Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 93

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 93

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In 1SSS Mr. Hult was married to Mary L. · Danielson. Mr. and Mrs. Hult are the parents of six children : Leslie P., Harold I., Elmy M., C. Milton, Manley O., and Russell A.

Fraternally Mr. Hult is an old member of Social Lodge 140 of Odd Fellows. joining this order shortly after becoming of age. He is a

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past noble grand and for the past ten years has held the office of treasurer. He is also a mem- ber of the Encampment and the Rebekah lodge of this order.

Mr. Hult was elected county supervisor in 1912, which position he still holds. He is also a director of the Forest City Life Insurance Co., and is a man of prominence in the busi- ness circles of Rockford. A keen, conservative man with capabilities of no usual order, Mr. Hult has steadily progressed, his success being attained entirely through his own efforts.

HULTEN, Axel L., captain of Engine Company No. 4, Rockford Fire Department, and one of the most reliable and experienced men in this department, is recognized as a citizen of merit and sterling worth. Captain Hulten was born in Helsingburg, Sweden, and was there given training in the public schools until he was eleven years old. At that time he came to the United States, and located at Rockford, Ill. Here he completed his education.

After leaving school, Axel L. Hulten worked at different places until he became a member of the city fire department. From the start he was regarded as a capable and brave man, and on February 3, 1906, his worth was publicly recognized by his appointment as captain of Engine Company No. 5. He was transferred to Company 4, on April 27, 190S, and has since continued to hold that office, having been con- nected with the department since February 1, 1903.

On January 29, 1899, Captain Hulten was married to Caroline Olson, who was born in Sweden, January 29, 1877. Captain and Mrs. Hulten have two children, Rosie and Leonard. Brave, conscientious, able to control men, Cap- tain Hulten is certainly the right man for the right place, and under his efficient management and leadership, his company has rendered very efficient aid in controlling the fires of his city, thereby saving life and property.

HUNTINGTON, C. A., page 663. ".

HURLBERT, Charles W., for many years was a prominent agriculturist of Winnebago County, and was a man who always enjoyed the con- fidence and respect of those with whom he was associated. He was born at Annsville, Oneida County, N. Y., July 9, 1832, a son of David and Sarah (Simons) Hurlbert, and died November 25, 1915, at his home, No. 318 N. Main street, Rockford. where he lived retired. In 1849 he accompanied his parents to Winnebago County, where the father secured some undeveloped prairie land which he placed under cultivation and the parents resided upon it until their death.

Charles W. Hurlbert attended the common schools in New York state, and remained with his parents until his marriage in 1857, at which time he moved on a farm he owned in Guilford Township, comprising seventy-four acres. It was improved but he added to its value by fur-

ther cultivating it, later selling it to his brother. He then moved to another farm in the same township, and conducted it until in January, 1914, when he retired and came to Rockford.

In 1857 Mr. Hurlbert was married to Hannah Thompson, born August 28, 1839, in Chenango County, N. Y., a daughter of Uriah and Har- riet (Fish) Thompson, both of whom were born in Dutchess County, N. Y., but in 1850 came to Rockford, Ill., where they spent their first winter. Then they bought a farm in Harlem Township and lived upon it many years but finally sold it and bought Dr. Palmer's farm opposite their original property. Both died on this farm. Mrs. Hurlbert attended the schools of lier native county and Rockford Seminary. Mr. and Mrs. Hurlbert had two children, namely : Charles Henry, who is a resident of Portland, Ore .; and Clara B., who lives with her mother. She does private massaging and shampooing for the ladies of Rockford, and manufactures a hair tonic that is very popu- lar with her customers. So expert is she that she has all the work she can do, and is highly regarded by those to whom she gives such ex- cellent care. Mr. Hurlbert was a member of the Methodist Church. He is a Republican in politics, and has held a number of township offices, rendering efficient services as a public official.

HURSEY, William F., foreman of the tuning department of the Schumann Piano Company of Rockford, with residence at No. 232 Paris ave- nue, is one of the men of the city who can be depended upon to give their locality substance and reliability. He was born in Ohio, May 19, 1876, and although he is blind, he has so over- come what inight in another be considered a misfortune, that few remember that he began life with a handicap. He was educated in the State School for the Blind at Columbus, Ohio, and being very musical, developed so acute a sense of sound that he learned piano tuning, and taught it to the blind at the state insti- tution of Janesville, Wis. After five years of faithful and sympathetic service in this capacity, he came to Rockford and engaged with the Haddorff Piano Company for over a year. In 1904 he came to the Schumann Piano Company and has since continued with this concern. He has patrons all over Rockford, he being recog- nized as one of the most skillful men in the business. He has a beautiful home and is naturally proud of the fact that his prosperity has been earned through his own efforts.

