Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 64

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 64

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Gertrude Kjillgren and has two children, Paul Jean and Louise ; and Amy B., who is at home. Mr. Abramson belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Rockford Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Originally a Republican, his advanced ideas made him a Progressive when there came a break in the party. When elected a supervisor of his town- ship, on the Republican ticket, he proved a faithful and capable county official. A man of experience in the furniture business, he is rec- ognized a's being an authority upon many mat- ters pertaining to this line and his honorable position among his associates has been secured through merit.

ACKEMANN, Harry W., M. D. The younger generation of physicians and surgeons are mark- edly alert and progressive, keeping posted upon the advance made in their profession and the discoveries in science. Winnebago County is the home of some of the most skillful of these medi- cal practitioners and among them none stands higher than Dr. Harry W. Ackemann of Rock- ford, who maintains offices at Nos. 402-3 in the Brown building, and a residence .at No. 1143 N. Church street. He was born at Elgin, Ill., Sep- tember 15, 1885, a son of A. W. and Minnie (Buhmeyes) Ackemann, natives of Germany and Boone County, Ill., respectively. The father is engaged in business at Elgin.

Harry W. Ackemann was graduated from the Elgin High school in 1905, and then entered the Northwestern University where he took the medi- cal course and was graduated therefrom in 1909. Following this he came to Rockford and for thir- teen months was an interne at the Rockford Hospital, and while there passed the state board examinations, and then entered upon a general practice which he has since continued. At pres- ent Dr. Ackemann is a member of the medical staff of Rockford Hospital, and is captain sur- geon of the Illinois medical corps assigned to the Third Infantry, Illinois National Guards. He is a member of the Association of Military Sur- geons of the United States, of the Winnebago Medical Society, and the American Medical Asso- ciation. Fraternally he affiliates with the Elks. His social relations are with the Rockford Gun and University clubs.

On February 21, 1911, Dr. Ackemann was mar- ried to Maude Leonore Goodspeed, born at Elgin, Ill., a daughter of Watson L. and Nellie (Scott) Goodspeed, the former of whom is a musician and teacher. Dr. and Mrs. Ackemann belong to the Singers and Players' Club of Rockford.

ACKERLY, W. Freeman, formerly one of the prominent and useful men of Winnebago County whose business affairs concerned Rockford and vicinity for many years, was born in Delaware County. N. Y., December 12, 1832, a son of Jonathan and Charlotte ( Breeman) Ack- erly. Jonathan Ackerly was born in northern England. while his wife was of French extrac- tion. They were married in Delaware County, N. Y .. and spent .a few years in that vicinity, and then moved to Allegany County, N. Y.,

where he worked at his trade of millwright. After a few years he went to Conneaut, Ohio, and engaged in farming and in work at his trade. It was while residing here that his first wife died. He married (second) Miss Barnes, and soon thereafter they moved to Battle Creek, Mich., where he once more started work at his trade and so continued until his death, at the age of seventy-five years. His sec- ond wife survived him and died in New York state.

W. Freeman Ackerly spent his boyhood in Delaware County, N. Y., where he was educated. After leaving school he began learning the car- Denter trade and worked at the same until nineteen years old, then left home to begin life for himself. In August, 1855, he went to Cleve- land, Ohio, where he worked as a millwright for a year, and then came to Rockford, Ill., and here embarked in a contracting business. Later he went to Cherry Valley Township, where he built the Ezra May distillery, on the Kishwaukee River, near Belvidere, Ill., and was also engaged in a lumber business and conducted a general store. Finding an investment in land that suited him, he bought a farm in Cherry Valley Township, and acquired many other interests. His building activities were not confined entirely to Winnebago County, for he executed contracts throughout the state, and gave employment to many men. A prominent Mason, Mr. Ackerly was past master of the Cherry Valley Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and belonged to Rockford Lodge No. 17, Commandery, K. T. He held the office of master of his lodge for twenty years. A Republican, he was called upon to accept pub- lic office, and he discharged the duties pertaining to such ably and honorably.

August 3, 1855, Mr. Ackerly married Miss Adaline M. Alexander, a daughter of Nelson and Polly (Bacon) Alexander, and they became the parents of the following children: Ella M. Turner, who married James S. Turner, a son of - J. M. Turner, who resides at No. 135 Baker Place, Rockford; Frederick N., who married Miss Nellie Adams, a daughter of Edward and Abigail Adams; Frank Freeman, who married Miss Kate Blackington, a daughter of Emmet Blackington ; Jessie M., who married Burton M. Brown ; and Jonathan Clark Eugene.

