USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II > Part 84
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132
On November 22, 1865, Mr. Fuller was mar- ried to Miss Mary Kable, who was born in Win- nebago County, Ill., November 2, 1S38. She has one sister, Mrs. Louise Clark, who lives in Cali- fornia. Mrs. Fuller owned eighty acres of land on section 5, Pecatonica Township.
Mr. Fuller died January 6, 1911. He was one of the last survivors of the Fuller family, which at one time was a well-known one in this county, In politics he was a Republican, but sought to
1060
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
serve his party in a private rather than public capacity. An upright, hard-working man, he was ever held in high respect by those who knew him.
FURMAN, C. H., junior member of the well known and dependable hardware and sheet metal firm of Weber & Furman, of Rockford, is a man of substance and reliability in his city, and one whose influence has weight among his competitors. He was born at Rockford, Octo ber 6, 1887, a son of Wallace H. and Hattie (Blewfield) Furman.
Wallace H. Furman was born in Harlem Town- ship, Winnebago County, while his wife was born at Wempletown, Ill. When he was four years old Wallace H. Furman was brought to Rockford by his parents and here he was reared, and was educated in the public schools and at Lounsberry Academy, being graduated from the latter institution. Subsequently he engaged in a milk business and remained in it until 1892 when he purchased a farm on the Wolf Grove road and conducted it for a number of years. He then retired to Rockford and later became secretary and treasurer of the Rockford Build- ing Supply Company and still retains that posi- tion.
C. H. Furman was reared at Rockford and attended its public schools until he entered upon his business career with the American Insurance Company, with which he remained for eight years. He then formed his present connection with Mr. Weber in the sheet metal and hard- ware business, at No. 122 N. Church street, and the firm still occupy this location. Both mem- bers are men of high principles and excellent business judgment, and have a fine trade.
In 1914 Mr. Furman was married to Miss Ida Higgins, daughter of Thomas and Annie (Scott) Higgins, natives of Winnebago County. Frater- nally Mr. Furman is an Elk. Mr. and Mrs. Furman enjoy their beautiful home at No. 1303 W. State street where they often extend to friends kind hospitality.
FURMAN, W. H., secretary and treasurer of the Rockford Builders' Supply Company, at No. 1007 W. State street, Rockford, has a record for upright dealing and honesty of purpose which have won for him the confidence and respect of all with whom he is associated. He was born at Rockford in 1861, a son of Henry and Charlotte (Whitwood) Furman, both of whom reside at Rockford. They were natives of New York state, and the father came to Rockford at an early day, and embarked in a realty business, handling farm lands, later opened up a street which, since 1865, has born his name. He also engaged in a milk business, and was one of the first to engage in that line in the city. After many years of useful activity, he retired from active business life.
W. H. Furman was reared and educated at Rockford, and after leaving school, for a time engaged in farming and assisted his father in the milk business. Later he began work for his
present firm for $1.75 per day. His ability and faithfulness earned him consecutive promotions, and in time he bought the interest of George Briggs, and was made secretary and treasurer. The company manufactures sash and doors.
In 1886 Mr. Furman was married to Miss Hattie Bluefield, a daughter of Jacob and Rachael Bluefield, natives of New York state who came to Rockford early and settled on a farm. Mr. Bluefield died at Rockford, aged eighty-eight years, and Mrs. Bluefield died in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Furman have three chil- dren : Clarence H., Fay B., and Charles W. Fraternally Mr. Furman is a Modern Woodman. He built a residence at No. 520 N. Avon avenue, and here he and his family have a beautiful home. A man of sound business principles, alert and thorough, Mr. Furman has deservedly risen, and is now numbered among the representative men of Rockford.
