Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 128

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 128

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On July 25. 1875. Mr. Walck was married at Freeport. Ill., to Margaret Bookman, born in Lancaster County, Pa., a daughter of George and Eliza (Gilbert) Bookman, natives. of Eng- land and Pennsylvania. Iu 1869 the Bookman family moved to Freeport, Ill., where the father was a day laborer. Both he and the mother died at Freeport, in which city their children were educated. Mr. and Mrs. Walck became the parents of two children : Elsie C., who be- came Mrs. Charles Baird, died at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving a daughter, Mar- guerite. who has been reared by Mr. Walck ; and Lulu E., who is Mrs. Charles Bryant of Rockford and has two children, Naomi Mae and Florence Marian. In politics Mr. Walck is a Republican. He is a member of Nevius Post No. 1, G. A. R., which he joined in 1882. He was one of the charter members of John A. Davis Post, Freeport. Ill. He receives a pension from both the railroad and the government. He belongs to the fraternal order of Woodmen of America. Mrs. Walck belongs to the Mystic Workers and the Woman's Relief Corps, and helped to organize the Ninety-five Club, in 1895, of which she had been president, vice president and treasurer prior to her election to the office of secretary, which she still holds. Mr. Walck is one of the representative men of Rockford and has fairly earned the esteem in which he is held.

WALTON, O. J., manager of the Chicago Mar- ket, at No. 219 S. Main street, Rockford, is en- gaged in supplying the people of this city with pure food at reasonable prices, and his success demonstrates his ability and foresightedness. He was born at West Cleveland, Ohio, May 16, 18SS, a son of John and Charlotte (Kerr) Wal- ton. The father was born in England, and the mother in Ontario, Canada. In young mauhood the father left England for Cleveland, Ohio, where he became a landscape gardener, and both he and wife now live retired at their home on Lake avenue, Cleveland.

O. J. Walton was reared at Cleveland aud given the educational advantages offered in that city. When he was seventeen years old he began his business career with the Cleveland Provision Company, at Cleveland, later going to Chicago where he was employed by the Armour Packing

Company, and remained with them for seven years. For a short time he was with the Stein Kinney Company of Racine, Wis., and in July, 1911, came to Rockford to assume the duties of his present positiou for which his loug aud varied experience admirably fitted him.

In 1912 Mr. Walton was married to Miss Eliza Benjamiu, a daughter of Robert Benjamin of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Walton belongs to the Yeomen and the order of Beu Hur, and is popu- lar in both. A mau of sound ideas and excel- lent business judgment, he has conducted the affairs of his house ably and successfully, and certainly belongs among the representative men of Rockford, or indeed of this part of the state.

WALTON, William, vice president of the Rock- ford Mitten & Hosiery Company, with residence at No. 948 N. Church street, is an example of the prosperous, reliable, and substantial busi- ness man of Rockford, aud one whose present prosperity is the outgrowth of his owu industry. He was born in Yorkshire, England, December 17, 1844. a son of John and Hanuah (Mitchell) Walton, both of whom died iu Eugland.

William Walton was educated in the public schools of England. When only thirteen and one-half years of age he weut into a factory as an apprentice and learned the trade of cotton and woolen spinning. Hard work aud close ap- plication resulted in a breakdown and his physi- cian insisted that it was necessary for him to leave his surroundings and get out of doors. In 1874 he came to the United States, and for a year was employed in the Washington Mills at Lawrence, Mass .. then went to Philadelphia, Pa., and became superintendent of the P. C. Garrett Mills. A year later he went to St. Charles. Mo., and there conducted a small mill for William Ziock, Sr., who is now deceased. In 1886 a company was formed and the plant was moved to Rockford, Mr. Walton comiug with it. The present officers are: William H. Ziock. president and treasurer; William Wal- ton. vice president ; and C. E. Heileger, secre- tary. At the commencement of the Rockford history of this plant, the quarters were re- stricted, and the product was limited, but now substantial buildings house the outfit, and employment is given to 500 men and women. The output is very large and is sold over a large territory.

In 1878 Mr. Walton was married to Alma A. Burbank. of New Hampshire, and they have three children, Annie B., Mary H. and Helen A., all of whom are at home.

