History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 75

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 75

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).

Mr. G. is Republican, and is associated with the Methodist Protestant Church. Has resi- dence property in Ohio Village, and 600 acres of land in Kearney County, Neb., partly improved and under cultivation.

WILLIAM G. GUDGELL, Tiskilwa, was born October 1, 1827, in Warren County,

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Ohio. He is a son of Mahlon Gudgell, who was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a farmer and shoe-maker by occupation, and died in Ohio. The grandfather of our sub- ject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The wife of Mahlon Gudgell was Charlotte (Snodgrass) Gudgell, who was the mother of five children, viz. : Stephen, John, Samuel, William G. and Milton. Mrs. Charlotte Gudgell died in Bureau County, aged eighty- four years. Our subject went to school in Indiana, and at the age of fourteen he com- menced to farm for himself on his widowed mother's farm. Even at that age he would do a man's work in cradling and mowing. In the fall of 1850 he came to Putnam County, Ill., where he farmed till 1856, when he removed to Tiskilwa, Bureau County, where he opened a grocery store the follow- ing January in partnership with C. A. Dean. In a few years the latter went to California, and Mr. Gudgell has continued the business ever since. For a number of years he was also engaged in the stock and grain business. Mr. Gudgell was married twice. His first wife, Mary A. Sharpless, died March 4, 1861. She was the mother of four children, viz .: Harrison W., Luella V., Sarah L. and William Frank. His present wife, Susan A. Smith, is a native of New York. She is the mother of six children, viz .: John H., Emma A., Clarence E., Ida, May and Walter R. Mr. and Mrs. Gudgell are members of the Baptist Church. Politically he is a Repub- lican, and was formerly a friend of the " underground railroad."

JOHN GUGERTY, Ohio, was born April 19, 1835, at Dundalk, Louth County, Ireland, and is the son of Patrick and Catherine Gugerty, who came to America in 1851, first landing at New Orleans, but came to Ohio Township in June of that year. The father was born in 1792, and died in this county March 25, 1876. The mother was born in 1788, and died in this county August 29, 1882. In 1855 the subject of this sketch settled with his parents on Section 2, where he still resides. December 9, 1856, Mr. Gugerty married Mary Burns, the daughter of Owen and Catherine Burns, of Louth County, Ireland. The father was born in Ireland in 1800. The mother was born

in 1805. Both died in their native land. Patrick and Catherine Gugerty were the parents of nine children, five of whom are now living in America, but two only are in this county-John and Mrs. Hugh Larkin. Mr. and Mrs. John Gugerty are the parents of eight children, five of whom are now liv- ing: Mrs. Catherine J. Murthy, born April 15, 1858, Ohio, Ill .; Mrs. Ann B. Shehan, February 29, 1860, Ohio, Ill .; Thomas Gugerty, March 19, 1862; John Gugerty, Jr., November 22, 1863; Mary E. Gugerty, Sep- tember 9, 1868. Three children died in in- fancy. Mr. Gugerty owns 397 acres in Ohio Township: also town property in Ohio vil- lage. In politics is a Democrat, and a mem- ber of the Catholic Church.

HENRY GUITHER, Walnut, was born in Saxe-Coburg, Germany, April 6, 1827. He remained in his native land till he was twenty-one, and then, in 1848, came to Amer- ica, having just money enough to bring him to Chicago, Ill. He first worked on a farm near Joliet, for a man named King, and the following year rented a piece of land. In the fall of 1849 he was married, at Joliet, and in November removed to Lamoille, Bu- reau County. That winter he worked in the woods for Tracy Reeve, at $11 per month. In 1850 he again farmed on rented land, and in 1853 purchased eighty acres of land where his house now stands. in Section 2, Walnut Township, in what is known as Red Oak Grove. He bought the farm all on time, at $5 per acre. In April, 1855, he removed to his present farm, where he has since resided. At that time his house was the only one on the north side of Red Oak Grove for ten miles; on the west side there were no im- provements, and on the east side was a log- cabin owned by Dunham, who made the first settlement in Red Oak Grove. Mr. Guither has continued to invest in land as his capital increased, till he now owns about 1,000 acres in one body, and 160 acres near the village of Walnut. Mr. Guither has been very suc- cessful in his business since coming to Bureau County, but it has been through his own energy and industry. He was married, October 18, 1849, to Barbara Pope, who was born February 25, 1830, in Saxe-Coburg, Germany, and came to America in 1848. She

