History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 103

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company
Number of Pages: 776

USA > Illinois > Bureau County > History of Bureau County, Illinois > Part 103

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 BUREAU COUNTY.

is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.

HENRY WINGERT, Princeton. Among the enterprising foreigners who have come to Bureau County, Ill., and have, by their in- domitable perseverance, industry and fru- gality, made money and judiciously invested it, we class him whose name heads this sketch. The people of any community are always glad to have such men as he to come and settle among them. Mr. Wingert was born January 8, 1842, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. He is a son of George and Cath- arine (Au) Wingert, who were farmers by occupation. They came to the United States in 1865, and both died in Princeton. Henry Wingert learned the tailor's trade in Ger- many. He followed his trade two years in New York City, and then came to Princeton, Ill., where he worked one year for Edward Erhard, and then in 1868 opened a tailor shop of his own, which he has continued till the present writing. In the summer of 1883 he built a livery and feed stable, and in the future will devote most of his attention to that business. From time to time Mr. Win- gert has bought real estate near where he resides, and at present owns several fine pieces of town property. He came to the United States in debt for his passage money, but through hard work he has managed to gain his present prosperity. He was married to Miss Mary Zinke, who was born Septem- ber 23, 1837, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. She is a daughter of Philip and Mary (Albi- ger) Zinke, and is the mother of seven chil- dren, viz .: Peter, Lottie, George, Henry, Willie, Emil and Charley. Mr. Wingert owes much of his prosperity to the industry of his wife. Both are members of the Prot- estant Church. He is an I. O. O. F., and politically is identified with the Democratic party.

SINO E. WINSER, Hall, was born June 19, 1849, in Hall Township, Bureau County. His father, James Winser, deceased, was born in Hawkhurst, County Kent, England, August 18, 1824. He was the son of Edward Winser, a native of the same place, who afterward came to Bureau County, and died in Henry County, Ill. James Winser left England September 9, 1841, and came directly to Bu-

reau County. He worked for Robert Scott and others several years, and then went to Livingston County, where his brother-in-law resided. He located a claim there, but after- ward returned to Bureau County, and bought land in Section 30, Hall Township, moving to it in 1850. He was a successful farmer and stock-grower, and the home farm, where his widow now resides, contains 460 acres of well-improved land. In 1872 Mr. Winser went to England, making the trip in twelve days. When he first came to this country they were six weeks in crossing. James Winser was married in this county August 12, 1848, to Serena Munson, born September 19, 1832, in Warren County, Ind. Her father, Sino Munson, was a native of New York, and her mother, Sarah (Fenton) Munson, of Ohio. Mrs. Winser came to Bureau County in 1842. She has four children, viz .: Sino E., William B. (deceased), Mrs. Nancy J. Campbell, Mrs. Isabel S. Miller. James Winser was a Dem- ocrat, as is also his son, Sino E.

JAMES WINTERS, Clarion, was born Aug. 15, 1821, in Mifflin County, Penn. His father, Christian Winters, was born in Hohenloh, Germany, where he learned the baker's trade, and as journeyman traveled a great deal. He came to Mifflin County, Penn., when a young man, and there was a farmer by occu- pation. He was married there about 1810, to Nancy Frazier, a native of Mifflin County. She was of Scotch-Irish descent, and died in August, 1826. She was the mother of six children, viz .: Eve, Elizabeth, Andrew, Margaret, James and Sarah. Christian Win- ters was married a second time to Mrs. Sarah Stratton, now deceased, who was the mother of Nancy and Hannah Winters. Christian Winters came to Bureau County in 1851, and died here April 8, 1860, aged seventy-nine years and four months. Our subject, James Winters, was educated in his native State, where he learned and followed the carpenter's trade. He went to Des Moines County, Iowa, in the fall of 1843, and followed his trade till the spring of 1845, when he went to Minnesota, where he lumbered up and down the Mississippi River, from the falls of St. Croix to St. Louis. After this he ran a horse ferry-boat nearly two seasons across the river at Burlington. In the fall of 1847

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he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, where he was married, in August, 1849, to Catharine Sheller, who was born November 21, 1826, in Lebanon County, Penn. Her parents were John A. and Anna M. (Grass- myer) Sheller, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Winters is the mother of nine children now living, viz .: Mrs. Anna M. Corbett; William A., a farmer of Cherokee County, Kan .; Mrs.

