USA > Illinois > Knox County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 171
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Township for three
thousand dollars, to which they subsequently added another eighty. Of the nine children born to
them four sons survive: William, John J., Mar- tin and Henry T. The father, John Sutor, died November 14, 1874, aged fifty-eight. In religion. he was a Presbyterian, and he was highly re- spected. The mother, Martha (Lytle) Sutor, survived her husband and kept house for her son, John J., until her death, May 28, 1895. She was born in 1817 in County Cavan, Ireland, and was of that sturdy Scotch-Irish stock of Pres- byterian faith, which has set its mark on the world's history for honesty, perseverance and thrifty industry. She was a worthy member of the race, truthful, inflexibly honest, and of a very devout disposition, a good wife, mother and citizen, honored and respected by all who knew her.
John J. Sutor was educated in the schools of Knox County, and by faithful attendance and careful improvement of the advantages they af- ford secured a good general education. young manhood was spent at home assisting his father, and, when the latter died, he was ready and qualified to carry the burden that had fallen upon him. In 1875, twenty years before his mother's death, Mr. Sutor, with his brothers. Martin and Henry T., had built a pleasant and comfortable residence upon the farm, valued at two thousand, seven hundred dollars. Be- side the home farm they have a large stock ranch in Rooks County, Kansas, com- prising five and one-quarter sections of land. or three thousand three hundred and sixty acres. His two brothers, Martin and Henry T .. are associated with him in business.
Mr. Sutor is a man of influence in his town- ship, and in 1890 was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he has held to the present time. He was elected Assessor in 1898 and now holds that office. In politics, Mr. Sutor is a republican.
SWAN W. SWANSON.
Swan W. Swanson, son of Swan and Bengta Peterson, was horn in Oenestad, Christianstad Laen, Sweden, June 14, 1833. His parents were natives of Sweden, and died in that country. aged eighty-four and sixty-five, respectively. Mr. Swanson was educated in Sweden. and was land nineteen years of age when he left his native and came to the United States. The journey across the ocean was made in a sailing vessel, a "Liver- pool Packet," which had for a cargo, in great part, rails for a railroad. After twenty-two days of fine weather and uninterrupted sailing. he was landed at New York City, in October. 1852. He came directly to Knoxville, Illinois. traveling a part of the way on the Hennepin Canal. He had hut a little money, which was stolen from him, so that he was penniless and homeless. To pass the time while looking for work, he hunted with a gun which he had bought in Hamburg. At last he found work with Lorentus Conger of Galesburg, at seven dollars a month. The following summer he worked for Isaac V. Gilbert, and farmed suc- cessfully.
Mr. Swanson was married April 3, 1865, to
Mm Robson
D. M. Swanson
John J Sut
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KNOX COUNTY.
Nellie Truedson, who was born in Troedstorp, Ignaberga Soken, Sweden; her parents were John and Ingra Truedson. Mr. and Mrs. Trued- son came from Sweden, and arrived in Knox County, October 1, 1852, but a few days before the coming of Mr. Swanson. Their children were Nellie, Carrie, Ellen, Trued and Bennett. The parents died in Galesburg. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Swanson are Hannah, Samuel R., Joseph O., David B., Mary C., Emelie E. and Winifred I. Mary C., who was married to L. O. Williamson of Galesburg, was graduated from Knox College in 1883, and Winifred 1. in 1898. Samuel R. graduated from the Galesburg Busi- ness College.
Mr. Swanson conducted a dairy, and for seven years furnished milk to the people of Gales- burg. He later settled upon land of his own, and, assisted by his wife, became an independent and prosperous farmer. He bought forty acres of land within the limits of the City of Gales- burg, which he afterward sold, buying other land, which he exchanged for a farm on Section 32, Sparta Township. This farm, with slight addi- tions soon made, contained three hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Swanson improved it by the erection of excellent buildings, and soon found himself the proprietor of one of the best farms in the county. He now owns five hun- dred and twenty acres of arable land, besides one hundred and seventy-four acres of wood- land in Knox Township. The foundation of his success in acquiring a competence was laid in farming, and especially in raising broom corn; his success was assured by his industry, hon- esty and good management.