Mr. Hursey was married to Thelma Anderson, born in Wisconsin. They have no children. He is a member of the State Street Baptist Church, and is held in the highest esteem in this connec- tion as by all who know him, and his popularity is well deserved.

HURST, James D., superintendent of the Schu- mann Piano Company of Rockford, with resi- dence at No. 304 N. Church street, is one of the most reliable men and substantial citizens of

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the city. He was born at Buffalo, N. Y., June 29, 1879, and attended there the public schools until he was twelve years old. At that age he began to be selt-supporting, entering the works of C. Kurtzmann & Company, and was put to cleaning piano keys. Later he was assigned to making key settings and remained with this concern until 1896. In that year he moved to Chicago and was employed by the Russell Piano Com- pany as action finisher. In a short time he left that house for Bush & Gerts, where he did the same kind of work until 1898 when he went to Toronto, Canada, and worked for Whaley & Boyce as action finisher. In 1900 he returned to the United States and was with the Big Four Piano Company at Rochester, N. Y., until 1902, when he came to Rockford to accept a position with Barnes & Son, which was developed into the Schumann Piano Company, and he has since continued with this concern, being made superin- tendent in 1905. Much of the efficiency of the works is duc to .his excellent management and he is recognized as one of the best men in his line in the business. Having faith in his house, he has invested in its stock.

Mr. Hurst married Mabel Weinert. A man of public-spirit, he is interested in those measures he believes will work for the good of his city and the majority of the people.

HYATT, Mrs. Mary A., one of the highly es- teemed ladies of Rockton, was born in Roscoe Township, January 30, 1841, a daughter of John and Ermina (Seaver) Bacon, natives of Hamden, Maine, and Ticonderoga, N. Y., who were married in New York, August 17, 1836. The father was a direct descendant of Lord Bacon of England. Mr. Bacon was a foreman in a veneer mill, and he invented a saw for sawing mahogany. In June, 1840, Mr. and Mrs. Bacon made their way to Illinois, on the Erie Canal to Buffalo, N. Y., and thence to Chi- cago, on the lakes. From there they came with horses and wagons they had brought with them to Rockford, arriving here when there was but one frame house in the present fine city. At that time there was an old, unoccupied log house on the edge of town, and that they se- cured and fixed up as a home with such belong- ings as they had brought with them. On ac- count of their unostentation and humble sur- roundings, they were fortunate enough to escape the bandits of the prairies, although each wore a belt of gold. Had this been known, they would have undoubtedly been robbed. In time they went to Rockton Township and bought 220 acres of prairie and timber land. Later on Mr. Bacon went to Portland, Me., and died there in 1888, aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Bacon died in 1865, aged forty-nine years. Their children were as follows: Helen, who married W. I. Hart and is now deceased as is her husband, they leaving one child, Ray, who lives at Rockford; Mrs. Hyatt, who was the second born; Alice, who married J. B. Curtis of Portland, Me., is now deceased as is her husband; Henry, who married Rose Warren

is now deceased as is his wife, they leaving three children: Carrie, who is Mrs. A. C. Buckley of Omaha, Neb .; J. F., who resides at Cozad, Neb .; and Warren C., who lives at Portland, Ore .; and Frank, who lived at Gothen- burg, Neb., is now deceased.

Mary A. Bacon (Mrs. Hyatt) was educated in the district schools of her neighborhood, and took a one-term course at the Rockford Semi- mary. She worked in a millinery and dress- making establishment at Beloit, Wis., for a few years, and for some time after her marriage was employed by Levi Moulthrop of Rockford. On September 12, 1876, she was married to Charles Hyatt, born in Canada, September 17, 1837, a son of Horace and Aznea (Nichols) Hyatt of French and Scotch descent. The Nichols family is of Scotch-Irish extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Hyatt came to Winnebago County at a later date than did Mr. and Mrs. Bacon, and were farming people. Mr. Hyatt owned a farm in Owen Township and he and his wife lived on it until July, 1888, when they moved to a farm adjoining Rockton on the north, which contained 200 acres. The Owen Township farm of 298 acres has since been rented. On the Rockton Township farm was an excellent mod- ern brick house, equipped with hot air furnace, hot and cold water and electric light. Mr. Hyatt conducted the farm and raised horses and Poland-China hogs until his death June 25, 1914. Mrs. Hyatt still owns the farm. In April, 1914, she 'rented the farm to a nephew, but in 1915 assumed its management herself, hiring help to assist her. She has no children and lives alone. Mrs. Hyatt is a most remark- able person, in that when over fifty years old she began painting in oils and has developed extraordinary talent in this line. She also does beautiful lace work, her artistic perceptions in this and other ways finding expression.