Mary E. Dean, a resident of Wisner, Neb .; Hannah C., Mrs. Emma J. Frizzell, Andrew C., Sarah B .. Alice M. and John R. Winters. After Mr. Winters was married, he took a contract to build a wagon road over Eli and Juniatta Mountain, in Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1851 he came to Clarion Town- ship, Bureau Co., Ill., and bought 120 acres of land of his brother, Andrew Winters, who had entered it in 1848. Mr. Winters has been a successful farmer, and has besides his well-improved homestead 480 acres in Kansas and eighty acres in Nebraska. Politically he is a stanch Republican. He was formerly a member of the Union League, and is now a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity. Mrs. Winters is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

W. H. WINTER, M. D., Princeton, was born January, 1826, in Butler County, Penn. His parents were John and Eliza (Wilson) Winter. The mother was born in 1793, in Newcastle,-on-the-Tyne, in England, and died, 1866, in western Pennsylvania. She was the mother of four children now living: John S., Mrs. Mary W. Irvine, Mrs. S. F. Miller and William H., our subject. The father of W. H. Winter was born, 1794, in Wellington, England. He was a graduate of one of old England's best colleges, and in early life studied medicine. He came to the United States in 1821, and in this country devoted his whole life and energy to the preaching of the Gospel, being a minister of the Baptist Church. His field of labor was in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia. His ability as a writer and historian in the Baptist Church is recog. nized throughout that section of the country, and he has done much for the interest of that church. He was a man of ability, and ever ready to sacrifice his own and even the inter- est of his family for that of the church. His

last years of Christian labor were spent in western Pennsylvania, where he died in 1878. Our subject, Dr. Winter, re- ceived his primary education in western Pennsylvania, in different schools, among others that of Beaver Academy; but is mainly self-educated. Having gained some knowledge of drugs from his father, he pur- sued the study of medicine four years with Dr. J. M. Irvine as his preceptor. At the end of that time, in 1846, he came to Fulton County, Ill., where he practiced medicine three years, and then went to Knox County, where he practiced one year, and also sold drugs. In March, 1850, he came to Bureau County, with which he has been identified ever since. In April of the same year he came to Princeton, where he opened a drug store, which was the first of its kind in the place, and has been the largest and best drug store in the county ever since. The Doctor commenced business here on a small scale, but has increased his stock from time to time till it reached its present magnitude. It is one of the largest retail stores in the State, containing a stock valued at over $15,000. Its reputation for pure drugs is well estab. lished, as the firm manufactures their own tinctures and extracts. In May, 1872, C. G. Cushing went into partnership with Dr. Winter, the firm being known as Winter & Cushing. Early in life, at the age of four- teen, the Doctor expressed the wish of some day owning a farm and stock, which desire has since been fully realized. In 1873 he bought 400 acres of land four miles north - west of Princeton, which he has converted into a stock farm, buying his first blooded stock in the fall of 1873, and some more in 1874. He has now the finest short-horn herd in the county, to which he frequently adds fine imported stock. He has counted the " May-flower " and "Maid of Honor " among his herd; the latter was exhibited at the Cen- tennial. At present he has between fifty and sixty head of short-horn cattle, with " Wild Duke of Geneva " at the head of the herd. He has also a fine lot of blooded horses, which are raised on his farm. Dr. Winter has lived on his farm since April, 1874, but can be found in Princeton every day of the week except Thursday, when he remains on