In politics, Mr. Swanson is a republican. He has been Road Commissioner many years, and was elected Supervisor of Sparta Township April 4, 1899. He and his family are Lutherans, and he has been a Trustee of the Lutheran Church in Galesburg.
.
FREDERICK ZINA WIKOFF.
Frederick Zina Wikoff was horn in Rio Town- ship, December 27, 1846, and was the son of John and Cornelia (Crane) Wikoff. His paternal grandfather was Zina Crane. The name of his paternal great-grandfather was Van Wikoff, and the family was of Dutch descent. His father, John Wikoff, came from New Jersey to Knox County in the Fall of 1836, making the trip on horseback from Ohio. He devoted himself to farming, and took one hundred and forty of
acres land in Section 36, Rio Township. He improved the land, and built a comfortable home, where he lived for fifty-four years, and in which he celebrated his golden wedding; his death was the first that occurred in the house. He was a successful farmer, and accumulated considerable property, becoming in every way an influential citizen, honored and respected not merely by all the peo- ple of the township, but also by those of the county. He was Supervisor for Rio Township. He died April 30, 1897, aged eighty-four; his wife survives him. They had five children: Gertrude A., wife of Hiram Colby; Frederick
Z .; Harriet E., wife of G. H. Pratt of Hastings, Nebraska; Carrie F., wife of S. T. Howell of Woodhull, and Mary M., who married Oswald Oliver and died in January, 1896.
Mr. Frederick Z. Wikoff married Ida M. Con- ger, daughter of John N. and Elizabeth ( Wheeler) Conger, in Oneida, September 16 1874, and they have four children: Winn C .: Gem, wife of W. B. Nelson; John N., a student at Galesburg, and Cornelia. Mrs. Wikoff's pater- nal grandfather was Uzziah Conger, who came to Knox County in 1838, and settled in Cherry Grove; her paternal grandmother was Hannah (West) Conger; the aged couple lived to cel- ebrate their golden wedding. They had ten chil- dren: Lorentus; Genette; Lauren; Lucien: Crayton: Norman; J. Newton; Edward; Lois. wife of J. S. Wilcox; and Harvey, all of whom lived at one time in Knox County. Mrs. Wikoff's father, John Newton Conger, was a native of New York, her mother, Elizabeth (Wheeler) Conger, came from Connecticut. Her maternal grandparents, Alvah and Jerusha (Stevens) Wheeler, came from Connectient and settled in Knoxville, Illinois, in 1838. Alvah Wheeler was a carpenter, and assisted in building the first court house (still standing at Knoxville) in Knox County. In early years, while in Bridgeport. Connecticut, he built the first peanut
stand for P. T. Barnum, "America's Greatest Showman." Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler: Le- Roy; Mrs. Elizabeth Conger; Mrs. Mary Con- ger; Frederick C .; Mrs. Harriet B. Shaw; Mrs. Helen Conger; Mrs. LaVantia Conger, and Mrs. Alta Murdoch. Mrs. Wikoff had one sister, Eva Conger, now deceased.
Mr. Wikoff was educated in Knox and Hedding Colleges; he is a capable business man, and has been very successful. He has a fine, well im- proved farm of two hundred and forty acres in Sparta Township. In politics, he is a repub- lican.
JONAS WILLIAMSON.
Jonas Williamson, son of William and Mar- garet (Olson) Williamson, was born in Sweden. February 22, 1836. His education he received in the land of his birth. In 1850 the family came to America and located in Sparta Township, Knox County, Illinois. Other children hesides Jonas were William, Peter, John, Maggie and Moses O. Jonas loved his home and, even when he was a hoy, could seldom be lured away from it. Losing his father when he was only fifteen years old, he contributed to the support of the family, and in every way led an exemplary life. Mr. Williamson was exceptionally temperate and did not indulge in stimulants or tobacco. Although his opportunities for acquiring an edu- cation were but limited, he nevertheless accu- mulated a large amount of useful knowledge. He was very industrious and an excellent husi- ness manager.