Nelson Alexander, the father of Mrs. Ackerly, was born in New Hampshire, April 5, 1807. His wife was a native of Connecticut, and they were married in New Hampshire. Later they moved to Maryland, and still later to Cattarau- gus County, N. Y., where the father took up 196 acres of land from the government. Until their death Mr. and Mrs. Nelson remained on this farm, she passing away when seventy-three years old, and he on April 5, 1892, aged eiglity- five years. On the maternal side of the house, Mrs. Ackerly traces her ancestry far back in England. Her grandfather, Daniel Bacon. a son of Lord Bacon, came to the United States, and was one of the promoters of the railroad now known as the Lackawanna. Later he bought a farm in Luzerne County, Pa., comprising 157 acres, a portion of which he

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

later leased to a Mr. Silkman and Mr. Scranton, the present city of Scranton being named ill the latter's honor. Mrs. Ackerly has an English coin dated 1804, amounting to about one dollar of our money, which was given her by her grandfather Bacon, who, on the death of his father had succeeded to the title. He died on his farm in the vicinity of Scranton, Pa., June 18, 1857. The Ackerly, Alexander, Bacon and Freeman families trace their ancestry back four hundred years to the nobility of Europe.

AGNEW, Henry, who has been active along several lines in Winnebago County, and whose building operations alone entitle him to a place in a work of this kind, is one of the substantial residents of Rockford. He was born in New Milford Township, February 26, 1850, a son of Hugh and Elizabeth (Mane) Agnew, natives of Ireland and Canada, respectively. The mater- nal grandparents were of English birth. Hugh Agnew came to Canada after attaining his ma- jority, and there married, coming immediately thereafter to New Milford Township, this county, arriving here in 1844. He bought eighty acres of land, totally unimproved, and began at once to place it under cultivation. To this original purchase he added until he owned over 700 acres, a portion of which was in Ogle County. His death occurred in 1872. His wife .

died at Rockford in 1908. Their children were as follows : W. J., who is deceased, is survived by his widow, who lives at No. 1002 Franklin Place; Samuel James, who resides at Minne- apolis, Kansas; Henry; George, who lives at Sycamore, Ill .; Elihu, who lives at Mankato, Minn. ; and Ida, who is Mrs. Riley J. Merriteld, of Minneapolis, Kas.

Henry Agnew attended the country schools, the common and high schools of Rockford and the Rockford Business College. He remained with his parents until his marriage. when he rented a farm of 110 acres in New Milford Township, south of the Kishwaukee River. Later he bought this farm and added ninety acres and lived upon it until 1SS2, when he moved to Rockford and conducted a grocery business for a short time. After selling it, with C. W. Dempsey he bought a well-drilling outfit and drilled wells throughout a territory extend- ing for many miles in every direction from Rockford. and so continued until 1908, when he sold his interests to his partner. Since then he has been engaged in building houses, selling all when completed with the exception of his own fine residence, at No. 1736 Cumberland street.

On February 26, 1872, Mr. Agnew was married to Margaret Beatty. born September 15. 1851. in St. Lawrence County. N. Y., a daughter of James and Jane (Woodside) Beatty, who came west and settled in the vicinity of Woodstock. McHenry County. Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Agnew have had three children, namely: Sadie, who married R. E. Doxsee, lives at No. 1728 Cum- berland street, Rockford, and has two children, Henry L. and Margaret I .; Merrill Hugh, who lives at Elgin, Ill., married Myrtle Getting ; and

Mina, who is deceased. While living in New Milford Township, Mr. Agnew served as town- ship collector for a year, as school director for three years and as constable for three years, being elected on the Republican ticket. He be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and is as popular in that order as he is with the public at large.