WARD, Frank. Among those who are num- bered with Rockford's honored dead, occurs the name of the late Frank Ward, who, during life, was president and manager of the Ward Pump Company, one of the important industrial con- cerns of the city. He was a man of broad out- look and acute business perception, and in his death the city lost one of its best citizens. He was born near Aylmer, Canada, May 30, 1835, a

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

son of Mark A. and Maria A. ( Johnson) Ward. When he was seventeen years old, the family came to Winnebago County, locating in New Mil- ford Township, where the father carried on farm- ing, passing away when torty-nine years old. The mother survived the father many years, living to be ninety-six years old, and dying at the home of her daughter Martha, on S. First street, Rock- ford.

The educational training of Frank Ward was acquired in Canada. His first business connec- tions were with the Fountain Foundry, where he remained for three years, then leaving to locate at Rockford, where he engaged with the F. H. Manney Reaper Company as a moulder and reaper maker. Later he went with the Emerson Manufacturing Company as a moulder, and then was foreman for Mr. Graham, leaving the latter in a short time to establish himself in a foundry business of his own on the old water power, and there remained for a number of years, when he bought the present site of the Ward Pump Com- pany, and built its plant. The beginnings of this company were in a small shop, but in 1889 he incorporated the members of his family into a' company, and added to his plant from time to time. At first he made castings for plants all over the country, but the business is now confined to the manufacture of pumps of various types. Mr. Ward was president of his company until his death, July 31, 1908, when he was seventy-three years old, and it was at his request that his daughter, Miss Mary E. Ward, succeeded him. The widow survives and she and Miss Mary re- side at their beautiful home at 308 S. Third street. She was born in eastern Pennsylvania and came with her parents to Rockford in the early days. They located near New Milford, this county, where the father became a heavy land- owner, and operated his property until his death in 1877. The mother passed away on the farm. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Ward owned and operated two large farms of 600 acres in Stillman Valley, and also owned his residence at Rockford. Mr. Ward was always a Republican in political affiliation.

There are five children in this family : Elmer D., who lives on South First street, Rockford, married Anna Wetenhall, and they have the fol- lowing children : Frank R. and Ralph E., and Mark A. of Michigan ; Flora Belle, who is Mrs. J. W. Lamont of East State street, Rockford, has the following children : Helen, J. Walter and Harry K .; Carrie F., who married O. W. John- son, has two children : Bruce W. and Wilfred HI. ; and Miss Mary E.

Miss Mary E. Ward owns the controlling in- terests in the Ward Pump Company, and repre- sents the family stockholders as president of the company. She is a very capable lady of excellent business judgment, and is efficiently carrying out the policies of her father, tempered by the changes made necessary by existing conditions.

WARD, Frank R. The increasing use of elec- tricity has developed men of skill and ability to install the various appliances and one who has

forged to the front in this class of work is Frank R. Ward ot No. 112 S. Second street, Rockford. He was born at Rockford, September 10, 1889, a son of Elmer D. and Anna (Wettenhall) Ward.

Elmer D. Ward was born at Rockford and here received his education. His father was the founder of the Ward Pump Company, and Elmer D. Ward learned this business from his father and remained in it all his active life. He is now living retired, still retaining stock in the con- cern to which he has given so much of his time. His residence is at No. 219 S. First street, and he is one of the most highly respected men of Rockford. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a thirty-second degree Mason, and in poli- tics he is a Republican. The mother was born in Connecticut, and her father was a native of Eng- land. He left that country in young manhood, and coming to the United States, settled in Con- necticut where the mother was born. Later Mr. Wettenhall took his family to New Jersey, where he worked as a watchmaker and still later came as far west as Springfield, Ohio, where he con- tinued to work as a watchmaker. Once more he made a change, and came to Rockford, Ill., where lie engaged with the Rockford Watch Company. Later he went to Los Angeles, Cal., where he embarked in a jewelry business and remained in it until his retirement. . He died in 1914, and Mrs. Wettenhall in 1903, both passing away in California.

Frank R. Ward was educated at Rockford, and in the Northwestern Military and Naval Academy, where he took a three years' course in electrical engineering. After coming home he took a position with the Ward Pump Company, but four years later left it to go to Mitchell, S. Dak., where he went into a hotel business. After eighteen months, he sold and returned to Rockford to engage with the Wigell Electric Company. Within two and one-half years he went into an electrical business for himself at No. 112 S. Second street.

On November 8, 1911, Mr. Ward was married to Miss Irma Vogel, a daughter of E. H. and Dorothy (Schnell) Vogel of Rockford. Mr. and Mrs. Vogel are both of German descent and are living at Rockford at No. 1334 Camp avenue. Mr. Vogel is one of the stockholders in the C. F. Henry Clothing Company, and has been con- nected with this firm for thirty-two years, now being head manager of the men's clothing de- partment.