GARDNER, Junius S., one of the most pros- perous retired farmers of Winnebago County now living at Rockford, was born at Florence, Oneida County, N. Y., May 7, 1855, and comes from English and Hollander stock. His great- grandparents on the paternal side were Richard and Ann (Gardner) Gardner, both born in Eng- land, he on June 24, 1753, and she on September, 1753, where they died. His grandparents were Richard and Ann (Palen) Gardner, natives of England, the former born January 24, 1785, and the latter May 10, 1788. They came to the United States in a chartered ship, sailing from Liverpool, in 1831, and were six weeks making the voyage to New York City, where they landed June 10 of that year, and settled at Florence, N. Y. By profession the grandfather was a physician, but never practiced after coming to this country. He brought $20,000 in gold with him which he invested in Oneida County land, becoming a gentleman farmer and was one of the wealthiest men of his neighborhood. His children were as follows: Peter, who married Margaret Littler ; Mary Charlotte, who married Samuel Littler ; Ann, who married Joseph Jack- son ; Jane, who married Richard Littler ; Emma, who married John Sliter ; Richard, who married Abigail C. Swezey ; Joseph, who married Celes- tine Potts ; Elizabeth, who married Junius A. Cowles ; James, who married Margaret J. Groat ; and Margaret, who married Hiram J. Cowles, all were born in England except Margaret, and are now deceased.
James Gardner, father of Junius S. Gardner, was born in Cheshire, England, August 14, 1828, and was only three years old at the time of the family emigration. He was reared to man- hood at Florence, N. Y., where he began his business career as a farmer and merchant and lived there until 1867 when he came to Winne- bago County, Ill., and locating at Rockford, made it his home until 1897 when he moved to Westchester, Pa,, and there he died April 2, 190S. His wife Margaret J. Groat, a native of Schoharie County, N. Y., born May 7, 1829, died February 10, 1891. They were the parents of
1
Addie & Hipple
Probt Ce Liple.
1061
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
five children as follows: James E., married Elizabeth L. Allen; Cassius M., who married Clara Simpson (second) Jessie Falconer ; Junius S .; Margaret E., who married first Duncan Mc- Geachie, and second, W. D. Shoudy; and Phil C., who married Alice Gunther.
Junius S. Gardner was twelve years old when he was brought to Winnebago County in 1867, and he continued his educational training at the Lounsberry Academy at Rockford. His first work was done on a farm in Winnebago Town- ship, owned by an uncle, and later he purchased this property of 189 acres, still owned by him, upon which he lived until 1911 when he retired, and moved to the village of Winnebago. In January, 1915 he moved to Rockford.
On May 3, 1896, Mr. Gardner was married to Ella M. Phelps, who was born January 18, 1864, near Winnebago, Ill., a daughter of Josiah and Mary (Range) Phelps, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively, and early settlers of Winnebago Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have one son, Junius Raymond, who was born March 12, 1900. Mr. Gardner is one of Winnebago County's leading citizens, and is respected by all who know him. Politically he votes for the man instead of for a party organ- ization.
GARNHART, J. W. An important factor in the civic life of Rockford is the location here of those prosperous men whose life work has been directed along agricultural lines but have now retired, and among them is J. W. Garn- hart, of No. 228 Hinkley avenue. He was born in Marion Township, Ogle County, Ill., May 8, 1850, a son of John and Tonisa (Mortz) Garn- hart, natives of Northumberland County, Pa., where they were married. Until 1849 the father was engaged in farming in his native county, but then moved to Marion Township, Ogle County, Ill., where he bought 196 acres of land and improved it, erecting the necessary buildings upon it, including a large brick house and fine barn. Here he resided until 1867, when he retired and moved to Rockford, Ill., where he bought a valuable residence on Crosby street. He died in 1876, aged sixty-four years. The mother died on the farm in Ogle County in 1860, aged fifty-four years. John Garnhart was always a general farmer. He was a Republican politically. At the time he came to Ogle County transportation facilities were primitive and he drove all the way from Pennsylvania. The English Lutheran Church held his membership.
