Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 90

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 90

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).

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

has been his home from that day to this. He reached Rockford just in time to participate in the celebration of the final victories of the Union armies and the close of the war. He has a warm spot in his heart for Profs. Freeman and Blodgett, and the early day teachers who initiated him into the mysteries of learning in the old Rockford schools. His business career was begun in East State street, in the Leonard and Minzinger confectionery store, but he soon went from there into the old Wallach cloth- ing store as a clerk, and from that day to this, with the exception of a short side trip into the crockery business with Henry Allen, his con- nection with the clothing business of Rockford has remained unbroken. He has been in his present quarters since 1SS1. long enough to make many of our citizens believe that he is the original preemptor of this corner. His store occupies 5,500 square feet of space with an addi- tional two-story building in the rear.

The C. F. Henry Clothing Company is one of the largest establishments of its kind in this part of the state, and controls an immense vol- ume of business. It was re-organized and incorporated in the spring of 1909 with a capi- tal stock of $100,000. The store is well equipped with all modern conveniences and appliances, and the company carries a full and varied line of trunks, valises and leather goods in addition to clothing and gents' furnishings, and since the fall of 1913. a large stock of men's and boys' shoes and rubbers. Not only is the stock care- fully selected with regard to the demands of the customers, and the prevailing styles, but a serv- ice is given that is as nearly perfect as it is possible for it to be made. It is the policy of the management to render customers satisfied, for it is their contention that a customer who is pleased is the best advertisement any concern can have.

While he has spent much time and energy in developing the C. F. Henry Clothing Com- pany, the clothing interests have not bounded Mr. Henry's business horizen. He was one of the organizers of the Insurance Company of the state of Illinois, and its president until this company sold out. He is now president of the Rockford Trust & Safety Deposit Company. the owners of the Rockford Trust building: and is president of the Rockford Mausoleum Company and vice president of the Rockford National Bank. With all these multitudinous duties, Mr. Henry has found time and opportunity to enjoy the social side of life. He is a member in good standing of the Masonic order, in which he has risen to one of the highest degrees, being a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner. He is also a member of the B. P. O. E., and was on the building committee that built and furnished the new home of that fraternity.

HERBERT, Charles H., proprietor of a planing mill, and a manufacturer of store fixtures and refrigerators, with residence on North Main street. Rockford, is a man who has known how to gange public needs and supply them in a prof- itable way. He was born at Oregon, Ill., Septem-

ber 1, 1859, where he attended school. There he learned the carpenter trade and lived until 1888, when he moved to Lincoln Neb., and worked there at his trade for two years. He was then placed in charge of the state work at that point by Governor Thayer, and would have probably continued longer in Nebraska, but in 1894 his wife died, and he returned to Oregon, Ill., with her remains. He continued to reside at Oregon until 1906, when he came to Rockford and es- tablished himself in a grocery business which he conducted for a year and then went into a general contracting business which he continued until 1914. Realizing that there was a fine opening here for his present business, he eni- barked in this line, and is extending his in- terests annually. Mr. Herbert owns several pieces of valuable city property.

Mr. Herbert was married at Oregon. Ill., on December 25, 1880, by Judge Woodcock, to Jennie Elliott, born in Canada, September 11, 1859. She died March S, 1894, mother of the following children: Raymond, who was born November 3, 1883, married Minnie Arbigast, and they have one son, Charles F .; Fred, who was born at Chicago, April 27. 1888; and Mary, who was born at Lincoln, Neb., October 9, 1889, married R. S. Campbell, lives in North Dakota, and they have three children, Charles, Helene and Ralph. Mr. Herbert was married (second) at Rockford, February 3. 1906, to Lillie M. Flemming, born at Morrison, Ill. They have a daughter. Ida M., who was born November 14, 1906. Mr. Herbert belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. In poli- tics he is a Democrat.

HERRICK, Elijah L., page 659.