HYLAND, Charles Joseph, one of the promi- nent men of Cherry Valley Township, and an efficient business man of the village of Cherry Valley, was born in Scott Township, this county, January 16, 1873. a son of Edward and Rose (Burns) Hyland, farming people, both of whom are now deceased. The father died Oc- tober 3, 1913, and the mother passed away Sep- tember 16, 1896, and both are buried in the Catholic cemetery at Rockford. They had three sons and three daughters, two of the daughters and one of the sons being married, and of them all, Charles Joseph is the youngest. The three unmarried children now live in the village of Cherry Valley, and are together. Arthur J. Hyland some years ago bought a grain, coal and feed business at Cherry Valley from S. S. San- born who had established it thirty-five years ago. About 1904 he sold "this business to his two brothers, Edward P. and Charles Joseph, and they still conduct it in partnership.

Charles Joseph Hyland is now serving his third term as supervisor of Cherry Valley Town- ship, and for three years he was on the school board, and for four years served as a member

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

of the village board of trustees. With his sister and brother he belongs to the Catholic Church at Rockford. Fraternally he is a member of Camp Kishwaukee No. 104, M. W. A., of which he has been counsel for four years, and he is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. A live business man and energetic worker for his community, Mr. Hyland is a credit to it and his constituents, and deserves the honor conferred upon him by his several elections.

INGALLS, John W., whose business capability is directed toward developing and maintaining his florist enterprise at Rockford, is one of the best types of the alert and practical business men of Winnebago County. He was born in Rockford Township, this county, in 1867, a son of Harvey and Nancy (Fuller) Ingalls.

Harvey Ingalls was born at Brookfield, Vt., where he was educated, but left the place in 1855, for Rockford Township, Winnebago County. For some time he was a teacher at Riverside, this county, and also at Wig Hill, and in the Weldon school. Later he bought fifty acres of land three miles south of Rockford, and conducted his farm until 1878 when he sold, and he also developed a 200-acre farm in Harlem Township. Finally selling his interests in Winnebago County, he moved to Chicago and went into a commission business, but in 1890 returned to Rockford and bought a small farm near Centerville. There he engaged in garden- ing until he was seventy-three years old, when he retired from active life. In 1862 Harvey Ingalls enlisted in Company D, Seventy-fourth Illinois . Volunteer Infantry for service during the Civil war, and was honorably discharged in 1865. During the latter part of his service he was a hospital steward at Camp Douglas, Chi- cago. The mother of John W. Ingalls was born in New York state in 1838, and came with her parents to Rockford in 1839, they settling on a farm seven miles south of Rockford, located on the north bank of Rock River. There these parents lived until their death, the father pass- ing away in 1849, aged forty-nine years; and the mother dying in 1893, aged eighty-four years.

The boyhood of John W. Ingalls was spent in Rockford and Chicago, and he attended scliool in both places, and learned the trade of a florist in the latter city, under his uncle J. S. Haskins. Until 1890 Mr. Ingalls continued as a florist in Chicago, but in that year returned to Rockford and for two years was engaged in gar- dening in Rockford Township. In 1892, how- ever, he bought a greenhouse on the south side of Rockford, and conducted it until 1910, when he was burned out. Following this calamity he bought the stand where he is now doing busi- ness, on the corner of Ninth street and Eleventh avenue, Rockford. He specializes in flowering plants for winter and bedding purposes and cut flowers and prepares floral designs of all kinds.

On June 18, 1888, Mr. Ingalls was married at Chicago to Miss Elizabeth Dempsey, a daugh- ter of Edwin and Sarah (Prentice) Dempsey,. and they have had the following children : Paul,

who died in 1890; Ida E., who is at home; Fannie M .; and Clement N., at home. Mrs. Ingalls was born in England and came to the United States in 1880, her father locating at that time in Chicago. There he was a tea- taster, but in 1905 he came to Rockford and went into a tea and coffee business, dealing at wholesale on South Wyman street and remained there for five years. He then went back to Chicago and lived in that city until his death, February 8, 1914, aged seventy-two years. The mother died in England in 1880, aged thirty- five years.

