USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 31
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CALEB MCKEEVER.
Caleb MeKeever is a retired farmer now living in Gibson City. He was born near Brandywine, Delaware, on the 8th of May, 1825, and has therefore passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey. A review of his record shows much that is commendable and indicates the value of energy and per- severance as factors in the acquirement of success. His parents were William and Sarah (Harlan) Mckeever, both natives of Chester county, Pennsylvania, where they were married in 1812. The father was of Scotch extraction and .when a lad of fifteen years was one day sent by his parents for a jug of molasses but he hid the jug and ran away to sea, remaining for four years. On his return he looked for the jug but failed to find it. Ilis experience on the ocean, however, had satisfied him with that life and thereafter his time
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and energies were devoted to general agricultural pursuits. After his marriage he removed with his family to Delaware. About 1828 he returned to Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1833, when he removed to Urbana, Ohio, where he spent one year. He next located on a farm east of Urbana and while living there his wife died, in 1842, at the age of forty-six years, her remains being interred in the cemetery near her home. The father remained in Champaign county until 1867, when he went to Iowa, residing with a daughter until 1870. In that year he came to Ford county and made his home with his son Caleb until his demise, which occurred November 23. 1874. Ilis wife was a member of the Society of Friends, or Quakers. In political belief Mr. Mckeever was a democrat. This worthy couple had a family of six children: John and Isaac, deceased; Margaret, the wife of D. Osborn; Caleb, of this review; Mary, the wife of William C. Buneutter; and Ruth A., the wife of J. Spain.
Caleb Mckeever acquired his education by attending a district school for about three months in a year. The little "temple of learning" was a log building, the benches made out of slabs, while the desks were formed of slabs resting on wooden pins driven into the sides of the room. The curriculum was limited and the methods of instruction very primitive as compared with the modes of teaching at the present time. The school teacher, too, usually , had a belief in the old adage, "Spare the rod and spoil the child." When not busy with his text-books Caleb MeKeever worked upon the home farm and his training in the labors of the fields was not meager. On attaining his majority he started ont in life on his own account. His mother had died when he was seventeen years of age. Early in manhood he began work by the month as a farm hand, working thus until twenty-seven years of age, when he married and established a home of his own.
It was on the 6th of November, 1851, that Caleb MeKeever wedded Miss Sarah E. Thompson, who was born in Champaign county, Ohio, December 12, 1826, and died October 3, 1903. They had traveled life's journey happily together for fifty-two years. Mrs. McKeever was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (King) Thompson, the former born in Pennsylvania and of Scotch- Irish ancestry, while the mother was a native of County Armagh, Ireland, and came to America with her parents when twelve years of age. They were mar- ried in Newville, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and to them were born nine children, all of whom have now passed away. They continued residents of Pennsylvania until 1820, when they removed to Champaign county, Ohio, and Mr. Thompson became a very successful and wealthy citizen of that com-
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munity. Ile was also prominent and influential in public affairs, took an active part in matters relating to the general welfare and for twenty-one years acceptably filled the office of justice of the peace. In politics he was a whig and afterward a republican and both he and his wife were devoted members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. and Mrs. McKeever were married in Champaign county, Ohio, and began their domestic life upon a farm in Logan county, where they made their home for ten years. They afterward removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, settling near Williamsville, where Mr. Mckeever rented two hundred and sixty acres of land. This he cultivated until February; 1864, when he bought two hundred and sixty acres of land in Ford county, where he has since made his home. He now owns two hundred and twenty acres of good land, well tiled, having given forty acres to his youngest son, who sold it for two thousand dollars and then bought eighty acres near Gibson, for which he paid two thou- sand four hundred dollars, and to which he has added until his property inter- ests now include three hundred and twenty acres. The father's farm is one mile north and three miles west of Gibson City and is divided into fields, which are well fenced. Two of his fields contain fifty acres each, two contain twenty-five acres and two others contain thirty-five acres each. Ile has placed all of the improvements upon his land and made it a rich and valuable farm, known as one of the model farm properties of the locality.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McKeever were born six children : John, who is now engaged in the implement business in Urbana, Ohio; Samnel Alexander, who died at the age of eighteen months; Sarah Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. T. B. Stross, living with her father in Gibson; William, who resides upon a farm west of Gibson; and Stephen and James, both of whom died in infancy.
