Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 130

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 130

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On October 24, 1867, Mr. Wheat married Elsie Reynolds, born in Sullivan County, N. Y., a daughter of David and Irene (Smith) Rey- nolds, natives of New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Wheat became the parents of two children : George, who is a resident of Rockford; and Frances, who is Mrs. Albert Whale of Rockford. Mr. Wheat served as janitor of the Kent and Blake schools for ten years in addition to at- tending to other business affairs. In politics he is a Republican but does not scek public office. Nevius Post No. 1. G. A. R. holds his membership and he enjoys meeting his old comrades in this organization.

WHEELER, Willard, page 658.

WHIPPLE, Henry Stacy. Among the men who have occupied positions connected with the civic welfare of Rockford, few are better known than Henry Stacy Whipple. In the capacity of man- ager of the Rockford Gas Light and Coke Com- pany he has endeavored to give the people of this stirring and enterprising city a service commensurate with their demands and needs,

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and that his aims have been realized is shown in the fact that, atter a quarter of a century, he still remains as the directing head of this im- portant city utility.

Mr. Whipple was ; born at Derby, Conn., December 8, 1855, and is a son of Henry and Roxana (Terry ) Whipple, natives of Warehouse Point, Conn. He was granted excellent educa- tional advantages, and was graduated from Yale University in 1875, being given the degree of Ph. B. atter successfully passing the difficult ex- amination in the Sheffield Scientific School. With this preparation, he entered the office of the Derby Gas Company, at his native place, re- maining there until 1887, on March 1 of which year he came to Illinois and accepted the position of manager of the Elgin Gas Light and Coke Company. Three years later, to the day, he was called to Rockford to accept his present posi- tion, and here he has given the community a service that is beyond reproach.

At various times Mr. Whipple has been the incumbent of positions of public trust and re- sponsibility. While at Derby he was appointed city engineer, later became registrar of voters there, and held both positions until coming to the Prairie state. At Rockford he has been president of the library board and of the Uni- versity Club, and has been busily engaged in university extension and Chautauqua work. He is a past master of the Masonic lodge at Derby, Conn., and holds membership in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Whipple was reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church. His first political affiliation was with the Demo- crats, and in 1884 he was ot the party journal- istically called "Mugwumps," while at present he is supporting the principles of the Republi- can organization.

On November 15, 1881, Mr. Whipple was united in marriage with Miss Mary Wheeler Hoadley, at Derby, Conn. She was born there June 8, 1859, a daughter of Joseph Merwin and Angelina (Southworth ) Hoadley. One son, Robert Hoadley, was born to this union, Decem- ber 18, 1883. The pleasant Whipple family home is located at No. 1514 National avenue, Rockford. Both in business and social circles Mr. Whipple is highly esteemed and has many friends, and as a citizen he is considered one of those who have notably helped to build the city and advance the interests of its people and its institutions.

WHITMORE, Charles W. Now a member of the retired colony of Rockford, Charles W. Whitmore was, for a number of years, one of the progressive and energetic men of its indus- trial forces. A carpenter by trade, he worked on many important buildings of the city. He was born at Avon, Livingston County, N. Y., August 20, 1842, and is a son of James and Margaret (Edwards) Whitmore.

The parents of Mr. Whitmore, natives of Springfield, Mass., were married in that locality and later moved to Cayuga County, N. Y., and then on to Livingston County, in the same state.

James Whitmore was a contractor on a large scale and was largely identified with the work of building the New York & Erie Railroad, par- ticularly in the line of passenger houses, freight houses, cattle guards, ties, etc. A strong and vigorous man, he enjoyed a full and active life, and until his eighty-fifth year took care of his own contracts. He was ninety-six years of age when he went to make his home with a son, C. B. Whitmore, in Ontario, Canada, and there his death occurred one year later.

Charles W. Whitmore was given good advan- tages in his youth, attending the public schools of his native place and Genesee Seminary, New York, and in his youth learned the trade of carpenter. He was seventeen years of age when he came to the West, locating first in DeKalb County, at Sandwich, Ill., where he was engaged in following his trade until his enlistment for service in the Civil war. In August, 1862, he became a member of Company H, 105th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was sent first to Dixon and later to camp at Chicago, from whence it went to Louisville, where it was assigned to the Fortieth Brigade, under General Crittenden. The 105th took part in the engage- ment at Lookout Mountain, where it became a part of the Twentieth Corps, and as such par- ticipated in the battles of Buzzards' Roost, Resaca and Peach Tree Creek, then going with Sherman to Savannah, where the command re- mained two or three weeks. Later the regiment took part in the last battle of the war, at Ben- tonville, where Mr. Whitmore was wounded in the right leg, but neither this injury nor a rup- ture, previously received, could keep him from participation in the grand review, at Washing- ton, D. C. Mr. Whitmore received his honorable discharge June 10, 1865, and came to Rockford to join a brother, whom he had not seen since he was a small boy until he met him as a com- rade in the ranks of the Union army.