WARD, John C., whose name is well remembered in connection with his farming operations in several of the townships of Winnebago County, spent his declining years at Rockford, being one of the substantial residents of this city. He was born in Waterbeach, England, August 27. 1830, where his parents died. In 1845, when still a lad, he came alone to the United States, and worked in a foundry in New York City for some years. Later he went to Taberg, N. Y., where he lived until 1865, in that year moving to Winnebago County, Ill., and for probably two years operated a farm in Harlem Township.

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He then went to New Milford Township and conducted a farm until 1892, in which year he moved to Rockford and for two years lived on Benton street. Mr. Ward then bought a lot and built a modern residence at No. 205 Summit street, where he died March 15, 1914, his wife having passed away November 3, 1912, both be- ing buried in Cedar Bluff Cemetery.

In 1852 Mr. Ward was married at Taberg, N. Y., to Nancy Culver, born at Rome, N. Y., March 29, 1837. Their children were as follows : E. J., who lives at Monroe Center, Ill .; Charles, who lives at Alexandria, S. Dak .; Daniel, who lives in Missouri ; Jerome, who lives at Wauke- gan, Ill .; Warren, who lives on Davis street, Rockford; Nellie, who is Mrs. S. J. Lindsay of Oregon, Ill .; and Effie Mae.

Miss Effie Mae Ward was educated in the pub- lic schools of Rockford, and gave her parents tender care until death claimed them. Since 1897 she has found employment for her ener- gies as a dressmaker, and since December, 1914, has conducted her business at her residence, which she owns. Some of the leading ladies of Rockford depend upon her skill and excellent taste for their gowns. Miss Ward is associated with the State Street Baptist Church of Rock- ford. She belongs to the Eastern Star and the White Shrine of Jerusalem, and is a lady of wide acquaintance and has many friends.

WARNER, L. F., page 664.

WARNER, Norman C., page 721.

WARREN, Ezra Horace, proprietor of the pros- perous transfer and storage business at No. 223 S. Main street, is one of the leading men in his line at Rockford, and no one stands higher in public esteem. He was born at Rockford, May 28, 1878, a son of Asa and Sarah (Knight) Warren. The father was born in Durand, Win- nebago County, Ill., and the mother in Harrison Township, this same county Until 1875, the father was a farmer, but in that year moved to Rockford, and located on Kilbourne avenue, where he died in 1910, aged sixty-two years. The mother died at Rockford, in 1893, aged thirty-nine years. The paternal grandfather was born in New York state and came west in the early days, locating in Durand Township, this county, where he took up government land, and in addition to farming he carried on blacksmith- ing, there dying The grandmother died at Rock- ford.

Ezra Horace Warren was reared and educated at Rockford, and his first employment was with the Hess-Hopkins Company, with which he re- mained for one year. He then went with the Rockford Packing Company and continued with it for six years. Having saved some money, he decided to go into business on his own ac- count, and bought a team and began teaming and expressing. Later he added additional teams, and in 1905 established lis transfer busi- ness, doing all the teaming for the Rockford Gas Company for fourteen years, and conducting a

large draying business, operating thirty-five teams for the gas company. He has also held contracts for teaming for the Warren-Carrie Stone Company, and for road construction. His original location was on South Avon street, but lie subsequently moved to No. 223 S. Main street, his present place of business. At present lie is operating twelve teams, one dray and two vans, and he controls an immense business.

In 1899 Mr. Warren married Miss Mary Dia- mond, a daughter of George and Ellen Diamond, and they have six children, as follows: Dorothy, Mary, Irwin, Jolin, George. and Ellen. A man of progressive spirit, Mr. Warren has steadily advanced, and his honorable methods and capa- bility and reliability have gained him the entire confidence of the public.

WATERMAN, J. D., president of The Forest City National Bank, is the oldest bank presi- dent in the city of Rockford, and an excellent representative of the sound, reliable, conserva- tive financier whose connection with any insti- tution of this kind gives prestige and insures safe management. He was born at Decatur, Otsego County, N. Y., a son of Hamilton and Mary (Utter) Waterman.

Until he was sixteen years old, Mr. Waterman attended the little red schoolhouse which has passed into history, and then began to be self- supporting as he went into a general store and clerked for eighteen months. He then; in 1864, enlisted in the naval service, and was on the flag ship of Admiral Porter and saw consider- able service. After his return, he completed his education in the public schools of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and then went into railroad work as a telegrapher on the Albany & Susquehanna Rail- road. From that road he went with the Union Pacific Railroad and remained with it until 1871. In that year he came to Rockford and was with the Chicago & Northwestern Railway in this city. Later he served for two terms as postmaster of Rockford, and then assisted in the organization of the Forest City National Bank, of which he has been president since it opened its doors for business in June, 1890.