Mr. Williamson's first wife was Christine Anderson, whom he married in Wataga. Of this union there were two children, John E. and Lotta. The latter was married to Thomas Rom-
844
KNOX COUNTY.
mel. Mrs. Williamson died in 1875, and four years later, May 29, 1879, Mr. Williamson mar- ried again. His second wife was Anna M., daughter of Mattas and Martha (Hanson) Hed- berger, who came from Sweden with their infant daughter in 1857. The family settled in Gales- burg and lived there until 1867, when they re- moved to Wataga, where they have since resided. Mr. Hedberger is a tailor by trade and has followed the business many years. Their daughter, Mrs. Williamson, is one of a family of five children who reached maturity. She owns the fine farm of eighty acres of well improved land, which was her husband's homestead.
Jonas Williamson was a member of the Swed- ish Lutheran Church, and was honored and respected by all who knew him. In politics he was a republican. He died April 30, 1893.
WILLIAM WILLIAMSON.
William Williamson, son of William and Mar- garet (Olson) Williamson, was born in the North of Sweden, October 10, 1833, and the little education it was his privilege to secure was gained in his native land. He was the old- est of seven children, five sons and two daugh- ters, and came to this country with his parents in 1850. In October of that year, after traveling some time in Wisconsin, the family reached Knox County, Illinois. The father was so affected with consumption that he was un- able to do the least work after reaching Amer- ica, and died in 1853.
As the oldest of the family of children, al- though himself a mere boy, Mr. Williamson was early compelled to shoulder a man's responsi- bilities and to do a man's work. He gave all his time and his earnings to the support of the family, until the younger boys got started and could manage the small farm of sixty acres of timber land, for which they paid
one hundred dollars, and upon which
they built a log house. He was young and strong and could do the work of two days in one. An old Pennsylvania miner taught him how to dig coal, and Mr. Williamson became an expert miner and followed the business for fif- teen winters. A character developed by such faithful devotion, by consciousness of respon- sibility, and by the habit of hard work is a re- ward in itself, and brings the reward of subse- quent business success. Mr. Williamson was finally able to buy sixty acres of land where he . now resides, and, as fortune smiled upon him, to add thereto from time to time, until he now has four hundred and forty-seven acres in one body. He owns another splendid farm of one hundred and eighty-eight acres near Henderson. In Kansas he has one thousand six hundred acres in one piece. In Clay Center he has large financial interests; he controls the waterpower, has built a grist-mill of two
hun- dred and fifty barrel capacity. and also a large electric plant.
In these improve- ments he has invested more than $50,000. Stock- raising and farming have been his principal business, and his success demonstrates his char- acter as a business man. In politics, he is a
republican, but he has held only local offices. In religion, he is a Lutheran.
September 28, 1855, in Galesburg, Illinois, Mr. Wiliamson married Catherine Olson. Ten chil- dren have been born to them, five of whom are still living: Joseph Henry, a resident of Long- mont, Colorado; Amanda C .; Edwin P., who manages the Henderson farm; Frederick Leon- ard, and Alvin Luther. The deceased are Mrs. Mary J. Danielson; Margaret Amelia, who was the wife of Rev. A. Nelson; Lars Olaf: Martha and George. Frederick L. is a graduate of Knox College; he is manager of Mr. William- son's extensive business interests in Clay Cen- ter, Kansas. Amanda C. and Alvin Luther are at home. Mr. Williamson's mother survived his father many years, dying in 1886 at the age of seventy-three.
HANNIBAL PARISH WOOD.
Hannibal Parish Wood was born in Vermont, September 12, 1818. His father, William Wood, was of English descent and was born in Lanes- boro, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, August 24, 1790, and died at Westford, Vermont, April 5, 1845. His mother, Hannah (Parish) Wood. daughter of Nathan and Hannah Parish, was born in Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont, March 7, 1795, and died in August, 1883.
