USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 28
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In 1868 he removed to Ford county, settling in Peach Orchard township before the railroad was built or the town of Melvin founded. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, constituting the northwest quarter of section 28, and is still the owner of that property, on which he continuously made his home until 1874, when he rented his farm and engaged in the grain business in Melvin in partnership with William Frasius and George T. Arends under the firm style of Frasius, Iehl & Company. They dealt in grain, seeds and coal, conducting a successful business until 1876, when the senior part- ner sold out. The firm name of Iehl & Company was then adopted and the business was thus carried on until 1890, when they withdrew from the grain trade and established the private banking business that has since been con- ducted at Melvin, under the name of Iehl & Company. Both partners are active in the management of the bank, which has long been recognized as a substantial moneyed institution, having back of it valuable collateral in the shape of fine farming property. In 1899 they built an attractive brick bank building, which is an important addition to the business houses of Melvin. As Mr. Iehl has prospered in his undertakings he has from time to time invested in land until he is now the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres, all in Ford county. It is very rich and productive and returns to him a gratifying income.
On the 3d of June, 1871, Mr. Iehl was married to Miss Mary Arends, who was born in Groveland, Tazewell county, Illinois, November 5, 1853, and came to Ford county in January, 1870, with her parents, Teis and Teda
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(Becker) Arends. She is also a sister of her husband's partner. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Iehl have been born five children. Hannah is the wife of M. D. Townsend, a farmer of Peach Orchard township, living about a mile south of Melvin, and they have three children : Glenn I., Mary and John T. George T .. who is employed in the bank in Melvin, married Bertha Shilts and they have three children, Ethel, Margaret and Clara. Clara M. is the wife of F. G. Ruff, of Fond du Lae, Wisconsin, and has a daughter, Helen. Edwin A. is a student in the State University at Champaign. Walter C. is attending school in Melvin.
In politics Mr. Iehl has been a stalwart republican since casting his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1864. Hle has the notable and creditable record of serving as supervisor of Peach Orchard township for twenty-two years, having been a member of the board longer than any other supervisor during the history of the township. He was also village trustee for six years and in discharging his official duties is prompt, energetic and loyal, doing everything in his power to promote the public service. He attends the Ger- man Methodist Episcopal church and is a man whom to know is to respect and honor. His life proves conclusively that difficulties may be overcome by deter- mined purpose and that the individual may secure success if he has but the will to dare and to do. His methods have ever been such as will bear close serutiny and no higher testimonial of his worth as a business man and citizen can be given than is manifest in the genuine respect which his fellow towns- men and all who know him entertain for him.
JOHN H. EMMINGER.
It seems that nature purposes that man shall enjoy a period of rest in the evening of his days. In the morning of his life he is full of energy, hope and courage ; at life's noontide his labors are guided by the sound judgment that has come to him through observation and experience and if he persists in the pursuit of an honorable purpose he can win the success that will enable him to spend the evening of life without recourse to further labor. Such has been the record of John II. Emminger, of Gibson City, now a retired tailor deriving his income largely from investments in land. He was born in the southern part of Germany, July 14, 1831, and his father, who was a linen weaver, and his mother both died in that part of the country.