A
Mr. McKeever cast his first presidential vote in Ohio for Lewis Cass and has been a stalwart supporter of the republican party since the Civil war. He has served as supervisor for one term and as school director for a number of years. When he took up his abode in Drummer township there was no school within its borders, but the first year he and other public-spirited citi- zens built a good schoolhouse. They always employed the best teachers, paying seventy-five dollars per month-a very high wage at that time. There were no railroads through the district at that day and all the trading was done at Bloomington and at Paxton. Mr. Mckeever relates many interesting inci- dents of the early days when this section of the state was largely undeveloped and unimproved. The farm machinery was very ernde as compared with that in use at the present time and it is such citizens as Mr. MeKeever who have
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made Ford county what it is today -- one of the richest agricultural sections in this great state. £ His life has been well spent and in the evening of his days he can look back over the past without regret, for his many excellent traits of character have won for him the respect, good will and veneration of his fellowmen.
FERDINAND FRICKE.
Close application and unremitting industry are always essential elements of success and when guided by discriminating judgment they never fail to bring a satisfactory reward for labor. This is evidenced in the life of Fer- dinand Fricke, now a retired farmer and old settler of Ford county. He is now living in Sibley, deriving a large income from his farming interests. He was born in the province of Brandenburg, Germany, September 9, 1852, about fifteen miles east of Berlin, his parents being Carl D. and Caroline (Hamer- link) Fricke.
The father was a weaver by trade and his family removed to the province of Posen, Germany, where he remained until 1875. In that year he crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of MeLean county. Illinois, where he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. As the years passed he suc- cessfully conducted his farming interests until 1897, when, having acquired a handsome competence, he retired to private life and removed to the town of Anchor, MeLean county, where he died in 1900. His first wife, the mother of our subject, had passed away in 1882 and Mr. Fricke was afterward married to Mrs. Henrietta Steinleicht, who still survives him. Six of the children by his first marriage reached adult age, and of those who have passed away three · died within two days of cholera, which was then epidemic in the province of Posen. The others are: Augusta, the wife of F. Hoffman, of Anchor, Illinois; Carl, deceased; Ferdinand, whose name introduces this record; Gus- tave, a resident of Anchor, Ilinois; and Paulina, the wife of F. Gerbrock, of Loda.
Ferdinand Fricke was educated in the province of Posen and at the age of nineteen years came to America. He has since 1872 made his home in Ford county and during the early years of his residence here worked as a farm hand in the employ of Mr. Sullivant, then one of the most prominent landowners of this part of the state. Ile continued in his employ for two years, after which
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he cultivated land which he rented from Mr. Sullivant for two years. In the meantime he carefully saved his earnings and in 1880 felt justified in the pur- chase of eighty acres of the old Sullivant farm on section 19, Sullivant township, in the northwestern part of the county, for which he paid twenty-two hundred and fifty dollars. The land was unimproved and Mr. Fricke had to erect all of the buildings and do all of the work, whereby this tract was converted into rich and productive fields. Year after year his labors were carefully conducted until 1891, when he sold the land, for which he received seventy dollars per aere. Ile had in the meantime erected a fine residence and made other sub- stantial improvements there. Following the sale of the property he removed to McLean county, where he purchased one hundred and seventy aeres, for which he gave seventy dollars per acre. This land lies on section 3, Anchor township and is splendidly equipped with a comfortable dwelling, barns, cribs and sheds. It is well tiled and the soil is naturally productive and Mr. Fricke could easily sell for two hundred dollars per acre. In addition to this property he owns one hundred and twenty acres in Wall township, Ford county, which he purchased in 1903 for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. This farm is also excellently improved in every respect. Ile purchased his present home in Sib- ley in 1905, having here a two-story residence of nine rooms, for which he paid forty-five hundred dollars. When he first came to the county it was practi- cally an unimproved district and there was not a house upon the road between Gibson and his place.