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his farm, ever ready to entertain his visitors three brothers are engaged in farming, hav- and customers. Dr. Winter was married, ing 320 acres of land. They are Democratic in political views. June 1, 1848, to Melissa H. Curtis, who was born in 1828, in Portage County, Ohio. She is a daughter of H. P. Curtis, who was a farmer by occupation. The Doctor is an A. F. & A. M., Bureau Lodge, No. 112, of which he was a charter member, and its second Master; has taken the degree of Royal Arch Mason. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Tonnalnka Lodge, No. 89, of which he is also a charter member, and belongs to the Encampment. In politics he is a Democrat, and is a self-made man in every respect.

CHARLES WIXOM, Hall, was born Angust 7, 1852, in Hall Township, Bureau Co., Ill., on the farm where he now resides. His father, Abraham Wixom, was born in Ohio, February 19, 1816. He married Rachel N. Scott, born April 14, 1825, in Indiana. She is the daughter of Robert and Polly (Hall) Scott, who came to this county in 1834. (See sketch of Henry J. Miller.) Abraham Wixom came to Bureau County and settled on Sec- tion 33, Hall Township, where he bought 200 acres of land of his father-in-law, Robert Scott. The farm now contains 300 acres, and is the home of our subject, Charles Wixom. Abraham Wixom died in this county August 29, 1870. His wife is still living, and was married a second time to Absalom Sweet. She is the mother of two children now living: Mrs. Cynthia Clark and Charles. In poli- tics Charles Wixom is identified with the Re. publican party.

JOHN WOLFER (deceased) was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born December 28. 1815. He came to this country in about 1834, and bought 708 acres of land in Hall Township, Bureau Co., Ill., and was a large and successful farmer. He died May 4, 1879. He was married in this county July 5, 1849, to Anna M. Sessler, daughter of George and Anna M. (Mertz) Sessler. The latter is still living at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Wolfer was born October 7, 1826. She is the mother of eight children now living, viz .: Christian, born October 27, 1852, in Hall Township, Bureau County; Mrs. Carrie Loekle, Mrs. Emma Snyder, John J., William S., Louisa, Sarah and Ida. The Wolfer family are members of the Lutheran Church. The

CHARLES WOLFERSBERGER, Prince- ton, was born in Lebanon County, Penn., July 13, 1828. He is of German descent, and his parents, John and Elizabeth (Carper) Wolfersberger, were both natives of Lebanon County, Penn. His mother died there Feb- ruary 25, 1852, at the age of sixty-one years, two months and ten days. His father was killed by cars at Harrisburg, Penn., Novem- ber 29, 1864, aged seventy-five years, one month and twenty- three days. Charles Wolf- ersberger spent most of his youth in Camp- bellstown, Penn., farming and attending school. At the age of seventeen he went to Cumberland County, Penn., where he learned the trade of a shoe-maker, serving three years as apprentice and two years at journey work. In 1851 he removed to Illinois, and for several months worked at his trade at Princeton. In October, 1851, he bought a farm in Berlin Township, removed to it the following spring, and has since been engaged in farming. In 1867 he built on his present farm in Princeton Township, northeast quar- ter, Section 1, where he has since resided. He also owns the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 6, in Selby Township. He was married in Cumberland County, Penn., August 20, 1849, to Susanna Fahnesstock. She was born in the same county February 17, 1830. Her father, Dr. Samuel Fahnesstock, died when she was eighteen months old. Both he and his wife, Sarah N. Colier, were natives of Cumberland County, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfersberger are the parents of ten chil- dren, seven of whom are living: John F., born August 24, 1850, in Cumberland Coun- ty, Penn., now in Leadville, Col .; Mary E., September 7, 1852, in Bureau County, Ill., wife of Edward Scott, of Selby Township; Ida A., Angust 9, 1857, wife of Franklin Cottrell, of Menlo, Iowa; Sarah M., Novem- ber 28, 1859, wife of Samuel Rinker, of Malden; Cora B., December 16, 1861, died May 23, 1865; Charles E., January 15, 1864, is at home; Lilly, March 19, 1866, died March 21, 1866; Minnie Annetta, September 5, 1867, died April 22, 1869; George S., No- vember 12, 1870; Susan Mand, February 18,

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1874. Mr. Wolfersberger is Republican in politics. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Malden.