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Mr. Emminger continued there until twenty years of age, when he left his native land, sailing on the 14th of March, 1853, for the United States. The voyage was made in one of the old-time sailing vessels and after forty-two days spent on the Atlantic he reached New York city on the 26th of April. On that day the Odd Fellows were having a big celebration and parade and Mr. Emminger thought it the grandest sight he had ever witnessed in all his life. The city in its gala day decorations made a great impression upon him and from that time America has had a stronghold upon his affeetions and loyalty. In his native country Mr. Emminger had learned and followed the tailor's trade and was again employed in that way in New York city until the fall of 1853, when he made his way westward to Chicago and Milwaukee. Later he took up his abode in La Salle, Illinois, where he served as foreman in a tailor establishment until 1861. On the 9th of June of that year he removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he remained for four and a half years, or through the period of the Civil war, acting as foreman in a tailor shop there. Subsequently he spent two and a half years in Keokuk, Iowa, and in 1867 returned to La Salle, Illinois, where he resided until 1870, when he opened up a shop of his own in Wenona, Illinois, where he remained for four and a half years. IFe next located at Pontiae, Illinois, where he conducted business on his own account for ten and a half years, and then came to Gibson City where he also conducted a successful tailoring business for some time. He is now retired, however, and depends upon his income from his property to supply him with the necessities and com- forts of life. He is the owner of two hundred acres of land in Drummer township and also had one hundred and sixty acres in MeLean county, which he gave to his children. In Kansas he has invested in property, having one hundred and sixty acres in Brown county. Ife also owns a good residence in Gibson City and a store building, which is now rented for a meat market.
In 1854 Mr. Emminger was married to Miss Mary C. Riegs, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1831, a daughter of George and Sophia (Kugler) Riegs, the father, a truek farmer near La Salle, Illinois, where he located in 1854 and where he resided until his death. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Emminger were born four sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters are now living, and they have twelve grandchildren. Their son Albert lives upon the father's farm two miles southwest of Gibson City. ,
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Mr. Emminger is a member of the Masonie fraternity, joining the lodge at La Salle, Illinois, in 1867, while since 1858 he has been a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at La Salle. His political allegiance has been given to the re- publican party since he became a naturalized American citizen. There is no
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native son of the United States more loyal to her welfare and her interests, for he has enjoyed her protection and has found here the opportunities for the at- tainment of success. When he arrived in America he had but twenty-five cents, but gradually he has worked his way upward and his diligence and persever- ance have brought him a goodly measure of prosperity and at the same time the methods which he has followed in the business world have made his an honored name.
JOHN MCKINNEY.
John McKinney, senior partner of the John McKinney & Son Company. has been engaged in the lumber trade in Piper City for more than a half cen- tury and has carried on business on his own account since 1859. In his under- takings he has prospered by reason of his intelligent and well directed effort, his unremitting industry and perseverance, being now one of the substantial residents of Ford county. He was born near Belfast in Cookstown, Ireland, in 1833, his parents being Archibald and Elizabeth (McKinney) McKinney, who, though of the same name, were not relatives. With their family they came to America in 1847 and resided in Philadelphia until 1857, when they came to Ford county. There the father carried on agricultural pursuits until 1888, when with his wife he removed to Piper City, where they lived until called to their final rest. The father reached the advanced age of ninety-three years, while the mother was eighty-two years of age at the time of her death and during the last fifteen years of her life was blind. In their family were five children, of whom John is the eldest. Rachel is the widow of Captain Perry of Philadelphia, and has one son, Joseph. Mrs. Margaret MeLaugh- lin, a widow, is living in Piper City with her sister, Mrs. Perry. William died in 1880, and Joseph in 1883.