On the 2d of March, 1876, Mr. Fricke was married to Miss Marie Schepple- man, a daughter of Louis and Caroline (Lidiekie) Scheppleman, who were natives of Germany and became residents of St. Louis in 1854. They were married in that city and thence removed to Pekin, Illinois, residing in Tazewell county for ten years, while in 1868 they became residents of Ford county, set- tling in the northwestern part of the county. Few roads had been laid out and no bridges had been built. Mr. Scheppleman had two neighbors-who lived not far distant but other settlements were four or five miles away. There were various kinds of wild animals which infested the districts, including wolves, bears, wildcats and coons. There were many deer and various kinds of feath- ered game. Mr. Scheppleman did not at first purchase land but rented land until 1875, when he bought eighty acres near Fairbury. This was slightly improved and he paid thirty-six dollars per acre for it. Subsequently he sold it for about the same price and then purchased three hundred and sixty acres in Sullivant township, which was entirely unimproved, being simply raw prairie land With characteristic energy he began its development and cultivation and it is now one
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of the best farms of the county worth two hundred dollars per acre. He died upon this place in 1897, while his wife survived him until 1902. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six are yet living, namely : Marie, now Mrs. Fricke; Christ, a resident of East Lynn, Illinois; Louis, also of Illinois; Henry, who makes his home in Sibley; Charles, who resides on the old home farm; and Rudolph, also of Ford county.
Mr. and Mrs. Fricke became the parents of seven children, as follows : Lonie, a resident of Melvin; Annie, the wife of Lambert Brithorse, of Ford county ; Charley, who makes his home in Glen Ellyn, Illinois; Frederick, of Anchor. Illinois; William, of Bloomington, this state; and Marie and Emanuel, both at home. Mr. and Mrs. Fricke belong to the German Lutheran church and Mr. Fricke is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F. He has taken quite an active interest in politics, serving in MeLean county as township col- lector of Anchor township for one term, while at present he is alderman in Sibley. He was also a school director in Anchor township for a number of years. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion.
In politics he is a republican, believing that its platform contains the best elements of good government. As time has passed he has worked on steadily and persistently year after year, adding to his capital continually until now in the possession of a handsome competence he finds it unnecessary to continue the active work of the farm, for his income is sufficient to supply all his wants. Ile may well be proud of the success which he has achieved, as it is said that ninety-five per cent of the men who enter business life never gain prosperity and yet the road to success is open to all. Mr. Fricke had the perseverance to continue therein and he based his business principles and actions upon the rules which govern strict and unswerving integrity and industry.
JOHIN MEIKLE.
John Meikle, whose death on the 1st of March, 1886, deprived Piper City of one of its esteemed and valned residents, was born in Edinburgh, Seot- land, about 1837. He was left an orphan at an early age and went to live with his father's brother. At the age of fifteen he became a resident of Wau- pun, Wisconsin, with his unele Robert and for ten years remained a resident of the Badger state.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN MEIKLE
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During that period Mr. Meikle was married, in Wisconsin, in 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Entwistle, who was born in Liverpool, England, June 1, 1843, and was only four months old when her parents crossed the Atlantic to the new world, establishing their home in Wisconsin, where she resided until her marriage. Her parents were James and Jane (Draper) Entwistle, natives of Bolton, England, who lived for a considerable period in Wisconsin but died in Ford county, Illinois. After losing his wife, the father made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Meikle, passing away at the very venerable age of ninety- six years. Both he and his wife were of French lineage. By his first mar- riage Mr. Entwistle had two children and by a latter marriage had four children, Mrs. Meikle being the only daughter of the second marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Meikle began their domestic life in Wisconsin, where they remained for about two years, and then removed to Peoria in 1863. Three years were there passed, after which they took up their abode in Chatsworth. Livingston county, Illinois, in 1866. In 1870 they came to Ford county, set- tling on a farm in Brenton township, where Mr. Meikle carried on general agri- cultural pursuits for about ten years, having two hundred and twenty acres of land, which he cultivated and improved, making it a valuable farm. At length he sold that land and bought a tract of land of one hundred and sixty aeres a mile south of Piper City, where he resided up to the time of his death. Throughout his entire life he carried on general agricultural pursuits and prospered in his undertakings. He developed the present fine farm which is now the property of his widow, placed good buildings upon it and added all modern improvements and accessories. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he made a specialty of raising draft horses, both Percheron and Norman, and was the owner of some very fine stock. He took a great interest in fine horses and exhibited at various fairs where he carried off many premiums.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Meikle were born four children: George, now living at Kiester, Minnesota; Maggie, the wife of A. Kiplinger of Piper City; Jennie, at home; and John, who is living upon the old homestead farm in Brenton township.