Hannibal P. Wood was reared and educated in Vermont. He was married in Westford, Ver- mont, September 28, 1841, to Hannah M. Bow- man. Two children were born to them: William H., of Wataga, Illinois, and Emma J. Wood, who died in Wataga in January, 1899, aged fifty-four years. Mr. Wood was married a second time, January 1, 1876. in Wataga, to Mrs. Mahlah (Phelps)
Watkins, who was born in Enfield, Tompkins County, New York, May 14, 1834.
Mr. Wood was in the mercantile business in Westford, Vermont, many years, and in 1850 removed to Boston, Massachusetts, where he was a commission merchant for about five years. In the Spring of 1856 he came West and settled at Wataga, Knox County, Illinois, where he has since resided. He bought the store in Wataga, which was owned by Silas Willard of Galesburg. and continued the business with his partner. Amos P. Babcock, whom he bought out five years later. For some years the business, that of a general store, was conducted by Mr. Wood alone, and later with the assistance of his son, William H. Wood. During the Civil War, about the year 1863, he opened a bank which he has conducted to the present time.
As a republican, Mr. Wood represented his district in the Legislature in the years 1880-82. He was Chairman of the Committee on Public Charities, and was a member of the Committee on Banks and Banking. He was for many years a member of the Board of Supervisors of Knox County, during which time the county seat was removed to Galesburg. He has belonged to various temperance organizations, and is a member of the Masonic Fraternity. For four years he was a Trustee of the Asylum for the Blind at Jacksonville, Illinois. He has been a
Fil. Mehoffen
JONAS WILLIAMSON.
845
KNOX COUNTY.
Trustee and the Treasurer of the Congregational Church at Wataga, of which he is a member, and has been Township School Treasurer for about thirty years, which office he now holds.
Mr. Wood achieved success as a merchant and banker, and in the service of the public, and has exerted a wide influence for good wherever he has been.
ADAMS, ALEXANDER FRANK; Farmer; Sparta Townhip; born in Henderson Township, Knox County, March 7, 1842; educated in com - mon schools. His parents were James Adams. of North Carolina, and Sarah (Miller) Adams of Indiana. He was married in Lewis County, New York, to Elizabeth Woolworth. Their chil- dren are, Birney H. and Fred C. His parents settled in Rio Township in 1841, and entered Government land in the Military Tract and paid for it twice. The father was a successful farmer and died on the homestead July 1, 1879, aged seventy-three years; the mother died in 1846, aged years.
forty-five The father was three times married. He was a 're- . publican. In religion he was a Methodist. The children by the first marriage are: Wilson, Caroline, William, John, Lucinda, Alexander Frank, Phelps and Sarah Adams; the children by his marriage with Melba Haynes are: James, Lida and Julia. Mr. Alexander F. Adams has a fine farm of one hundred acres, and is a success- ful farmer. He paid $60 an acre for his land, which was entered by his uncle Ruben Robbins in 1837. Mr. Adams belongs to the church of the Second Adventists. In politics, he is a republican.
BARRY, JAMES; Farmer; Sparta Township; born in Limerick, Ireland. His parents were John and Mary ( Healy) Barry of Limerick, they attained the age of ninety-three years; his grandfathers were James Barry, and Patrick Healy. He was educated in select schools in Ire- land. He was married at Edwards' Homestead Knox County, December 15, 1864, to Frances, daughter of George and Elizabeth ( Wayland) Edwards. Their children are: John W .; George Henry; Lilie C., wife of George Rockweil of Galesburg; Mary E .; Lucy I., wife of H. Welsh; Winnifred; Morris J .; Frances F. C., who died in infancy. Mr. Barry came to New York in May, 1854, at the age of nineteen and remained there for three years. He came to Knox County in the Fall of 1858, and worked by the month. He owned many horses and bought and sold farms. He remained for nine- teen years on one farm in Ontario township. In 1884, he moved to the farm of three hundred and twenty acres where he now lives; he owns in all nearly one thousand acres of land. He has been an extremely successful stock raiser. His success is due to his persevering industry and to the assistance and good management of his wife. In religion, Mr. Barry is a Catholic. In politics, he is a democrat, and has been a School Director for many years.