J. W. Garnhart was educated in Ogle County, and began his life work on the homestead. but two years later bought 160 acres in Pine Creek Township, Ogle County, and remained on it until 1906, when he moved to Rockford and bought a fine residence at No. 316 Hinkley avenue, which he now rents, having bought an- other property at No. 228 the same avenue, where he now lives. Mr. Garnhart retains his 160-acre farm in Pine Creek Township, which is one of the most valuable in that locality.
On October 15, 1876, Mr. Garnhart was mar-
ried to Miss Caroline Jones, a daughter of John D. and Barbara (Tilly) Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Garnhart have the following children: Mittie T., who married Fred Tilly, who is in a garage business ; Lulu B., who married N. H. Tyman, of Davis Junction, Ill .; and Flancy M., who is at home. In politics Mr. Garnhart is a Repub- lican and has served as a school director and trustee, and for six years was a constable. The Lutheran Church holds his membership.
John D. Jones, father of Mrs. Garnhart, was born near Columbus, Ohio, in 1828, and there educated. He was engaged in farming, as was his father, until 1846, when he came to Pine Creek Township, Ogle County, Ill., where he bought government land to the amount of 160 acres, but later sold it to Mr. Garnhart, and moved to Cherokee, Iowa, where he bought 240 acres of land and spent ten years upon it. He then went to Martin County, Minn., there pur- chasing a small farm, and lived on it until January 5, 1914, when he died, aged eighty-six years. Mrs. Jones survives and is living with Mr. and Mrs. Garnhart.
GARVER, Daniel Scott, who for many years was one of the factors of importance in the banking life of Forreston, Ill., and whose widow is now a resident of Rockford, was born in Pennsylvania, August 25, 1852, a son of Martin and Sarah A. (Hewett) Garver, natives of Penn- sylvania, who came to Forreston, Ill., at a very early day, and entered land from the govern- ment. The father died in young manhood, his widow and four children surviving him.
Daniel Scott Garver was educated in the public and a normal school, and quite early in his business career became a banker, being thus engaged at the time of his death, on February 18, 1897. He also owned lands.
On June 5, 1872, Mr. Garver was married at Forreston, Ill., to Lillian Dore, born near Mon- treal, Canada, a daughter of Franklin and Har- riet Louise (Cowlee) Dore, of Granby, Canada, who came to Forreston, Ill., in 1878. There the father of Mrs. Garver became a merchant, and died in 1863, aged thirty-seven years. The mother married (second) Samuel Mitchell, born in Maryland, who is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dore had five children as follows : Alfred E. and Clarence F., both of whom are deceased ; Mrs. Garver; Harriet, who married William Robinson of Oak Park, Ill .; and Stephen, who is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Garver became the parents of the following children : Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frank M. Smith of Rockford ; Sarah L., who married W. E. Perrine of Oregon, Ill .; Anna M., who died in 1915; Franklin S., who is in a real estate business, married Ethel Lenord of Rockford; Dorothy C., who is at home; and Eva, who was the oldest of the family, died when eight years old.
After the death of Mr. Garver, Mrs. Garver in 1898 moved to Rockford, and now resides at No. 2108 Harlem boulevard. Mr. Garver was a Lutheran in religious faith. While residing at Forreston, he served as a member of the school
1062
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
board. He was a man of the highest character, one whose principles were sound and whose acts were founded upon the best conception of Chris- tian citizenship.
GARVER, John C., page 718.
GAYTON, Charles C., one of the progressive young business men of Rockton, has earned the right to a prominent position among the repre- sentatives of the best interests of Winnebago County. He was born in Rockton Township, No- vember 27, 1SS1, a son of George J. and Martha (Starmer) Gayton, natives of Sherbrooke, Canada, and New York state, respectively. They were married at Rockton, Ill., and own land in that neighborhood and at Beloit, Wis. Their children were as follows: George, who lives at Beloit, Wis .: Ida, who is Mrs. F. W. Chase of River Forest, Ill .; Edgar, who lives at Beloit, Wis .; Gertrude, who lives at Seattle, Wash .; Elbert, who lives in Rock County, Wis .; Nellie, who is Mrs. William H. Moore of Rockton, her husband being in partnership with Charles C. Gayton : and John, who was accidentally killed at the age of twenty-eight years.
