizabeth Harvey, who died Sep- tember 11, 1901. She was a daughter of Mathew Harvey, who was a member of the firm of Har- vey & Compton, agricultural implement dealers at Rockford for many years, and Jane (Ralston) Harvey. One daughter was born to this union: Helen, born December 13, 1896, residing with her father. Mr. McAllister was married (sec- ond) Juue 5, 1907, to Irene E. Foresyth, daughter of George and Elvira (Foster) Foresyth.

McCARTNEY, James William, dealer in motor- cycles and bicycles and general repair man and owner of a garage at No. 524 W. State street, is one of the alert young business men of Rockford who have kept abreast of the times, and pre- pared themselves to meet the demands of chang- ing conditions. He was born at Rockford, November 9, 1886, a son of George Robert and Isabelle (McRoberts) McCartney.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 103

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972