In August, 1871, Mr. Waterman was married at Rockford to Emma J. Wolford, a daughter of Erskile and Jane (Rowley) Wolford, who came to Rockford from Worcester, N. Y., in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Waterman have no children of their own, but they adopted Lillian J. Jones when young, giving her their name, but she died when fourteen years old. Fraternally Mr. Wa- terman is a Mason and an Elk, and belongs to the G. A. R. He attends the Court Street Methi- odist Church, of which his wife is a member. . He is a Jeffersonian Democrat and for twelve years was chairman of the county congressional committee. During President Cleveland's two administrations Mr. Waterman served as post- master of Rockford and gave the city an effi- cient service. He is a man widely known and universally respected, for he possesses those qualities which go so far toward making a de- sirable citizen.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

WATERSTREET, Fred J., manager of and a stockholder in the Winnebago Prodnce and Snp- ply Company, one of the solid institutions of the village of Winnebago, was born in Nenkahlen Mechlenburg-Schwein, Germany, April 21, 1869, a son of William and Marie (Anders) Water- street, who came to the United States in 1873, locating in Seward Township, Winnebago County, Ill., where the father was employed on a farm for two years. In 1890 he left a farm he rented in 1875, and moving to Winnebago Township, made that his home until his death, June 26, 1914, when seventy-nine years old. His children were as follows: Sophia, who married Henry Sherman ; Minnie, who married Fred Schmoock ; and Fred J., Herman J. and Ernest H., all of whom reside in Winnebago County.

Fred J. Waterstreet was reared in Seward Township, and followed farming until 1910 when he became connected with the Winnebago Prod- nce and Supply Company, and has been its manager since March, 1913. On October 5, 1893, he married Adeline, a daughter of Amos E. and Lauretta (Jennings) Miller of Winnebago Town- ship, whose father was born at Vernon, Oneida Connty, N. Y., September 26, 1844, and came to this county in March, 1855, and married Decem- ber 23, 1869, his wife having been born in Winne- bago Township, May 20, 1849. Their children are as follows: Adeline E. (Waterstreet) ; Alice A. (James) ; Jessie L. (Jones) ; Niles A .; Louisa J .; and Dorothy. Mr. Miller was a prosperous farmer of Winnebago Township, where he resided until his death, in May, 1913. Joseph Miller, great-great-great-grandfather . of Mrs. Waterstreet, was born at Middletown, Conn., June 25, 1723, married Sarah Wetmore, who was of English descent, and born near Mid- dletown, Conn., in 1722. Joseph Miller, great- great-grandfather, was born December 26, 1752, and married Lydia Stone and settled at Gran- ville, Mass. Eleakim Miller, great-grandfather, was born at Granville, Mass., January 1, 1764, and married M. Rhoda Pratt. Amos Miller, grandfather, was born at Granville, Mass., No- vember 4, 1809, and was taken by his parents to Annsville, N. Y., in 1813. He spent the greater part of his life in Oneida County, N. Y., bnt from 1852 to 1854 was in California. In 1855 he came to Winnebago Connty, purchased 200 acres of land, npon which he made many improvements, and continned his farming opera- tions until his death, which occurred in 1873, when he was in his sixty-fourth year. He mar- ried November 4, 1835, Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Storring) Tygert, and their children were as follows: Niles, Cyrus A., Henry H., Mary E., who married Edwin Ware, Amos E., Richard, Thomas N. and Josiah F. Mr. and Mrs. Waterstreet have no children. They reside at Alworth Station, in Winnebago Township. Mr. Waterstreet is a public-spirited man, a member of Winnebago Lodge No. 745, A. F. & A. M., and M. W. A. No. 59. He served two terms, four years, as assessor of Winnebago Township, being elected on the Republican ticket.

WEBBER, Henry A. The name of Webber is associated with the pioneer history of Winne- bago Connty, for it was founded here in 1859 by William Webber, a most estimable man and snc- cessful farmer who developed large agricultural interests in Rockton Township. His son, Henry A. Webber, has continued to maintain the family prestige and is now one of the substantial men of the county. He was born in Somersetshire, England, Angust 9, 1837, while his father, Wil- liam, was born in the same place in March, 1801, and died at the age of eighty-five years, while visiting a dangliter in Burrit Township, Winne- bago County. William Webber was a large land- owner in Somersetshire, and when he decided to come to America, his property was sold at auc- tion, taking three days to dispose of it. The auction was like a fair, tents being erected for the accommodation of the crowds, while food and drink was provided in the old English style.