Until he was twenty years old, Charles C. Gayton remained with his parents, but at that time embarked in a mill and feed business with his brother-in-law, Mr. Moore. Later he went to Beloit, Wis., where he was employed in the Berlin Machine shop as a machinist and was later made night foreman. He is a well edil- cated man, having attended the district schools of Rockton, the Beloit High school, and Beloit Business College. With Mr. Moore he founded the Rockton Electric Company and they furnish light and power for the village of Rockton. The plant runs day and night and steady em- ployment is given to four men. The voltage is a 220 volt circuit. The streets of the village are lighted on each corner with 150 watt lamps sus- pended over the sidewalks. The company handle also all kinds of farm implements, of inter- national and Moline makes, and deal in flour, feed, hay and grain, at wholesale and retail, and operate their mill, elevator and electric plant. this being one of the leading concerns of Rockton,
Mr. Gayton was married July 7, 1915, to Miss Lila Doherty, Beloit, Wis. The Second Congre- gational Church of Beloit, Wis., holds his mem- bership. He belongs to the Royal Arch Masons of Rockton, the Sons of Veterans of Beloit, the Eastern Star of Rockton, and the White Shrine of Beloit. In politics he is a Republican. Live, highly trained and understanding the require- ments of his business, Mr. Gayton is able to take advantage of opportunities as presented and has made a success of his undertakings.
GAYTON, George Joseph, now living retired in the township of Rockton, was for many years very prominent as an agriculturalist of Winne- bago County, and is a man of the highest integrity. He was born in Canada, October 10,
1837, a son of Joseph and Sarah Hannah (Fern) Gayton, the former born at Dunstable, North- ampton, England, February 9, 1814, and the lat- ter May 29, 1811. They came to Canada in 1831. The father entered a farm from the C'anadian government and cleared it of timber and otherwise improved it. He died Febru- ary 6, 1847, and the mother died March 19, 1864, Their children were as follows: Thomas, John W., George, Sarah, Mary, Charles and Henry, all of whom are deceased except George. The widowed mother married (sec- ond) a Mr. Miller, and had a daughter, Alice, who is the widow of Dr. J. C. Hutchison, of Beloit, Wis.
George Joseph Gayton only attended school for twenty-one days, but nevertheless is a well- informed man. After his father's death he worked on farms for four years, and then went to Troy, N. Y., where he partially learned the stove plate moulding trade. Before this he drove the Troy and Albany express for two seasons. Mr. Gayton then worked as a teamster for different concerns for four years. In 1854 he came to Winnebago County, Ill., and was employed by the month on farms for two years. He and his elder brother, Thomas, then bought a team in partnership, and started farming in Cherry Valley Township. Two years later they went to Newark, Wis., and rented a farm in Rock County for a year. The brother died, and Mr. Gayton started breaking his land with a yoke of oxen, with which he did all his farm work until August, 1864. In that year he en- listed for service in the Civil war, in Company H, Forty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to duty in Illinois and Ken- tucky. Until June, 1865, when he was dis- charged, he was on detached and provost duty and also was employed in guarding government stores,
After being honorably discharged, Mr. Gay- ton returned home and bought a forty-acre farm near Newark, Wis., and cleared and improved it, selling it in 1868, He then went to Doni- phan County, Kas., where his family was taken sick, and his wife and her mother and sister died. In 1869 he returned to Wisconsin and re- sumed farming and conducted a threshing ma- chine for ten years. In 1872 he moved to Rock- ton Township, Winnebago County, Ill., and worked a sixty-acre farm on shares, and then bought it and since then has added thirty-eight acres. On this he made many improvements, remodeling the buildings where he did not erect new ones, and for ten years carried on a garden and general seed business and did general farm- ing. He then embarked in the raising of heifer calves, and carried from twelve to thirty-eight cows in his dairy herd. In 1913 he retired, and is enjoying the comforts his industry has pro- rided.