John McKinney spent the first twelve years of his life in the land of his nativity and then crossed the Atlantic to Philadelphia with his mother, three brothers and two sisters. In this land they joined the father, who had pre- ceded them to the new world. The voyage was made in 1847 as passengers on a sailing ship which was six weeks in covering the distance between the European and the American harbors. On the trip over a brother and sister died, the sister being buried at sea and the brother on Staten Island. The family lost all their baggage after reaching New York. John McKinney remained in Philadelphia for about ten years and for two or three years spent
JOHN MCKINNEY
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a part of the time in school. During the period of his residence in Philadel- phia he served a five years' apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, becoming an expert workman during that period. In 1856 he made his way westward to Chicago with his father and later both came to Ford county and purchased a tract of land three miles south and a half mile west of what is now Piper City. For three years after arriving in Ford county John MeKinney worked at his trade in Chicago and on the road for the Illinois Central Railroad Com- pany. He then began to build houses for the first settlers at Piper City and this vicinity, for it was during the period of pioneer development here and it was necessary that the early inhabitants should build homes for themselves. Mr. MeKinney was thus employed at contracting and building until 1866. when he took the management of a lumberyard for the firm of Piper & Montel- ius. He continued in business in that way until the fall of 1869, when he bought out his employers and has since continued in the lumber trade without intermission. This is the only lumberyard in the city and the business has grown to extensive and profitable proportions. In 1872 he further extended the scope of his trade by establishing a hardware department, while later he opened a furniture and undertaking establishment, thus his business growing in volume and importance until it has long since been considered one of the leading commercial industries of the village. In 1870 Mr. MeKinney admitted his brother William to a partnership under the firm style of John McKinney & Brother, a relation that was maintained until the death of the junior part- ner in 1880. Mr. MeKinney was afterward alone in buisness for thirteen years, when he admitted his son, W. O. Mckinney, under the firm name of John McKinney & Son. Later they organized a stock company, holding all of the stock themselves with the exception of about three thousand dollars, to which extent II. G. Flessner is interested. The business is now carried on under the firm style of the John McKinney & Son Company. The son and Mr. Flessner have active management of the business, while the father gives his attention largely to the management of his real-estate interests. They also have a branch store and lumberyard at La Hogue, where they have operated for seven or eight years.
In 1865 Mr. MeKinney was married to Miss Fredericka Walrich, who was born in Germany in 1846 and came to Illinois with her parents about 1857. She is a daughter of Otto and Margaret (Hempken) Walrich and by her mar- riage has become the mother of six children : Elizabeth, the wife of Rev. A. S. Hoskins, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in Chicago for the past nine years, now located at the Irving Park church; William O., who is his
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father's partner in business; Margaret W., who died at the age of nine years; Kate Montelius, the wife of J. A. Johnston, of Charleston, South Carolina; Jeane M., who died in 1896 at the age of twenty-two years; and Emily F., the wife of John A. Montelius, Jr., of Piper City. Jeane M. Mckinney was in the fifth year of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, at the time of her death, pursuing a literary course.
In his political views Mr. Mckinney is a republican where national ques- tions and issues are involved but at local elections does not consider himself bound by party ties. In early days he served as collector of his township and was also school officer. He is a charter member of the Presbyterian church of Piper City and one of its trustees. Ilis interest in community affairs is deep and sincere and his cooperation ean always be counted upon to further any progressive public movement. He has made a splendid record as a business man, for he started out in life empty-handed, realizing. however, that labor is the basis of all honorable success. He has worked diligently and persistently and his close application and stalwart purpose find tangible evi- dence in the substantial success which he is now enjoying and which has made him one of the leading business men of Ford county for many years.
CHARLES F. HELMAN.
Charles F. Helman, who is now serving for the eighth year as county surveyor of Ford county, and is a resident of Paxton, was born in the city of Jonkoping, Sweden, November 21, 1862. He acquired his education in the government schools of his native country and was graduated at Stockholm on the completion of a course in technology. He afterwards engaged in surveying for the government, spending four years in that way in the extreme north of Lapland. This is the district of the midnight sun, when during six months of the year one can see to read for only about an hour per day. During several months the night is very short and in May, June and the greater part of July the sun is to be seen almost any time in the twenty-four hours. Dur- ing two years Mr. Helman was in the employ of private corporations in canal and drainage work. Thinking to find a still more profitable field of labor in the new world, he came to America in 1893 and settled at Rantoul in Cham- paign county, where he remained for two years. In 1895 he came to Ford county and engaged in various occupations. In 1900 he was elected county
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surveyor, since which time he has been reelected and is now serving for the eighth year. His excellent university training and his broad, practical expe- rience well qualify him for the able discharge of the duties of this position, and he has made a most creditable record in office. Since 1900 he has been appointed continuously as city surveyor of Paxton under both democratic and republican administrations.