In his political views Mr. Meikle was a stalwart republican, interested in the growth and success of the party. He held some school and road offices and was most loyal in citizenship, doing everything in his power to promote the welfare and upbuilding of his community. IIe held membership in the Presbyterian church and lived an upright, consistent Christian life. winning for him the warm regard of all with whom he came in contact. In his busi-
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ness, too. he was energetic, diligent and reliable, and in addition to his home place of one hundred and sixty acres in Brenton township he owned three hun- dred and twenty acres of land in Livingston county. He possessed many of the sterling characteristics of the Scotch people and his death was an occasion of deep and wide-spread regret, for he had many friends in the county.
For about eighteen years Mrs. Meikle has now resided in Piper City, where she owns a pleasant and well kept home. She also has good income property. inelnding a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Brenton township which she received from her father's estate. She has a wide and favorable acquain- tance in the community and the hospitality of many of the best homes is cordially extended to her.
L. D. JACKSON.
L. D. Jackson is and has been connected with so many important interests of the county as to be recognized as one of its leading citizens, closely associated with those interests which have promoted its upbuilding and formulated its policy. He was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, September 17. 1864, and is a son of William and Delia Jackson, who were likewise natives of the same county and are still living there. The father has always followed farming. employing that as a source of livelihood. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were born four sons and two daughters, namely : Charles A., a resident of Man- chester, Indiana; L. D., of this review; Warren T. and Thomas J., both residents of Ford county; Tinnie, the wife of Joseph Kirkwood, of Osburn, Ohio; and Lulu, the wife of Nathan Griggs, of Manchester, Indiana.
As boy and youth L. D. Jackson became familiar with the work of the farm, aiding his father in the cultivation and improvement of the fields until after he had attained his majority. He attended the common schools and thus acquired a fair knowledge of the English branches of learning. When he had reached man's estate he rented one of his father's farms and for three years continued its cultivation, when he sought a home in Ford county, Illi- nois, and for three years cultivated rented land. During this period he care- fully saved his earnings, and his wise expenditure and untiring industry brought him the capital that enabled him to invest in property. Ile then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 14, Brenton township, and began its improvement by tiling and adding other necessary and modern
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equipments. He has erected good buildings, has utilized the latest improved machinery in carrying on the work of the farm and has today a fine property, presenting a splendid appearance in its well tilled fields and substantial build- ings. Mr. Jackson is also secretary of the Forld County Fair and Driving Association and a director of the Bell Union Telephone Company, No. 1.
In his political views Mr. Jackson is an earnest democrat and desiring the success of the party has labored in local fields for its advancement. Since 1899 he has served as assesor, being continued in the office through reelection. He is also a commissioner of the drainage ditch and for five years has been chairman of the democratic committee.
In 1886 occurred the marriage of L. D. Jackson and Miss Emma J. Judd, who was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1863, a daughter of Orin and Mary Jane Judd, who were likewise natives of that state but are both now deceased. Mrs. Judd was one of five children and by her marriage has become the mother of two sons, Orin W. and Charles E., the former now a pupil in the high school of Piper City.
Mr. Jackson belongs to that class of men who have realized that success is not an unattainable thing and also understands the fact that it is acquired only through diligence and indefatigable labor. He has worked persistently and his labors have been crowned with a measure of success that makes him one of the substantial agriculturists of his part of the county.