BENSON, TUFVE; Farmer; Sparta Town- ship; born near Christianstadt, Sweden, August 27, 1838. His parents were Bengt and Hannah Nelson of Sweden. At the early age of sixteen,
in 1855, he came to Warren County, Illinois, where his brother Olof had preceded him. After spending five years as a farm hand, he pur- chased sixty acres of land in Warren County and began farming for himself. April 11, 1861. he was married in Monmouth to Catherine Elli- son, daughter of Nels and Permelia Ellison, she having emigrated from Sweden with her pa- rents in 1851, when ten years of age. Three children, Samuel David; Carrie, wife of Henry Gehring; Hannah, wife of George Behringer, were born to them in Warren County. In 1867, Mr. Benson, with his family, moved into Knox County, and settled south of Wataga. Here Edith (deceased), Ida May, and Ira Edward were born. In 1875, Mr. Benson bought a farmi of one hundred and twenty-nine acres on Sec- tion 8, Sparta Township, where he now re- sides. At this place three children were born to them: Harvey Russel, Jeannette, and Hazle June. Samuel D. is a successful merchant in Chicago, and owns five hundred acres of land in Marion County, Illinois. Ira E. is a former railroad employe, and when a soldier in the late war, was stationed in Porto Rico. Jean- nette is a Normal student at Austin, Minne- sota. Mr. Benson has been successful, and is a highly respected farmer. In religion, he is a Lutheran; in politics, a republican.
CAMPBELL, GEORGE HENRY; Farmer; Sparta Township; born in Wataga, September 28, 1866; his parents were Robert M., and Catha- rine (Dolan) Campbell of Ireland. He is of Scotch descent. Mr. Campbell was married to Mary A. Tiernay, in Galva, Illinois, October 26. 1892; they have one child, George Henry, born September 8, 1894. Mrs. Campbell is the daugh- ter of James and Mary Tiernay of Knox County. Mr. George Henry Campbell was reared a farmer, and educated in the common schools. In 1890, he located on a farm, which contains one hundred and sixty acres of choice land. Mr. Campbell became a Mason in 1887, and is a member of Wataga Lodge, 591, A. F. and A. M. Mr. Campbell is a republican.
GEHRING, ALEX; Farmer; Sparta Town- ship; born December 1, 1844, in Germany; edu- cated in Germany and the United States; his parents, Anthony Gehring, born March 12, 1821. and Mary (Mosier) Gehring, horn June 24, 1823. came from Germany to Sparta Township in 1857; his paternal grandparents were Bennet and Elizabeth (Closman) Gehring; his
great-grandparents, Mattice and Susan Gehring, and his maternal grandparents, Jacob and Mary Mosier. Mr. Gehring was married May 30, 1867, in Sparta Township, Section 33, to Jerusha, daughter of Ira and Caroline (Stewart) Squires of Ireland and Scotland, respectively. Mrs. Gehring was born August 1, 1847, in Vienna. Trumbull County, Ohio. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gehring are: Mary Alice, born October 29, 1871; Sarah Luella, born October 9. 1874; Carrie Lenora, born April 6, 1877, and Ira Anthony, born December 15, 1879. Mary Alice was married June 11, 1890, to James Parkinson; they have two sons, Archie, born January 30, 1893; and Frank Donald, born September 10,
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KNOX COUNTY.
1896. Mr. Gehring is a member, and has been a Trustee and Steward of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. He is a republican and has been School Director and Pathmaster.
GEHRING, JOSEPH; Farmer; Sparta Town- ship; born March 16, 1856, in Knox County. where he was educated. His father, Xavier Gehring, was an early settler. He was married January 29, 1880, to Cora, daughter of O. Peter- son. Four children were born to them: Adella Maud, Edna May, Arthur J. and Myrtle Irene. Their mother died May 15, 1895. Mr. Gehring's second marriage occurred March 25, 1896, with Harriet, daughter of Peter Knight, a native of England. They have one son, Frank Earl, Mr. Gehring has a valuable farm of one hundred and seventy-seven acres besides one hundred acres of pasture and timber land. He has been School Director in Wataga for twelve years.