Mr. Whitmore then resumed his work as a carpenter, and continued to be engaged actively therein until his retirement, in 1902, since which time he has lived in comfortable retirement at his home, No. 404 Hill street. He is a Repub- lican in politics, although not a politician, and is a popular comrade of Nevius Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He still takes pleasure in meeting his old army comrades and is a favorite with them, being remembered as a brave, faithful and cheerful soldier, and known as a man who has faithfully discharged his responsibilities in times of peace as he did during the war.

Mr. Whitmore was married December 26, 1866, to Miss Mary E. Worsley, who was born at Rockford, Ill., March 22, 1848, daughter of James and Mary (Blakesley) Worsley, the for- mer a native of County Kent, England, and the latter of Bradford County, Pa. Mr. Worsley was for forty years an employe of Clark & Utter, at Rockford, and during all this time held a position on the same floor. Mrs. Whitmore died August 19, 1914. She was one of the best known ladies of the Women's Relief Corps, in

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which she held every office in her post, of which she was twice president. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore : James, a resi- dent of Rockford; Caroline, who resides with her father; George, now a resident of Chicago, who enlisted May 14, 1898, in Company H, Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and saw active service in Porto Rico, in the Spanish-American war; and Margaret and Earl F., who reside with their father.

WICKLUND, Arvid, who is remembered by the many who knew him at Rockford, as a man of broad charities, excellent business judgment and kindly sympathies, has passed away, but many of his good deeds are recalled when his name is mentioned. He was born in Sweden, April 10, 1870, a son of Erick and Anna Wicklund, who died in Sweden. In 1891 Mr. Wicklund came to the United States, and for a few months after his arrival stopped in Iowa, but later in the year located at Rockford where he was engaged in a retail business for some years, retiring in 1907. For two years he was out of business, and then in 1909 resumed his activities, being located on Fourteenth avenue until his death, May 10, 1912, during which time he built an elegant residence at No. 1219 Fourteenth avenue. He is buried in the Scandinavian cemetery.

On September 23, 1898, Mr. Wicklund was married to Maria Sjoden, born in Sweden, March 3, 1874, where her parents died. She came to Rockford in 189S. They made two trips back and on one stayed visiting for seven months. Mr. and Mrs. Wicklund became the parents of the following children: Edith, born August 12. 1899; Elizabeth, born July 31, 1902; and Lillian, born May 4, 1906. Mrs. Wicklund was educated in Sweden. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wicklund attend the Free Church. In politics he was a Republican.

WIDELL, Swan O. The handling of realty at Rockford is one of the most profitable lines of business, but it calls for unusual ability and integrity. One of the men who has followed it for some time with advantage is Swan O. Widell. He was born in Smolan, Sweden, Sep- tember 2, 1866, a son of Suan A. Skarp and Johanna Bedjaman (Dotter) Widell. The parents were both born in Sweden. and the father was a lieutenant in the Swedish army until his death in 1889, when aged forty-nine years. The mother, whose parents were farm- ing people, died in 1913, aged eighty-two years.

Swan O. Widell was only seven years old when he was left homeless and was fourteen years old when he was apprenticed to the cabinetmaking trade and worked at it until twenty years old, securing what educational training he could. under adverse circumstances. He then came to the United States and to Rockford, arriving in this city July 11. 1887, with only fifteen cents in his pocket. He was fortunate in arousing the interest of Mr. Man- ning. the express agent, who assisted him in securing employment and took his trunk with-

out charge from the station to where he was going to reside. As he had been given a master cabinetmaker's certificate by his employer in Sweden, testifying that he was an expert in his trade, he was given work by Mr. Sanders as a carpenter, beginning with seventy-five cents per day, but was soon advanced and given work with David Carlson, contractor, who paid him $1.50 per day. In 1SS8 he went with the Central Furniture Company as a cabinetmaker and re- mained with this concern until the Scandia Furniture Company was established, when he became one of its stockholders. He later engaged in the real estate business with J. E. Swanson, who afterward became secretary and treasurer of the Standard Furniture Company and later being on the city election board, and this association of Widell & Swanson, continued until 1893, when Mr. Widell bought out his part- ner, and has since continued alone, being now recognized as an expert on realty matters, and handling a large amount of business.