E. F. DUCKWORTH.
E. F. Duckworth, engaged in the hardware and lumber business at Cabery, owning an equal interest with Mr. Keighin in a large and well selected stock of goods, is a young man of marked enterprise, of tireless energy, of keen perception and honesty of purpose. Ile was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, January 21, 1870, his parents being Richard and Susan Duckworth, who were natives of the state of New York. Removing westward, they settled in Ken- dall county, Illinois, in 1863 and are now residents of Iroquois county. They became the parents of three children, of whom E. M. Duckworth is the eldest, his brothers, Austin and William, twins, being yet at home.
E. F. Duckworth was also reared under the parental roof and is indebted to the public-school system of Illinois for the educational privileges which he enjoyed and to the Grand Mercer Seminary. Lessons of industry, integrity
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and enterprise were also impressed upon his mind by his parents in his youth and after he had attained his majority he became a feature in business cir- «les. purchasing a hardware store at Herscher, where he continued in business for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and came to Cabery. where he purchased a half interest in the hardware and lumber busi- ness of Mr. Keighin. They have an excellent trade, which is constantly increasing, and in their business interests they are methodical, systematic and energetic.
On the 9th of January, 1901, Mr. Duckworth was married to Miss Caro- line Musson, whose parents are now residents of Watseka, Illinois. Mrs. Duckworth is their only surviving child and by her marriage she has become the mother of one daughter, Lima Margaret. The parents are consistent and helpful members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Duckworth belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Herscher, while both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree. In politics he is a republican. interested in the growth and success of the party. His business success is largely due to the fact that in their business the firm aim at high standard in the character of the goods which they carry and in their service to the public and meet compe- tition in a rivalry of merit rather than in a war of prices. Their business, too, is permeated by a spirit of courtesy, thoroughness, enthusiasm, energy and progressiveness.
PETER WAGNER.
The name of Peter Wagner is so closely associated with the history of ('abery, its progress and upbuilding, as to render it imperative that mention be made of him in this connection. Ile was a man of marked enterprise and strength of purpose, of keen discernment and of publie spirit, and while pro- moting his individual success he also contributed in substantial measure to the general welfare. Moreover, there was not an esoteric phase in his career but on the contrary his methods were such as neither sought nor required disguise but would bear the closet investigation.
Mr. Wagner was born in Trier city in the Rhine province of Germany, in 1843, and arrived in Ford county in 1863 when a young man of twenty years to join his older brother. Upon reaching his destination, however, he found that his brother had been drafted for service in the Civil war. Mr. Wagner,
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who was then single, decided that he had better go in place of his brother, who was married and had a family. Accordingly he immediately joined the army and left for the south. Ile did not understand a word of English and felt handicapped and embarrassed, so he bought a dictionary and at once began to study the language. The regiment to which he belonged was assigned to duty with Sherman's army and while with that command Mr. Wagner became ill of malaria and was sent to the hospital in Chicago, where he remained until the close of the war. The spirit of unselfishness which he displayed in taking his brother's place was ever one of his marked characteristics and won for him in large measure the warm regard of those with whom he was associated.
When the war was over Mr. Wagner returned to Ford county and devoted his life to farming and other business pursuits. His investments were judi- ciously made, his business interests were carefully conducted and his enterprise and diligence were the salient characteristics of his success. He left a fine estate on the county line of Ford and Kankakee counties, comprising one hun- dred and sixty acres, constituting the northeast quarter of section 17, Rogers township and sixty acres across the road in Norton township, Kankakee county. He brought his land under a high state of cultivation, transforming his land into rich and productive fields which were carefully operated and brought him a gratifying annual income. When the Illinois Central Railroad was built through, by making to the company a heavy donation, he induced them to build a station where Cabery now stands on the Kankakee side. He then platted his land and erected a number of buildings and assisted in many ways to found the town and establish it upon a growing basis. He built the Cabery Tile & Brick Works and was the pioneer tile manufacturer in the Panhandle of Ford county. He was also the first to lay tile and promote the drainage and work which has been of inestimable value to Ford county, for thus much low and swampy land has been reclaimed for the purposes of cultivation and is today rich agricultural property, contributing in substantial measure to the pros- perity of this part of the state.
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