HERRICK, Stephen H., who for many years was an authority upon agricultural matters in differ- ent sections, is now one of the honored retired residents of Rockford. He was born at Milton, Chittenden County, Vt .. October 20, 1836, a son of Phineas and Emily (Mears) Herrick. Phineas Herrick was born in Vermont in 1802, and was a farmer all his life with the exception of a short period in his early days when he was a bookbinder. He died at Milton, Vt., in 1885, aged eighty-three years. His wife survived him for three years, dying in 1SSS, aged eighty-three years. In politics Phineas Herrick was a Re- publican, and he belonged to the First Congre- gational Church of Milton, Vt. The parents of Mrs. Emily Herrick were born at Poultney, Vt., and became pioneers of Milton, Vt., where the father bought a farm of timber land which he cleared with the help of his sons, and operated it until his death at the age of seventy-two years, in 1841. The mother survived the father, and died at the age of ninety-two years.

Stephen H. Herrick spent his boyhood in Ver- mont, where he was educated. When he at- tained his majority, he came west and settled at Beloit, Wis., and taught school in that vicinity until the spring of 1857, when he went to Doni- phan County, Kas., and continued to teach school for a short time, alternating that work with

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labor in a sawmill. While in Kansas he pre- emptied a claim of land in Brown County, and after selling it returned to Vermont, where he remained for a year. He then went to Newark, Wis., and spent another year. In January, 1863, he came to Rockford, Ill., and began farming in Rockford Township, so continuing for some years on rented land. He later bought 160 acres of land near Hays City, Kas., but sold it and then bought a farm in Winnebago County, con- ducting it for seven years. At the expiration of that period, he retired and rented his prop- erty. At one time he operated a dairy and sold milk at wholesale and retail, being successful in almost any line of business in which he cared to embark. While he now spends his winters in California or Florida, he makes Rockford his home. Mr. Herrick is a charter member of the Christian Union Church of Rockford. For forty years Mr. Herrick was on the Rockford Township school board. He was president of the Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin Bee Keepers' Association for many years.

On April 3, 1861, Mr. Herrick was married (first) to Emily Cadınan, a daughter of George and Lydia Cadman, at Barkerville, Saratoga County, N. Y. She died in December, 1873, having had four children, namely: Dwight; Dora, with whom Mr. Herrick makes his home, is now Mrs. Lucks, residing at No. 201 North Winnebago street, Rockford; Louis A .; and Elmer. Mr. Cadman was an extensive farmer and sawmill operator who left Barkerville and moved to Beloit, Wis., where he died. In 1873, Mr. Herrick was married (second) to Miss Katherine Mandeville, a daughter of Dr. Man- deville, of Rockford Township, and they became the parents of six children as follows: Sarah and Charles, both of whom are deceased ; Nettie, who died in infancy; Lizzie, who is the twin of Nettie ; Ida ; and Gertrude.

As October 20, 1915, was Mr. Herrick's eightieth birthday, it was celebrated by his friends in the form of a "shower" and he re- ceived seventy greeting cards and was called on by many friends. Reverend Connelly made a short address and Mr. Herrick responded. The occasion was one of kind feeling and will long be pleasantly remembered.

HERRING, Bergie, a contracting carpenter of Rockford. and a man who has made a business. place for himself through natural ability, indus- trial integrity and practical experience, was born at Durand. Ill., January 30, 1871, a son of Simeon A. and Lois ( Riley ) Herring.

Bergie Herring grew to manhood in his native place where he was given ordinary educational advantages. He learned the carpenter trade in Wisconsin. On January 1. 1913, Mr. Herring wbo has worked at his trade in various places in Wisconsin and Illinois, located at Rockford, and established himself as a contracting car- penter. His shop is located at No. 315 S. Main street, and he is prepared to execute contracts for anything in the carpentering line and in

cabinet-making. Employment is given to three men, and the outlook is such as to suggest con- tinued prosperous conditions.

In August, 1891, Mr. Herring was married to Ada Bell Keller, a daughter of Alva and Mary Jane (Turner) Keller. Mr. and Mrs. Herring have one daughter, Laura Hazel, who was born January 30, 1895. This young lady was grad- uated from the Rockford High school in 1914. Mr. Herring is a Christian Scientist.

HIBBARD, John H. The late John H. Hibbard was one of the leading wagon manufacturers of his day, and bore a prominent part in the de- velopment and advancement of Rockford where his interests were centered for many years. He was born in Dorsetshire, England, in 1820, a son of John and Mary (Parker) Hibbard. John Hibbard was born in the same place as his son, and the mother was also a native ot that place, and there these parents married, and spent their useful lives.