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is the mother of seven children, viz. : Edwin, born July 25, 1850, married to Caroline Rapp, lives in this township; Barbara, born July 26, 1851, wife of George Hoffman, of Clarion Township; John, born April 2, 1854, of Lee County, married to Ruth Betz; Mag- gie, born January 1, 1856, wife of John Baumgartner, of Walnut Township; Martha, born June 3, 1857; Mary, born September 13, 1859; Daniel, born August 8, 1860. Politic- ally Mr. Guither is a firm supporter of the Republican party, and has always taken an active part in political matters. He has held various township offices. He and his family are members of the Evangelical Church.

GEORGE GUNKEL, Sheffield, was born in Butler County, Ohio, October 16, 1814. He is the son of John and Catherine (Beak- ler) Gunkel, who were natives of Pennsylva- nia, and of German descent. Mr. George Gunkel was reared on a farm in his native county, in Ohio, till about the age of seven- teen years, when he began learning the trade of millwright, and served his apprenticeship, and afterward followed his trade .for about nine years. He then began carpentering, and continued in the same business till after com- ing to this county. About the time of reach- ing his majority he left his native State, and for two years resided in Carroll County, Ind., and then in Tippecanoe County, where he continued to reside till coming to this county in 1856. In 1857 he erected for himself a business house at Sheffield, and began in the mercantile business, and has continued with- out intermission in the same since, and is now the oldest business man in Sheffield. When he first began business there were but five other business houses here except saloons. Besides the general store, he has also been engaged in the lumber business for a number of years. His son D. A. is his partner in business. He was married, February 24, 1837, in Indiana, to Sarah Isley, who was born near Dayton, Ohio. Her parents were natives of Virginia, and also of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Gunkel have two children living, viz .: Daniel A. and Mrs. Catherine A. Boyden, wife of Charles H. Boyden, of Sheffield.

JOHN GUNNING, Neponset, the subject of the following biography, was born February

22, 1827, in County Down, Ireland. He is a son of Thomas and Alice (McBride) Gun- ning, who were both natives of Ireland, where they died. They were the parents of thirteen children, and of these the following ten reached maturity : Sarah A., John, Esther, Eliza, Alexander, Jane, Mary, Thomas, Bell, and Matilda. Our subject, John Gunning, was educated in the common schools of his native country, where he afterward farmed till 1850, when he immigrated to the United States, and settled near Albinia, N. Y. There he farmed till 1856, and then removed to Osceola, Stark Co., Ill., where he farmed four years. About 1860 he came to Nepon- set Township, Burean County, where he now resides in Section 24, on a farm of 200 acres, which is the result of his and his family's industry and perseverance. Mr. Gunning was married February 18, 1850, in County Down, Ireland, to Margaret Porter, who was a native of the above place, and who died July 26, 1880, in Bureau County. Her father's name was Hugh Porter. She was the mother of three children, now living, viz. : Thomas J., Catharine E., and Hugh G. The oldest son, Thomas J. Gunning, married Alice Carpenter, who is the mother of three children, viz .: John S., Thomas P. and Charles H. Mr. Gunning came to the United States without means, but with an abundance of perseverance and native ener- gy. He has been township and school officer. He and his two oldest children are members of the Congregational Church. Politically Mr. Gunning has been identified with the Republican party.