IRONS, Reuben H., formerly one of the success- ful agriculturists of Winnebago County, and for a number of years a resident of Rockford, was one of the men to whom the present generation takes pride in pointing as representative of the better class of farmers. He was born at Zanes- ville, Ohio, August 18, 1826, a son of David and Elizabeth (Black) Irons.

David Irons was born in Pennsylvania. When the War of 1812 was declared, he enlisted in the navy for the defense of his country, and when hostilities were over, returned to his native state. He learned the blacksmith trade, and when he went to Zanesville, Ohio, he worked at the same but later bought a farm in Franklin County, Ohio, in the vicinity of Columbus, and there lived until 1847, when, with his family he removed by team to Shirland, Ill. There he died at the age of seventy years. His wife survived him and died at the home of her son Reuben H., in Clinton County, Iowa, when she was sixty- eight years old.

Until he was nineteen years old, Reuben H. Irons lived on a farm in Ohio. Coming to Illinois in 1847, he spent some time in Rockford Township, Winnebago County, and then moved to Clinton County, Iowa, and for the following sixteen years he engaged in farming in that state, then moved to Cherry Valley Township, Winnebago County, Ill., and again conducted a farm. Mr. Irons died in 1897, having lived re- tired for several years at what is now No. 414 North First street, Rockford.

Reuben H. Irons was married to Miss Eliza Atwood, a daughter of Patten and Ann (Brooks) Atwood. She was born March 23, 1830, at Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Irons became the parents of nine children as follows: Frank, who died in Kansas; Lydia, who died an infant; Charles, who lives at Kingsley, Iowa ; Anna, who is Mrs. W. D. Belshaw ; George, who died in infancy ; Mrs. Henry Foote and Edward, both of whom are deceased ; and two who died in infancy.

Mr. Irons was a member of the Baptist Church. In politics he was a Republican. He was one of nine children. Two of his brothers, John and David, were soldiers in the Civil war, and the former was in General Sherman's com- mand and participated in the famous march to the sea.

W. D. Belshaw, son-in-law of R. H. Irons, was born in New York state, where the Bel-

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shaw family is well known, a son of Lester and Betsy ( Brown) Belshaw. A migration was made to Illinois when W. D. Belshaw was an infant, and settlement was effected in the vicinity of Chicago. Mrs. Belshaw died in Wau- kegan, Ill., and Mr. Belshaw at Aurora, Ill., both being buried in the former place. In 1883 W. D. Belshaw was married to Anna Irons, and they went to Sioux City, Iowa, where Mrs. Belshaw owned a farm of eighty acres. Here they spent three years, then sold and moved to Rockford, Ill., and from there they went later to Portland, Ore., and Mr. Belshaw worked in that city as a carpenter. After ten years, they returned to Rockford for two years, and during the next seven years lived at Roscoe, Ill. In 1907 final settlement was made at Rockford, the family occupying the Irons homestead. There are seven children in the Belshaw family, namely : Agnes Hobart, of North Dakota; Wallace E., of Pecatonica, Ill .; Jennie Richard- son, of Roscoe, Ill .; Archie, of Marengo, Ill .; Lester, of California ; Charles F., of Rockford, attending University of Illinois; and Albert John, of Minnesota.

JAMES, Washington, who for years was one of the leading agriculturalists of Winne- bago County, operating extensively in Roscoe Township, is now deceased. He was born near Albany, N. Y., May 22, 1820. His grandfather served for six years as a soldier in the Amer- ican Revolution. He came originally from Rhode Island, but later moved to Courtland County, N. Y., where he died. The parents of Washington James married at Lebanon, N. Y., and they had eleven children, as follows: Jo- seph, who lived in McHenry County, Ill., died in 1887 ; Sheffield L., who was a manufacturer of wagons and carriages, located at Janeville, Ill .; two died in childhood; Washington ; New- berry, who located in Kane County, Ill., in 1844; Avery, who lived in New York state; Emily, who married Amasia Fillmore of Lake County, Fla. : Eliza and John, who died in childhood ; Cordelia, who is the wife of Jardin Golly of Oneida County, N. Y .; Christiana, who married a Mr. Wood, lived near Utica, N. Y., now de- ccased. The father of this family died in 1847, and the mother died in 1875. They were members of the Baptist Church.