On the 2d of September, 1896, Mr. Helman was married in Paxton, to Miss Matilda Johnson, a daughter of August and Mary J., who were natives of Sweden and came to America in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Helman now have four children, Edna, Hertha, Carl and Lillian. The parents are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and are highly esteemed socially, the hospital- ity of the best homes being freely accorded them. Mr. Helman has always voted with the republican party and takes an active interest in politics, strongly desiring the adoption of the principles which he believes are most con- dneive to good government. As a citizen he is progressive and loyal and withholds his aid and cooperation from no movement calculated to benefit the community and in fact his labors have been effective in increasing its wealth and standing among the counties of his adopted state. He has had no occa- sion to regret his determination to seek a home in America, for here he has not only found creditable success in professional lines but has also gained a good home and the high regard of many friends.
JOHN WEAKMAN.
John Weakman is the owner of a well improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres on section 15, Pella township. Ile has brought this prop- erty under a high state of cultivation and makes a specialty of raising cattle, horses and hogs. He was born in Germany in July, 1847, his parents being Louis and Ellen Weakman, who in 1848 crossed the Atlantic to the new world, first settling in St. Louis, Missouri. Later they removed to Menard county, Illinois, where the father followed farming until his death. In their family were six children, of whom four are yet living: Molly, the wife of Joe Whipple, of Oklahoma; Tina, the wife of August Onken, of Gibson City; Emma, who became the wife of George McNabana and also makes her home in Gibson City; and John, of this review.
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During the days of his boyhood and youth John Weakman aided his father in the work of the home farm and in the common schools acquired his educa- tion. On attaining his majority he rented land and thus carried on farming on his own account for fifteen years, during which time he saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm of his own. IIe then invested in three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 15, Pella township, and has since given his time and energies to the further devel- opment and improvement of this place. The fields are well tilled and bring forth rich crops and he is also engaged in raising cattle, horses and hogs. His farm work is carefully conducted and the systematic management of his busi- ness makes him one of the successful agriculturists of the community.
Mr. Weakman has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Laura Follick, who was born in McLean county, Illinois, and they became the par- ents of three children : Benjamin, living near Gibson City; Hattie, the wife of Ed Dunman of this county; and Marion, who is with his grandfather. For his second wife Mr. Weakman chose Miss Gusta Cales, who was born in Vir- ginia. The children of this marriage are nine in number : Myrtle, the wife of Taylor Henry, of Illinois; James; Frank, Bernie, deceased; Pearl; John; Ruth; Fred; and IToward.
In his political views Mr. Weakman is a stalwart republican and for thirty years has served as school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. Otherwise he has never sought nor held public office, yet in matters of citizenship is progressive and gives loyal support to many measures for the public good. He is justly regarded as one of the leading farmers of Pella township and among those with whom he has come in con- tact he has gained many friends. The success that he has achieved has come to him as the merited reward of his own labor, as he has ever placed his dependence upon the substantial qualities of diligence and thrift.
JAMES McBRIDE.
Although James McBride had a cash capital of but eight hundred and fifty dollars when he arrived in Illinois, he is today one of the largest tax- payers in Brenton township and his prosperous career should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished
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through business enterprise, unfaltering perseverance and strong determina- tion for upon those qualities he has builded his success.
A native of Ireland, Mr. MeBride was born January 12, 1842, his parents being Robert and Ruth (Kirker) MeBride. They came to America in 1844 and first located in Belmont county, Ohio, upon a farm. The father died in 1861 and the mother in 1858. In their family were seven children, of whom five are now living, as follows: Gilbert K., who resides in this county ; John B., living in Paw Paw, Illinois; R. A., whose home is in La Salle county, this state; N. A., of New York city; and James, of this review.