PHILIP WOLFERSBERGER, Prince- ton, was born March 28, 1826, in Campbell- town, Lebanon Co., Penn. His father, John Wolfersberger, was born in 1793, in the same place. He was a merchant by occupation, and was killed by the cars in 1864. John Wolfersberger, Sr., was the grandfather of our subject, and a native of Hessen, Germany. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth (Carper) Wolfersberger. She was also a na- tive of Campbelltown, where she died. She was a daughter of Frederick and Mary Car- per, and she is the mother of nine children, viz .: Julian, Gabriel (deceased), Mary, Mar- garet, John, Philip, Charles, Isaac and Eliz- abeth. Of the above John was a soldier in the late war, and killed at Murfreesboro. Philip, the subject of this biography, was educated in the common schools of Campbell- town. In early life he learned and followed the carpenter and joiner's trade there. In 1853 he came to Princeton, Ill., where he followed his trade till the breaking out of the Civil war. September 1, 1861, he enlisted in the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, Company D. After serving two years as a private he was promoted to the position of First Lieutenant Commissary of the Third Colored United States Cavalry, in which capacity he served till the close of the war. Before coming home he served four months on the " Freed- men's Bureau," returning to Princeton Janu- ary 26, 1866. There he followed his trade two years, and then became a partner in es- tablishing a planing-mill. Four years after- ward he sold his interest in the mill, and worked at his trade one year, and then entered upon a mercantile career by opening a book- store, to which he afterward added a full line of groceries, queensware, willow and wood- enware. Our subject was married twice. His first wife was Martha Miller. She died in 1853, leaving three daughters, viz. : Mrs. Leah Walters, Mrs. Clara Holman and Mrs. Emma Carr. His present wife, Elizabeth Miller, was a sister to his first wife. She is the mother of three sons, viz .: Frank (de- ceased), William and Charles. The latter mar- ried Carrie White, and is now a partner in

his father's store. William graduated from the high school of Princeton, and was ap- pointed to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., where he graduated, and then served two years on the United States flag ship " Pensacola." He then resigned his position and went into the express business, and at present is express agent at Leadville, Col.

JASPER WOOD, Mineral, was born No- vember 15, 1829, in Erie County, Ohio; a son of Bourdett and Rhoda (Harrington) Wood, who were among the pioneers of Erie County, Ohio, where they yet reside. They are the parents of ten children. The grandfather of our subject, Jasper Wood, Sr., was a Captain in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Lake Erie. He married Elizabeth Boylstone, a native of Massachusetts. Both died in Ohio. The grandfather of our sub- ject on his mother's side was Seth Harring- ton, a native of Connecticut. He served un- der Gen. Harrison in the war of 1812, and was the commander of Fort Bloomingville, near Lake Erie. Our subject was reared and educated in Ohio, where he also farmed. In 1850 he crossed the plains, and in California mined for gold successfully for two and one- half years, and also teamed. In 1854 he re- turned to Ohio, and the same year came to Gold Township, Bureau Co., Ill., where he became a successful farmer. He also took a deep interest in township affairs, and has held the office of Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, School Trustee and Treasurer. In 1867 he came to Mineral Township, where he at pres- ent resides. Here he has been School Trustee for fifteen years, and at present is Highway Commissioner. Mr. Wood was mar- ried here to Miss Ruhecy Goble, a native of Rock Island County, Ill. She is a daughter of Benjamin and Barbara (Vandruff) Goble. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood six children were born: Benjamin B. and Mrs. Flora G. McKee are deceased; Richard B., Thaddeus J., Ada S. and Henry L. Mrs. Flora G. McKee died May 22, 1884, aged twenty-four years and seven months. She left two children: Blanche and J. B. W. McKee. Financially Mr. Wood's life so far has been a success. He has accumulated a handsome property of nearly 2,000 acres of land, Of this 680 acres are in Gold and 1,200 acres in Mineral

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Townships. He engages extensively in the stock business. Politically he is a Repub- lican.