John H. Hibbard was educated in his native place where he learned the wagon-making trade. In early manhood he left England for America, taking passage for himself and wife on a sailing vessel for Quebec, Canada, that consumed eight weeks on the voyage. After a short time spent at Quebec, Mr. Hibbard came to the United States, and spent a year in New York City work- ing at his trade, and then left for Pike County, Mo. There he was engaged in the same line for a short period, going thence to Pittsfield, Ill. After working there for a short time at his trade, lie went across the plains to Colorado, with an ox-team, in search of gold, but after a year came as far back as Nebraska, where he invested in considerable land and spent a num- ber of years upon it. Later he made a trip of seven months duration to England, and upon his return bought property at Toronto, Canada. Atter seven years he took another trip to Eng- land, but after a short stay at Avon, he came back to the United States and was in New York City for a few months.

Mr. Hibbard then located at Rockford, where he bought a beautiful residence on School street, and there he died in 1913, aged ninety-three years. Mrs. Hibbard died of heart trouble Feb- ruary 6, 1915, being at that time a very aged lady. During the Civil war, Mr. Hibbard was in the South, and suffered losses from the troubles resulting from warfare. In politics he was a Democrat. The Episcopal Church held his mem- bership and had in him a generous contributor. A man of many virtues, he was interested in those movements looking towards the advance- ment of his community and the maintenance of moral standards.

HILL, Miss Louise, proprietor and manager of the special establishment known as Ye Gyfte Shoppe at Nos. 124 and 126 South Church street, Rockford, is one of the members of her sex who has developed a keen business sense with artistic perceptions of no ordinary degree. She was born at Chicago, Ill., where she received a fine educa-

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

tional training, for some years being head assist- ant of the Ravenswood School, holding that very responsible position until she resigned to enter upon her present business. Her father and mother were natives of Connecticut, but came to Chicago in 1853. Mr. Hill, both before and after the fire, was a prominent carriage manufacturer and dealer in Chicago. He resided at Evanston from 1872. After thirty years in this line of business he retired, and died at Toledo, Ohio, aged eighty years. The mother died in 1901, at Evanston, Ill.

In 1905, Miss Hill decided that her real in- clinations were in the direction of a business in which she could give expression to her artistic ideas. After considerable consideration of the subject, she felt that there was an excellent open- ing for her kind of a store at Rockford, and she located here, commencing in a small way, and from the first met with gratifying appreciation and patronage, which so encouraged her that she has continued to branch out until she now has two stores, and is rightly numbered among the leaders in her line in this part of the State. Her business success but proves the contention that women are able and capable of engaging in the same lines of endeavor as men, and that in the majority of cases can distance the latter under similar conditions.

HILLERICH, Hite H., foreman and inspector of the lumber department of the Illinois School Furniture Company, of Rockford, with residence at No. 512 N. Main street, is an efficient, capable and faithful man and reliable citizen, whose standing is very high both among his associates and in the city. He was born at Louisville, Ky., October 25, 1884.

Educated in the schools of Louisville and in Scott County, Ind., he began his business career as a farm hand, and so continued for seven years, when he went to Mound City, Ill., and learned the lumber business. Having mastered its details, he returned to Louisville, Ky., and became cost man for the Turner, Day & Wool- worth Handle Company. After a year with this concern, on July 3, 1912, he came to Rockford, and on July 11 of that year, accepted his present position with the Illinois School Furniture Com- pany, in which he is a stockholder. His knowl- edge of his work is practical and intimate, and he is recognized as one of the most capable men in his line at Rockford. Mr. Hillerich is unmarried.

HJELM, C. Emmett, M. D., a physician and surgeon of more than average skill and trained experience, with office at No. 416 E. State street, and residence at No. 1131 Sixth avenue, is one of the honored members of the Rockford medi- cal fraternity. He was born in Colorado, November 15. 1887. Dr. Hjelm attended the public schools of Mason, Ohio, and was grad- uated from its high school in 1905, following which he took a two-years' course in the Ohio State University. from which he was graduated in 1907, with the degree of Ph. C. He then

studied medicine at the Miami (Ohio) Medical College of Cincinnati, and was graduated there- from in 1912, with the degree of M. D. From June 1, 1912 to January 1, 1913, Dr. Hjelm was an interne at Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, and then went to the New York Post Graduate Hospital and was there from January 1, 1913, to January 1, 1914. He was a member of the house staff of that institution ; was phy- sician in charge of the lying-in department ; assistant in the male surgical ward; physician in charge of the medical and orthopedic wards ; assistant surgeon of the women's ward; physi- cian in charge of the babies' ward and house surgeon. On June 1, 1915, he came to Rockford where he has established himself in a general practice.