James McBride was but two years of age when brought by his parents to America and upon the home farm in Ohio he was reared, early becoming famil- iar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He enlisted for service in the Civil war in 1862, when a young man of twenty years, and served for three years in defense of the Union, participating in all of the experiences of camp life. He marched with Sherman to the sea and participated in many important battles. After the war he returned to Ohio and in the fall of 1865 came to LaSalle county, Illinois, where he lived for three years, afterward removing to Livingston county, this state. Having carefully saved his earnings in the meantime, he now made an investment in property, purchasing eighty acres, which he cultivated and improved, bring- ing his farm into a high state of fertility.
In 1869 Mr. MeBride was married to Miss Clarilda Strank, who was born in Ohio and was one of two children. Following their marriage they began their domestie life upon their farm in Livingston county, where they remained for ten years. Mr. McBride then traded his property for two hundred and forty acres of land on section 31, Brenton township, Ford county, whereon he resided until 1892. From time to time he added more land and when he retired and removed to Piper City he was the owner of eight hundred and ninety acres, all in the panhandle of the county. Since this he has sold three hundred and twenty acres and he still owns five hundred and seventy acres. He has always made a specialty of buying, raising, feeding and selling stock, and his business transactions of this character have returned him a good profit. The farming interests are valuable and bring to him an excellent finan- cial return annually. In all of his business investments he has shown good judgment and is today a prosperous citizen as the result of well directed industry.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. McBride was blessed with four children : Celes- tia May, now the wife of H. M. Hawthorne, living on a farm in this county;
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Sarah A., who is the widow of William Davis and is now acting as her father's housekeeper; and Jesse W. and Orville F., both deceased. Mrs. Davis has one son, Henry James Davis, who is now attending the Piper City high school. Mrs. McBride died in 1890, leaving her husband and three children to mourn her death, while many friends also deplored her loss for she displayed many sterling traits of character that endeared her to those with whom she came in contact. In September. 1894, Mr. McBride married Elizabeth Woods, a native of Belmont county, Ohio.
Mr. McBride was a demoerat until 1896, when he voted for William McKinley, since which time he has deposited his ballot in support of republi- can principles. He has held several township offices and has served as school director for twenty years, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He belongs to the Masonie fraternity, holding membership in the lodge at Piper City, and to St. Paul Commandery, K. T .. at Fairbury, Illinois. He is in hearty sympathy with the principles and tenets of the craft, which is based upon mutual kindliness and brotherly love. He attends and supports the Presbyterian church and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the town and county. He is now president of the Piper City Fair and Driving Association and is one of the best known residents of Ford county, having made a creditable record as a business man and citizen. He has prospered, not because of any assistance which he received at the outset of his career or from any influence that has been exerted in his behalf, but because he has labored diligently and untiringly, recognizing the fact that earnest effort is the basis of all business advancement.
A. L. CHERRY.
A. L. Cherry is now living a retired life on his farm of one hundred and sixty aeres, located on section 9, Patton township. He is a native of the Buckeye state, his birth having occurred in Greene county, on the 13th of December, 1832. Ilis parents, James and Elizabeth (Greenwood) Cherry, were natives of Virginia and at an early day took up their abode in Ohio, where the father purchased land and there reared his family of eleven children, of whom only two now survive, the brother of our subject being David, a resi- dent of Ohio.
MR. AND MRS. A. L. CHERRY
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A. L. Cherry acquired his education in the schools of his native state and remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty years. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followd for seven years. Believing, however, that he would more readily acquire a competence in other pursuits in the west, he then made his way to Moultrie county, Illi- nois, where he operated a tract of land which he rented, for two years, and he also spent three years in Washington, Iowa. In 1862 he took up his abode in Ford county, purchasing a farm of eighty acres, situated on section 9, Patton township, to which he later added an additional eighty-acre tract, so that his place now embraces one hundred and sixty acres. He has erected all of the buildings which are here seen today and added to the productiveness of his fields by the liberal use of tiling. so that his farm is now in a high state of cultivation. For many years he was actively identified with the work of the farm but owing to his well directed labors and careful management he acquired a competence that now enables him to spend the evening of his life in hon- orable retirement.
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