ALEXANDER, James. It must be very gratify- ing to the men who have served long and faith- fully in any capacity to have their efforts re- warded, and it is acknowledged that the offi- cials of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company show their appreciation of their men in a substantial manner. One of those whose long service is now being recompensed by a pension, and the respect of his old associates, is James Alexander, of Rockford. He was born at London, England, May 28, 1850, a son of Robert and Hannah (Took) Alexander, natives of England. The father came to the United States in 1852, locating at Madison, Wis., where he became owner of several teams and the pro- prietor of a teaming business. When he had made a home for them, the mother and children joined the father at Madison. -

After attending the public schools of Madison, Wis., James Alexander, at the age of fourteen years, began to be self supporting by working in a photograph gallery, owned by John Fuller. After two years there he began driving a deliv- ery wagon for W. J. and F. Ellsworth, grocers. One year later he became one of their clerks. When he was eighteen years old he began his railroad career as a freight brakeman on the Madison Division of the Chicago & Northwest- ern Railroad, and after two years was promoted to be fireman on the same division. Two and one-half years of faithful service as a fireman brought him promotion in 1873 to be locomotive engineer, and he was sent to Harvard, Ill., where he remained until 1SSO. He then took a year's leave of absence, when, for the following two years, he was located at Baraboo, Wis. In 1SS4 he was transferred to Rockford. on the Wisconsin Division, running between Kenosha and Rockford as a passenger and freight engi- neer, and so continued until August 1, 1915, when he was retired on the pension list.

On June 13, 1871. Mr. Alexander was married at Madison, Wis., to Eva Wilson, a daughter of William H. and Jane (Clark) Wilson, born at New York City. They had four children, namely : Jennie, who is Mrs. Walter H. Stewart of Sacramento, Cal .; Josie L., who is Mrs. Archie H. Short of Rockford, has two children, Robert and Audrey L .; and May and Susan, both deceased. Mr. Alexander is a Methodist in religious faith. His political convictions make him a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to the B. of L. E. of Chicago. No. 96. Just recently Mr. Alexander has bought a comfortable resi- dence, surrounded by two acres of land, just north of Rockford, in Guilford Township.

Charles H. Richardson,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

ALLEN, Edgar C., vice president of the Rock- ford Illustrating Company at No. 130 N. First street, Rockford, is one of the substantial and reliable business men ot the city and one who stands very high in public esteem. He was born at Belvidere, Ill., April 9, 1884, a son of H. W. and Ida (Carry) Allen. The parents were born at Castile, N. Y., and they came west in 1SS2, locating at Belvidere, Ill., where the father was a grocer for a number of years. Subsequently he was a salesman tor Sprague, Warner & Com- pany of Chicago, and maintained his connections with this big house for a quarter of a century. Finally he located at Rockford, where he died in 1911, aged fifty-five years. The mother sur- vives. They were long connected with the Bap- tist church. In politics the father was a Re- publican.

Edgar C. Allen was reared and educated at Belvidere and Rockford, and his first work was obtained with the B. F. Barnes Company as a machinist. In 1903 he established his present business, and in the years which have followed, he has built it up to very gratifying proportions.

In 1909 Mr. Allen was married to Miss Verna Cleveland, a daughter of E. A. and Ella (Brad- ley) Cleveland of Belvidere. At one time E. A. Cleveland was owner of the Belvidere Spring Bed Company, but is now retired. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have one child, Louise Jane. Mr. Allen is an excellent example of the capable, selt-reliant men of this locality, and his prosperity is self earned, and richly deserved.

ALLEN, John L., whose methods and success in farming have gained him an enviable position among Winnebago County agriculturalists, was born in Center County, Pa., May 12, 1866, a son of J. H. and Mary (Fish) Allen. J. H. Allen and wite were born in the same county and there were married. J. H. Allen engaged in railroad work as a conductor on the Penn- sylvania Central Railroad until 1875, when he became otherwise associated for a year. The next change was made when he moved to Stephenson County, Ill., in 1886. He died in 1903, aged sixty-tour years. He was an Odd Fellow, and a Knight ot Pythias, and belonged to the G. A. R. Post at Freeport. During the Civil war, J. H. Allen enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served until 1865. His wife died in 1892, aged fifty-seven years.

John L. Allen's boyhood was spent in the various places to which his father's duties took the family, and he was mainly on a farm until fifteen years old. He then entered the North- ern Illinois College, from which he was gradu- ated, following which he taught school in the state of Nebraska tor a year. Returning to Illinois, he engaged in railroad work with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for two years, and then for twenty-three years was with the Illinois Central Railroad. Mr. Allen then went into a horse business for several years, when he was placed in charge of the rail-

road station at Woodford, Wis., which position he held for eighteen years. He then resigned and re-entered the horse business, but atter a year moved on the farm he now owns in Roscoe Township. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow.