On March 2, 1915, Dr. Hjelm was married at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Nellie M. Landis of Fos- toria, Ohio. Dr. Hjelm belongs to Lebanon Lodge No. 26, A. F. & A. M., and also to the Alpha Kappa Kappa college fraternity. In politics he is a Republican. His long connec- tion with one of the leading hospitals of the country gave Dr. Hjelm an experience so varied and extensive that he is unusually well fitted for his work, and he has brought to it an enthusiasm and natural inclination which aid him very materially in serving his fellow creatures and rising in his profession.'

HOBSON, Charles Elmer, a prosperous and self- ' reliant farmer and stockraiser of Winnebago Township, whose fifty-five acres of valuable land are located on section 28, is a native son of this township. born July 1, 1875, a son of Edward Hobson and Cornelia (Schoonmaker) Hobson, farming people of Winnebago Township. Charles E. Hobson attended the district schools of his native township, and at the same time was taught the lessons of industry and thrift which were to prove so valuable to him in after life. In 1897, he bought his present farm and since then has been engaged in operating it, carrying on general farming and stockraising.

On March 27, 1897, Mr. Hobson was married to Miss Maud Dove, a daughter of George and Mary Dove, natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Hobson became the parents of the following chil- dren: Edith M., who was born March 23, 1898, died March 2. 1901 ; Florence, who was born De- cember 22, 1904; Arthur, who was born Febru- ary 6, 1908 ; Seneth, who was born December 31, 1909; Kenneth, who was born May 22, 1912; and Clifford, who was born January 25, 1915. Mr. Hobson is a Republican in political faith, but has not aspired for public honors, being too fully occupied with his private affairs.

HOCKER, Edward I., secretary of the Kertz Action Company of Rockford, is an experienced piano man and one who knows thoroughly the demands of his business, so that he is able to give it intelligent and capable supervision. He was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, and there he attended the public schools and a college of that city. In 1901 he was attracted to Chicago for

Galim Helty

Brocelian Welly

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

he believed that there he would find a widef scope for his abilities, and he became connected with the Piano and Organ Supply Company, and through this association gained a practical knowledge that has since proved very valuable. In 1910 he left Chicago for Rockford, and con- nected himself with his present company, of which he is now secretary and chief clerk, the detail work of the office being in his capable hands. Since coming to Rockford Mr. Hocker has taken an interest in municipal affairs, although never being willing to accept public honors. His residence is at No. 977 N. Main street.

HOFFMAN, Abram M. A member of the re- tired colony of Rockford, Abram M. Hoffman has had a career which has been part and parcel of the development of this community. A son of the Empire State, he was born in Cayuga County, at the town of Cato, in 1848, and is a son of Peter D. and Wealthy (Mills) Hoffman. The grandparents of Mr. Hoffman were Abram and De Yea Hoffman, the former a Hollander by birth, and the latter born in France. On the internal side Mr. Hoffman's grandparents were Abram and Mary A. Mills, the former born in Scotland, and the latter in the north of Ireland. The father of the subject of this re- view met his death in an accident in 1854, and his mother subsequently married a Mr. DeRatt, by whom she had four children. The children of Peter D. and Wealthy Hoffman were : . Mary, who died at the age of four years; Martha, who died aged seventeen years; Abram M .; Sarah J., who is deceased; and William P., of Syra- cuse, N. Y.

Abram M. Hoffman was but six years of age when his father died, and his boyhood was largely passed in the households of his grand- father and his uncle. The latter, David Mills, came to Illinois in 1859 and located at Rock- ford, and one year later settled on a farm in the vicinity of Winnebago. Young Abram was liv- ing there when, in the fall of 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil war in the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, with which organization he was sent to Tennessee and assigned to scout duty. He was taken sick at Memphis, where he was confined in the hospital for two months, and was given his honorable discharge in June, 1865.