Washington James went to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1841, but after a short stop, proceeded to Jefferson County, Ill., and in 1848 moved to Marengo. Ill., . where he had two brothers. There he taught school for five months, and in 1850 bought some property at Beloit, Wis., where he resided until October, 1854, when he married (first) Cordelia D. Macklen of Wal- worth County, Wis. They had one child, Cor- delia A., who is the widow of S. B. Sechrist, a commercial traveler. Her daughter, Fannie M., married Ray Hutchins, a son of ex-Mayor A. R. Hutchins, of Rockford. Mr. Hutchins is engaged in a teed and wood business at Beloit, Ill. In politics Mr. Hutchins is a Republican, while the Baptist Church holds his member-

ship. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins have one son, Harwood, born February 24, 1909.

Mrs. James died May 28, 1861. Subsequently Mr. James married (second) Miss Frances J. Macklen, a sister of his first wife. After mov- ing to Beloit, Mr. James taught school for three years, and later dealt in grain and stock, buy- ing for the Chicago market. He bought forty acres of land in Roscoe Township, Winnebago County, to which he added uutil he owned 1,000 acres of land. He died May 28, 1900, and his second wife died in 1895. The James and Hutchins families are justly numbered among the prominent ones of this part of the state.

JEFFERY, William, now deceased, was during life a man widely known and universally be- loved, for he possessed those qualities which make for desirable citizensip and warm friend- ship. He was born at London, England, August 10, 1831. In the latter part of the first of the fifties he came to Rockford, but subsequently went to Lockport, Minn., where he owned two

farms and conducted a blacksmithing shop. In July, 1856, he moved to Marengo, Ill., and lived there until 1863, when he returned to Rockford. Securing ten and one-half acres just south of Rockford on S. Main street, he carried on garden- ing and fruit raising until his death, September 12, 1902. Since then his widow has lived on this property.

On September 22, 1864, Mr. Jeffery was mar- ried to Emma Evans, born at Bristol, England, May 14, 1839, a daughter of Jamies and Ann (Bright) Evans. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery had the following children : Elizabeth Ann, who married William Ambuster, of Cumberland street. Rock- ford, and they have one daughter, Blanche ; James H., who conducts the home place and contracts for moving buildings, married Laura Robbins who died June 22, 1913, leaving two children, Clara' Bell and Lilia May. Mr. Jeffery was a Baptist. He was a Democrat and served as road commissioner. An industrious man he tried to do well whatever he undertook, and suc- ceeded in his undertakings, and left behind him a good name.

JOHNS, Frank, one of the substantial residents oť Rockford Township, is now enjoying a life of honorable retirement which he has honestly earned. He was born in Rockford Township, May 30, 1861, a son of Richard and Jane N. (Hockens) Johns, born in Cornwall, England. From England Richard Johns came to Detroit, Mich., and in 1855 came to Rockford, and worked at his trade of butchering. In 1858 lic returned to England, married, and came back to Rockford, and soon bought out the business owned by Mr. Diamond for whom he had for- merly worked. Later he took his brother, William Johns, into partnership. Subsequently he moved north of the city limits, and bought 203 acres of land, partly prairie and partly timber, in Rockford Township, and on this he lived until his retirement, when he returned to Rockford, and there died in May, 1912. The wife of

arvid Wiklund

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Richard Jolins died January 22, 1913. Their children were as follows: Nathaniel, who lives in Rockford Township; Emma J., who is de- ceased ; W. R., who lives in Rockford ; Nellie A., who is Mrs. J. D. Safford of Rockford ; Frank ; Minnie A., who is Mrs. H. E. Sanber of Rock- ford Township; Flora H., who is Mrs. G. A. Sanber of Rockford; and A. C., who lives at Los Angeles, Cal.

Frank Johns attended the schools of his dis- trict, and Brown's Business College, of Rock- ford. He spent his boyhood on the homestead, but after his marriage, resided on one of his father's farms until 1901, when he bought the home farm, now comprising 240 acres, and oper- ated it, raising stock until 1905, when he rented it. He now occupies his time in improving his residence and introducing into it additional comforts, some of them his own inventions, he being a genius at this kind of work.

On February 12, 1880, Mr. Johns married Ada M. Sanber, born at Rockford, Ill., a daughter of John P. and Anna M. (Williams) Sanber. Mr. Sanber was born in Luxemburg, and his wife was the first white child born at Kenosha, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Johns have three children : Wil- ford E. and F. Adelbert, wlio are on the home farm ; and Edna May, who is at home. Wilford E. married Ida Belle Devey and they have a daughter. Both sons are graduates of an agri- cultural college. Mr. Johns belongs to the Court Street Methodist Church. In politics he is a Republican and he has served as a school director and trustee and assessor of the town- ship, having held that office since 1911. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and Winnebago Chapter, R. A. M.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 93

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