ARMSTEAD T. HAGAN, Hall, was born November 12, 1814, on the Potomac, in Montgomery County, Md. His parents, Thomas and Rosina (Shelton) Hagan, were both natives of Maryland, as was the grand- father, Joshua Hagan. Our subject's par- ents removed to Nelson County, and then to Union County, Ky., where the mother died. The father died in Louisville, Ky .; he was a soldier in the war of 1812. They had two children-our subject and Mrs. Harriet Vin- cent, deceased. A. T. Hagan was a farmer in early life, and also followed the river for a short time, and for five years was engaged in the grocery business in New Orleans. March

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1, 1848, he came to Peru, Ill., where he was in business a short time. Afterward he and two other men made the dangerous trip across the plains, traveling a distance of 2,000 miles with an ox team. In California he was engaged in mining, and returned East in July, 1850, via Panama and New York. He then went into the ice business in Peru, Ill., fol- lowing it successfully for twenty years. In 1871 he moved onto his farm south of Peru, but in 1875 sold it, and bought the Kelly farm, consisting of 4263 acres in Hall Township, Bureau Co., Ill., where he now resides. Mr. Hagan was married in Arling- ton, April, 1852, to Miss Catharine Waugh, a native of Westmoreland County, Penn., daughter of James Waugh. Mr. and Mrs. Hagan have three children, viz. : Willie R., married to Belle McCormic, a native of Peru, daughter of John L. McCormic; Frank and Jennie Hagan. Mr. Hagan is a Prohibition- ist. He is a member of A. F. & A. M. frater- nity. James Waugh, deceased, was a native of Cumberland County, Penn., and died in Ar- lington, Ill., February, 1862, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a son of Richard Waugh, of Scotch extraction, and a native of the north of Ireland. James Waugh was married in Peru, Ill., to Jane Park, who came from New Jersey. They came to Peru in 1848, and to Arlington in 1850, where they bought land of George Gilson. Mrs. Waugh died in Arlington in March, 1862, at the age of fifty-six years. She was the mother of the following children, now living: William, Samuel, Mrs. Catharine Hagan, Mary, James, Mrs. Caroline Linton (of Dakota), and Martha. James Waugh had the true pioneer spirit; he laid out part of Arlington, and took an active interest in everything that per- tained to the welfare of the community where he resided, and his influence for good was felt by all who came in contact with him.

J. F. HALE, Mineral, was born June 16, 1845, in Somerset County, Me. His parents, James and Dolly (Farmer) Hale, were also na- tives of the above place. The former died in Bureau County, May 12, 1843, where his widow yet resides. She is the mother of five children, who are now living, viz. : John F., our subject, Mrs. Roxana Bowen, Isa-

belle, Emma and James, the latter a resi- dent of Iowa County, Iowa. Our subject was educated in Bureau County, to which he came with his parents. About 1869 he removed to Iowa County, Iowa, where he farmed, and was married in August, 1869, to Miss Carrie Teeter, who was born July 18, 1861, in In- diana. She is the mother of three children, viz .: Lenora E., born August 11, 1870; Charles P., August 25, 1873; and J. Frank, November 14, 1876. After a residence of seven years in Iowa, Mr. Hale returned to the old homestead in Mineral Township, Bureau County, where his industrious par- ents had accumulated a farm of 430 acres of land. Mr. Hale is a member of Marengo Lodge, No. 114, A. F. & A. M., of Marengo, Iowa. Politically Mr. Hale is identified with the Democratic party.

THE HALL FAMILY. John Hall, one of the first settlers in Bureau County, was born in Georgia, and when about four years of age removed with his parents to Ken- tucky, where he remained till after his first marriage, which was to a Miss Horn, by whom he had two children. After marriage he removed to Indiana, and his wife died. He was married to Elizabeth Kellums in In- diana, and she was the mother of thirteen children. Of the family the following yet

survive: Wesley Hall, of Iowa, near Bur- lington; Mrs. Eliza Brown, a widow; Mrs. Melinda South, Mrs. Marena Bookum, Syl- vester, Elijah and Elisha reside in Atchison County, Mo .; Charlton Hall lives near Nebraska City, Neb .; and William Hall, the youngest of the family, resides in Iowa. More of John Hall and his settlement in Bureau County will be found in the General History. Ransom Hall (deceased) was born in Indiana, January 29, 1823, and is the second son of John Hall. After coming to Bureau County he made this his home till death, and was engaged in farming, in which he was quite successful. December 12, 1845, he was married to Amanda Long, who was born in Green County, Ohio, November 12, 1827, and is the daughter of Henry J. and Mary (Walden) Long. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall two daughters were born, viz .: Maria Louisa, born November 16, 1847, wife of M. M. Martin, Selby Township; Mary E., No-