His duties as a soldier done, Mr. Hoffman returned to Winnebago County, and for a time worked on the farm. He realized, however, the need of further education and for a few months attended school, following which he went to Trenton, N. J., and started to work as a travel- ing salesman for a publishing company. Mr. Hoffman next entered the employ of the Trenton Lock Company, and while there, learned the brass moulder's trade, working three years as an apprentice, which he followed as a journeyman and foreman for three years. That he thor- oughly mastered this trade is shown by the fact that he worked for the great and important

plant of the Remington Arms Company, at Ilion, N. Y. Returning to Trenton, he next went to Washington, D. C., as assistant superintendent in the building of the road from the city limits to Blair's Gate, and, this contract satisfactorily completed, was given the position of assistant superintendent of the poor in the district out- side of the city limits. Four months later saw Mr. Hoffman employed as foreman in a brass foundry in Washington, D. C., but after a short period he went to Chicago, Ill. His trade claimed him at that time and he commenced working for Wolf & Company, brass foundry- men, and later came to Rockford, Ill., and worked for A. D. Forbes for about eighteen years, and in June, 1876, for W. D. Trahern. While employed with the former concern he obtained a leave of absence, and, established the first brass foundry here for W. D. Trahern. In 1892 Mr. Hoffman returned to the soil. He took up his work as a farmer in New Milford Township, just south of Rockford, but was not allowed to remain there long, for he was called by the Rockford Manufacturing Company, with which concern he remained one and one-half years. In 1894 he again took up the work of the agriculturist, and continued as a husband- man until 1902, when, feeling that he had con- tributed his share to life's activities, he retired and moved to his home in Rockford, No. 201 Hoffinan Court.

Mr. Hoffman was married in October, 1866, by Rev. Boyington, then chaplain of the United States Senate, to Miss Mary E. Nichols, who was born in Washington County, Iowa, daughter of Danforth and Elizabeth (Booth) Nichols, natives of Massachusetts and England. To this union there were born four children: Alfred E., of Rockford, Ill .; Clarence W., of Hanson County, S. D .; Ella, deceased, who was the wife of Frank Biggers; and Harry A., of Cherry Valley, Ill. The mother of these children died in Octo- ber, 1899, and in December, 1902, Mr. Hoffman was married to Sarah J. Wilson, who was born in Washington County, Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Hoff- man are members of the Christian Union Church. While not a seeker for political preferment, Mr. Hoffman has always been ready to discharge the duties of citizenship, and has served in such offices as judge of election, school director and tax collector. He is a popular comrade of Nevius Post No. 1, Grand Army of the Republic, his popularity and good comradeship having been demonstrated by his election to every office in his post, including that of commander.

HOFFMAN, Harry A. The devotion of a life- time to agricultural pursuits naturally brings about desirable results if the person in question possesses habits of industry and thrift com- bined with a natural inclination for this call- ing. Harry A. Hoffman, of Cherry Valley Town- ship, is numbered among the enterprising farmers of the above class, and his success is well merited. He was born in the town of New Milford, Winnebago County, November 3, 1876,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

a son of Abram and Mary E. (Nichols) Hoff- man, of New York State and Iowa, respectively. The mother died in the fall of 1899, but the father survives and makes his home at Rock- ford.

Harry A. Hoffman is the youngest of the four children born to his parents, and with the excep- tion of two years spent at Rockford, has been engaged in farming all his life. He rents 14S acres of land from Fred Crawford, eighty-eight acres of which are on section 5, Cherry Valley Township, and the remainder in the adjoining township, where he lived for four years prior to locating on his present farm. Here he does gen- eral farming and dairying, milking twelve cows of the graded Holstein breed. He also raises Poland-China hogs. His fences are all of barbed wire and woven wire. He is recognized as a modern farmer in every respect.

On November 29. 1899. Mr. Hoffman was mar- ried to Lettic M. Corbin, a daughter of Arthur Corbin. Mrs. Corbin is the youngest in a fam- ily of three children born to her father's first marriage. and was born November 11, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have had three children, namely : Ella M., who was born September 20, 1902, is attending school; Leslie E., who was born September 28, 1905, died April 2, 1909, and is buried in the Union Cemetery, Cherry Valley ; and Alfred S., who was born October 9, 1910. Mr. Hoffman belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 90

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