In October, 1859, he was married (first) to Catherine Spencer, born at Kenosha, Wis., a daughter of Joseph and Olive (Welch) Spencer of New York. Mrs. Gayton died in Decem- ber, 1870. Their children were as follows :
1063
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
1
George, who lives at Beloit, Wis., married . Net- tie Cutts, and they have these children, May, Samuel, Lulu and Grace; Ida, who is Mrs. Frank Chase of River Forest, Ill., has two chil- dren, Harold and Carroll; Edgar, who lives at Beloit, Wis., married Celia Holmes, and they have three children, Fred, Lee and Robert ; Elbert N., who lives in Rock County, Wis., mar- ried Ella Moore, and they have two children, Leroy and Russell ; and Gertrude, who lives at Seattle, Wash. In August, 1871, Mr. Gayton married (second) Martha Starmer, born at Orchard Park, N. Y., May 29, 1851, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Briggs) Starmer, born in Southampton, England, and Erie County, N. Y., respectively. By the second marriage there were the following children: William, who died in intancy ; Nellie, who is Mrs. W. H. Moore, of Rockton; John, who died in 1906, aged twenty- eight years, married Rose L. Brown, and they had two children, Earl and Darl; and Charles, who lives at Rockton. Mr. Gayton first be- longed to the Episcopal church, then united with the Methodist church, and now belongs to the Second Congregational church of Beloit. He is a Republican. The L. H. C. Crane Post No. 54, G. A. R., holds his membership.
GEETING, Grant S. Almost every line of in- dustrial endeavor is represented at Rockford, and for many years its supremacy over neigh- boring cities has been maintained by its reliable and substantial business men. One of those who was always interested in advancing his community while he improved his own material welfare, was the late Grant S. Geeting. He was born in Ogle County, Ill., March 6, 1876, a son of Simon and Catherine (Foy) (Rife) Geeting, the latter being the widow of Ernest Rife at the time she married Simon Geeting. By her first marriage she had one daughter, Mary, who became Mrs. LaShalle of Pasadena, Cal.
When he was young, Grant S. Geeting at- tended the public schools of his neighborhood. He began his business career at the age of twenty years when he commenced working by the day. Later he engaged in a butchering busi- ness at Forreston, but left it to establish him- self in a transfer business. At first he oper- ated on a small scale, but at the time of his death he had three teams and wagons, and con- trolled a large trade, and was recognized as one of the reliable men in his line.
On October, 28, 1896, Mr. Geeting was married to Mary A. Hiteman, born in Ogle County, Ill., , daughter of Joseph and Matilda (Doven- barger) Hiteman, residents of Forreston, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Geeting had no children. On October 5, 1909. occurred the accident that caused Mr. Geeting's death. He was acci- dentally killed by an Illinois Central railroad train. His burial was in White Oak Cemetery, at Forreston. His death was sincerely mourned by his fellow townsmen, who appreciated him- as a man of worth. Since his death Mrs. Geet- ing has continued to reside in her handsome
residence at Rockford. Mr. Geeting was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church. He belonged to the Brotherhood of America and to the Yeomen.
GEORGE, Sampson, page 646.
GIFFEN, Alexander, who not only has been one of the substantial mercantile men of Rockford, but also has dealt quite extensively in real estate, is now living in honorable retirement at No. 522 Jefferson street. He was born in Argyle- shire, Scotland, September 3, 1836, a son of Andrew and Jane ( Howie) Giffen. These parents with their five sons and one daughter landed at New York August 26, 1839, after a voyage of fifty-three days, and went by railroad to Albany, and thence by canal to Buffalo. The remainder of the distance to Chicago was made by the lake boats, and there they took teams and went on to Argyle, Harlem Township, Win- nebago County, arriving October 8, 1839. There were but tew people there at that time. They became farmers in the locality, taking up 120 acres of government land. They came to Rock- ford in 1862.