GILES, DR. HENRY WYLEY; Physician; Wataga, Sparta Township; horn in Peoria County, March 28, 1861; his grandfather was an English soldier, and one of the guards of Na- poleon Bonaparte on the island of St. Helena. He came to America in 1824. He studied for the ministry, and had charge of a Baptist church. He and his wife died in Peoria County. They had five sons and two daughters, all of whom, except Sarah, who was killed by lightning, have, by hard work and economy, accumulated con- siderable property. They are also very widely and favorably known throughout Peoria County. Thomas, the oldest child, was born on the island of St. Helena February 28, 1814. He moved, with the family, to England and from there, when he was but ten years of age, to this country, the family settling at Utica, New York, where they lived until 1836, when they moved West, settling at Peoria. He followed steamboating for two summers, then, with his brothers, William, Joseph, and Nathan, manu- factured brick until 1849, when the two brothers, William and Nathan, went to California, while Thomas bought land six miles north of Peoria, which he cleared and occupied until 1882, when he retired and bought a home on the Bluff in Peoria, where he died September 7, 1893. He was the father of Dr. H. W. Giles and six other children, two of whom died in infancy, the other four now live in Peoria and vicinity, one of whom, Dr. W. N. Giles, is practicing medicine in that city. The mother of Dr. H. W. Giles was Margaret (Poplett) Giles, of Knox County ; her father was Thompson Poplett. The Poplett family came to Illinois from Indiana in 1835, settling in the northwest corner of Sparta Township, where they lived for about twelve years, making farming their occupation. They moved to Peoria County. Mrs. Margaret Giles was born in Indiana June 15, 1828, and died in Peoria County, August 7, 1875. Dr. H. W. Giles was educated in Peoria County. He was mar- ried to Christine Schildwachter in Peoria, November 26, 1891 .. Their children are: Clark Webster, William Thomas, Ruth Helena. Be- fore attending medical college Dr. Giles was in the employment of Allaire Woodward and Co., of Peoria, Illinois, in the Medical Laboratory.
Although his father was well able to furnish the necessary funds to carry him through college, he chose rather to be independent, and by per- sistent effort and strict economy he was enahled to keep his little nome, which he had paid for in addition to his college course. Dr. Giles graduated at Keokuk, lowa, Medical College, class of 1895, and practiced for nine months in Iowa. He located in Wataga, Illinois, and has built up a good practice, and is a careful and conscientious physician. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Galesburg Medical Society, the Military Tract Medical So- ciety, and Illinois State Medical Association. Dr. Giles is a member of the Methodist Church. He is a prohibitionist.
LEE, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, JR .; Farmer; Sparta Township, where he was born March 5, 1858, on the old Lee homestead, Section 6; edu- cated in Knox County. His parents, William A. and Betsey (Knowles) Lee, were natives of New York State; his paternal grandfather was Amos Lee. His father settled in Knox County
at an early day, and the son was reared on the farm where he became a practical farmer and stockman; he received a good business edu- cation at the Galeshurg Business College. When lie was married he lived on Section 5, where his father formerly resided, and in 1882, moved to his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres. September 9, 1880, Mr. Lee was married to Jennie May Patterson, in Sparta Township. There are four children: Freddie P., Bessie K., Jennie May, and George Edward. Mrs. Lee's father, William Stephen Patterson, came at an early day from Ohio to Knox County and settled at Henderson with his parents. There he learned the cooper's trade, but after his marriage he became a farmer and stockman and was very successful. He gave his daughter, Jennie, the advantages of an education at St. Mary's, Knox- ville. Mrs. Lee is not only an accomplished and talented lady, but also a devoted mother. Mr. Lee is a republican. He holds the office of School Director.
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