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

vember 15, 1853, wife of Peter A. Martin, of this (Selby) Township. Mr. Hall died July 2, 1861. Mr. Hall and wife were members of the Methodist Church. (For sketch of the Long family see that of Ernest Dunte. man.)

N. A. HARRINGTON, Bureau, was born in Farmington, Kent Co., Del., October 19, 1831. His parents, Jonathan and Lydia ·

(Anderson) Harrington, were both natives of the same county as their son, and have always lived in that vicinity. Jonathan Harrington was born November, 1794, and his wife November, 1807. They are the par- ents of four sons and four daughters now living, and two daughters dead. He has always been a farmer, and the Harrington family as far back as is known, have been farmers and resided in Delaware. N. A. Harrington was reared on the farm, and has made farming his occupation during most of his life. In 1855 he came to Bureau County, Ill., and began working by the month, but the following winter engaged in teaching school, which occupation he followed for sev- eral succeeding winters, farming in the sum- mer. In the fall of 1860 he purchased eighty acres of land, his present homestead, where he has since resided. His farming has been general, but in later years most of his attention has been given to raising and feeding stock. He has gradually added to his farm until he now owns 720 acres in Bureau Township. In politics Mr. Harring- ton has been a Republican since the organi- zation of the party. He was married in this county November 22, 1857, to Margaret E. Sapp, a daughter of Hezekiah Sapp (see sketch of Andrew Sapp). She was born in Delaware, June 8, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Har- rington are the parents of six children, viz. : Clement, born September 8, 1858, married to Hattie Lysinger; Ora, born October 27, 1860, died September 17, 1863; Adelbert, born July 30, 1864; Luella, born April 3, 1867; Lydia M., born December 26, 1869; Ada, born August 28, 1872. All reside in Bureau Township. Mrs. Harrington is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

HON. JOSEPH W. HARRIS, Tiskilwa. The genealogy and biography of the Harris family in America, is as follows: The pro-

genitor of the family came from England and was one of the pioneers of New England, where the family bore a conspicuous part in the events which led to the union of the thirteen colonies, afterward States. The great-grandfather of our subject, David Har- ris, was a native of Rhode Island, where he was a prominent merchant. His son, Joseph Harris, was one of the first graduates of Brown University, and was a zealous patriot during the Revolutionary war, in which he took an active part. He was one of the party. who, disguised as Indians, threw the tea over- board from English vessels anchored in Nar- ragansett Sound-a fac-simile to the Boston Tea Party. One of his children, William Harris, who is the father of our subject, was born 1785, on the Island of Nantucket; he died 1864 in Woonsocket, R. I. His main occupation in life was that of a cotton man- ufacturer. He was a man of undaunted courage, firmness and endurance. In 1849 he was chosen captaiu by a party of young men, and led them overland to Mexico, where he remained two years and met with many adventures. After the expiration of two years he returned to his native State, where he followed his favorite occupation. He was married twice; his first wife, Sarah Green, was the mother of five children, who reached maturity, viz .: Eliza, William, Joseph W. (our subject), Sarah J. and Mrs. Catharine J. Thacher. His second wife was Sarah Wilkinson, a grand-daughter of Osial Wilkinson, of English extraction. The last named family are remarkable for their in- genuity as inventors. They were the originators of the world-famed spinning power looms, and also manufactured them first in America, thus gaining and distribut- ing wealth. Mrs. Sarah W. Harris was the mother of three children, viz .: Anna, Abra- ham and Edward Harris. The latter was killed while Deputy Sheriff in Colorado. Our subject was educated in Massachusetts. In early life he clerked in a drug store. In 1836 he went to Galesburg, Mich., where he farmed. In May, 1840, he came to Tiskilwa, Ill. He entered and bought land and be- came a successful farmer. He still owns a farm of 3122 acres in Milo Township. In January, 1882, he removed to Tiskilwa, where