Alexander Giffen attended the Lincoln High school, Rockford, and had as a schoolmate Albert Spaulding, of baseball tame, and Marcus Thayer, and others who later became prominent men. In 1865 Mr. Giffen began his business career by starting a grocery store at 318 East State street, in one-half of a store, the other half being occupied by Erlander & Johnson, a tailor. Eggs came in from the farmers by the bushel, ten to fifteen baskets every day, price ten to twelve cents per dozen. After disposing of his grocery store, in 1868, he conducted a department store in New Milford for three years, then, having disposed of his store in New Milford at a good figure, he returned to Rock- ford and in 1872 went into partnership with C. J. Roberts, in the business of buying and ship- ping butter and eggs. At this time butter was all dairy-packed in sixty pound tubs, taking in thirty to forty tubs a day, shipping in car lots to New York and Boston. Eggs he pickled in vats. The vats were built with brick, cemented inside, and were 5x31/2 and 4 feet high, hold- ing 40 to 75 gallon of water, some lime, salt and cream of tartar, dipping out the eggs with a tin pail with holes in it. Having sorted, dried and packed 400 cases of eggs, 12,000 dozen, in one car load, in November, 1872, Mr. Giffen started with a car over the North Western and Union Pacific railroads for San Francisco, ar- riving in fine shape, with none broken. He turned them over to Schroof, Sweeny & Com- pany, wholesale commission merchants, who disposed of them at 35 to 50 cents per dozen. The venture was a profitable one. The freight on the car of eggs was $586. After returning he went into a grocery and commission business and continued until 1900 and then retired. He owned at one time and another considerable property, but has sold all of it except his resi- dence.
1064
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
On June 18, 1874, Mr. Giffen was married to Mary A. Watterson, born at Oxford, Ohio, Sep- tember 5, 1852, a daughter of John and Ann (Dixon) Watterson, he born at Campbelltown, Scotland, January 12, 1812. On August 8, 1846, John Watterson left his native land, and after a stoppage of twelve years at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1856, came to Winnebago County. Al- though a tailor by trade, after coming to this county, he engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Giffen became the parents of the following chil- dren : Eva Jane, is supervisor of drawing at Highland Park, Ill .; J. Albert, in the postoffice at Phoenix, Arizona, is superintendent of out- going mail, married Versalia Kipp, and they have one daughter, Jeanette; Lena A. is with the Emerson, Brantingham Company ; Buby W., born December 12, 1887, died March 18, 1912, at the age of twenty-four years ; and Wilbur A., born June 12, 1891, is managing clerk for the Rockford Electric Company, and is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Giffen are members of the West- minster Presbyterian Church. He has served it as trustee, deacon, elder and clerk of session. In politics he is a Republican.
GILMORE, Frank, who is correctly numbered among the leading agriculturalists of Winne- bago County, owns and operates a fine 250-acre farm in Owen Township. He was born in this township June 22, 1858, a son of William and Jane (Mack) Gilmore, the former of whom was born in Scotland in 1828, and came to the United States in young manhood. He located in Vermont where he remained for some years and then came to Rockford, Ill., where he was em- ployed in a number of factories. He later moved to Owen Township where he bought 120 acres of land. This he soon sold and bought the farms now owned by the Crowley boys. He also bought the Jacob Knapp farm of 240 acres and operated both farms for five years. Later he sold the second farm to Michael Crowley, and bought the Charles Stafford farm of 315 acres and conducted it until his death June S, 1891, when he was sixty-five years old. Polit- ically he was a Republican. His wife came to the United States in young womanhood with an uncle and located near Milwaukee, Wis. Later slie came to Rockford, where she now resides.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.