In 1890 Mr. Widell was married to Miss Albertine Lindstrom, a daughter of C. F. and Christene Lindstrom, and they became the parents of four children : Clarence, Bert, Edna and Marian, all of whom are at home.

In 1910 Mr. Widell took his family to Europe and they visited many places of note. He was alderman of the First Ward from 1909 to 1911, and for sixteen years has been a justice of the peace of the city of Rockford, being elected on the Republican ticket. A man of unusual ability he has advanced steadily and is one of the best representatives of sound, reliable business men Winnebago County now contains. Mr. Widell had always been a Republican until 1912, when he was a leader of the Progressive party in the city of Rockford, but later returned to the Republican party, having in view the welfare of the citizens of the United States.

WIGHT, James M., page 655.

WILD, Charles G., now deceased, for a number of years was one of the highly respected men of Rockford, who claimed Sweden as his birth- place, born October 8, 1844. He left Sweden and came to Rockford when twenty-seven years old. His brother Andrew came two years before, in 1871. After his arrival at Rockford, Charles G. Wild worked on a farm, but soon obtained employment in some of the Rockford factories. among them being the one conducted by N. C. Thompson. For fifteen years he was night watchman for some of the factories and his eni- ployers relied upon his faithfulness and con- scientiousness. His death occurred October 27, 1913, in his residence on Sixth street which he had built. Here his widow now resides.

On April 10, 1874, Mr. Wild was married to Ida S. Kron, born in Sweden, a daughter of G. Peter and Martha H. Kron, who came to Rockford in 1870, the father being a laborer. He died soon after his arrival, but the mother survives and lives at Rockford. Mr. and Mrs. Wild had one son, Gust E., who is a druggist on

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Fourteenth avenue, Rockford. Mr. Wild be- longed to the First Lutheran Church of Rock- ford. In politics he was a Republican.

WILDER, Nathaniel, page 648.

WILKINS, Sylvester B. Among the names that are connected with the industrial life of Rock- ford is that of Sylvester B. Wilkins, whose ac- tivities led him to branch out into wider fields. He was the founder of the Kenosha Hosiery Company, and his factory at Kenosha is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. He was born in Chenango County, N. Y., March 24, 1833, a son of Joshua L. and Mary (Stowell) Wilkins, also natives of Chenango County, where they died,

Sylvester B. Wilkins attended the schools in his district and went for a term to the academy at Binghampton, N. Y., being nineteen years old when he went to that place. His business career started with his manufacturing wagon spokes, and in 1851 he went to Milton, Pa., where he manufactured wheel stock for some years. Sub- sequently he became a builder of canal boats, and so continued until 1869, when he came to Rockford and established himself as a manu- facturer of bolts. For a quarter of a century he was very profitably engaged in that line, when he sold and established what later de- veloped into the Kenosha Hosiery Company. Owing to a lack of sufficient funds to properly enlarge his plant at Rockford, Mr. Wilkins went to Kenosha, Wis., where lie interested some capitalists and the plant was moved to Kenosha. Mr. Wilkins served this company as vice presi- dent, and again as president, being in the latter office at the time of his retirement, in 1912. He has always maintained his residence at Rock- ford, and owns his beautiful house at No. 509 N. Church street.

In May. 1861, Mr. Wilkins was married to Jane Goodlander, born in 1838, at Milton, Pa., a daughter of Christopher Goodlander. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins have had the following children : George L., who is a resident of Rogers Park, Ill .; Mary, who is Mrs. George N. Holt of Chi- cago, Ill. ; and Ruth, who is at home. The Court Street Methodist Church of Rockford, holds the membership of Mr. Wilkins. He served two terms as mayor of Rockford, being elected to that office on the Prohibition ticket. His daugh- ter Mary. now Mrs. Holt, was one of the lead- ing musicians of Rockford, and was organist of the First Congregational Church for many years, and Mr. Holt is a very capable and popular in- structor in vocal music. Although his years of active public service are passed, Mr. Wilkins is still regarded as one of the leading men of Rockford.

WILLIAMS, Charles, page 707.