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he now resides. In September, 1861, he en- Jisted in

the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company F. He had the rank of First Lieutenant and served till October, 1865. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth. In the fall of 1862 he was detailed to the Freedman's Bureau, and in that grand institution for the colored men, rendered val- uable services to the United States Govern- ment. He had charge of about 3,000 freedmen, who were distributed in three different camps, employing them principally in raising cotton. It was the ouly self-sup- porting camp in the United States. Mr. Harris was married here, January 16, 1846, to Fannie Hall, who was born October 18, 1821, in Mansel Park, Derbyshire, England. Her parents were Thomas and Sarah D. (Cockayne) Hall. The latter's ancestors came to England with William the Conqueror. Mrs. Harris was the mother of four children; of these only William H. Harrisis yet living. He was born June 28, 1856, and is a miner in Colorado. Mrs. Harris is an active mem- ber of the Episcopalian Church. Politically Mr. Harris is identified with the Greenback party. He has filled different offices and has been a Member of the Legislature.

WILLIAM M. HARSH, Tiskilwa, the subject of the following biography, was born February 4, 1834, in Washington County, Penn. His parents, Daniel and Nancy (Mc- Kee) Harsh, were natives of the same place. Daniel Harsh was a farmer by occupation and died in Ohio. Mrs. Nancy Harsh is yet living in Iowa. She is the mother of seven children, viz. : William M., Philip L., Mrs. Mary N. Donlin, Alexander, James B., An- drew F. and Mrs. Alvira J. Oliver. Of the above, Alexander Harsh lost his life in the army in defense of the Union during our late Civil war. Our subject, William M. Harsh, came here with his parents in 1848. Here he was reared on a farm and made farming his occupation. At present he owns a farm of 800 acres. For the last twenty-five years he has been engaged in the stock business. For several years past he has been interested in the stock business in Montana Territory, and is a member of the River Falls & Tiskil- wa Live Stock Company, which has fifteen

members and a capital of $100,000. Mr. Harsh was married June 5, 1861, to Mary J. Bacon, who was born September 9, 1840, in Amanda, Hancock Co., Ohio. Her mother, Mrs Betsey (Robinson) Bacon, is living with her. To Mr. and Mrs. Harsh three children were born, viz .: Mary Ada, born August 11, 1862; Charles J., born October 23, 1864; and Stella J., born May 24, 1875. Mrs. Harsh is a member of the Episcopalian Church. Politically Mr. Harsh has always been identified with the Republican party, and has filled various local offices.

ORREN HASARD, Neponset. The geneal- ogy of the Hasard family dates back to two brothers who came over from England, and were among the first settlers of the New Eng- land States. The old family name was spelled Hazard (the name was changed by our sub- ject). David Hazard, the grandfather of our subject, was a descendant of the two brothers mentioned above. His son, Caleb Hazard, was reared in Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., and died in Wirt, Allegany Co., N. Y. He was a cooper by occupation, but the lat- ter part of his life farmed. He married Elizabeth Babcock, a native of New York, where she died. She was the mother of twelve children, viz .: Orren (our subject), Nancy, Robinson, Elihu, Parley, Eliza A., Lorenzo, Ruth, Cyrus, Byron, Samantha and Page, who have all been married and are yet living in different parts of the United States. Orren Hasard was born February 28, 1815, in Spafford, Onondaga Co., N. Y. Mr. Has- ard was educated in the common schools of New York State. In early life he assisted his father, and then learned and followed the carpenter's trade in New York. He came to Peoria, Ill., in May, 1839; from there he came to Providence, Bureau County, the same month. In Providence he followed his occu- pation about six years, and then removed to Mineral Township, and there followed his trade for several years, and then went to farming. He was a successful farmer, and in 1883 sold 429 acres of land and removed to Neponset, where he now resides. He was married in Mineral Township, January 1, 1846, to Miss Mary Hall, born March 8, 1817, in Derbyshire, England. She was a daugh- ter of Thomas and Sarah (Cockayne) Hall,