JOHN WYLIE, Tiskilwa, was born August 8, 1848, in Fayette County, Penn. His parents, Joseph L. and Jane (McKean) Wylie were also natives of Pennsylvania. They now reside in Tampico, Whiteside Co., Ill. Of their eight children the fol- lowing are yet living: Elizabeth Wylie, Thompson M., Mrs. Sarah Robinson, An- drew, John (our subject) and William. Mr. Wylie was brought to Bureau County by his parents. In early life he clerked, princi- pally in Tiskilwa, where he gained the es- teem and confidence of his fellow men. In November, 1879, he embarked in the mer- cantile career for himself, in partnership with U. Tebow, selling hardware, imple- ments and groceries. In February, 1884, the firm dissolved partnership, and our sub- ject engaged in the implement business, making the sale of buggies a specialty, and so far has met with deserved success. He was married January 29, 1873, to Miss Bell Wierd, who is the mother of one child, Lou- isa B. Wylie, born May 31, 1875. Mr. Wy- lie takes an active interest in local affairs. He has been Village Trustee and Commis- sioner of Arispe Township.

MICHAEL YOUNG, Arlington, was born May 11, 1832, in Mehren, Rhein Prussia, Germany. He is a son of John A. and Mar. garet (Pantenburg) Young, natives of the above place, where the former was a farmer and cooper by occupation. In 1841 he came to Peru, Ill., where the family lived three years, after which he went to farming, having entered 160 acres of land in Westfield Town- ship, where both parents died. They reared four children, viz. : Mrs. Catharine Thealen, Michael, Peter and Joseph Young, the latter deceased. In 1853, at the age of twenty-one, Michael Young crossed the plains and became a successful gold miner in California, at one time possessing $60,000 of the filthy lucre, but meeting with reverses he was only able to bring $10,000 home with him, which he invested principally in Arlington, where he built several buildings, which burnt down in March, 1869. This was a heavy blow to Mr. Young, as he received no insurance, but noth-

ing daunted, he engaged in the hardware bus- iness on a small scale with borrowed capital. Eventually he also engaged in the agricultural implement and husk mattress business, putting up machinery and using from 400 to 600 tons per year of the latter material. He has been wonderfully successful since he started in business, which is due mainly to his untir- ing energy and perseverance, his business amounting to about $80,000 per annum. Mr. Young was married July 17, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Betendorf, a native of Ger- many, who is the mother of the following children: Joseph (deceased), Ella, Katie, Anna, Maggie, Elizabeth and Michael Young. Mr. Young has filled school and township offices and is identified with the Democratic party.

WILLIAM J. YOUNG, Ohio, was born in Coles County, Ill., May 6, 1841, and is the son of Bazel and Sarah Young. (See sketch of Marion Kiser.) They came from Knox County, Ohio, to this State in 1840, and set. led in Coles County, where they remained till 1841. They then removed to Knox County, and resided there till 1847, when they came to this county, and settled near Princeton, remaining till 1851, when they removed to Ohio Township, and settled on a part of Section 17, which he bought at $3.50 per acre. The mother died in 1861 and the father in 1878. In 1862, August 15, Will- iam J. Young'enlisted in Company B, Ninety- third Illinois Infantry, and served till June 23, 1865, when he was mustered out by reason of expiration of term of service. He was engaged in the battles of Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863; Champion Hill, May 16, 1863; siege of Vicksburg from May 19, till July 4, 1863; Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863; Dalton, February 25, 1864; Allatoona, Ga., October 5, 1864, and Sherman's march to the sea. December 25, 1867, Mr. Young mar- ried Miss Mary E. Cowan, of this county, who was born November 11, 1842, and is the daughter of William and Emeline Cowan, The father was born in Kentucky, April 2, 1800, and is still living at Beattie, Kan. He came to this county in 1834. The mother was born at Rome, N. Y., February 27, 1809, and is a lineal descendant of the Puri- tan fathers. She died in Kansas, October 17,