On November 12, 1889, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Flora May Andre, a daughter of George and Mary (Kline) Andre, both natives of Phil- adelphia, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have five children : Hazel May, who married G. R. Davis, ot Argyle, Wis .; and Vernon E., Miles Dewey, John Henry, and Grace Blanch. Mr. and Mrs. Andre came to Illinois trom Pennsylvania in 1859, locating at . Orangeville, Stephenson County, where Mr. Andre carried on a tailoring establishment. In 1861 he enlisted in the Forty- sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for service during the Civil war, and was honorably dis- charged in 1865, following which he returned home and spent a year at Monroe, Wis. From there he came to Rock City, this county, where he died in 1888. The mother of Mrs. Allen died at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. Allen, in Woodford, Wis., having lived there for nine years. Mr. Andre was a member of the G. A. R. Both the Allen and Andre families are well known and highly respected.

ALLEN, Romaine E. Rockford is the home of some of the most reliable business establish- ments in the state, and one that is recognized as belonging to this class is Allen's "Most Every- thing" Store, at No. 120 W. State street, of which Romaine E. Allen is proprietor and man- ager. He was born at Rockford, October 2, 1883, a son of William H. and Amy F. F. (Emerson) Allen, the latter being a daughter of D. L. Emerson, who was a traveling salesman with the Emerson-Brantingham Co., and died in 1911, aged ninety years. The mother of Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Emerson, died in 1912, also aged ninety years.

William H. Allen was born near Black Hawk Park, Rockford, and Mrs. Allen was also born in this city. During his earlier days William H. Allen was a grocer but later embarked in a crockery business in which he has been inter- ested ever since, in 1911 going to St. Paul, Minn., where he is engaged in a wholesale glassware and crockery business with Burley & Tyrell Co., being manager of the hotel department. He is a Knight Templar, a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner, and he belongs also to the Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a Republican.

Romaine E. Allen was reared and educated at Rockford, and upon leaving school went with the C. F. Henry Co., at State and Main streets, this concern being a clothing house, and con- tinued with it for fifteen years, during his last five years being its secretary and treasurer. He resigned, in July, 1914, and bought the busi- ness of E. R. Elliott, October 15, 1914. He car- ries a complete stock, and his business connec- tions make it possible for him to offer specially desirable prices.

On June 27, 1906, Mr. Allen was married to Miss G. Helen Parriott, a daughter ot John C.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Parriott. Mr. Allen is an Elk. The family resi- dence is at No. 1329 Boilvin avenue.

ALLING, David D., page 649.

AMMON, Philip C., a member of the firm of Ammon & Sons, plumbers, at No. 10S Second street, is one of the active business men of Rockford, and one who deserves his present prosperity, having earned it himself. He was born August 5, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio, a son of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Beirboum) Ammon. Rudolph Ammon was born in Germany, near Berlin, as was his wife, and there they were educated and married. The father learned the trade of a moulder, and when he came from Germany to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1862, he found l'eady employment at his trade with the Mal- leable Iron Works Company. Later he em- barked in a grocery business on Sixty-fifth street, and carried it on for some years when he retired and lived in the vicinity of St. Clair, until his death in 1886, aged fifty-eight years. The mother died in 1882, aged forty-five years. The father was a Republican in politics.

Philip C. Ammon was educated at Cleveland, Ohio, and there learned the moulder's trade. He first worked for C. C. Dustoe with whom he remained for two years, then went to Chicago and worked for the firm of Kelley Bros., for one year, as a plumber. Following this he went to Nebraska and for eighteen months was with Duncan Wallace, plumber, on Sixteenth street, Omaha. Mr. Ammon then came to Rockford and was with Maynard Bros. for one year, and then started with the Springes-Gregory Com- pany, as a plumber, and remained with this con- cern for twenty-five years, when Mr. Gregory died and Mr. Ammon started in business for himself at No. 514 E. State street. After three years, in 1915; he moved to his present location, where he has a large trade.

In 1886 Mr. Ammon was married to Miss Alice Foley, a daughter of Michael Foley, of Shullsberg, Wis., where her parents were en- gaged in farming upon an extensive scale and were among the early settlers of that part of Wisconsin. Mrs. Ammon died at the age of forty-seven years, in 1913. She and her husband were the parents of five children, as follows : Carl H., Roy P., who married Edith Johnson ; Philip R., Alice E., and Francis E. Mr. Ammon is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican but his time and attention have been so engrossed with his busi- ness cares that he has had no time for public affairs outside of performing the duties of good citizenship.