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natives of England. She died on the Atlan- tic Ocean. He came to the United States in 1837, and died the following year in Stark County, Ill. Mrs. Mary Hasard came to Stark County, Ill., in 1836. She is the mother of four children now living, viz .: Ar- thur C., born January 7, 1849; Mrs. Sarah J. Stetson, born July 3, 1853: Charles E., born March 2, 1859; and Mary L., born April 12, 1865. Mrs. Hasard is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hasard is a member of the Congrega- tional Church. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.

THE HASSLER FAMILY, Selby. John Hassler, deceased, was born in Zurich, Switzerland, August 28, 1764. For twenty years before coming to America, he resided in Germany, but retained his citizenship in Switzerland for several years after coming to this country. In 1834 he started with his family to America, and after a trip of sixty- eight days landed at New Orleans. They then came up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Mo., where they remained for some time looking for a suitable location, but not being pleased with the country went to Beardstown, Ill. From there two of the sons started on foot to Springfield, and two came to Hennepin. The latter, finding country that suited them, returned to Beards- town, and the family again took the boat and landed at Hennepin. They soon after purchased the claim of John Hall in Selby Township, and the family entered 1,800 acres of land. The Hassler family is one of the earliest in Selby Township and probably the first that came to this county from Germany, and it is due to their influence as German speaking residents that many other families from the old country settled in the locality of Hollowayville. John Hassler was mar- ried in Saxony, Germany, to Christina Char- lotte Rossig, born in Dresden, Saxony, Janu- ary 11, 1781. John Hassler lived but two years after coming to America, dying at his daughter's home two miles south of Henne- pin, September 20, 1837. His wife survived him until August 7, 1852. They were the parents of six sons and one daughter, viz .: John, born October 19, 1802, in Saxony, was killed by accident on the old homestead in

August, 1853; he left a wife and six chil- dren; Rudolph, born January 11, 1805, in Switzerland, died May 20, 1881, at. Amboy, Ill. ; left a family of five children; Henry, born April 8, 1807, in Germany, now of Mount Tabor, Oreg .; has a family of two children; Charles, born April 18, 1809, lives in Selby Township; was married in this county to Barbara J. Croisant, of French descent. The Croisant family is of the old Huguenot stock, and was driven out of France during the massacre of St. Bartholomew. Charles Hassler is a farmer and owns 160 acres of land. He has eleven children, viz .: Mrs. Justina Toll (deceased), Charles, Jacob, Frederick, Adolph, Ferdinand, Matilda, Gustav, Emma, Philip, and William (de- ceased). Hermau, son of John Hassler, de- ceased, was born October 10, 1811, a resident of Selby Township; Charlotte, born June 19, 1814, widow of Peter Savage, has one child living, Jacob, born September 25, 1818, died October 2, ISSO, leaving a wife who afterward married G. Deuterman (see sketch). Gustav, son of Charles Hassler, was born September 10, 1856, on the old homestead in Selby Township. He was married March 8, 1877, to Miss Katie Crois- ant, [born April 3, 1857, in this county, daughter of William and Margaret (Wonder) Croisant. Mr. and Mrs. Hassler have three children: Justina B., Katie and Mary; he is a farmer and owns 160 acres of land in Hall Township. Philip, son of Charles Hassler, was born August 10, 1862, in Selby Township; he is a farmer and owns eighty acres of land in Hall Township; he was mar- ried in this county March 13, 1884, to Miss Katie Heiliger, born April 30, 1865, daugh- ter of Adam Heiliger (see sketch). The Hass- ler family are all members of the Lutheran Church, and with one exception are Demo- cratic in politics.

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History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 75

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