WILLIAMS, Charles B., painting contractor, and one of the most expert men in his line at Rock- ford, with residence at No. 1429 School street, is a man whose rise has been steady and well

deserved. He was born at Dodgeville, Wis., May 25, 1861, a son of William T. and Eliza (Grenfal) Williams. William T. Williams was born in England June 8, 1818, and the mother was also born in England. They came to the United States in 1851, locating at Dodgeville, Wis., where he bought land, and spent the re- mainder of his life, his last years being lived in retirement. He died at the age of eighty- one years, in 1899, and the mother is also de- ceased. After the formation of the Republican party, the father adopted its principles and con- tinued to support it the remainder of his life. In religious matters he was a consistent mem- ber of the Primitive Church.

Charles B. Williams was reared and educated at Dodgeville, and until he was twenty-three years old he assisted his father in the farm work. He then rented land and farmed on his own account for a time, and then went to Chicago where he was employed by Armour & Company for a year. For another year he traveled for a school supply house, and in 1891 came to Rockford, where he engaged with the Rockford Cabinet Company, with which he re- mained for three and one-half years. For the next year he was with Weber & Briggs, and then in 1896 he embarked in a painting and decorating business, under the firm name of Morgan & Williams, and the firm is recognized as second to none in the quality of their work and the artistic value of their ideas. In 1905 Mr. Williams built his present home which is a very modern residence, artistic in design and finish. He also owns several lots in the west end of Rockford, 320 acres in North Dakota, of which he homesteaded 160 acres, and pre- empted the other 160 acres. His son Frood also homesteaded 160 acres in the same locality. On August 1, 1913, Mr. Williams arrived at Rockford, from his claim in North Dakota, hav- ing driven overland with teams.

In 1882 Mr. Williams married Sarah Paul, a daughter of Charles and Anna (Marr) Paul oť Dodgeville, Wis., whose parents were natives of England, but came to the United States at an early day, and located at Dodgeville, where they remained until death, the father passing away in 1914, aged eighty-four years, and the mother in 18S1, both having been consistent members of the Methodist Church. In politics the father was a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have three children, namely : Frood, Elinor and Aldo. Mr. Williams is a Mason in good standing. In politics he is a Republican. No man stands any higher in public esteem than he, and his success is well merited.

WILLIAMS, Charles L., page 708

WILLIAMS, Frank W., vice president and secre- tary of the Rockford Carbon Manufacturing Company, with residence at No. 1129 Blaisdell street, is one of the substantial citizens and live business men of Rockford. He was born at Chicago. Ill., November 14, 1875, a son of Theodore D. and Hattie D. (Reynolds) Wil-

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liams, natives of eastern states. The father was a physician and a man of responsibility.

Frank W. Williams was educated at Chicago, and his business career had its inception when he began working as a salesman for a Chicago firm, but left it in 1910 to go with Fairbanks & Morse Company, of Chicago, as a commer- cial traveler, continuing with this concern until 1914. In 1915 Mr. Williams entered upon the discharge of his duties with the Rockford Car- bon Manufacturing Company, and is one of the leading factors of this concern.

On September 6, 1904, Mr. Williams was mar- ried at Rockford to Maude E. Best. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have no children. He belongs to the I. C. M. A. The Christian Union Church holds his membership. In politics he is a Re- publican, A sound, reliable, experienced man. Mr. Williams is a valuable addition to any community, and stands very high with his asso- ciates.

WILLIAMS, Henry Wilson. The late Henry Wilson Williams was a man of many excellent traits of character and of sound business judg- ment and his career was marked by a success that does not come to everyone. He was born at Worcester, England, in February, 1835, a son of Joseph and Jane Williams, both of whom died in England. Mr. Williams was a well edu- cated man, and his father possessed more than ordinary talent as a portrait and landscape painter, some of his work being still in the pos- session of Mrs. H. W. Williams.

In 1849 Henry W. Williams came to the United States, joining an uncle on his Michigan · farm, where he lived a short time and then went to Detroit, Mich., and worked in a mercantile establishment for some years. He was then interested in a mining business on Lake Supe- rior, operating in the copper fields for some time. In 1865 he came to Rockford and was employed by N. C. Thompson as bookkeeper for over twenty years. His health failing, Mr. Williams then took a trip to his native land, in 1887. His death occurred December 8, 1893. In addition to his beautiful residence at No. 313 S. Church street, in which Mrs. Williams continues to live, Mr. Williams owned other residence property at Rockford.