ANDERSON, A. E., president of the Star Tea and Coffee Company at No. 216 Seventh street, Rockford, is one of the responsible and capable business men of the city, and one in whom implicit confidence is placed. He was born May 1, 1870, in Kane County, Ill., forty miles west of Chicago, a son of Carl and Sophia (Carlson) Anderson. Carl Anderson, his father, was born

in Westergotland, Sweden, in 1823. In 1869, with his family, he lett Sweden for the United States, and they located at St. Charles, 111., where he bought land and operated it for a number of years. On account of ill health he was finally forced to retire from farm work and came to Rockford, where for eighteen years he lived with his son, A. E., who faithfully and willingly cared for him until his death, which occurred January 11, 1914, when he was ninety- one years old. Carl Anderson was a member of the Lutheran church of Lilly Lake, Ill., and a faithful worker in its ranks. In politics he was a Republican.

A. E. Anderson attended the public schools of Kane County until he was twelve years old, then went to Sycamore, Ill., and there spent two years. On March 15, 1884, he started on foot for Rockford, and walked the entire dis- tance from Sycamore to this city. There he obtained a position with the old Rockford Bolt Company and remained with this concern for a short time. He was an ambitious lad and seeing better opportunities with the R. W. Crum Lum- ber & Fuel Company, went with them as team- ster, and later on was made manager of their yards, continuing with them for seven years and rendering faithful service. In 1893 he took a position with the Forest City Baking Com- pany, held it for a year, and then went into a butter and buttermilk business for himself. After continuing alone for seven years he took a partner, Alfred Wessman, and they continued together for the next twelve years. when they branched out and added the handling of teas and coffees, and located at No. 624 Seventh street. A year later they bought out the Cherry Valley Creamery, and still later the Irene Creamery Company. Mr. Anderson took charge of the creamery part of the business, and his partner assumed charge of the tea and coffee business. In 1907 Mr. Anderson disposed of his interest in the tea and coffee business, and en- gaged in handling real estate in conjunction with operating his creameries until 1912, when he sold to C. M. Waite of Belvidere, Ill., and to Mr. Wessman, and still later retired. For some time thereafter he traveled extensively for his health, visiting twenty-six states. Upon return- ing to Rockford, on September 24, 1914, he became president of the Star Tea & Coffee Com- pany at No. 216 Seventh street. He served for four years as alderman of the Second Ward, being elected on the Republican ticket. He is a director of the Swedish-American Bank, having held that office since 1912. The First Lutheran Church of Rockford holds his membership.

On October 20, 1892. Mr. Anderson was mar- ried to Miss Emma Lundquist, a daughter of Andrew and `Anna Lundquist. of Pecatonica. Ill., natives of Westgotland. Sweden. They came to the United States on the same vessel that brought over Mr. Anderson's father. Upon their arrival in Winnehago County, they settled at Pecatonica, where Mr. Lundquist began as a shoemaker, but later became a dealer in boots and shoes, and continued in business until his

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

death in 1896. Mrs. Lundquist is still living, and makes her home at Pecatonica. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson became the parents of the fol- lowing children : May G., who is bookkeeper for the E. W. Clothing Company ; Edna F., who is at home; Francis B., who is stenographer and bookkeeper in the Swedish-American National Bank ; and Nellie E., who is attending the high school at Rockford. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson own their beautiful residence at No. 703 S. Third street which he erected. Although he was hampered by lack of means at the start, Mr. Anderson has made a success of his life. He has proved himself a dutiful son, a devoted husband and father, and a public-spirited citi- zen, and his prosperity is well merited.

ANDERSON, Daniel, foreman of the finishing department of the Rockford Frame & Fixture Company, is not only one of the company's ex- pert worknien, but also a stockholder, and owns his residence at No. 1407 Sixteenth avenue. so that he is rightly included in the list of sub- stantial men of Rockford. He was born in Sweden, in October, 1861, and there educated and taught farming and cabinetmaking. Until 1895 he was employed in his native land along these two lines, but in that year came to the United States in search of better conditions. Upon his arrival in this country he came to Rockford and began working for the East Rock- ford Mantel Company, but two years later left that concern for his present one. In 1904 he was made assistant foreman, and in 1910 he was made foreman and has held that respon- sible position ever since, justifying. the con- fidence reposed in him.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 64

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