After landing at New York City with his wife and eight children, William Webber traveled by way of the lakes to Milwaukee, Wis., and then by ox-teams to Rockton, Ill. He had considerable means, and bought 640 acres of land, paying cash for it. On this land he carried on farming npon an extensive scale, and so continued until his death. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Hake, and she died at the age of eighty- five years. Their children were as follows: Mrs. Margaret Wilcox; William, who lives in South Dakota ; John, who lives in California ; Cather- ine, who is the widow of John Griffith ; Henry A .; Mrs. Mary Arnold; Herman J., who lives at Rockton ; and Thomas, who is deceased. The family homestead was two miles sonth and a , little east of Rockton, and there the father rounded out his useful life, being one of the most honored and prosperous of the pioneers.

Henry A. Webber was reared on the homestead, and attended the local schools. He learned the carpenter trade and went to Chicago, where in 1865 he helped to lay the first planks of the stock yards. Always of an ingenious turn of mind, he has invented a number of appliances upon which he has secured patents. With his brothers, William and John, he has placed valu- able inventions on the market, among which may be mentioned : the Webber reaper and mower, automatic gate, a railroad snow plow, a railroad grader, and an angle sieve fanning mill, the lat- ter being manufactured at Rockton, by parties who purchased the patent from Mr. Webber. He, with his brothers, mannfactured the reaper and mower for fifteen years. He also built a number of steamboats that ran between here and Rock- ford. In all of his undertakings he has displayed commendable energy and persistent effort. Dnr- ing the Civil war he showed his loyalty to his adopted conntry by walking fifteen miles to en- list for service at Rockford, at the first call of President Lincoln for troops. Later on in civil life, he served as constable for ten years, and since 1910 he has been a justice of the peace. In politics he is a Republican.

In 1866 Mr. Webber was married to Sarah A. (Jewell) Kennedy, widow of Samuel Kennedy,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

who was a veteran of the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Webber have three children: Mannie E., who is Mrs. William W. Alden of Seward, Ill., has three children, Harry, Ralph and Ruth; Frankie J .; and Gertrude, who is Mrs. Thomas R. Higgins, has two children, Dorothy and Wes- ley. The Congregational church holds Mr. and Mrs. Webber's membership, and he has been trustee of it for twenty years and treasurer for the same length of time. Fraternally he is a Chapter Mason and a charter member of Camp No. 77 of the Modern Woodmen of America.

WEBBER, Herman J., whose declining years are being spent in pleasant retirement at his com- fortable residence at Rockton, was for many years one of the substantial farmers of this county. He was born in Somersetshire, Eng- land, November 13, 1842, a son of William and Mary (Hake) Webber, who came to Rockton Township, this county, in 1849 and bought 640 acres of land. Upon this they had two log and one frame house. The father improved this property and lived upon it until he retired, mak- ing Rockton his home the balance of his life, he and the mother both dying here. Their children were as follows: Margaret, who is deceased ; William, who lives at Wessington Springs, S. Dak .; John, who is deceased ; Catherine, who is the widow of John Griffith of Rockton ; Henry A., who resides at Rockton; Mary J., who is de- ceased ; Herman J .; and Thomas H., who is deceased.

Herman J. Webber was only seven years old when the family came to Winnebago County, so he was practically reared here and the greater part of his educational training was obtained in the schools of the neighborhood. After his marriage Mr. Webber took up his residence on a 160-acre farm in Rockton Township, and en- gaged in general farming and stock raising until 1891 when he retired, and selling his farm, bought a residence at Rockton. He served for twelve years as town marshal and eighteen years as constable and was very capable in both offices.

On November 17, 1869, Mr. Webber was mar- ried to Caroline Piper, born in England, a daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth Piper, who came to Rockton in the spring of 1869, he being a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Webber have one daughter, Irma Blanche, who is now Mrs. William W. Black, of Rockton Township. They lost a son, Cortney, who died in infancy. Mr. Webber belongs to Rockton Lodge, No. 74, A. F. & A. M .; Royal Arch Chapter No. 190, R. A. M., and the Eastern Star. His long residence in the county has been a period of usefulness and he is one of the most desirable citizens in this part of the state.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 128

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