On June 5, 1870, Mr. Williams was married to Lydia Lane Wright, born at Emberton, Buck- inghamshire, England, a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Lane) Wright, who died in England. Mrs. Williams arrived at Rockford July 4, 1866. Being a tailoress she entered the employ of George Atkinson, one of the old established tailors of Rockford. Mr. and Mrs. Williams became the parents of the following children : Henry W., William H. and Joseph T., all of whom live at Rockford: Andrew Price, who owns the Belmont Park Stock Farm of Alder, Mont. : Lavinia G., who is Mrs. John D. Tuke, of Walla Walla. Wash. ; Lydia L. and Arthur George, who died in infancy ; and Lydia Jane, who died at the age of six years. Mr. Williams belonged to the Episcopal Church. He was

Republican and very much interested in the development of Rockford. Mrs. Williams be- longs to the Eastern Star, her husband having been a Mason, and she also belongs to the Woman's Club, the Mendelssohn Club, the Woman's Relief Corps, the Rebekahs', and the Boys' Club, also the Rockford Art Guild, mak- ing the beautiful Buckinghamshire Pillow Lace, and takes a deep interest in all these organiza- tions.

WILMARTH, Ralph A., a prosperous farmer and public-spirited man of Winnebago County, owns and operates an excellent farm in New Milford Township. He was born in Ogle County, Ill., September 16, 1870, a son of Alonzo B. Wil- marth, who was born in Rhode Island in 1838. He married Hannah A. Hagaman, who was born at Amsterdam, N. Y., in 1840. When he was eighteen years old, Alonzo B. Wilmarth came to Ogle County with his parents. Later he came to Winnebago County and bought 200 acres in New Milford Township, near Rockford. He and his wife had two children, namely : Ralph A. and Ned D. Alonzo B. Wilmarth continued to conduct his farm until his retirement, at which time he went to Rockford and is now living in that city.

Ralph A, Wilmarth was practically reared in New Milford Township and here educated. He owns 160 acres of valuable land and it is located on section 14. He was township supervisor and road commissioner, having been elected on the Republican ticket.

On June 26, 1898, Mr. Wilmarth was married to Emma B. Baxter, born June 26, 1876, and they have had the following children: Helen, born November 25, 1900; Lewis. October 4, 1902; and Ina, born December 3, 1909.

Frank A. Baxter, the father of Mrs. Wil- marth, was born in New Milford Township, in 1845, and after a life spent in farming, he is low living retired at Rockford. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Helen A. Conklin, was born at Rome, N. Y., in 1847, and died March 9, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter had five children as follows : Bert, Myrtle, Emma, Effie, and Fran- cis. Mr. Baxter belongs to the Methodist Church and his wife was also a member of that denomi- nation. Both the Baxter and Wilmarth families are well known in Winnebago County, and their representatives stand high in public regard.

WILSON, B. A., secretary and treasurer of the Rockford Furniture Company, with residence at No. 1319 Revell avenue, is one of the alert, capable and progressive business men of Rock- ford who has risen to his present position through his own unaided efforts. He was born in Sweden, August 19, 1883, and there edu- cated. After coming to Rockford when seven- teen years old, he attended a commercial col- lege of this city to gain a knowledge of business methods, and his first experience in the business world was with the Scandia Furniture Company as a cabinetmaker. He continued in the employ of this company for six years, and then went

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with the Rockford Transfer Company as all office man, being with them for two years. He then, in 1912, was made secretary and treasurer of the Rockford Furniture Company, being at present a stockholder of the company.

On June 8, 1911, Mr. Wilson was married at Rockford to Selma Larson, born at Rockford. They have two children: June E. and Robert.

The sound principles which actuated Mr. Wil- son at the beginning of his career, he still maintains, and recognizes that quality is worth more than quantity, and that honest policies and upright dealing are better than outward show and inward unsoundness. Under his able man- agement the affairs in his charge are in prime condition and his company ranks among the foremost ones in its line in the city.

WILSON, Charles A., whose association with the Wilson Bottling Company at Nos. 510 to 514 Fifteenth avenue, assures its customers of fair treatment, and the public of a pure product, was born at Oland, Sweden, November 19, 1877, a son of John A. and Carolina (Mikaelson) Wil- son. John A. Wilson was born in Oland, Swe- den, where he was a merchant, and came to the United States in 1889, locating at Rockford, where he was employed in Chair Factory A, remaining in this position for five years. He then went with the Rockford Mantel Company, in which he was a stockholder, and later was with the Rockford Furniture Company, where he is still employed. He and the mother reside at their beautiful home, No. 2203 Parmelee street. Both are consistent members of the Lutheran Church.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 130

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