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1874. Mr. and Mrs. Young both completed their school course at Wheaton College, at which place they were married. Mr. Young had three brothers in the service. George was a member of Company K, Eighty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was confined in Andersonville prison for eight months. Lyman was a member of Company K, Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, and re enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-first Illinois Volun- teers as First Lieutenant. Marion was a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-first, and served till the end of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Young have a family of eight children, all living: Maria E., born February 9, 1869; Charles L., born September 11, 1870; Byron R., born June 6, 1872: John W., born May 24, 1874; Frank, born September 18, 1876; George, born October 23, 1877; Julia F., born April 21, 1880; Catharine, born Sep- tember 5, 1882. Mr. Young settled on the farm which is his present home in 1870. He owns eighty acres in Ohio Township. In politics he is Republican.

MARTIN ZEARING, deceased. The com- plete genealogy of the Zearing family was published several years ago in the East. We learn from it that the Castle or Schloss Zear- ing was founded by the Romans, who had conquered the Germanic nations, A. D. 65. It was afterward destroyed by the Franks or Huns, and rebuilt by the house of Zearing. At present Zearing Schloss is situated near Zearingville, Baden, Germany. Ludwig I., the American progenitor of the Zearing fam- ily, emigrated from Baden about 1725. His son, Henry Zearing, was the father of eight children. The oldest of these, Henry Zear- ing, Jr., was born March 20, 1760; he mar- ried Maria E. Rupp, who was born October 15, 1762. They had nine children. The sev- enth child, Martin Zearing, was born in Leb- anon County, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1794, and died in Dover, Bureau Co., Ill., July 24, 1855. He was married in Pennsylvania, April 19, 1819, to Sarah Shafer, a native of Cumberland County, Penn., born May 9, 1797, died October 29, 1869. She was the dangh- ter of John and Barbara (Lohmiller) Shaf- er, natives of Lancaster County, Penn. He died October 10, 1816, aged seventy three

years, she died November, 1838, aged seven- ty- six years, both in Cumberland County, Penn. John Shafer was twice married and Mrs. Sarah Zearing was the twenty-fourth child. She was the mother of thirteen chil- dren, viz. : Mrs. Caroline Mohler, Mrs. Mary Denning and Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts Colton, all deceased; Martin R .; Louis; Mrs. Susan Steele; Mrs. Sarah Foster; Catharine, de- ceased; David S .; Samuel M., who was killed at the battle of Champion Hill; Martha J., de- ceased; infant, deceased; and John M., of Missouri. Martin Zearing came to Bureau County on a tour of observation in the sum- mer of 1835; returning to Pennsylvania he made preparations to bring his family West, and after an eventful trip of five weeks they arrived in Princeton May 9, 1836. In De- cember, 1836, the family moved out on the bleak prairie about one mile east of where Dover stands. The winter of 1836-37 is re- membered to this day by old settlers as the severest ever experienced, and will never be forgotten by the members of the Zearing family as one of intense suffering and desti- tution. Martin Zearing was a man of great fixedness of purpose, of an indomitable will, and was never heard to ntter a word of com- plaint in all his troubles and trials. An hon- est man, an exemplary Christian, he died as he had lived. To-day his memory is sweet to all who knew him. His wife bore with him his trials and privations with a singular for- titude, so characteristic of the pioneer moth- ers, of whom more should be said and writ- ten.

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History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 103

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company Number of Pages: 776

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company
Number of Pages: 776